he looked up to the wall clock, it was already nine pm, he leaned back on his chair as a heavy sigh escaped his lips. it's already been a few weeks since he replaced his father as ceo in the lee company—his father's company to be exact.

it wasn't exhausting for him, to be honest. for him it was very easy, he's the type of person that likes to order people around, it pleases him, to say the least.

the sound of his phone going off caused him to flinch on his spot, he picked up the device to see who was calling him, "oh, dad?"

"mark!" his father greeted him on the other side of the phone, "how are you, my son?"

"i'm doing good, dad." mark replies, as he stood up from his seat and started cleaning his desk.

"that's great to hear," mark only nods to himself as a response, "well i called cause i wanted to ask if you finally got yourself a secretary..."

here's this topic again, mark thought to himself. he didn't bother to reply and only waits for his father to continue what he was going to say, "i know a great ceo needs one."

"hm... i don't think i need one," he pauses, "i'm going to be a ceo in this company for five months, and then you'll be back here, right?"

the only reason why he's in this position right now is because of his father who went away from his position for a few months and needed someone to lead the company while he's away, why would he need a secretary?

"we will never know." his father plainly said.

mark didn't think anything about his father's reply and just bid him goodbye. he hang up the phone and took his coat and hangs it in his arms. not forgetting to take his phone with him, he made his way out of his office and out of the building.

honestly, he wanted something warm inside his stomach since the atmosphere felt cold than it was before.

now finding himself inside the parking lot, he took out his car keys before quickly starting the vehicle.

there are a lot of coffee shops and restaurants near, not too close to their building but also not too far, it was just a few blocks away so he decided to head there with an empty stomach.

he checks the time and saw that it's almost a quarter to ten, he's not sure if there are still some open coffee shops but he'll see.

when he finally saw a cafe that has a decent amount of lights lit, he assumes they were still open. he parked his car just outside of the shop and grabbed his jacket and phone along with his wallet before jumping off his car.

pushing the glass door of the shop, he headed straight to the counter where there's a figure standing with his back facing him, "we're close now!" he ignored the voice, "oh sorry, we're already closed—"

"one latte please, hurry." he plainly said before fishing his phone out of his pocket and massages his neck with his other hand.

"i'm sorry, but we can't serve you any coffees right now since we're already closed—"

he finally lifts his gaze to take a look at the person in front of him, as he raised his brows, "i'm mark lee."

"okay mark lee, we're closed now."

just then both of them heard footsteps coming out of the kitchen, and appeared jungwoo with renjun and jaemin standing behind him. their eyes widen as if they just saw a ghost which confused the tanned male. they immediately bowed at the man standing in front of them.

"oh! a customer!" jungwoo nervously chuckled before standing beside donghyuck with a wide smile, "what can we get for you?"

"a latte—"

"coming right up!" jungwoo said, he sneakily looked at the two male behind him and signaled them to do the latte. meanwhile, donghyuck stood beside the taller male, dumbfounded, "grab yourself a seat, and we'll give you the order."

donghyuck looked at him with a furrowed brow and back at the two in the kitchen, "what are you guys doing? the cafe is closed now."

"nope! nope, we're not." jungwoo nervously chuckle, while secretly taking glances at the male sitting. why is donghyuck not getting the hint, jungwoo asked himself. he only continued tapping on the counter as the receipt rolls up.

"here. hold this." jungwoo gave him the receipt of the male's order, "wait here and i'll check on the latte." the taller immediately disappeared before letting donghyuck say anything.

the tanned male only observes the older's who's sitting while dozing off the glass door—looking at nothing—he furrowed his brows and suddenly thought of something.

he heard his name getting called inside the kitchen and immediately went inside. "what's wrong with you guys?" he asked when they saw three of them busy preparing the latte-which didn't even have to take that long to make. "you guys are acting like he's a king or something-"

"here, give this to him, hurry!" jungwoo suddenly but carefully shoves the cup towards donghyuck, shooing him out of the kitchen. donghyuck just did as what was told.

he stood behind the counter and called the name, "mark lee, your order." he plainly said, yawning afterward.

the said male stood up while rolling his eyes, which donghyuck didn't see. standing in front of the male, he glared at him first before taking his cup. "try putting a little respect on my name." mark said before walking out of the coffee shop.

donghyuck didn't pay too much attention to what the older said and only yawns again, sleep is taking over him right now, he thought. "what are you guys doing there?" donghyuck asked while rubbing his eyes, he didn't even have to look at the three since he knows they're standing behind him.

"isn't that the ceo's son..." jungwoo slowly drags his word, still in disbelief.

after hearing what the taller said, donghyuck immediately halts his movement and looked back at the three with wide eyes, "the who?!"

"lee minhyuk's son..." jaemin slowly says, "the ceo.."

"oh, and i also heard that if you disrespected his name, his father is going to give anyone any consequences."

recalling what jungwoo said earlier—which he's surely not eavesdropping from earlier—his eyes widen, and look out of the glass door to look at the figure once again. "son of a bitch."

he swiftly ran out of the coffee shop, chasing for the ceo's son outside who's standing beside his car.

"hey! e-excuse me!" he chases the male once he saw mark lee reaching for the car door handle, "i-i mean... mr. mark lee."

when he manages to catch the older's attention, he stood in front of the male while still making sure to make enough space in between.

mark only turns his head towards the younger but not his body, it's like he's just waiting for what the latter's going to say then he's going to send off. donghyuck awkwardly rubs his nape while trying to avoid eye contact with the ceo, "look, i'm really sorry for what happened earlier—yeah, my attitude? i'm very sorry—i apologize.."

"and why would i forgive you?" mark asks, his voice is deeper than it was before which caught the younger off guard.

great. donghyuck pursed his lips while thinking of an excuse.

"should i let everyone know about your behavior towards the ceo's son?" mark cut off the tanned male's thought.

the younger vigorously shook his head at the latter's statement, "no! i mean..." he pauses. "we can always talk this out, right?" he nervously chuckles.

"i don't have the time." mark plainly says and was about to take a move away from the younger.

"i-i'll do anything for you!" he doesn't know what he's talking about, he just doesn't want this man to humiliate him all around seoul. "i'll pay you back!"

the ceo pretends to think for a second, looking around acting like he's thinking very hard, "half a million." he continues, "half a million, and i'll let this one slide."

"half a what?!" donghyuck looked at the older with wide eyes. his bank account doesn't even reach that much money, where is he going to get that? he thought. was it that serious? "i-i don't have that much money..."

mark brushes his fingers through his hair. an amazing idea—well for him—suddenly pops inside his head when he recalls what the tanned male said earlier, and looked back again at donghyuck. he'll do anything for him, donghyuck said, "be my secretary then." before donghyuck can even say something, he gave him a card that has his number, "take it or leave it."

"but i have a job!" the younger foughts.

mark finally reaches for the car's door handle, "well you don't want anyone to know about your behavior, right?" he question, "i expect to see you on monday."

donghyuck can't say anymore after the latter's statement making mark smile in satisfaction. he gave donghyuck a wink before jumping inside his car, leaving the boy standing outside of the coffee shop, "got you, pretty boy."

donghyuck only stands there in shock, placing a hand on his sides, while running a hand on his hair with the other. "great, just great." he mumbles to himself, rolling his eyes while looking at the car in the distance, "motherfucker."

———

fishing for his phone, mark immediately dialed a specific number and put it on speaker as he waits for him to pick up with a wide smile on his lips.

"dad!" mark excitedly greeted his dad on the other line.

"oh mark?" his father asks, "why did you call? i thought you're sleeping around this time now."

he smiled, even though his father couldn't see it, "well. i just wanted to share some good news."

"good news? what is it?"

"i know i said i didn't need a secretary earlier but..." he pauses, and tries to sound less excited, "b-but i agree with you actually! a great ceo needs a secretary so—"

"so..?"

"yeah, dad i have a secretary now."