Power & Sex, And... 97
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In the end, Gu the secretary floored it with me in the passenger seat, blasting past Paju all the way to Munsan. It felt like I'd gotten royally screwed over by this crazy bitch. Kim Jeong-gap's issue with the supreme committee had been neatly resolved, only for me to end up in this life-or-risking bullshit.
With a piercing screeech!, she slammed on the brakes. We were on a quiet rural road near Munsan—no streetlights, just desolate countryside. She flicked on the hazard lights and buried her face in the steering wheel, probably catching her breath now that the tension had snapped.
"We're alive, huh?"
That was her first words after lifting her head from the wheel after what felt like ages. Hell yeah, it was a miracle. One pothole, and that insane speed might've flipped the car.
"Gu Secretary, your salary this month's gonna vanish into traffic fines."
"You mad?"
"Don't even have the energy. My pants are soaked."
Truth be told, rage boiled up to the top of my head, but I was too drained to snap—and if yelling set her off again, flooring it into oblivion? No way a scaredy-cat like me could risk that. Not when I had so much life left to live.
"Pfft~ Assemblyman, you look like the type who wouldn't fear death."
"I'm a total coward. Hell, I can't even show you the proof I pissed myself."
"Let's go grab a drink."
She turned the key again.
"Hold up. Can't I drive?"
"Why?"
"I don't even have a son to lay out my funeral rice yet."
"Don't worry. I'll take it slow now."
The ride back was dead silent. She stared straight ahead, laser-focused on driving, while I sat there tensed up, wondering when this woman might flip out again. No guarantee a crazy bitch only goes nuts once.
We crossed Yanghwa Bridge again, pulling into the entrance of my officetel.
"Drop me here. Thanks for the ride."
I unbuckled, ready to hop out, and gave her a nod.
"What're you doing?"
"Getting out."
"You telling a woman to head up alone to the parking lot this late?"
"Huh?"
Her nonsense left me staring blankly.
"I said let's drink."
"This is my place."
"Pfft~ Is this officetel just for you, Assemblyman? I live here too."
"Oh. Right."
No clue when she'd moved in, but hearing she lived in the same building killed my exit. I sat awkwardly as she hunted for parking. Once parked, we hit the elevator—she punched 8, I hit 5.
"Why 5?"
"Gotta go home."
"We're drinking."
"Then..."
I hit 1 again.
"Aigoo~ Why's this ajusshi so clueless? Just come to my place."
"What? No way."
"My fridge is stocked with booze and snacks. Let's drink here."
"At this hour?"
Ding~ The doors slid open.
"Follow me."
She marched off with that. Total absurdity on repeat. No way to bicker in the officetel hallway at night, so I trailed her through the door she'd left open.
"Gu Secretary, let's call it tomorrow. What if someone sees?"
"So what? Drinking ain't a crime."
"Still, this feels like your solo pad."
"I don't sweat that stuff. Quit overthinking and sit."
Swept up in her whirlwind, I'd stumbled into her place. But on the sofa, I took in the room—spotless and feminine, just like her vibe. My unit in the same building felt downright drab by comparison. As I glanced around, she plunked down drinks and snacks on the table. Handed me a glass, poured mine, then ignored it when I reached for the bottle and filled her own.
"Cheers!"
"Gu Secretary, I don't drink."
"I know. Just sip."
We clinked. I brushed lips to glass; she slammed hers back in one go. Refilled, chugged again. Three rounds like that, then she dropped the glass, grabbed a snack, and fixed me with a glare.
"You're something else. Really~"
"Pardon?"
"You're damn good at politics, Park Maru."
"Gu Secretary."
"I'm not Gu Secretary right now. I'm Black Butterfly."
Nothing much to say, so I shut up and watched her. She stared back, then out the window, knocking back drinks nonstop. Had to bail before she got wasted, but her grip on that glass wouldn't quit. Finally, I stood.
"I'm heading out. Lock up and sleep well."
"Where you going? Stay here!"
Slurring now, she yanked me back down.
"Gu Secretary, you gotta sleep to work tomorrow. Word gets out, we're screwed."
"Why? Scared of rumors you'll bang your secretary? Or me clinging to your pant leg?"
"Yeah. I'm scared."
"Relax. I'm chill. Probably a hundred guys have crashed in this room."
"Gu Secretary. Enough."
"Park Maru, you know you're a bad guy, right?"
"Yeah. I know. So sleep."
"Bad guy! Park Maru, bad guy!"
For a solid 30 minutes, I just repeated "Yes, I'm a bad guy" while wrestling her words, until she conked out from exhaustion. Tucked her into bed, then dragged home.
Morning, I swung by the Members' Office Building, then headed to the election HQ. Gu Secretary greeted me with a bright smile, like last night's chaos never happened. Brought in Kim Sil-jang for a quick update—everything on track, no worries.
Soon as he left, my phone buzzed with a KakaoTalk alert. Thought it was Ara, but nope—Gu Secretary.
Seemed sorted. I sighed in relief, slumping back in my chair.
Knock knock.
The door cracked open.
"Ah! Gu Secretary."
"Got a sec?"
"Sure. Sit. What's up?"
"Can I step away from the online team to help Jeong-ah?"
"Talk to the online team lead first."
"'Adak'-nim already okayed it."
"Then coordinate with the current secretary. I don't even know where I am today."
"Thanks."
Back to her poised, confident self from yesterday. Deciding to team up with Jeong-ah meant she'd made up her mind. Jeong-ah wouldn't shun her, and she'd need Gu's admin skills anyway—win-win. No reason for me to interfere; they'd sort it.
Morning brought the office flooding with delegates and "encouragement-visit" assemblymen. Kept me greeting and seeing off guests nonstop. But among all those lawmakers, not one gave off "I'd work with this guy" vibes.
"Oppa. Can you talk?"
"Yeah. Alone now."
After waving off visitors, Jeong-ah called. Calling me "Oppa" meant she was solo too.
"Gu Secretary's coming to Busan— you know?"
"She already looped you in?"
"Yeah. On her way to Seoul Station."
"Told you to watch and learn—guess it lit a fire. If you're cool, teaming up sounds good."
"I'd love her help, but without her here for your work..."
"This place is fine. Any issues there?"
"Nah. Not alone, and one of our cafe ops has a van—plenty of space, comfy."
Jeong-ah welcomed it too. Working together, they'd pick up tricks—her admin skills sharpening, him spotting her knack for maxing tiny details. If Gu unlocked that in Jeong-ah and built her own edge from it, it'd boost Han Seong-su short-term, me long-term.
Kim Jeong-gap was off my plate, but Han Seong-su, Park Seong-hwan, and Jeong supreme needed election pushes. Next Wednesday, I'd play my hidden card to rake in chips. Weekending tomorrow and next, I'd meet its stars. Too valuable to waste—perfect timing for max impact.
Part 3 of The Secretary's Women kicks off fresh today, January 21st.
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