No One Lasts As His Assistant

The office was too quiet for a Monday morning.

...----------------...

Not the peaceful kind of quiet no.

This kind carried tension. The kind that made people lower their voices… and avoid eye contact.

Two managers stood near the coffee machine, pretending to work while whispering just low enough not to be heard.

“Wait… how many assistants has he gone through now?”

The other sighed, stirring her drink absentmindedly.

“I stopped counting after the sixth.”

“Sixth? That was months ago.”

She leaned in slightly.

“It’s nine.”

“…Nine? You’re joking.”

“I wish I was.”

A pause.

The hum of the office lights filled the silence between them.

Then—

“I heard the last one didn’t even make it a week.”

A quiet scoff.

“A week? She lasted three days.”

“Three days?!”

The first manager shook her head, almost in disbelief.

“At this point, I don’t understand why they even assign him assistants.”

Before the other could respond—

Click.

The sound of the elevator doors opening echoed across the floor.

Every conversation stopped.

Every movement slowed.

And just like that, the entire office shifted.

He had arrived.

⸻

Park Sunghoon didn’t need to say a word to command attention.

He walked through the office with calm, measured steps his presence alone enough to make people straighten their posture and look busy. His expression was unreadable, cold in a way that didn’t need to try.

Sharp eyes. Perfect composure. Not a single strand of hair out of place.

Untouchable.

He didn’t glance at anyone as he passed.

Didn’t greet.

Didn’t acknowledge.

He simply walked into his office—

And closed the door behind him.

⸻

The tension broke instantly.

A few people exhaled. Someone muttered, “I swear my lifespan shortens every time he walks in.”

The two managers exchanged looks.

“…And they just assigned him a new assistant.”

“…Already?”

“Yeah. She starts today.”

A moment of silence.

Then—

“Poor girl.”

⸻

You adjusted your grip on the folder in your hands.

First day.

New job. New environment. New boss.

You had heard the rumors, of course. It was impossible not to. His name alone seemed to carry a reputation that followed him everywhere.

Strict. Cold. Impossible to please.

Some even said—

Cruel.

You weren’t sure how much of it was true. Office gossip had a way of exaggerating things.

Still…

Standing in front of his office door, you couldn’t ignore the slight tension in your chest.

You took a breath.

It’s just a job.

Raising your hand, you knocked.

⸻

“Come in.”

His voice was calm.

Flat.

You pushed the door open slowly.

And there he was.

Seated behind his desk, eyes focused on the documents in front of him, as if your presence hadn’t even registered yet.

For a second, you just stood there.

Then—

“Sir, I’m your new assistant. My name is—”

“Late.”

You froze.

“…Excuse me?”

He didn’t look up.

“You were scheduled to arrive at 9:00. It’s 9:02.”

Your grip tightened slightly around the folder.

“…I apologize. I—”

“If you’re going to work here, don’t be late again.”

His tone wasn’t loud.

But it cut cleanly through the air.

You swallowed, forcing yourself to stay composed.

“…Understood.”

Only then did he finally look up.

And for the first time, your eyes met his.

Sharp.

Observant.

Cold enough to make most people look away.

But you didn’t.

Not immediately.

Something flickered just for a second in his gaze.

Gone as quickly as it appeared.

“…We’ll see how long you last.”

Your breath hitched slightly.

Not from fear.

But from the weight of those words.

⸻

Outside the office, the managers lingered, pretending to organize papers as they waited.

“…Do you think she’s already been scolded?”

“Obviously.”

“…How long are we giving her?”

A pause.

“…Three days.”

“Generous.”

⸻

Inside the office—

You placed the folder neatly on his desk.

“Your schedule for today, sir.”

Sunghoon glanced at it briefly, then back at you.

“…You’re calm.”

It wasn’t a compliment.

It sounded more like… an observation.

You met his gaze again, steady this time.

“I’m just doing my job.”

Another pause.

Longer this time.

Then—

A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.

“…Interesting.”

————

And just like that—

Something had changed.

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