The CEO Follows Me Home
To put it in restaurant terms, it was like the owner following me all the way home. …………… A chief researcher reporting directly to the CEO, a 50% salary increase, and my own private office. 'It's an incredibly good deal. I guess I should accept... No, do I even have a way to refuse in the first place? She's speaking persuasively now, but in the end, Choi Seori is the CEO, and I'm just an employee.'
As I hesitated, unable to decide, Choi Seori set down the remote and looked at me.
"Let me say it again—I'm not forcing you. If you don't want it, you can keep developing in your original role. But... Minseo. Thinking about what you showed me yesterday, I believe this is the best option. I don't want to lose you."
Her voice trembled faintly on that last sentence. It felt like the Choi Seori from yesterday, hiding behind her social mask, was finally peeking out now that we were alone. 'I don't want to lose you... Damn.' That quiver in her voice tugged at a corner of my heart with a sharp ache. I couldn't tell if it was Han Minseo's emotion or mine. Honestly, it felt a bit suspicious too. A one-person department reporting directly to the CEO? It was basically her personal secretary. And the office was right next to hers.
'What kind of work does she plan to assign me to create this role? I really have no idea.'
Still, the immediate conditions were undeniably tempting. A 50% raise, flexible hours, and an independent solo office. What company in the world would offer that to an average employee who wasn't even exceptional?
'Yeah. At the very least, it's a huge step up in comfort right now, isn't it?'
Moving to the new role meant no more wrestling with code until dawn. No need to worry about the other team members' eyes on me either.
'If it doesn't work out, I can just coast on the paycheck and jump ship. No need to overthink it.'
With conditions like these, I could coast comfortably for a year or two. And with a much fatter paycheck. If the new role's environment didn't suit me? I'd quit without a second thought and find something else. So it should be fine. I forced myself to that conclusion. It absolutely wasn't because I was worried about Choi Seori. Really.
"Got it. I'll do as you say, Senior Seori."
As soon as I gave my short reply, the tension drained from her shoulders like melting snow.
"...Thank you."
It was a very small voice. Not from CEO Choi Seori, but from Senior Seori. But she quickly straightened up, switching back to her businesslike tone as if nothing had happened.
"Then start at the new office next Monday. I'll handle it with HR."
"Yes."
"You can go back to work now."
I stood and headed for the door. Just as I grabbed the handle to leave, a voice came from behind me.
"Minseo... thank you so much."
I paused with the door open and turned back. Choi Seori was already seated, staring at her monitor. But... her gaze wasn't on the screen. Her unfocused eyes were aimed somewhere in the void, a strangely ecstatic smile playing on her lips.
……………
About ten minutes before quitting time, the office was already a game of chicken. A few bold employees were packing up. That's when the door to the CEO's office opened, and Choi Seori emerged. Without a hint of hesitation, she walked straight to me. Naturally, every eye in the office locked onto us.
"Head out on time today. Oh, and no more overtime from now on. Your role's changing anyway, right?"
Her voice was loud—deliberately so, with force behind it. Loud enough for all the surrounding employees to hear.
'This... isn't just for me. Actually, it's meant for the other employees to hear, not me.'
She was clearly planning to spread the word that I'd joined her inner circle. 'Whatever.'
No reason to refuse clocking out early. Compared to being stuck until dawn yesterday, it felt like heaven.
"Yes, understood."
I shut down my computer and grabbed my bag. I heard whispers around me but ignored them. The elevator carrying me reached the first floor. I pushed through the revolving door and fully exited the building. No one was behind me when I glanced back.
"Ugh... I'm exhausted, for real."
The words slipped out on their own. Still, it was a much better day than yesterday. Somehow, I'd gotten promoted and switched roles. And on-time quits were guaranteed from now on. I boarded the subway like Han Minseo's usual routine from his memories. Swaying amid the rush-hour crowd, I even felt like I'd successfully adapted to his daily life after just one day.
"If tomorrow's like this... it won't be so bad."
My guard was completely down. Even the somewhat unstable-looking Choi Seori seemed to have regained her mental balance, and I'd be able to work comfortably in the new role. With that thought, I gazed at the Han River scenery flashing by outside the window.
The subway arrived at my stop. As I passed through the turnstile, the familiar neighborhood greeted me. But near the exit, under a streetlamp, I spotted a familiar face. Naturally, it was Choi Seori. It couldn't be Kim Daeri.
She looked a bit tired, standing still and waiting for someone. In her hand was a shopping bag from the department store's food hall.
'Why is Choi Seori here?'
This was the subway station near my house. It was far from her place and quite a distance from the office too. So the someone she was waiting for had to be me.
'Something pretty embarrassing did happen. But didn't it all work out okay?'
Did she have more apologies? Or some demands? I hesitated briefly, then approached. I couldn't get home without passing under that streetlamp where she stood anyway. As our distance closed, she spotted me and gave a faint smile.
"You're here, Minseo."
Her tone was utterly casual, like we'd promised to meet here every day.
"Ah, yes. CEO—"
Her expression clouded instantly. I hurriedly corrected myself.
"—Senior Seori."
Her face brightened again. Was Choi Seori someone whose expressions shifted that quickly?
"What brings you here?"
She lifted the shopping bag slightly.
"Your dinner. Considering yesterday, you need to eat properly. I'll make it for you."
'Suddenly offering to cook?'
We'd already had lunch together—now dinner too? Her continued favors were starting to feel burdensome. But—'Is there really a reason to refuse...?'
I'd just planned to boil some instant ramen at home like Han Minseo usually did. And with her going this far, refusing might lead to who-knows-what. Above all, that department store food hall bag was tempting me. After the 50,000-won lunch bento, now premium ingredients too.
'Having money sure is nice.'
……………
The silence stretched on. While I was lost in thought, the faint smile faded from her face. Hurt and disappointment clouded her expression. She averted her gaze and bowed her head slightly. Her grip tightened on the shopping bag—it was obvious.
"...I'm overstepping, aren't I."
Her voice shrank to a whisper, like it was crawling into a mouse hole.
"Sorry. I won't bother you."
She turned to leave, her steps listless. Seeing those slumped shoulders, bewilderment surged up.
'Ah... Did I stay quiet too long without saying anything? My bad.'
The CEO of a spotlight unicorn company, slinking away that dejectedly over a single dinner refusal? It was pitiful, whatever the case. I even felt a twinge of guilt. Sure, Han Minseo had been pretty harshly tormented by her lately. But was it bad enough to warrant her acting this subservient? ...Hard to say.
My legs moved on their own. As she turned to go, I gently took the shopping bag from her hand and transferred it to mine. She stopped in surprise, her eyes wide as she looked at me. It was a face I'd never seen before, so a playful smile slipped out unbidden.
"I never said I didn't want to, Senior Seori?"
Relief spread across her face. Unable to hide her joy, she kept glancing down and up at me, gauging my reaction.
"...Really? Thank goodness...."
'Senior Seori... I never noticed how cute she could be... Wait a sec.'
I froze. Had I just thought of her as 'Senior Seori'? Not just saying it out loud, but naturally in my mind.
'Am I starting to merge with Han Minseo's memories and sense of self already?'
It'd only been two days since possessing him, and the boundary between me and him was already blurring? The thought was a little unsettling, but now wasn't the time for that.
'Whatever. I'll worry about it when I'm less busy.'
I turned with the bag in hand.
"Let's hurry, Senior Seori. I'm hungry."
She fell in step beside me.