You first notice Bang Chan long before you ever speak to him.

It’s hard not to.

He’s the CEO, after all.

But that’s not the real reason.

It’s the way people react when he walks into a room—how conversations shift, how everyone sits a little straighter. Not because he’s intimidating exactly… but because he carries this quiet energy that makes people pay attention.

You try not to stare during meetings.

You really do.

But sometimes you catch him doing the same thing.

⸻

You officially meet him because of a mistake.

Not yours.

His.

It’s late evening and most of the office has gone home. You’re in one of the small meeting rooms finishing a presentation when the door suddenly opens.

“Finally, I thought you—”

Bang Chan stops mid-sentence when he sees you.

You blink at him.

“I’m guessing I’m not the person you were looking for.”

He exhales a small laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Definitely not.”

You glance at the clock.

“Should I leave?”

“No, no,” he says quickly. “You were here first.”

He leans against the doorframe instead of walking away.

“You’re on the marketing team, right?”

You nod cautiously. “Yeah.”

“I’ve seen you in meetings.”

You raise an eyebrow. “You remember everyone?”

“Not everyone.”

The way he says it makes you pause.

Then his phone buzzes and he sighs softly.

“Wrong room,” he mutters to himself before stepping back into the hallway.

But just before he leaves, he looks back at you.

“Don’t stay too late,” he says.

Like he has any room to talk.

⸻

After that, you start noticing him more. Not because you’re trying to, but because he somehow keeps showing up. In the hallway near your department, In the company café at strange hours, Once even in the parking garage when you’re both leaving late.

Each time there’s a short conversation.

A small joke.

A look that lingers a little longer than it probably should.

⸻

Then one Saturday afternoon, you run into him somewhere you definitely shouldn’t.

A bookstore.

You’re sitting on the floor in the book section flipping through a book that caught your interest when someone crouches down beside you.

“Didn’t take you for a book person.”

You glance up.

Bang Chan.

Your brain immediately short-circuits.

“Are you stalking me? ,” you ask.

He looks genuinely offended.

“You’re sitting on the floor of a bookstore.”

“And?”

“No one sits on the floor of a bookstore.”

You roll your eyes.

“What are you doing here?”

He holds up book he grabbed from the shelf.

“You started it.”

“Since when do CEOs browse books on weekends?” you ask.

“Since when do employees accuse their boss of stalking them?”

You shrug.

“Fair.”

The two of you sit there for a moment, surrounded by stacks of books and quiet music playing through the store speakers.

It’s… strangely normal. No conference tables, No coworkers, Just the two of you.

Then Chan glances at the book in your hand.

“Good choice,” he says.

“You haven’t even read it.”

“I trust your taste.”

You look at him skeptically.

“You barely know me.”

“Maybe,” he says, “but I’m working on that.”

Your heart does something annoying at that.

You stand up quickly, brushing imaginary dust off your jeans.

“Well, good luck with that.”

You head toward the checkout counter.

A moment later, you hear footsteps behind you.

You glance over your shoulder.

“You’re still following me.”

“I’m buying a book,” he says innocently.

“Sure.”

You both reach the counter at the same time.

The cashier scans your book first.

Then his.

When the total appears on the screen, Chan reaches for his wallet.

You grab your card at the same time.

Your hands bump.

You both pause.

The moment lasts just a second too long.

Then Chan clears his throat softly.

“You know,” he says quietly, “running into you outside the office might be dangerous.”

You tilt your head.

“Why?”

His eyes flicker with something unreadable.

“Because you’re so beautiful i sometimes forget I’m your boss.”