Chapter 3

Lisa arrived at the office the next morning feeling unusually confident. After surviving a giant-cat disaster, a mortifying text message in front of the board, and numerous chilly glares from Jennie, she figured nothing could phase her anymore. Jennie hadn’t fired her yet, and that alone felt like a small victory.

That sense of invincibility, however, lasted all of five minutes.

She had just settled at her desk, sipping her coffee, when Jennie’s assistant from the PR department, Chaeyoung, came rushing over, her face pale with panic.

"Lisa, we’ve got a situation!" Chaeyoung whispered, her eyes darting toward Jennie’s office as if she were afraid Jennie would suddenly materialize in the hallway.

Lisa sat up straighter. "A situation? Like, a regular situation or a ‘we’re-all-doomed’ situation?"

Chaeyoung looked ready to cry. "There’s a problem with the press release Jennie approved last night. It’s trending... for all the wrong reasons."

Lisa’s stomach dropped. "Oh no. What happened?"

Chaeyoung pulled out her phone and showed Lisa the news article. In big, bold letters, it read: “Kim Industries CEO Slams Local Competitors as ‘Inefficient and Obsolete’.”

Lisa blinked. "Uh, I’m guessing that’s not the angle we were going for?"

Chaeyoung shook her head furiously. "No! Those were internal comments that somehow got included in the press release. It’s blowing up on social media. The local firms are furious, and Jennie... well..." She gestured toward the office door. "She doesn’t know yet."

Lisa stared at the headline, her mind racing. Jennie’s sharp words in the wrong hands could be lethal, and she knew Jennie was not going to be happy about this. In fact, this was exactly the kind of disaster that would send Jennie into full-on ice queen mode.

"Okay, okay, no need to panic," Lisa said, more to herself than to Chaeyoung. "We can fix this. Jennie doesn't need to know immediately, right? I mean, how bad is it, really?"

Chaeyoung scrolled down, showing Lisa the social media comments.

- "Jennie Kim strikes again! She thinks she’s better than everyone else."

- "Kim Industries clearly doesn’t care about local businesses. Time to boycott."

- "Does Jennie Kim even live on the same planet as the rest of us?"

Lisa let out a low groan. "Okay, maybe this is bad."

Before she could think of a plan, Jennie’s door swung open, and the CEO herself appeared, glancing at her watch. "Ms. Manoban, I need you in my office. Now."

Lisa gulped and shot Chaeyoung a desperate look. "Well, it was nice knowing you."

---

Inside Jennie’s office, Lisa tried to remain calm as she sat across from Jennie, who was already buried in her usual mountain of paperwork. The silence stretched for a few minutes, and just as Lisa was beginning to relax, Jennie’s phone buzzed on her desk.

Jennie glanced at it, then frowned. Without a word, she picked up the phone and began scrolling, her eyes narrowing the further she went. Lisa’s palms began to sweat.

“Ms. Manoban,” Jennie said slowly, her voice dangerously calm. “Can you explain why Kim Industries is suddenly the subject of a public relations disaster?”

Lisa’s heart skipped several beats. “Uh, about that...” she began, trying to keep her voice light. “There was... a minor mix-up with the press release. But nothing to worry about! We’re already working on damage control, and....”

Jennie set her phone down on the desk with a soft thud and looked directly at Lisa. “A minor mix-up?”

Lisa winced. “Okay, maybe ‘minor’ is a bit of an understatement. But it’s not a complete disaster. We can still spin this! I’ve got some ideas, actually. We could issue a new statement, maybe something like, ‘Jennie Kim supports local businesses and believes in healthy competition’...?”

Jennie’s eyes narrowed, and Lisa swore the room got ten degrees colder. “Healthy competition?” Jennie repeated, her voice dripping with ice. “I don’t do ‘healthy competition,’ Ms. Manoban. This company doesn’t play nice.”

Lisa forced a grin, her mind racing. “Right, of course. But, you know... for the sake of PR, maybe we could pretend to play nice? Just this once?”

Jennie leaned back in her chair, her gaze never leaving Lisa. “I expect solutions, not excuses.”

Lisa felt her confidence deflate like a punctured balloon. “Right. Solutions. I’ve got those too! We could...uh, issue a statement apologizing for the misunderstanding, emphasizing that your comments were taken out of context. Maybe even highlight the ways Kim Industries has collaborated with local businesses in the past?”

Jennie’s expression remained stone-cold. “Is that the best you can come up with?”

Lisa bit her lip. “Well, it’s either that, or we throw a distraction out there. Maybe leak some rumors about an exciting new product? You know, shift the focus.”

Jennie stared at her, unblinking, for what felt like an eternity. Then, finally, she spoke. “Fix it, Ms. Manoban. I don’t care how. Just fix it.”

Lisa nodded so fast she almost gave herself whiplash. “Consider it fixed! I’ll take care of everything.”

Jennie returned her attention to her computer, her voice cool and dismissive. “I’ll be watching closely.”

Lisa stood, practically sprinting out of Jennie’s office. Watching closely? Great. No pressure at all.

---

The next few hours were a blur of damage control. Lisa coordinated with Chaeyoung to draft a new, more diplomatic press release, one that highlighted Kim Industries’ commitment to innovation while carefully sidestepping Jennie’s earlier remarks. Lisa even convinced the PR team to schedule an impromptu interview with a friendly journalist who would help “clarify” Jennie’s stance.

By mid-afternoon, the new statement had gone live, and the social media backlash was starting to slow down. Lisa was cautiously optimistic...until she saw Jennie approaching her desk.

Jennie stood over her, arms crossed. “Update me.”

Lisa straightened in her chair. “So, we’ve put out a new statement that basically says your comments were taken out of context and that Kim Industries values competition. We’re also scheduling an interview with a journalist to, uh, reinforce that message.”

Jennie’s eyes narrowed. “And?”

“And,” Lisa continued, “the social media response is... cooling down. We’ve managed to divert some of the attention with talk of future projects and product launches.”

Jennie studied her for a moment before responding. “You’re certain this will contain the situation?”

Lisa hesitated for only a second before nodding. “Yes. Definitely. I mean, people love a good PR comeback, right? This is just one of those moments where we rise from the ashes and come back stronger.”

Jennie’s gaze was sharp, and Lisa could practically feel her being evaluated, piece by piece. Finally, Jennie spoke, her voice as cold and controlled as ever. “If there’s another mistake, Ms. Manoban, there won’t be any ashes to rise from. Do I make myself clear?”

Lisa nodded, her smile faltering. “Crystal clear.”

Jennie turned to leave, her heels clicking against the polished floor. Lisa watched her go, exhaling only when Jennie was completely out of sight.

Chaeyoung appeared beside her, looking equally frazzled. “So... did we survive?”

Lisa slumped back in her chair, running a hand through her hair. “Barely. I think I’m aging in dog years here.”

Chaeyoung smiled weakly. “At least she didn’t fire you.”

Lisa chuckled, though it was mostly to cover up how close she felt to an actual breakdown. “Oh, don’t worry, I’m sure that’s still on the table.”

Chaeyoung gave her a sympathetic pat on the back before returning to her own desk. Lisa leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Another crisis averted, but for how long? Jennie’s expectations were always sky-high, and Lisa couldn’t shake the feeling that she was running a marathon she was never going to finish.

Still, despite the constant disasters, there was something about working under Jennie Kim that kept Lisa on her toes. Maybe it was the challenge. Maybe it was the thrill of surviving each day without getting fired.

Or maybe... it was the fact that, for better or worse, Jennie hadn’t completely frozen her out. Sure, she was cold, intense, and terrifying, but there were moments—fleeting ones—where Lisa caught a glimpse of something else. Something softer. Not warmth, exactly, but... less cold.

Lisa shook her head. Don’t get ahead of yourself, Manoban. She’s still your boss. And a terrifying one at that.

With a sigh, she straightened up and prepared for whatever disaster was coming next. Because with Jennie Kim, there was always another one waiting just around the corner.

....

The following week, Lisa found herself staring at yet another email that had her questioning her life choices. It was an invitation to the Kim Industries Annual Networking Gala, an event described in terrifying detail as "an evening of professional networking, business opportunities, and reputation-building." Lisa's interpretation? A room full of rich, overly serious people discussing things she barely understood, while Jennie silently judged her from across the room.

Lisa had barely recovered from the PR meltdown, but the Gala was mandatory. And to make matters worse, Jennie had made it very clear that Lisa was expected to attend. “Networking is an essential skill, Ms. Manoban,” Jennie had said, her voice cold and clinical, as always. “I expect you to observe and learn.”

"Observe and learn" sounded a lot like “Don't embarrass me,” which was basically Jennie’s life motto.

Lisa stared at herself in the mirror the night of the Gala, tugging at her dress. It was sleek, black, and most importantly simple. She wasn’t about to make the same mistake she’d made at the dinner event, where she had been the only person who managed to look both underdressed and overdressed at the same time.

“You got this, Lisa,” she muttered to her reflection. “Just smile, nod, and avoid any mention of cats.”

---

When Lisa arrived at the venue, a luxury hotel ballroom that screamed money, she was greeted by the sight of impeccably dressed business elites mingling and sipping champagne. The lighting was dim, elegant chandeliers casting a soft glow over the room. Waiters moved around with trays of hors d’oeuvres that looked more like art than food.

Lisa scanned the room nervously, spotting Jennie almost immediately. As usual, Jennie looked flawless her dark, fitted dress exuding authority, her hair perfectly styled, and her expression just as unreadable as always. She was in conversation with several high-profile executives, all of whom seemed to be hanging on her every word. Lisa made a mental note to avoid that circle at all costs.

“Alright, Lisa, time to blend in,” she whispered to herself. She grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and took a sip immediately regretting it when the bubbles nearly made her choke. Great start.

Lisa took a deep breath and made her way toward a group of mid-level managers, offering a friendly smile as she approached. “Hi, I’m Lisa, Jennie Kim’s assistant,” she introduced herself, trying to sound casual.

One of the men, clearly not impressed, raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you’re Jennie’s assistant? I heard she was tough to work for.”

Lisa laughed awkwardly. “Tough? Well, I wouldn’t say that. She’s more like… intense. You know, very detail-oriented. No big deal, just the absolute highest standards at all times.” She forced another smile, hoping to steer the conversation somewhere safer.

The man nodded, unimpressed. “She’s known for being ruthless in the industry. Hard to imagine someone lasting long as her assistant.”

Lisa’s smile faltered. “Well, I’ve lasted... a few months so far. So, you know. That’s something.”

Another person in the group a woman with sharp features gave Lisa a polite smile. “It must be quite an experience working under someone like Jennie Kim. She’s built quite the reputation.”

Lisa tried to laugh it off. “Oh, yeah. It’s like boot camp. For corporate warriors.” She took another sip of her champagne, this time managing not to choke. “But hey, if I survive this job, I figure I can survive anything.”

The group chuckled politely, but Lisa could tell they were already losing interest in her. Great, Lisa. You’re officially boring them. She awkwardly excused herself from the conversation, mumbling something about getting more champagne, and retreated to the far corner of the room.

As she stood by the wall, mentally regrouping, she spotted Jennie making her way toward her. Lisa’s heart did a little flip not because she was excited to see her boss, but because Jennie’s expression was even frostier than usual.

Lisa straightened up, trying to look professional. “Ms. Kim! Enjoying the party?”

Jennie’s eyes narrowed. “Networking, Ms. Manoban. Not standing in a corner.”

Lisa gave a sheepish smile. “Oh, right. Networking. Yeah, I’ve been... doing a lot of that.” She paused. “People love hearing about how terrifying it is to work for you, by the way. Big hit.”

Jennie didn’t react, but her gaze was sharp. “I’m sure they do. I didn’t bring you here to hide in the corner. You should be making connections.”

Lisa shifted nervously. “I know, I know. It’s just... these events aren’t exactly my thing. You know me more of a ‘sit quietly and do my job’ kind of person.”

Jennie tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. “This job requires more than ‘sitting quietly.’ You need to be adaptable. Observant. And capable of engaging with people, no matter the situation.”

Lisa nodded, feeling a bit like a child being scolded. “Right. Adaptable. Engaging. I can do that. Totally.”

Jennie didn’t say anything, but Lisa could tell she wasn’t convinced. Before she could respond, Jennie’s attention was pulled away by another executive who came over to introduce himself. Lisa watched as Jennie instantly shifted gears, smoothly transitioning into business mode with the kind of grace that Lisa could only dream of.

As Jennie engaged with the executive, Lisa stood awkwardly to the side, feeling like a decorative plant.

Okay, Lisa, time to redeem yourself, she thought. Spotting another group of people nearby, she took a deep breath and approached, pasting on her most confident smile.

“Hi! I’m Lisa, Jennie Kim’s assistant,” she introduced herself, this time trying to exude more confidence.

The group, thankfully, seemed friendlier than the last. One of the women smiled warmly. “Oh, I’ve heard about you! You’re the one who survived the PR disaster last week, right?”

Lisa’s face turned bright red. “Uh, yeah. That was... me. It was a team effort, though.”

The woman laughed. “I’d say surviving Jennie Kim’s scrutiny is impressive enough.”

Lisa relaxed slightly. “Yeah, well, she hasn’t fired me yet, so I must be doing something right.”

The group chuckled, and for the first time that night, Lisa felt like she was fitting in. They started talking about the tech industry and upcoming projects, and Lisa did her best to contribute, nodding along even when she didn’t fully understand every term being thrown around.

Okay, maybe this networking thing isn’t so bad.

But, as usual, her brief moment of confidence was shattered when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to find Jennie standing behind her, her expression as unreadable as ever.

“Ms. Manoban,” Jennie said, her tone calm but firm. “I need you to handle a situation.”

Lisa blinked. “A situation? Right now?”

Jennie nodded, her gaze shifting toward the entrance of the ballroom. “The CEO of one of our partner companies has just arrived, and it seems there’s been a misunderstanding with his seating arrangement. I need you to resolve it.”

Lisa felt a wave of panic. “A seating arrangement? Oh, sure, no problem. I’ll just... go fix that.” She started to walk away, then turned back. “Which CEO is it?”

Jennie’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if Lisa should already know. “Mr. Park, of Park tech. He’s not pleased.”

Lisa gulped. “Got it. On it.”

---

Lisa practically power-walked toward the entrance, scanning the crowd for Mr. Park. She spotted him easily a tall, grumpy-looking man in a gray suit, talking to one of the hotel staff with a less-than-pleased expression.

“Mr. Park!” Lisa called, hurrying over with a bright smile. “Hi! I’m Lisa, Jennie Kim’s assistant. I heard there was an issue with your seat?”

Mr. Park turned to her, frowning. “Yes. Apparently, I’ve been seated at a table with junior partners. I’m the CEO of Park tech I should be seated with the executives.”

Lisa winced internally. Great. “I completely understand, sir. I’m so sorry about the mix-up. I’ll get it sorted out right away.”

She quickly pulled up the seating chart on her phone, scanning for an available spot at the executive table. To her horror, the table was already full.

Okay, Lisa, think fast.

“Right,” she said, stalling. “It looks like there was a slight error, but I’ll move some things around and get you a seat with the execs. Can I offer you a drink while you wait?”

Mr. Park sighed. “Fine.”

Lisa hurried over to one of the waiters, snagging a glass of wine for Mr. Park before rushing back to update the seating chart. After a few minutes of frantic tapping on her phone, she managed to rearrange the seating assignments, squeezing Mr. Park in without offending anyone else.

She returned to Mr. Park, breathless but smiling. “All set! Your seat is ready, and again, I’m really sorry about the confusion.”

Mr. Park nodded, still not thrilled but at least no longer glaring. “Thank you.”

As he headed toward his table, Lisa let out a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

Crisis averted.

Just as she was about to retreat back to her corner of the ballroom, she felt a presence beside her. Turning, she found Jennie standing there, her arms crossed and her gaze cool as always.

“Handled?” Jennie asked, her tone neutral.

Lisa nodded, trying to sound casual. “Yep! All sorted. No angry CEOs on my watch.”

Jennie studied her for a moment, then nodded slightly. “Good.”

Lisa couldn’t help but grin, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment. “See? I can handle these things.”

Jennie didn’t respond, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes. Something that wasn’t quite approval, but... something less cold.

“Don’t get too comfortable, Ms. Manoban,” Jennie said coolly, turning on her heel and walking back toward the crowd.

Lisa watched her go, smiling to herself. Sure, Jennie was still terrifying, still as cold as ice but for once, Lisa felt like she hadn’t just survived the night. She’d actually done something right.

And that? Well, that was progress.

.....

The Monday following the Gala, Lisa arrived at the office with a renewed sense of determination. Sure, the event had been stressful, but she had survived not only that, she had fixed things. She was feeling confident, maybe even a little too confident.

But as the saying goes, pride comes before the fall.

Lisa had barely made it to her desk when Jennie called her into the office. No pleasantries, just the usual clipped, “Ms. Manoban, now.”

Taking a deep breath, Lisa walked into Jennie’s pristine office, bracing herself for whatever new challenge was about to be thrown her way.

Jennie, of course, was already working, looking up only briefly when Lisa entered. “There’s a merger meeting this afternoon,” Jennie said, her voice as cold and efficient as ever. “I need you to prepare the files and arrange for the department heads to be present. We’re meeting in the boardroom at 3:00.”

Lisa nodded quickly, pulling out her phone to make notes. “Got it. Files, department heads, boardroom. Anything else?”

Jennie paused, her gaze flicking up to meet Lisa’s. “And I’d appreciate it if you avoided any... unusual incidents this time.”

Lisa blinked. “Unusual incidents?”

Jennie’s expression didn’t change. “No flying phones. No misplaced documents. And certainly no cats on the projector.”

Lisa’s mouth fell open in mock offense. “I’ll have you know, that cat was adorable. I’m just saying people love animals. It was probably the best part of the presentation.”

Jennie didn’t even blink. “Ms. Manoban, do I need to remind you that professionalism is non-negotiable?”

Lisa gave her a sheepish grin. “Nope! You’ve made that crystal clear. No cats, no chaos. Got it.”

Jennie returned her attention to her computer, clearly dismissing her. “Good. I’ll see you at the meeting.”

Lisa walked out of the office, grinning to herself. Sure, Jennie was strict, but there was something almost entertaining about how seriously she took everything. It was like trying to impress a statue made of ice impossible, but kind of fun in its own terrifying way.

---

The rest of the morning went smoothly, or at least as smoothly as things ever went for Lisa. She managed to get all the department heads on board, prepped the files for the merger meeting, and even triple-checked the AV equipment to make sure there would be no surprise cat photos this time.

By the time the afternoon rolled around, Lisa was feeling good about the meeting. She grabbed her tablet and headed for the elevator, ready to get everything set up in the boardroom.

But, of course, nothing ever went according to plan when Lisa was involved.

As she stepped into the elevator, she hit the button for the top floor and leaned back, tapping idly on her tablet. Just as the doors were about to close, someone else stepped in. Lisa glanced up, and her stomach did a little flip.

It was Jennie.

Lisa quickly straightened, awkwardly clutching her tablet like it was a shield. “Oh, hey! Heading to the meeting?”

Jennie gave her a cool glance. “Obviously.”

Right. Dumb question, Lisa.

They stood in silence as the elevator ascended, the soft hum of the machinery the only sound. Lisa fidgeted, glancing at Jennie out of the corner of her eye. How did Jennie always manage to look so composed? It was like she had a force field around her that blocked out all forms of chaos and Lisa was all chaos.

Just as the elevator reached the mid-level floors, it jolted suddenly, then came to a complete stop. The lights flickered once, and then the entire elevator went dark.

Lisa froze, her eyes wide. “Uh... did that just...?”

Jennie sighed, her tone completely calm. “It appears we’re stuck.”

Lisa let out a nervous laugh, even though panic was already setting in. “Stuck. Right. No big deal. Happens all the time. I mean, it’s just an elevator, right? What’s the worst that could...”

She stopped herself, realising she was about to jinx the situation. She reached for the emergency button and pressed it, only to hear a faint, static-filled message from the other end.

“This is building security. We’re aware of the issue and will have it resolved shortly. Please remain calm.”

Lisa let out a breath. “Okay. See? They’ve got this. No need to panic.”

Jennie stood perfectly still, arms crossed, her face as impassive as ever. “I’m not panicking.”

“Right,” Lisa said quickly. “Me neither. Totally calm. This is fine. I love elevators.”

The two stood in awkward silence for a few more minutes, the dim emergency lights casting a soft glow in the otherwise pitch-black elevator. Lisa could feel the tension building not just from being stuck, but from the fact that she was stuck alone with Jennie Kim, who looked like she was contemplating ways to make this elevator situation go away through sheer willpower.

Lisa cleared her throat, trying to ease the tension. “So, uh, any plans this weekend?”

Jennie shot her a look that could’ve frozen water. “I assume you’re making small talk because you find this situation uncomfortable.”

Lisa blinked. “Well, yeah. Aren’t you uncomfortable?”

Jennie didn’t miss a beat. “No.”

Of course she’s not. Lisa bit her lip, trying to think of a way to make this less awkward. “You know, I was once stuck in an elevator for six hours. But I had snacks, so it wasn’t too bad. Do you think there’s any food in here? Maybe some emergency crackers?”

Jennie raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Lisa took that as her cue to keep talking.

“I mean, not that I’m hungry right now or anything. Just thinking ahead. You know, in case we’re here for a while. Which we won’t be. Obviously. I mean, it’s probably just a small mechanical glitch. Happens all the time. It’ll be fixed in no time. But, if it’s not....”

“Ms. Manoban,” Jennie interrupted, her voice firm. “You’re rambling.”

Lisa shut her mouth, nodding. “Right. Sorry. It’s a nervous habit.”

Jennie’s gaze softened, but only slightly. “I can see that.”

Another minute of silence passed, and Lisa could practically hear her own thoughts screaming in her head. Jennie, meanwhile, looked like she could sit in that elevator for hours without breaking a sweat.

After what felt like an eternity, the elevator jolted again and slowly started moving. The lights flickered back on, and Lisa let out a long sigh of relief.

“Well, that was... fun,” Lisa said, trying to smile. “Glad we survived that ordeal.”

Jennie didn’t respond, but as the elevator doors opened, she gave Lisa a look something that was neither a glare nor a smile, but somewhere in between. It was the closest thing to an expression Lisa had seen from Jennie all day.

“Let’s go,” Jennie said, stepping out of the elevator.

Lisa followed behind, shaking her head. “Man, you really are unshakable. I would’ve been freaking out in there if it weren’t for you. Guess I have a lot to learn.”

Jennie glanced at her, her voice cool but not harsh. “Perhaps. But you’ve already improved.”

Lisa stopped in her tracks. “Wait... what?”

Jennie kept walking, not turning back. “The meeting is about to start, Ms. Manoban.”

Lisa blinked, staring after her in disbelief. Had Jennie Kim the Jennie Kim just given her a compliment? It was hard to tell, but it sounded like one. Either way, Lisa couldn’t stop the grin spreading across her face as she hurried to catch up.

---

The merger meeting went smoothly, with Jennie dominating the conversation as usual. Lisa, for her part, managed to take detailed notes without dropping anything or spilling coffee. By the time the meeting ended, she felt like she had truly nailed it.

As the department heads filed out of the room, Lisa stayed behind to gather her things. Jennie was still at the head of the table, reviewing some documents, and Lisa couldn’t resist speaking up.

“Hey, about the elevator thing earlier... thanks for not letting me spiral into full-blown panic mode.”

Jennie didn’t look up from her papers. “I didn’t do anything.”

Lisa chuckled. “Well, sometimes doing nothing is more helpful than you think. Anyway, I appreciate it.”

Jennie glanced up, her expression as neutral as ever. “You did fine, Ms. Manoban. Just... try to avoid getting stuck in elevators next time.”

Lisa grinned. “I’ll do my best. But, knowing me, it’s probably inevitable.”

Jennie’s lips twitched ever so slightly, as though she was suppressing a smile. “Just make sure it doesn’t interfere with your work.”

Lisa gave a mock salute. “You got it, boss.”

As she left the boardroom, Lisa couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of accomplishment. Sure, Jennie was still as cold as a glacier, but there was something there just the tiniest crack in the ice. Maybe, just maybe, she was getting through to her boss.

Or maybe I’m just losing it, Lisa thought, smiling to herself as she headed back to her desk. Either way, things were starting to feel... almost normal. At least for now

.

And in the world of Lisa and Jennie, that was progress.

.....

Next day.....

Lisa was determined. After the elevator incident, the PR meltdown, and surviving another round of ice-cold feedback from Jennie, she felt like she was starting to get the hang of things sort of. Today, though, was different. Today, Lisa had to give a presentation.

It wasn’t just any presentation, either. Jennie had asked Lisa to present her findings from the department reviews she’d been compiling over the past month. It wasn’t a small task. It involved reporting back to all the department heads and executives, with Jennie watching her every move like a hawk. No pressure, right?

The morning of the presentation, Lisa stood in the restroom, giving herself a pep talk in the mirror. “Okay, Lisa. You’ve got this. You’ve read the reports, memorized the data, and there’s no way absolutely no way you’re going to mess this up.”

A woman washing her hands next to Lisa gave her a curious look before walking out, leaving Lisa alone with her motivational speech.

“Just stay cool, don’t talk too much, and definitely don’t accidentally insult anyone important,” Lisa continued, adjusting her blouse. “Professional. Serious. You’re Jennie Kim’s assistant. You’ve survived worse.”

With one last nod of determination, she left the restroom and headed to the boardroom.

---

By the time the meeting started, Lisa’s nerves were at an all-time high. The room was packed with department heads, all waiting for her to deliver a polished, professional presentation. Jennie, of course, was seated at the head of the table, her gaze cold and expectant. No pressure at all.

Lisa took a deep breath, standing in front of the screen, her tablet in hand. “Good morning, everyone!” she started, her voice a little too cheerful for the occasion. “Today, I’ll be presenting the findings from the department reviews, which cover performance metrics, project timelines, and areas for improvement.”

She clicked the remote, and the first slide appeared on the screen. So far, so good. No glitches, no unexpected cat photos, no technical failures. Lisa breathed a small sigh of relief.

“As you can see, our marketing department has seen a significant boost in engagement following the latest campaign, with a 20% increase in...” Lisa paused, noticing something odd on the screen.

The graph she had so carefully prepared was upside down.

Her stomach dropped. “Uh... so this graph might look a little... inverted, but just flip it in your minds and... voilà! A 20% increase in engagement.”

A few people in the room chuckled politely, but Jennie’s gaze remained as cold as the Arctic. Lisa hurried to click through to the next slide.

“Moving on!” she said, her voice just a tad higher than before. The next slide appeared, showing a bar chart of sales numbers. Lisa glanced at the chart and frowned.

Why are there cartoon monkeys on this slide?

Her eyes widened as she realized what had happened. She had used a template from a previous report on trends in entertainment content and hadn’t deleted the placeholder images.

“Uh, please ignore the monkeys,” Lisa blurted, her cheeks burning. “They’re not part of the sales strategy... though maybe they should be, considering how things are going.”

More laughter from the room, but Jennie was not laughing. In fact, Jennie’s expression hadn’t changed at all, which was somehow more terrifying than if she’d scolded Lisa on the spot. It was the silent judgment that really got to Lisa.

She cleared her throat, desperately clicking through the slides. “So, as I was saying, sales are up across the board monkeys aside. And if we take a look at the next quarter’s projections, we can see that....”

The screen went black.

Lisa stared at it in horror. “Uh... what just happened?”

One of the IT guys in the back quickly got to work, mumbling something about a “power surge,” but Lisa knew exactly what this was: karma. The universe hates me. Jennie is going to murder me with her eyes.

Jennie’s voice broke through the awkward silence. “Ms. Manoban, perhaps you could continue without the slides?”

Lisa’s heart raced, but she nodded quickly. “Right! Of course. I can just... keep going.” She glanced down at her tablet, trying to salvage what was left of her presentation.

For the next twenty minutes, Lisa stumbled through the rest of her report, reading off the numbers, trying to explain the performance metrics without the visual aids she had spent hours preparing. By the time she finished, she was sweating, her heart pounding in her chest.

“...and that concludes the report,” she said finally, forcing a tight smile. “Any questions?”

There was a pause. A long, agonizing pause.

One of the department heads raised a hand. “Yeah, I’m still confused about the monkeys.”

Lisa’s forced smile twitched. “Those were... not supposed to be there.”

Jennie remained silent, her gaze unreadable. Lisa’s palms were sweating, but she managed to stand there, waiting for Jennie’s inevitable critique.

After what felt like an eternity, Jennie spoke, her voice calm and collected as always. “Thank you for the report, Ms. Manoban. Despite the... visual setbacks, your analysis was thorough.”

Lisa blinked, barely able to believe what she was hearing. Was that... a compliment?

Jennie stood, gathering her things. “We’ll follow up with the department heads individually,” she said, addressing the room. “Please ensure your teams are briefed on the performance metrics by end of day.”

The executives began to file out of the room, leaving Lisa standing there, still clutching her tablet, in a state of mild shock. Jennie hadn’t torn her apart. She hadn’t even scolded her. Lisa didn’t know whether to feel relieved or terrified that the storm was still coming.

Jennie remained at the head of the table, tidying up her papers. Lisa took a deep breath and approached cautiously. “So... about the monkeys... and the upside-down graph... and the blackout...”

Jennie didn’t look up, her voice as cool as ever. “It wasn’t your finest presentation.”

Lisa winced. “Yeah, I know. I’m really sorry about that. I swear, I triple-checked everything, but somehow...”

Jennie finally looked at her, her expression as unreadable as ever. “Mistakes happen, Ms. Manoban. What’s important is how you handle them.”

Lisa blinked. “Wait, so... you’re not mad?”

Jennie’s gaze was level. “I’m not pleased. But I’m also aware that you’ve improved since you started. Slightly.”

“Slightly,” Lisa repeated with a grin. “I’ll take it.”

Jennie continued to gather her things, as though the conversation wasn’t particularly important. “Just ensure that the follow-up report is error-free.”

Lisa nodded vigorously. “You got it. No monkeys. No upside-down graphs. Just... pure, boring data.”

Jennie didn’t react, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes again something Lisa could only describe as faint amusement, though Jennie would probably never admit it.

“Good,” Jennie said simply. “Now, I have a meeting to attend. Don’t let this happen again.”

Lisa mock-saluted. “Aye, aye, Captain Kim. I’m on it.”

Jennie gave her one last, almost imperceptible glance before turning and walking out of the boardroom, her heels clicking against the floor with the precision of a metronome.

Lisa watched her go, her grin slowly widening. Sure, the presentation had been a mess. Sure, Jennie had given her the usual icy critique. But somehow, Lisa didn’t feel crushed. In fact, for the first time since she started working for Jennie, she felt like she was actually making progress.

As she left the boardroom and headed back to her desk, Lisa couldn’t help but laugh quietly to herself. No flying phones, no elevator disasters, and Jennie didn’t murder me with her eyes. I’m calling that a win.

Maybe she wasn’t a perfect assistant, and maybe Jennie would never crack a smile in her presence, but for now, Lisa was okay with that. Because if she could survive Jennie Kim’s scrutiny and still keep her sense of humour intact, she could survive anything.

Even cartoon monkeys.

....

The next week, Lisa arrived at the office with a renewed sense of purpose. After surviving the upside-down graphs, the monkeys, and Jennie’s frosty feedback, she was feeling like she could finally handle anything that came her way. Today, though, was simple. No big presentations, no networking events just a regular workday.

As she stepped off the elevator, coffee in hand, Lisa took a deep breath and smiled. Today is going to be fine, she told herself. I’m just going to stay in my lane, do my work, and avoid any disasters.

But, of course, fate had other plans.

Lisa had barely made it to her desk when her phone buzzed with a message from Jennie: My office. Now.

She gulped. Okay, maybe not as relaxed as I hoped.

She knocked on Jennie’s door and stepped inside. As always, Jennie was seated behind her desk, perfectly poised and surrounded by neatly stacked documents. Her hair was immaculate, her expression as frosty as ever. Lisa had long since given up trying to figure out how Jennie managed to look flawless no matter what.

“Good morning, Ms. Kim!” Lisa said with her usual cheerful tone. “You called?”

Jennie didn’t look up from her computer. “I need you to handle something. There’s a client meeting in an hour with the representatives from JH Group. I’ll need coffee and refreshments prepared before they arrive.”

Lisa’s stomach flipped. JH Group? Weren’t they one of the company’s biggest clients? “Got it. Coffee and refreshments, no problem.”

Jennie’s eyes flicked up briefly. “Ensure that it’s done correctly, Ms. Manoban. I don’t want any mistakes.”

Lisa gave her a thumbs-up, her confidence wavering just a bit. “Of course! I’m all over it. No mistakes. The coffee will be... perfect.”

Jennie returned her attention to her computer, clearly dismissing her. “Make sure you’re not late.”

Lisa spun on her heel and practically sprinted out of the office. She had an hour. I can totally handle this, she thought as she made her way to the break room.

---

The first half of the task went smoothly. Lisa placed the order for the catered snacks and checked the client meeting room twice, making sure the table was spotless and the seating was perfectly arranged. She even took a moment to practice her “professional assistant” face in the mirror, giving herself a serious nod. You’ve got this, Lisa.

All that was left was the coffee. Lisa headed to the break room, determined to make this part absolutely flawless. She knew how Jennie liked her coffee..... black, strong, and, of course, delivered without any drama. She filled a tray with cups, cream, sugar, and carefully brewed a fresh pot.

But, in classic Lisa fashion, things didn’t stay calm for long.

As she was pouring the coffee into one of the cups, the handle of the pot slipped slightly in her hand, and before she knew it, a stream of hot coffee was pouring directly onto the pristine white tablecloth covering the refreshment table.

Lisa froze, watching in horror as the coffee soaked into the fabric, leaving a large, unmistakable brown stain.

“No, no, no, no,” she muttered, grabbing napkins and trying to mop up the mess. The stain wasn’t budging, and the more she dabbed at it, the worse it seemed to get. The pristine tablecloth now looked like a disaster zone.

Okay, think, Lisa. You can fix this.

She darted back into the hallway, scanning for anything that could help. Spotting a nearby janitor’s closet, she rushed over, yanking it open and grabbing a cleaning spray. With a hopeful smile, she sprayed the tablecloth, praying it would magically disappear.

It didn’t.

Instead, the cleaning solution made the stain even more obvious, turning it into a massive wet blotch that spread across half the table.

Lisa let out a strangled groan. “This is not happening.”

And then, just to make things worse, the door to the break room creaked open, and in walked Jennie.

Lisa turned around slowly, a fake smile plastered on her face. “Oh! Hi, Ms. Kim. I was just... making sure everything’s... perfect for the meeting.”

Jennie’s eyes scanned the room, quickly landing on the large, coffee-stained disaster of a tablecloth. Her expression didn’t change, but Lisa could feel the judgment radiating off her in waves.

“What happened?” Jennie asked, her voice as cold and calm as ever.

Lisa tried to laugh it off, though it sounded more like a nervous squeak. “Just a little... coffee mishap. But I’ve got it totally under control! No need to panic.”

Jennie’s gaze remained fixed on her, unblinking. “The clients will be here in ten minutes.”

Lisa nodded rapidly, her mind racing. “Right. Ten minutes. I can fix this. I just need... a new tablecloth!”

Without waiting for Jennie’s response, Lisa darted out of the room, practically sprinting down the hall toward the storage closet. She yanked open the door and frantically rummaged through the shelves, searching for a replacement.

After a minute of panicked digging, she finally found a clean, white tablecloth. Grinning in victory, she grabbed it and rushed back to the break room.

Jennie was still standing there, watching as Lisa hastily ripped the stained tablecloth off the table and threw the new one on. It wasn’t perfectly aligned, but it was clean, and that was all that mattered.

“There!” Lisa said, breathing heavily as she stepped back to admire her handiwork. “Crisis averted.”

Jennie’s expression didn’t change. She glanced at her watch. “The clients will be here in two minutes.”

Lisa blinked. “Oh. Well, good thing I work fast, right?”

Jennie’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing. Instead, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving Lisa standing there, sweating and trying to calm her racing heart.

The meeting itself went smoothly at least, as far as Lisa could tell. Jennie had handled the clients with her usual calm professionalism, and despite Lisa’s coffee catastrophe, the refreshments had been a hit.

As the clients left the office, Lisa breathed a sigh of relief. Disaster averted. Mostly.

She returned to the break room to start cleaning up, but before she could get far, Jennie appeared in the doorway, her arms crossed.

“Ms. Manoban,” Jennie said, her voice cool but not harsh. “Do you make a habit of turning every task into a crisis?”

Lisa grinned sheepishly. “Not intentionally, but it does seem to happen a lot, doesn’t it?”

Jennie raised an eyebrow. “That’s an understatement.”

Lisa shrugged, trying to keep things light. “Hey, at least I keep things interesting. If I didn’t make these mistakes, we’d all be bored out of our minds.”

Jennie didn’t respond immediately, but Lisa could tell she was choosing her words carefully. “What matters is that you fix your mistakes. Quickly.”

Lisa straightened, nodding. “Of course. I always try my best to fix things before they get too out of hand.”

Jennie’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, and for a brief second, Lisa thought she saw something other than cold indifference in Jennie’s eyes. But as usual, it was gone before Lisa could really decipher it.

“I’ll expect the reports from today’s meeting by the end of the day,” Jennie said, turning to leave.

Lisa gave a mock salute. “You got it. Reports, no coffee stains. I’ll make sure everything is spotless.”

Jennie didn’t react, but as she walked away, Lisa couldn’t help but feel like she was starting to understand Jennie’s rhythm a little better. Sure, Jennie was cold, and sure, Lisa was still a walking disaster half the time, but somehow, they were managing to survive together.

Later that afternoon, as Lisa was typing up the meeting notes, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Chaeyoung: "How’s life in Jennie Kim’s world of perfection?"

Lisa grinned as she typed her response. "Survived another disaster. Nearly drowned a table in coffee, but hey, Jennie didn’t kill me with her eyes, so I’m calling it a win."

Chaeyoung replied almost immediately. "Seriously, how are you still alive?"

Lisa laughed to herself as she put her phone down, glancing toward Jennie’s office. As intimidating as Jennie could be, Lisa couldn’t help but feel like she was slowly, ever so slowly, earning her boss’s respect.

Or at the very least, Jennie was getting used to her chaotic ways.

Baby steps, Lisa thought with a smile, returning to her work.

And if she kept at it, maybe—just maybe—there would be a day when she’d go a full 24 hours without a catastrophe.

Maybe.

Continue....