< Chapter 24 >

“My goodness, look at that face, it’s like a pancake.”

Ah. Christine sighed in awe and lifted the puppy into her arms.

Still half-standing, Eunsoo glanced at Secretary Yoon and signaled with her eyes.

‘What’s going on? Since when does Christine like dogs?’

Secretary Yoon shook her head firmly.

‘No record of that, ma’am. She must have kept it completely private.’

Their tense gazes turned toward the puppy.

If that puppy suddenly decided to show a fierce attitude, who knew what might happen? Nobody could predict how Christine, who was now rubbing her cheek all over the dog’s fur, might react.

‘…?’

Noticing the desperate look on both Eunsoo and Yoon’s faces, Seori turned her head toward Christine.

If this foreign woman could act so casually in front of someone like Seok Haewon’s mother, she must be someone important. Probably the same person Secretary Kwon had mentioned earlier while gathering documents at home.

Christine, her eyes practically dripping with honey, looked back at Eunsoo.

“How did you end up fostering this little one?”

“I found her on the street, so… I guess she’s a stray.”

“I see. I must have misjudged you, Director Han.”

So she thought Eunsoo was cold-hearted, someone without blood or tears. Understanding the hidden meaning behind those words, Eunsoo forced a smile.

“I didn’t know Christine liked dogs this much either.”

Christine set the puppy down and showed Eunsoo the wallpaper on her phone.

“I have seven rescue dogs at home.”

“Seven?”

“I started volunteering, and somehow one or two just kept coming home with me.”

As the tension in the room eased, Seori darted out of the office. When she returned, she was dragging a pink sling bag with her.

Eunsoo frowned as she noticed it scraping against her shoes.

‘Wait a minute.’

It was the document envelope Secretary Kwon had gone to retrieve.

‘Did she even know what she just brought?’

Watching the puppy curiously, Eunsoo quickly came to her senses and took the envelope out of the bag.

“Director Han, what’s that?”

“The puppy must have been playing around and hid these papers earlier. She’s only returning them now.”

“How clever!”

A minute ago Christine had been teasing her about losing the documents, and now she was completely enchanted. It was ridiculous how fast her mood could flip.

So that was the weakness. Seeing her chance, Eunsoo gestured toward the sofa.

“Please, have a seat. The tea’s still warm.”

“Hmm.”

Christine looked like she was pretending to hesitate.

Watching the two women quietly, Seori walked over and nudged the tip of Christine’s shoe with her paw, as if encouraging her to sit down and help make up for Secretary Kwon’s mistake.

“You want me to sit there? You sneaky little thing.”

Reluctantly, Christine sat and picked Seori up again, planting kisses all over her head.

Seori froze, staring blankly into space like a stone statue, a red lipstick mark now stamped on her fur.

‘Stay calm.’

Bravery had its limits, and this was not the time to show it.

Across from her, Eunsoo covered her mouth, trying to hide a laugh.

‘Haewon used to push her away with his hind legs whenever she came near.’

Apparently, the dog had standards. Right now, she was proving to be more useful than most of the long-time staff.

Come to think of it, this was the same dog that had saved her when she fainted before. Eunsoo’s eyes softened.

“Director Han, what’s this little one’s name?”

And there it was, Eunsoo’s new crisis.

‘I didn’t even name her, and now I have to say something?’

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall what Haewon had said when she asked. The only word floating around in her head was “Bighead.”

‘If I make up something random and slip later, that’ll be a problem.’

She closed her eyes briefly, then decided it was all or nothing.

“Christine, this little one hates being called by name.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

“As you can see, she’s not an ordinary dog.”

Thinking of how the puppy had fetched the missing documents and even saved the meeting, Christine muttered with a smile.

“Agent Puppy.”

Woof. The puppy raised one paw smartly in a salute, as if to confirm the title.

Her short legs didn’t reach her head, so her paw stopped awkwardly at her temple.

Christine covered her mouth, unable to decide whether to laugh or cry.

Calm, cute, a bit round, and both brilliant and foolish at once.

That was how Christine ended up completely won over by the Big Head Puppy.

“Christine, why don’t we discuss the hotel partnership in more detail? I’d like to dedicate part of our annual profit to helping rescue dogs.”

This could work. Smiling deeply, Eunsoo spread the documents the puppy had retrieved across the table.

“Of course, with Agent Puppy’s help.”

“Myang.”

Contagiously, the little “agent” rolled her tongue and mimicked the English tone.

Watching this scene, Secretary Yoon rubbed her eyes. At this rate, they might soon need a new assistant position in the office just for the dog.

* * *

I didn’t have any signs of turning human again, so I could relax.

Seok Haewon’s mother was pleased that the business talk went well.

Secretary Kwon was relieved his mistake had somehow turned into a blessing.

Go Jinseung, the intern who had brought me here, just looked proud of himself.

By the time Christine left, everyone in H Hotel’s director office seemed satisfied.

I was quietly soaking in the warmth of the moment when a familiar voice suddenly called out.

“Seok Daengdaeng.”

Seok Haewon had appeared, though no one knew how he’d found out.

He crouched down on one knee and opened his arms. I ran to him on instinct, and only when he lifted me into his arms did I realize what I’d done.

Oh no. I was getting way too used to this man.

He looked me over suspiciously, his expression unreadable.

“No one bothered you, right?”

Dangling in midair, I blinked peacefully.

‘You’re the only one who ever bothers me.’

Ah, was he misunderstanding again, thinking his mother tried to get rid of me?

“What’s this?”

Haewon frowned as he examined me closely.

“Lipstick marks?”

He rubbed at my head with his sleeve like he was scrubbing laundry. It seemed Christine’s kisses had left a red stain behind.

Rub rub rub.

‘Ouch.’

I growled, showing my teeth while holding my head with my paw.

“That’s what you get for letting someone smear lipstick on you.”

It wasn’t like I had a choice.

“Already acting like a little flirt.”

That’s rich coming from you.

While we bickered, his mother suddenly took me out of his arms and sat down on the sofa.

“Since I might need to come here more often for a while, contact Secretary Kwon if this little one isn’t at home.”

Her tone was surprisingly soft.

“This little one?”

Haewon looked at her in disbelief, as if waiting for an explanation.

Smiling contentedly, she gently petted me on her lap.

“It would be a waste to leave such a capable employee unused just because she’s an animal.”

“Employee?”

Sitting still on her knees, I tilted my head thoughtfully.

What could I say? She was a woman who knew how to recognize and reward effort.

Seok Haewon and his mother, my real owner who was careless but not kind, and the rich, open-minded new one.

It wasn’t even a choice. The scales had already tipped.

The more Eunsoo liked me, the safer my life became.

And since she’d probably bring me back a few more times for Christine’s sake, I knew exactly whose side to take.

Having done the math, I quietly pressed my body against her lap.

Haewon saw me switch sides without hesitation and smirked in disbelief.

Ahem. Secretary Kwon cleared his throat, stepping forward to mediate. His hand extended toward me.

“As of today, she’s officially joining H Hotel’s secretary office as a new intern, Dang Intern.”

“Woof.”

And that’s how it happened.

* * *

The puppy, who had stubbornly stayed with Eunsoo, was eventually carried out by Haewon.

Watching them leave, Eunsoo tapped her pen against her chin.

“What do you think, Secretary Kwon, about Haewon and that dog?”

“He likes her.”

“I’m not asking for your personal opinion. Don’t you think he’s being oddly attached to that dog?”

“Director!”

Secretary Kwon clenched his fists and looked horrified.

“You mustn’t misinterpret the young master’s kind heart toward his companion!”

Enough.

Realizing it was pointless to argue with that brick wall, Eunsoo leaned back in her chair.

‘A kind heart?’

More like a rotten one.

She couldn’t think of a description that suited her son less.

Of course, Haewon usually followed her and the family’s decisions without complaint.

But that wasn’t because he was obedient or good-natured. He simply went along to avoid unnecessary conflict, living a life of detached indifference.

No ambition, no passion, no obsession. Everything about him drifted like water.

Yet when it came to that dog, he behaved completely differently.

He had practically moved into his own studio apartment, but ever since the dog appeared, he’d been coming home more often.

He didn’t even consider finding a new home for her, and the moment he heard the dog was at the hotel, he rushed over right away.

“Diligent,” she murmured. “A word that doesn’t suit him at all.”

Folding her arms, Eunsoo muttered to herself.

“Does that dog really have something special?”

At that moment, Go Jinseung, who had been silent until now, raised his hand enthusiastically.

“Should I keep an eye on them? I can take full responsibility.”

Eunsoo blinked, realizing he was still there, then signaled to Secretary Kwon.

Who is he?

Understanding her meaning, Secretary Kwon whispered in her ear.

‘He’s the intern who found and brought the puppy, Director.’

‘The puppy? Oh, right, that was her name. Terrible naming sense. Let’s change it to Tiger. Stronger.’

‘Please reconsider, ma’am. There’s nothing tiger-like about that face.’

Ignoring his plea, Eunsoo looked Go Jinseung over carefully.

His appearance was polished, his instincts sharp enough to realize the dog was connected to her, and his expression full of ambition.

She liked that drive to climb higher.

“Can you handle being Tiger’s personal assistant?”

“Leave it to me!”

And so began the first day of Seok Tiger’s career.

No employment contract, no benefits, no pay. And the new intern was assigned her own assistant.