The taste of jealousy

For the first time in nine years, Lee Young-joon arrived at work early—not to review reports, but to watch.

He told himself it was strategic observation.

It was not.

From behind the glass walls of his office, he saw something that made his jaw tighten.

Kim Mi-so was laughing.

Not her polite, professional smile.

Laughing.

And the reason stood far too close.

A newly appointed marketing director—charming, relaxed, with none of Young-joon’s intimidating aura—leaned casually against Mi-so’s desk, holding two cups of coffee.

Young-joon narrowed his eyes.

Who drinks coffee with my secretary?

He immediately pressed the intercom.

“Secretary Kim. My office. Now.”

Mi-so entered moments later, composed as always.

“Yes, Vice Chairman?”

He gestured vaguely. “Who was that man?”

“Director Park from marketing.”

“And why was he smiling?”

She blinked. “Because I told him a joke?”

Young-joon sat up straighter. “You tell jokes?”

The corner of her mouth lifted. “Sometimes.”

He didn’t like this new information.

For years, he had assumed he was the center of her daily world. Seeing her relaxed with someone else unsettled him in ways he couldn’t logically process.

“You seem… comfortable,” he said carefully.

“I am,” she replied.

The word hit harder than he expected.

⸻

That evening, the company held a small celebration for a successful product launch. Employees gathered at a rooftop bar, music floating into the night air.

Young-joon rarely attended such casual events.

Tonight, he did.

And he immediately regretted it.

Director Park was there again—laughing beside Mi-so, offering her a drink, listening closely when she spoke. Too closely.

Young-joon felt something sharp and unfamiliar twist in his chest.

Jealousy.

He approached them smoothly.

“Secretary Kim,” he said, placing a possessive hand lightly at her waist before realizing what he’d done. “We need to discuss tomorrow’s agenda.”

Mi-so looked up at him calmly. “Vice Chairman, it’s 9 p.m.”

Director Park cleared his throat awkwardly and excused himself.

Silence lingered between them.

“You don’t need to scare away my colleagues,” she said softly.

“I wasn’t scaring him,” Young-joon replied defensively. “I was… reminding him.”

“Reminding him of what?”

He hesitated.

Of who you belong to.

But she didn’t belong to him.

Not officially.

Not at all.

The realization stung.

⸻

Later that night, Mi-so stood alone at the edge of the rooftop, city lights shimmering below. Young-joon approached more quietly this time.

“You looked happy,” he said.

“I was.”

“With him?”

“With everyone.”

He swallowed.

“Do you… like him?”

Mi-so turned to face him, studying his expression. For once, there was no arrogance. No flawless confidence. Just vulnerability.

“Vice Chairman,” she said gently, “if I leave this job, I’ll meet many people. I’ll laugh with them. Talk with them. Maybe even date them.”

The word date echoed in his mind like an alarm.

“And that bothers you?” she asked.

“Yes,” he admitted.

It was the most honest thing he had ever said to her.

Mi-so’s eyes softened.

“Why?”

Because I love you.

The words sat at the edge of his lips—but fear held them back. Fear of rejection. Fear of losing control. Fear of needing someone more than they needed him.

Instead, he said quietly, “Because I don’t want someone else standing where I should be.”

Her breath caught slightly.

“And where is that?” she whispered.

Young-joon stepped closer, the city wind brushing between them.

“Next to you.”

For a moment, the world felt still.

No titles.

No hierarchy.

Just a man afraid of losing the woman who had quietly become his heart.

Mi-so looked at him—not as her boss, but as Young-joon.

And for the first time, she saw that his jealousy wasn’t about possession.

It was about love he didn’t yet know how to confess.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***