Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Lisa was on a roll. Between managing the expansion project, navigating her relationship with Jennie, and keeping her team from imploding under pressure, she had rediscovered her favorite coping mechanism: humor. If she was going to survive the intensity of the next few weeks, she needed to keep things light, even when the stakes were high.

And that meant bringing her humor to the office—again.

---

The next morning, Lisa strolled into the office, her usual energy cranked up a notch. Her team had a major deadline looming, and she could sense the tension even before she walked through the door. People were hunched over their desks, furiously typing, their brows furrowed as they focused on last-minute details for the expansion.

"All right, team!" Lisa said, clapping her hands together as she stepped into the room. "Who’s ready for another day of fun in spreadsheet land?"

Her assistant, Chaeyoung, who had been glued to her screen, looked up with a weary smile. “Fun isn’t exactly how I’d describe it.”

Lisa grinned, walking over to Chaeyoung’s desk. “That’s where you’re wrong. Have you seen the latest financial projections? It’s like watching a thrilling action movie, except instead of car chases, we’ve got... expense reports.”

A few chuckles rippled through the room, and Lisa’s grin widened. "Seriously, though. We’re doing great, and today is going to be smooth sailing. If by ‘smooth sailing,’ I mean ‘a hurricane of last-minute requests,’ but you get the point."

Chaeyoung laughed, shaking her head. "How do you always stay so positive?"

"Easy," Lisa replied, leaning on the desk. "I’ve made peace with the fact that spreadsheets are my true calling in life. Forget running my father’s company—I'm destined to be the queen of pivot tables."

More laughter spread across the room, and the tension began to ease. Lisa could feel the energy in the office shift, and she knew her team would perform better if they could relax, even just a little.

---

Later that day, Lisa had a meeting with Jennie to go over the final approval for some key decisions. She arrived at Jennie’s office, knocking lightly on the door before stepping inside. Jennie was seated at her desk, her usual composed expression in place as she reviewed some documents.

“Ms. Kim,” Lisa greeted, giving Jennie a mock bow. “I have returned from the trenches of Excel to deliver unto you the latest numbers.”

Jennie raised an eyebrow, clearly trying not to smile. “Ms. Manoban, I expect nothing less.”

Lisa smirked, walking over to Jennie’s desk and setting down a folder. “I’ve also included a list of my top 10 favorite pivot table tricks, in case you’re ever in need of a good time.”

Jennie finally cracked, her lips twitching upward. “If that’s your idea of a good time, I’m concerned.”

Lisa laughed, leaning against Jennie’s desk. “Oh, trust me. There’s nothing more thrilling than watching formulas come together.”

Jennie shook her head, but there was a warmth in her gaze that Lisa loved. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you’re welcome,” Lisa replied with a wink. “I bring the laughs to this operation.”

Jennie closed the folder, standing up to face Lisa. “Speaking of, how are you managing the team? I know things have been... intense lately.”

Lisa shrugged. “We’re surviving. I’ve been using humor as a weapon. I mean, if we can’t laugh at ourselves, what are we even doing here?”

Jennie’s smile softened. “I’ve noticed. It’s... good for morale.”

Lisa blinked in surprise. Jennie wasn’t one to throw around compliments, especially about something as trivial as humor. But hearing Jennie acknowledge it made Lisa’s heart swell a little.

“Wow, Jennie Kim actually approves of my jokes,” Lisa said dramatically, pretending to wipe away a tear. “I’m honored.”

Jennie rolled her eyes, but the fondness in her gaze didn’t waver. “Don’t get too comfortable.”

“Oh, I’m never comfortable,” Lisa shot back, straightening up. “Especially not when I know there’s more work coming my way.”

Jennie chuckled under her breath. “There is. But we’ll get through it.”

Lisa smiled.

---

As the day wore on, Lisa’s comedic relief became a staple for the office. Every time the stress began to peak, she found a way to defuse it. During a particularly intense meeting with some external partners, where negotiations had stalled over pricing, Lisa couldn’t resist chiming in.

“So, let me get this straight,” she said, leaning forward. “You want us to lower the price, speed up the delivery, and throw in free lifetime support? What’s next? Should we also deliver it with a personal concert from a K-pop band?”

The room went silent for a beat, and then the partners burst out laughing, the tension broken. Even Jennie, who had been sitting beside her, stifled a smile.

One of the partners, still chuckling, shook his head. “Okay, maybe we’re asking for a bit too much.”

Lisa grinned, sitting back. “A bit, yeah. But hey, we aim to please.”

The negotiations went smoother after that, and by the time the meeting ended, they had reached an agreement that everyone was satisfied with.

As they left the room, Jennie turned to Lisa, her voice low but amused. “You do realize you just negotiated a deal by making them laugh, right?”

Lisa grinned, giving Jennie a playful nudge. “Hey, whatever works. Besides, they didn’t seem so scary once they started cracking up.”

Jennie shook her head, but her eyes were warm. “You’re something else.”

Lisa winked. “You know it.”

---

That evening, as Lisa returned to her apartment, she couldn’t help but reflect on how far she had come. Balancing her role in the expansion project, keeping her team motivated, and managing her relationship with Jennie had been no small feat. But through it all, she had rediscovered the power of humor, the way it could bring people together, ease tension, and make even the toughest days a little lighter.

Later, as she texted Jennie to say goodnight, Lisa couldn’t resist adding a little flair.

Sweet dreams, Ms. Kim. May your spreadsheets always balance, and your formulas never return an error.

Jennie’s reply came almost instantly: Goodnight, Ms. Manoban. Try not to dream about pivot tables.

Lisa laughed, setting her phone aside as she settled into bed. She had a feeling the days ahead would be just as challenging, but she was ready. Armed with her humor and determination, she knew she could handle whatever came her way.

Lisa was feeling particularly mischievous the next morning. Things had been running smoothly in the office, and after all the hard work her team had been putting in, she decided it was time to crank up the fun even more. And, of course, when it came to keeping things light, no one was a better target than Jennie.

As Lisa walked into the office, she spotted Jennie by the windows, talking with one of the department heads. Jennie was in full CEO mode, her expression serious, arms crossed as she listened intently to the conversation. Lisa couldn't help but smile to herself. Jennie was beautiful when she was focused, but Lisa enjoyed seeing her unravel that cool exterior just as much.

Lisa sauntered over and stood just close enough to be noticed. When Jennie glanced in her direction, Lisa didn’t waste any time.

“Ms. Kim,” Lisa said in an exaggeratedly formal tone, “I was wondering if I could get your expert opinion on a very important matter.”

Jennie raised an eyebrow, clearly suppressing a smirk. “What is it this time, Ms. Manoban?”

Lisa clasped her hands behind her back, playing up the part. “I need to know your thoughts on which snack to bring to the next team meeting. The people demand answers.”

The department head next to Jennie, caught off guard, blinked, not sure how to react. Jennie, on the other hand, let out a quiet chuckle, shaking her head. “I’m sure your snack choices are impeccable, Lisa.”

“Are they though?” Lisa mused, tapping her chin. “This is a lot of pressure. Chips? Cookies? Maybe I should go big and get... a full buffet.”

Jennie sighed in faux exasperation, her lips curving into a reluctant smile. “You have your priorities straight, as usual.”

Lisa grinned and leaned in slightly, dropping her voice. “Hey, someone has to focus on the real issues around here.”

Jennie’s eyes sparkled with amusement, and she turned back to the department head, dismissing him with a polite nod. “We’ll follow up on that later,” she said, her tone professional but kind.

As soon as he walked away, Jennie crossed her arms and gave Lisa an amused look. “What’s gotten into you today?”

Lisa shrugged, her grin widening. “What can I say? I’m in a good mood.”

Jennie rolled her eyes, but there was a playful edge to her voice. “I can see that.”

“Plus,” Lisa added, stepping closer, her voice dropping into a more teasing tone, “you were looking way too serious. I had to intervene.”

Jennie raised an eyebrow, but her expression softened. “Is that so?”

“Mmhmm.” Lisa’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “I take my job as ‘office morale booster’ very seriously.”

Jennie smirked. “Well, you’re doing a great job.”

The room was still, their banter flowing easily, but now there was something else in the air—an unspoken shift in the tension between them. Lisa felt it, the way Jennie’s gaze flickered to her lips for just a second before she quickly looked away.

“You know,” Lisa said, her voice lower now, “I think I deserve a little credit for keeping things light around here.”

Jennie’s expression softened even more, her usual professional mask slipping. “Credit, huh?”

Lisa nodded, her eyes locked on Jennie’s. “Maybe a... reward for all my hard work?”

Jennie’s eyes narrowed slightly, but there was a smirk playing on her lips. “And what exactly are you asking for?”

Before Lisa could answer, she took a bold step forward, closing the distance between them until they were almost touching. Her heart raced as she saw the way Jennie’s breath hitched, her usually composed demeanor cracking just a little.

“Just a little something,” Lisa said softly, her voice teasing but with a hint of seriousness underneath.

Jennie hesitated for a second, glancing around the office to make sure no one was nearby. Then, in a rare moment of giving in, she leaned in, her lips brushing against Lisa’s ear as she whispered, “You’re playing a dangerous game, Ms. Manoban.”

Lisa’s pulse quickened, but she kept her cool, her tone light. “Danger’s my middle name.”

Jennie let out a soft laugh, her breath warm against Lisa’s skin, sending a shiver down her spine. And before Lisa could respond, Jennie closed the remaining gap between them, her lips capturing Lisa’s in a quick but heated kiss.

It was brief, just a stolen moment in the quiet of the office, but it was enough to make Lisa’s head spin.

Jennie pulled back just as quickly, her usual composed expression slipping back into place, though her eyes were brighter now, her lips curved into a small, satisfied smile. “That’s all you get. For now.”

Lisa blinked, momentarily stunned, then grinned. “I’ll take it. But don’t be surprised if I come asking for more later.”

Jennie’s smirk widened as she stepped back, her tone slipping back into professional territory. “You’ll have to earn it.”

Lisa gave a mock salute. “Challenge accepted, Ms. Kim.”

Jennie turned to walk back to her desk, but not before casting Lisa one last look, her eyes filled with a mix of amusement and something deeper.

Lisa stood there for a moment, still feeling the lingering warmth of Jennie’s lips on hers, her heart pounding in her chest. It was moments like this—where their banter blurred into something more—that reminded Lisa of just how much she enjoyed the thrill of their relationship. The stolen glances, the teasing, the playful tension—it kept things exciting, even when the rest of the world seemed to be nothing but spreadsheets and deadlines.

As she made her way back to her office, Lisa couldn’t help but grin to herself. She was definitely going to keep up the jokes, if only for the chance to steal more moments like the one they’d just shared.

---

Later that afternoon, during a team meeting, Lisa was still riding the high from her earlier interaction with Jennie. As her team discussed updates and plans, Lisa threw in her usual humor whenever the mood got too tense.

“We’ve got this,” one of her team members said, trying to sound confident but clearly exhausted. “I mean, how hard can it be to manage 10 different vendors at once?”

“Oh, it’s no big deal,” Lisa chimed in, grinning. “It’s like juggling. Except instead of balls, you’re juggling flaming swords. And if you drop one, everything explodes. But hey, no pressure.”

The room erupted in laughter, and even though the stress was still there, the mood lightened. Lisa could feel her team relaxing, if only for a moment, and she knew that was exactly what they needed.

As the meeting wrapped up, Chaeyoung gave Lisa a curious look. “How do you stay so calm? I mean, we’re practically on the edge of a breakdown, and you’re cracking jokes.”

Lisa shrugged, smiling. “It’s all about perspective. If we can laugh at the chaos, it doesn’t feel so overwhelming.”

Chaeyoung grinned. “I think we all need some of that perspective.”

Lisa chuckled. “Just doing my part.”

---

At the end of the day, Lisa found herself in the break room, grabbing a coffee when Jennie walked in. Their eyes met, and Lisa couldn’t resist teasing her again.

“You know, if you ever need someone to lighten the mood during a board meeting, I’m your girl,” Lisa said, taking a sip of her coffee. “I’ve got a whole set of ‘CEO-themed’ jokes I’ve been working on.”

Jennie crossed her arms, her lips twitching into a smirk. “Is that so? I’m almost afraid to ask.”

Lisa grinned, leaning against the counter. “Oh, they’re gold. For example—why did the CEO go broke?”

Jennie raised an eyebrow, waiting for the punchline.

“Because she invested all her emotions in the stock market,” Lisa finished, pretending to wipe a tear from her eye.

Jennie let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “You’re unbelievable.”

“And yet, here you are,” Lisa replied, giving Jennie a playful wink.

Jennie stepped closer, her voice lowering to a whisper. “You know, if you keep this up, I might just have to kiss you again.”

Lisa’s grin widened. “That’s the plan.”

Jennie chuckled softly, leaning in just enough to brush her lips against Lisa’s in a quick, stolen kiss. Then, with a smirk, she pulled back and whispered, “Keep up the good work, Ms. Manoban.”

Lisa watched as Jennie walked away, her heart racing with excitement. As far as Lisa was concerned, mixing humor with stolen kisses was the perfect way to get through the workday.

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