One Temptation | Choi Yeonjun Fanfiction

by jiminislovely13

Summary:

Choi Yeonjun - A laid-back, ardent yet cunning CEO of the illustrious Falcon Estate. The epitome of a sly fox. Born and raised with a silver spoon in his mouth. He is more than confident about the fact he can acquire whatever he wants if he plays his cards right - and he does. But when someone of equal perception clashes against him, the situation takes an unexpected turn. His initial resentment is turned into something he had not foreseen - something that would make him want more of it...
Park Y/N - A frosty, indifferent and sharp CEO of a rising multi-million company called Black Pearl Marketing Group. The hardships of climbing up the hierarchy of the company has led her to mold herself into an impassive personality so as to not lose her hard-earned title and ultimately the entire company... Leading a company that neither her, nor her ancestors, built is hard enough on its own, but when the supposedly actual heir to the company jumps into action to claim what his ancestors lost, things are bound to get ugly...
Uncover what happens when a slight mishap in Yeonjun's company makes him turn to ask for help from someone he shouldn't have. When that close proximity starts developing unthinkable tension between them...

Chapter 1: Playlist~

Notes:

╭──────────.★..─╮
••───⋅☾ TROPES ☽⋅───••
╰─..★.──────────╯

❥ Reverse grumpyxsunshine
❥ He falls first
❥ Billionaires
❥ Forced proximity
❥ Office romance
❥ Slow burn
❥ Obsessed with each other

Here's a playlist that you can enjoy listening to while reading those chapters that don't have a specific song dedicated to them! I'll try my very best to make this playlist such that it represents the vibes and atmosphere of the fanfic.

Into You - Ariana Grande (Title Track of the fanfic)

Yes or No - Jung Kook

Back for More (with Anitta) - TXT & Anitta

BTBT ft. DeVita - B.I & Soulja Boy

Killshot - Magdalena Bay

The Killa (I Belong to You)  - TXT

Liar-Camilla Cabello

Moonstruck- Enhypen

Sugar Rush Ride- TXT

Killin' Me Good - JIHYO

Fever - Enhypen

I CAN'T STOP ME (feat. BOYS LIKE GIRLS) - TWICE & Boys Like Girls

Collide (Solo Version) - Justine Skye

Shameless - Camilla Cabello

dimple - BTS

Standing Next to You - Jung Kook

I'm a B - HWASA

Looking At Me - Sabrina Carpenter

Light A Flame - Seventeen

Dangerous Woman - Ariana Grande

the boy is mine - Ariana Grande

Like Crazy - Jimin

Rock With You - SEVENTEEN

Rumor - KARD

Love Me Again - V

STUPID IN LOVE (feat. HUH YUNJIN of LE SSERAFIM) - MAX & HUH YUNJIN

My Universe - Suga Remix - Coldplay & BTS

And finally, click on the external link attached for the Spotify playlist~!! :3

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0wXfm0suV9zS6h5IQSVOfE?si=20c62abae2e64b3f

Chapter 2: Chapter 01 - An Unfriendly Confrontation

Click. Clack. Click. Clack.

You flounce across the glossy marble tiles of the 25th floor of the central office of Falcon Estate. The usually lively atmosphere of the floor was now completely hushed, almost as if everyone had held their breath as you walk towards a certain room at the far end of the floor.

"I need to see the CEO. Now." You say to the assistant sitting on the counter, as calm as you could right now through your clenched teeth.

"I'm sorry miss, but-", the assistant began to reply in a slightly annoyed tone but suddenly stops, her eyes wide and muscles tensed as she looks up to meet your eyes behind your large square, black rimmed glasses.

The afternoon sun pouring through the tall windows illuminated your dark auburn hair like it was some magical flame tied up in a semi-messy high ponytail.

You may be wearing a basic office wear, white dress shirt and waist-high black dress pants with black stilettos, and could have been easily mistaken for another employee in the company at first glance, but the chilly aura around you and the way you carried yourself high with confidence were enough to tell the people present you weren't just another employee.

But right now, all that didn't really matter because just a small glance of your face was enough for the assistant across the desk to instantly recognize who you were, and make her freeze at her spot for brief moment before she immediately picks up the telephone next to her.

"Y- yes, just a minute, l- let me inform him." She replies in a voice that comes out squeakier than intended and starts punching a string of numbers on the keypad clumsily with her fingers.

You patiently wait as the telephone rang loudly enough for you to hear too.

It rang.

And rang some more.

Your patience was running thin and maybe it was evident on your face, which makes the assistant exhale nervously as she dials the number again, which rang.

And rang.

And rang.

Before someone finally picks it up from the other end. You couldn't clearly understand what the other person was saying as the assistant nervously explains the situation to the person on the other end.

"S- sir, someone wants to see you urgently."

"It c- can't be arranged for some other time-"

"S- sir... It's CEO Park y/n from Black Pearl Marketing Group..."

"Y- yes... Herself. In p- person."

"I understand."

"Yes, sure."

She finally puts the receiver down and clears her throat before turning to speak to you. "Miss Park, please, this way." She gestures towards the door and leads you to it. She knocks at it a couple times, and after hearing the person inside say "come in", she pushes open the door for you and you give her a nod in gratitude before walking inside.

The door closes behind you as you step in, leaving you and the person sitting on a luxurious grey leather office chair at the far end of the room, behind a huge teakwood table. The ceiling to floor windows behind the office table provided a majestic view of Seoul city. The office was decorated so lavishly, it certainly qualified to be called a small but extravagant suite.

The person sitting on the chair closes the files placed in front of him, pushing them to a side before he leans back on the chair, placing his left forearm behind his head and giving you a half-assed salute with his other hand.

He wore a silk grey tuxedo. The coat, however, was hanging at the back of his chair. He seemed to have loosened up his tie while the white shirt beneath had its top two buttons opened up. His hair was neatly cut and combed but it appeared that he had run his fingers through it multiple times, resulting in this weirdly mesmerizing sight in front of you.

What a mess...

You think to yourself disdainfully at the view in front of you.

"Park y/n, the current CEO of Black Pearl Marketing Group. To what do I owe this pleasure?" He speaks up first, causing you to remember the reason for your uninvited arrival as you tread across the room and stand in front of him, the wide table separating you both.

You furiously toss a couple files that you were holding, in front of him on the table. "What the hell is this, Mr. Choi?" You demand through clenched teeth.

Yeonjun doesn't even flinch and lazily watches you with an amused expression. "What is what?" he drawls as he tilted his head, looking at the files with little to no interest.

"Why the hell did you buy these stocks last minute when you had shown no interest in them before and knew that I was going to sign off the deal in a few hours?" You inquire him, the anger within you seething uncontrollably.

"Ah~ That." He smiles lazily in your direction, still reclined on his chair as if he weren't a CEO of a multimillion company but rather a naïve teenage boy playing pretend in his father's office. "I changed my mind." He shrugs innocently.

"Changed your mind, my ass." You snap back, not believing his blatant lie.

"You've got quite the sharp tongue for a CEO, no?" He chuckles softly at you.

"Only for assholes like you."

"Then, I must say, it's quite an honor~" He chuckles again after seeing your expression distort in anger and disgust.

"Don't change the topic." You grit your teeth in frustration. "I must remind you, this isn't the first time you've done it. It's the third..." You pause for a moment, letting out a scornful laugh before continuing. "You know what they say. Once is chance, twice is coincidence, third time's a pattern."

Yeonjun finally sits up straight and leans forward over the table, clasping his hands together while resting his face on top of his hands, narrowing his eyes a little. "You know, Miss y/n, instead of coming all the way to Falcon Estate to complain about me buying the stocks first, why don't you work harder to keep your clients more inclined to your deals?"

You suck in a sharp breath of cold air to control yourself from committing a felony at this very second.

"I would... If I knew a sly fox is eyeing my every move even after expressing his disinterest in the stocks, before swooping in to buy them last second before the deal is closed." You hiss at him, taking in a deep breath to calm yourself down.

The corner of his lips turn up as your statement as he leans back again. "Well then, you better start thinking of ways to outsmart this fox. Hm?"

You huff in annoyance, crossing your arms over your chest. "Just you wait."

"Sure. I'll wait." He smiles smugly at you and then gestures towards the seat beside you. "Please, sit. Would you like some tea? Coffee? Or perhaps some other drink of your choice?" He asks courteously, unable to hide the satisfaction after seeing you get so worked up.

You let out an exasperated sigh. "Most definitely not." You deny him without batting an eyelid before turning on your heels and walking away. The click clack sounds of your heels lowering until it fainted in his office.

His gaze lingers a while longer on the door before shaking his head and chuckling softly, amused at today's sudden turn of events.

Chapter 3: Chapter 02 - A Ridiculously Maddening Proposal

You reach your office, open your laptop and start typing away aggressively. After what happened today, you felt the intense urge to review your proposals and contracts with your future clients and other minor companies that are working under you.

Why don't you work harder to keep your clients more inclined to your deals?

Work harder to keep your clients...

Work harder...

Yeonjun's words echo through your mind like a broken record.

"Fuck!" You slam your laptop shut and massages your temples in hopes to push away his words out of your mind. You lean back into your chair and take deep breaths. You hated to admit how right he was. It annoyed you beyond words how someone knew exactly which buttons to push to trigger you.

Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.

The telephone on your office table rang loudly, dragging you out of the thoughts circling your mind. You pick it up and hear your assistant from the other end. "Miss y/n, you have a meeting with Liam Archer. He has arrived. Should I bring him in?"

"Yes."

"Alright. We'll be there in a minute."

Liam Archer. The fifth generation son to Magnus Archer, the founder of Black Pearl Marketing Group. Liam's father and fourth generation son of the founder, Ryan Archer, lost hold over his own family company because he couldn't make the right decisions, always ended up getting involved in scandals and used illegal methods to acquire a few small businesses back then, resulting in the fast downfall of the company to the point it almost went bankrupt.

If it weren't for your father, who was working as Ryan's assistant at the time, taking control over the company during the time Ryan was in jail, there would be no Black Pearl M. G. today.

The company had just stabilized when Ryan got out of jail and the board members didn't want to risk another disaster, keeping in mind Ryan's history of always making the worst decisions that had the ability to finish the company for good, so they all unanimously agreed to vote for the next CEO, which obviously, your father won.

And that, is how the company was taken away from its founder's family, the Archers, and handed over to your father, who was merely an assistant that worked under Ryan Archer. After your father retired, the company ultimately fell in your hands and you've been running it as a CEO for five years now.

Liam Archer, on the other hand, despised his father for not only ruining their family's reputation, but throwing away the prestigious company to an outsider's hands, when it could have belonged to him. If he hated his own father that much, you didn't even want to know how much he hated you.

But that didn't bother you in the slightest. He lost his family's company, and now it belonged to you. Simple. It was practically impossible for him to ever have it back. His arrival today, however, was a little unsettling for you. The Archers never contacted you or your father directly ever since they lost the company, so today was definitely a surprise for you.

The door slides open and your assistant enters with Liam following her. She gestures towards a seat in front of you across the table, on which he sits down and faces you with a small forced smile.

"Park y/n, lovely to meet you. How have you been?" He asks, failing to hide the hint of disdain as he spoke.

"Successful and thriving. How about you?" You reply with a fake smile of your own, taking pleasure at his mask slipping at your reply, which he quickly fixes back. He clears his throat and proceeds to speak in a strained voice.

"Doing just fine too. Anyway, I don't like beating around the bush so I'll get straight to the point."

"Good idea. Since I'm very busy and all." You say sharply, eyeing him warily while adjusting the black rimmed glasses sitting on the bridge of your nose.

Liam's intense gaze pierced your skin, making you slightly uncomfortable. He pauses for a moment, as if calculating and weighing his words and options in front of him one last time before he opened his mouth.

"y/n, you know very well, the history of this company. You know what mistakes my father made in the past. Growing up, I've learnt so much from those mistakes and always trained hard and gave in all my efforts to learn more about managing a company. You're just a woman afterall, managing a company isn't what you should be doing. Perhaps, you should step down, and hand it over to the person who deserves to be in the seat you are currently sitting in. Someone who belongs to the bloodline that made this company."

The. Fucking. Audacity.

By the time he was done speaking, you were practically fuming. You were sure that if you looked into the mirror this very second, you'd see black smoke escaping your ears. Even your assistant, who had quietly been standing near the door, flinches in shock at the absurd proposal he put forward. You close your eyes and take in a deep breath.

Calm down. Calm down. I will NOT be going to jail for my actions today.

You slowly open your eyes and face the man sitting in front of you. If it weren't for the table separating you two, you would have strangled him without a second thought. But you couldn't. So that was that.

"Liam Archer." You speak up sternly. "Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound right now?"

Liam's mouth twitches at your response. "I'm well aware about what I'm proposing. You should consider it thoroughly."

Thoroughly my ass.

"You really expect me to hand down the company to the son of a man who nearly destroyed it almost thirty years ago?" You laugh hysterically. "Please. Be serious. This isn't some magical world where we can fix anything that goes wrong with the snap of our fingers."

Liam grits his teeth so hard, you could actually hear them screech under the force. "y/n. This company does not belong to you. It would be very wise of you to hand it over to the people who actually built it."

"Pfft." You chuckle in amusement. "The last time I checked, neither Liam Archer, nor Ryan archer built this company. In fact, they barely even contributed. The only thing your father did was ruin it. I'm not stupid enough to hand it back to the same people."

Liam was starting to lose his cool at your words, and how they stung at the very spots that hurt the most. He clenches his fists on his sides and replies with a voice that sounded like a pig growling, if that's even possible.

"y/n, stop playing these stupid games with me. A woman cannot run a company of this scale. It's best if-"

Chapter 4: Chapter 03 - If a Woman Can Do It, So Can You

"I've been running this company perfectly fine for the past five years, thank you very much." You snap back at him, not letting him complete his sentence.

"What about a certain deal you failed to sign today? Huh?" He sneers at you, his lips curving up ever so slightly after seeing you clench your jaw at the mention of today's stocks.

"It's a minor setback. Nothing I can't handle. I assure you it won't ruin the company the same way it was ruined thirty years ago." You force a sarcastic smile at him.

Liam huffs in frustration. "You and your inflated ego."

You grit your teeth at the direction this conversation was heading. "If you have such a huge problem with me running this company, then you are very welcome to take it back after I burn down this building."

"Don't get ahead of yourself, y/n. This pride of yours will take you down soon." He slams his fist on the table between you both. Your assistant's eyes widen as she was rushes towards the telephone to call for backup, you wave your hand and stop her.

"Thank you for the concern Liam Archer, but instead of worrying about me, how about you think of ways you could get a promotion at your job. I heard you haven't been promoted in two years? What a shame." You smirk knowing damn well you pushed the right button.

Liam stands up in rage, causing the chair that he was sitting on to fall over. He points a shaky finger towards your face. "y/n, just because you've managed to snatch that seat from its real owner, doesn't mean you can forget where you came from. I'm not the only one who struggles with a job. You did too, and so does everyone else."

The smile on your face widens as you snort in amusement. "Liam Archer, I didn't mean it as an insult when I said that. I simply want to point out the fact that if you can't get a promotion in your current job, how does that qualify you to suddenly jump to the position of a CEO in a company as big as Black Pearl M. G.? If you want this seat that bad, reach the top of the chain in the company you work in. I also had to work my way up and slowly but surely, I made it. If a woman can do it, so can you."

Liam's face was pretty much bright red in rage, ready to blow up any second. "Don't forget what you used to say about the type of people you worked under and assisted throughout the years. You've become snobbish just like them in the end afterall. Hah. Pathetic."

You roll your eyes, unamused. "Look at all this fuss you're making like a 7-year-old who didn't get the candy he wanted. Before you jump to judge other's character, why don't you judge your own first."

"Fuck you." He hisses at you and storms off, like a madman who managed to escaped an asylum. Your assistant quickly leaves after him to ensure he is escorted out of the building without making any more problems.

As the door closes, you yank off your glasses and toss it on the table in front of you, dropping your head in your hands and taking in deep breaths.

Your assistant comes back in after a while and approaches you carefully. "Miss y/n? Are you alright? Should I bring you some chamomile tea with honey?"

You give her a small smile and nod. "Yes, please."

Your assistant brings you your tea quickly and places it in front of you, after which she picks up the chair that was toppled over previously by Liam, carefully adjusting it to the right angle before seating herself over it.

"Uhm, Miss y/n, I really don't want to be nosy but... About what Mr. Liam said earlier... It seemed like you knew each other for some time? Judging from the way he phrased a few sentences..." She asks reluctantly, but carefully.

You sigh, your smile fading away with the heavy breath. "Oh, Yuna... You really are sharp. A little too much sometimes." You laugh softly, earning a smile from Yuna. "Oh- Well- I couldn't resist asking... I found it a little surprising actually." She fumbles with her words, not knowing how to continue the conversation.

You shake your head. "Hm, it's alright. We did know each other, but not too well actually. We met because we worked in the same accounting office in the beginning when we started to work. He was later switched to the marketing management department and I started working as an assistant for the higher-ups. In that time, we barely kept in contact, except when we needed to discuss business. We lost all contact when he got fired from Black Pearl M. G. He never told the reason to anyone, nor did anyone ask. And that's that."

You shrug as you recollected the old memories about Liam. Not that there were many to begin with.

Yuna's mouth formed an O as she heard the story. "You used to work as an assistant? Just like me?!"

You smile at her surprise. "Yes, just like you. Is it really that surprising?"

Yuna waves her hands in front of her, "Oh, no, no! It's just that you give off such an authoritative aura, it's hard to imagine you working under someone and taking their orders, managing their schedules and all! I thought you became the CEO as soon as your father left the position."

You couldn't help but laugh out loud at her words. "Well, my father was quite weird when it came to me taking his position; making me work from bottom up to test if I can handle it. It seemed to work though! And yeah, I'll take that as a compliment~"

"Oh, yes, please! I wouldn't want you to take it any other way!"

You both chat for a while longer before resuming your duties.

The next week went by without a hitch. No Liam appearing in your office to call you an outsider who stole his company and no Yeonjun stealing your stocks. In fact, you were able to sign off two pretty valuable deals with two major companies. You were quite proud of yourself for achieving this and decided to celebrate the occasion by treating yourself to some drinks on the weekend.

You look at yourself in the mirror one last time before leaving.

The pleated black satin V-neck cocktail dress that reached up to your knees looked incredibly stunning paired with the glittering ankle strap stiletto heels and minimalist diamond studded jewelry; your hair draped over your shoulders in lose waves.

You double-check the tattoos below your right collarbone and the inner wrist of your left hand to make sure they were well hidden under the makeup. After giving yourself the green signal and a satisfied nod, you leave your apartment and head towards Bar 81.

As the name suggests, Bar 81 is located on the 81st floor in the Signiel Hotel in Lotte World Tower, a 123-floor and 555.7-meter high skyscraper, currently the tallest building in Korea and the fifth tallest in the world.

A perfect place to celebrate your insanely successful dealings after being berated by Liam and Yeonjun.

A perfect slap to their faces.

Chapter 5: Chapter 04 - Bar 81

You step out of the elevator and enter the bar through the sliding doors, revealing a magnificent bar ahead.

Decorated exquisitely in gold and black, it sure looked exceedingly classy. The black barstools and counter tops paired perfectly with the intricate golden chandeliers that hung from the ceiling like clusters of gold stars that shimmered magically, lighting up the bar in a beautiful warmth.

Ceiling to floor windows spanned across the entire length of the bar on the other end that flaunted the night view of the city of Seoul like a carpet of glittering stars that faded into the horizon, having the power to enchant whoever dared to gaze through it.

You grab a drink from a passing server's tray and make your way towards the seat in front of the window and sit down comfortably, admiring the dazzling view in front of you.

Couldn't think of a better way to spend the night.

A small smile forms on your lips and you let out a dreamy sigh, before lifting up the glass and taking a sip.

A mellow jazz flowed through the dimly lit bar, creating a relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere. The bar seemed more crowded than usual. Perhaps, it was because of the weekend, that the entire elite class decided to spend the evening away from the hustle and bustle of the city – just like you.

"Park y/n, sitting pretty and drinking alone in a bar. I wonder what's the occasion." A silvery voice flowed into your ears, subconsciously making you turn your head around.

There he was, standing with a martini glass in one hand, the other inside the pocket of his black pants. The sleeves of his fitted white shirt rolled up halfway through his forearms while the couple few buttons at the top were unbuttoned, as usual. His hair, thankfully, looked a lot neater this time around.

The dim, warm lights illuminated his perfectly sculpted face. A high nose bridge, full lips and a sharp jaw. And to finish it all off, a faint smile with an intense gaze that seemed to examine you carefully.

"Miss Park, I'm fully aware that I am indeed quite attractive, you don't have to stare at me like that. I get a little shy." He says as the smirk on his face widens.

Your face was definitely not getting hot. It was just the drink.

Yup, it's just the drink, nothing else. Chill, he's messing with you.

You subtly roll your eyes at his remark as a sarcastic laugh escapes your lips. "You and shy? Hell must have frozen."

Yeonjun's sweet laugh fills your ears as he takes a seat next to you, swirling the drink in his hand. "You say that like you know me pretty well. Heh. Anyway, Miss Park, was it a bad day at work that brought you here or something else?"

You place the empty glass on the table and turn your head towards him, resting your face in the palm of your hand as you spoke. "Firstly, don't call me miss, I feel like an old woman. Secondly, you are exceptionally nosy. And thirdly, no. It wasn't a bad day, quite the opposite in fact."

Yeonjun smiles lazily at your reasoning. "In that case." He says while swiftly grabbing another drink from a passing server's tray and placing it in front of you. "A toast to you, for securing a deal with Harper Security and Unilink Software."

You raise your eyebrows at him in surprise. "How did you know...? The deals aren't made public yet..."

"Well..." He shrugs innocently. "I am a sly fox eyeing your every move, aren't I?" He asks with a sly grin plastered over his face that makes your cheeks turn pink ever so lightly.

You awkwardly clear your throat. But before the air turned any more awkward, Yeonjun raises his glass, tilting it towards you and waiting for you to do the same.

You raise the glass that he had put in front of you earlier and clinked it against his before you both downed the drinks in one go.

"So, what do you plan on doing the rest of the evening?" He asks curiously while placing the glass down on the table. You think for a moment, then shrug. "Dunno. Perhaps, enjoy the view, order a few more drinks and mull over the things I have to do the next week."

Yeonjun chuckles lightly. "How boring."

"Oh?" You raise an eyebrow at him. "Then care to enlighten me what you will be doing that's so fun?"

Yeonjun leans on the table, pulling away his gaze from your face and towards the view outside. "I'm here with four of my best friends. We'll be chatting, to catch up to one another since we haven't met in a while, drinking, playing some fun games like poker, darts, pool, monopoly and then head out for karaoke. Fun isn't it?"

"Hm..." You trace the rim of your glass with your finger, unwilling to openly admit that you were quite envious of his plans for the evening.

You pictured him laughing his heart out with his friends as they all played games, poking fun at each other and pulling silly little pranks throughout the gaming sessions and then him clutching a mic tightly in his hand as he sang out his heart out with off-key notes while the rest of his friends laughed and cheered him on, no matter how terribly he sang.

What a life to live...

"Knock, knock, anyone home?" He leans in closer towards you and taps your head gently, the corners of his lips tilted up.

You suddenly snap out of your thoughts whilst shaking your head. "Ah- Ahem- I'm sorry, I spaced out. Maybe you should get going, your friends would be waiting for you."

Yeonjun gives you a skeptical look before standing up with the same welcoming smile he loved wearing. "Alright then. See you around, I guess."

He turns around and walks away, the crippling loneliness engulfing you the very next second.

You sigh softly. Not sure how to suppress the growing empty feeling in your stomach.

You spend a little while mindlessly gazing outside the tall windows, your face resting in the palm of your hand.

The shrimp alfredo you ordered arrives and you stare at it for a good minute before slowly picking up the utensils to dig in. You didn't have an appetite anymore but you still managed to finish it without puking.

It was finger-licking good but what's the point of food being so delicious when you just don't feel like eating anything in the first place.

You glance in the direction where Yeonjun and his friends were supposed to be sitting. But they weren't there anymore.

Hm. Maybe they've gone somewhere else to have fun...

You think to yourself, not sure why you were concerned about his whereabouts. Perhaps, because you felt a little lonely. Sitting in an expensive club, drinking fine quality drinks and celebrating your business success. All alone. Seemed a little pathetic if you were completely honest to yourself. But you didn't like being so brutally honest with yourself.

You shake your head and force the thoughts away to the back of your mind where they belonged.

No. I'm not alone or lonely or pathetic. At the end of the day, I still have Pepper with me~

You instantly melt at the thought of your 5-year-old Oreo colored Alaskan Malamute, who would probably be curled up on your spot on your couch in the living room right now, staring at the main entrance door and thinking where you were so late at night and why you aren't back yet.

Your chest tightens at the mental image of your big fluffy dog waiting for you.

That's it. I'm going home.

 

Chapter 6: Chapter 05 - An Opportunity of a Lifetime

You push your chair back and stand up immediately. Feeling way less sad now. You take one final glance at the sparkling city view and see the black clouds slowly gathering over the city.

Walking over to the counter to pay for the drinks, you are told that someone had already paid for all your drinks.

"Oh."

You mumble, giving a polite bow to the bartender and leaving the club, heading towards the elevator. Standing in front of it, you push the button and wait for it to arrive from the floors above.

Ding.

The shiny doors of the elevator slide open, revealing a familiar tall muscular figure clad in a white button-up shirt and black pants.

"Fancy meeting you again." Yeonjun drawls with a tiny smirk dancing over his lips. Both his hands inside the pockets on his pants as his back leaned over the elevator wall directly opposite to you.

You close your eyes shut, hoping that when you open them again, he would somehow magically disappear into thin air.

But he didn't, so that was that.

Ding.

The elevator doors start to close, snapping you out of your trance. You lunge forward to push the button again. But before your hand reached the button, Yeonjun's foot was already in between the doors, causing the doors to slide back open again.

"Let me now when you've finally decided to step in." Yeonjun chuckles under his breath, shaking his head in amusement.

You roll your eyes and quickly step inside the elevator. Yeonjun removes his foot and the doors start closing again.

"Leaving so soon?" He asked, looking straight ahead.

"Yeah. I missed my dog." You reply without thinking. Suddenly feeling the urge to smack yourself for giving him an unnecessary bit of extra information.

"Cute... What breed is it?" Yeonjun smiles, radiating warmth and comfort. Something you seemed to need at the moment.

"Alaskan Malamute." You reply flatly.

Yeonjun hummed while nodding.

"What about you. Why are you leaving so early?" You manage to ask, looking at the digital screen next to the elevator doors that showed the number of floor you both were currently on, that kept on decreasing as you went down the building.

Your inner voices were screaming and shaking you violently for trying to converse with him but your curiosity got the better of you. He, for some reason, narrated his entire plan for the night with his friends to you, and now, he was riding down the elevator alone.

Of course you were curious.

"Soobin got an emergency call from the head nurse saying that one of the patients got in a critical condition and he needs to come asap so they can start preparing for his surgery. Hence, we decided to cut the night short and continue some other time." He explains the situation as a matter-of-factly.

"Oh." You nod.

You have a couple more questions circling your mind and were about to open your mouth to ask but immediately snap it shut.

Stop poking your nose, y/n.

"I see." You nod again, not sure how you were supposed to respond anyway.

Awkward silence engulfs you both, or maybe it was only you who thought the silence was awkward, but oh well, the elevator finally comes to a stop on the ground floor after what seemed like an eternity, and if it weren't for the numbers on the digital screen, you were starting to doubt if the elevator was even moving down.

You finally part ways with Yeonjun and reach your white Bugatti La Voiture Noire in the center of the parking lot.

Speeding your way towards your humble looking yet fancy bungalow, and hoping you didn't break any traffic rules on the way, you get out of your car after parking it in the garage and head towards the main door.

Finally standing in front of your door, you insert the key in the lock, which rattles softly as you twist it. Barely a second after which you hear excited barks and thumps of jumping by your dog from the other side, making your heart instantly melt into a warm puddle.

As soon as the door opens, Pepper lunges at you, placing his forepaws on your shoulders as it stood up on its hind legs, easily reaching up to your height. His mouth wide open in a big smile, tongue hanging loosely from one side of his jaw, breathing heavily as he aggressively wagged his big fuzzy tailed behind him in a blurred motion.

"My baby~!" You squeal in a high pitched tone, wrapping his fluffy body in a tight hug. "I missed you so much!"

Arf!

"Of course, I know you missed me you much too! You're my big little baby boy~" You smother him with kisses and close the door behind you.

You quickly change your dress into something more loose and comfortable, grab a few snacks for yourself and pepper before plopping down on the sofa in your living room and turning on the television.

Pepper runs over to you and the big dog jumps into your small lap, the wagging of his tail and the big smile on his face not leaving for a second.

You hold him closely like a huge teddy bear and rest your face on his back as you watched a cheesy rom-com movie, not sure when you managed to fall asleep.

Since it was the weekend, you had all the time to yourself and Pepper. Spending all day in the kitchen and baking cookies, cleaning your apartment, going on walks with Pepper, watching dramas, reading novels, it was a weekend well spent, but sadly, it had come to an end much sooner than you wanted.

Sitting in your office, you sipped on your iced salted caramel latte while scrolling through the latest business news on your phone early in the morning.

A certain headline almost made you choke and spill your drink all over the expensive polished table.

Equinox Inc., one of the biggest real estate companies in the USA, is planning to expand their market to South Korea and is looking for investors and shareholders here.

This was such a grand opportunity for the sales and reputation of your company to skyrocket like never before. There was no way you were going to back down from obtaining this deal with Equinox Inc.

You quickly turn off your phone and open your laptop to start drafting a proposal for a deal with them, not wanting to waste another second.

Your assistant comes in and places a few files on your desk. "Miss y/n! Did you see the news saying that Equinox Inc. is looking for collaborators in South Korea!" She says with excitement brimming her voice, to which you nod with a smile.

"Oh, miss y/n! I just know you'll seize the deal before they even officially announce it!" She claps her hands at the thought. "Black Pearl would basically become invincible after securing the deal!"

You laugh embarrassedly, rubbing your nose. "Ah, well, it's too soon to say that. Even if Black Pearl is currently one of the best companies right now and the others can't hold a candle to us, doesn't meant we can just relax and let our guard down. We still need to stay wary of Falcon Estate." You say the opposing company's name with disdain. "Just like us, they must also be racking their brains to secure the deal. Right now, we are each other's biggest threat."

Hearing you talk about Falcon Estate, Yuna shifts nervously around her feet, avoiding eye contact with you. You notice the sudden change in her behavior and narrow your eyes at her.

"Yuna...? Are you alright? You suddenly seem nervous."

Chapter 7: Chapter 06 - Wild Speculations

Realizing that her change in attitude had been caught, she lets out a weak laugh. “Oh- Well- You see… Actually, the thing is…”

“To the point Yuna.” You order sternly, masking the rising nervous tension within you.

“Oh- Well, since you don’t really keep up with gossips, but that doesn’t mean I do! I- uh- saw the headline of an article and couldn’t help but click on it because it concerned you and uhm- it’s not really bad, but still, well- Maybe you should see it yourself!” Yuna speaks quickly and timidly, fumbling with the phone in her hands before passing it to you.

“The CEO of Black Pearl M. G. and Falcon Estate Caught Having an Intimate Moment in Bar81 the Previous Friday!”

The article read, making your eyes widen in disbelief.

What the actual fuck is this?!

You scroll a little downward and see a couple slightly blurry pictures of you and Yeonjun sitting next to each other. One in which you both clinked your glasses together and another in which he had leaned a little closer to you, the faint smile on his lips visible even from this distance and poor quality of the photo.

If it weren’t for the fact that you were the one in the picture yourself and knew what conversation you had back then, you would have also believed the two people in the pictures were actually having a moment together.

You close your eyes shut and inhale sharply through your clench teeth, pinching the bridge of your nose and handing back Yuna her phone, not wanting to read whatever the hell the rest of the article said. The article headline already sounded atrocious enough, only heavens knew what lies would have been spun under it.

“Well, I mean- it’s nothing scandalous anyway, just some wild speculations here and there, n- nothing that can ruin anyone’s reputation…!” Yuna gulps nervously, trying her best to calm you down.

“Yuna- Wild speculations and nothing scandalous don’t go in the same sentence…”

You rub your face, dragging your palm down from your forehead to your chin as you exhaled loudly. “I don’t care if it’s assumptions or whatever, I don’t want to be associated with him in any way! You already know what people are going to say behind my back, not to mention what that spawn of the devil, Liam Archer, would have to say to me. Ugh…” You groan in exasperation.

Yuna thinks for a while before she speaks again. “The best course of action for now would be to ignore whatever the article has to say and focus on securing the deal with Equinox. Alright?”

“Seems simple enough.” You sigh and push the thoughts away, nodding at her.

I’m being a little over dramatic. It’s nothing serious. People like poking their noses into others’ business anyway.

“I’ve got this. Thank you.” You give her a determined smile and start typing on your laptop with incredible speed. “Oh, and Yuna? Make sure to schedule a meeting with the Chief Marketing Officer of Equinox whenever he arrives in Seoul.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

~At Bar81, last Friday~

“And that’s four points for me! I win again~” Soobin exclaims with a sweet victorious smile.

The rest of the group groans in unison.

“That’s cuz you’re cheating!” Kai complains as he downed another shot. “Our minds are spinning here, except you of course, you’re sober as hell, man. If that isn’t cheating?!”

Soobin glances around him, only to see the faces of his four friends flushed red after all those drinks and suppresses a laugh. “Oh, come on! I already told you guys, multiple times actually, I’m the doctor on call for this month so I need to be extra cautious with my activities outside of work, or else I wouldn’t hear the end of it from the head nurse!”

Taehyun lets out a dejected sigh. “What a party pooper…”

Soobin laughs, scratching the back of his neck. “Just two more weeks, alright? Then I’ll be the one to treat you all. How does that sound?”

“Hmph- Sounds good enough. Only if you promise to actually have fun!” Beomgyu narrowed his eyes at Soobin, at which he laughed and nodded. “Yes, yes, sure. I’ll make a pinky promise if that would put you at ease~”

Beomgyu huffs and quickly extends his pinky, which Soobin interlocks his own pinky with, officially declaring a pinky promise.

“Well, now that’s settled, how about we go to our last stop for the night? I’ve already reserved a room for us at our favorite karaoke bar.” Yeonjun suggests, getting up from the sofa and putting his empty glass on the bar counter.

“Sure, Mr. show-off-with-an-angelic-voice.” Taehyun rolls his eyes and the rest of them laugh. “The only real competitor you have here is our rising star Kai.” He then turns towards Kai. “Put him in his place Kai!”

“Oh? So you’re proposing a competition?” Yeonjun raises an eyebrow with a lopsided smile. “You can’t just put me up against an idol! You guys really want to embarrass me, huh?”

“Puh-lease, the only ones embarrassing ourselves would be us three.” Beomgyu shrugs.

Soobin’s phone suddenly rings, breaking the lively atmosphere. He quickly takes it out of his pocket and his brows furrow at the caller ID. “Speak of the devil.” He mumbles, standing up and turning towards his four friends. “The head nurse is calling, just give me minute.”

They all nod and wait for him to come back from the side of the room.

“Oh, I almost forgot to ask you, who was that pretty woman you were talking to, down at the bar?” Kai speaks up, unable to hide the curiosity in his voice.

“Oh? She’s just an acquaintance I happened to meet here tonight.” Yeonjun replies flatly without much thought.

Kai purses his lips, visibly disappointed by his bland response. “Surely didn’t look like that to me, ya know?”

Yeonjun clears his throat. “H- hey! What are you trying to imply?”

Kai’s lips disappear from his face and between his teeth, trying his best to not laugh.

“You faltered! You faltered! You faltered!” Beomgyu starts chanting, his dark beady eyes wide in excitement.

“Hey! Get those thoughts outside your heads… *sigh* You guys are insufferable…” Yeonjun rolls his eyes.

Before any of them could tease him any further, Soobin comes back after attending his phone call, an apologetic look on his face. “Sorry guys, one of the patient has gotten into a critical condition and I need to go. Hmm… I think he might need to undergo surgery, judging from the condition the head nurse briefly explained.”

“Oh no…” Beomgyu muttered with a concerned expression.

“Let’s just end the night here. I’ll drop you off on the way.” Taehyun suggests, to which Soobin nods.

They all get up to leave when Yeonjun’s phone rings this time.

“Hm? My assistant is calling. You guys can leave; I’ll get this first.”

“Alright. See ya~” They reply in unison and exit the private pool room together.

Yeonjun picks up the call when the door closes after his friends’ group leave and the room is engulfed in silence once again.

“To the point, Mina.” Yeonjun answers the call and demands in a stern voice, not bothering with the niceties. He subconsciously taps his left foot on the floor in an erratic pattern as he nerved himself for any kinds of bad news.

Mina, on the other side, clears her throat after a quick exhale and starts talking, “Sir, the chief financial officer was caught smuggling illegal drugs in a local bar downtown and has been arrested by the cops alongside his accomplices.”

Chapter 8: Chapter 07 - Caught in a Pickle

"What?! ... That bastard!" Yeonjun hisses through his clenched teeth in anger that had started building up. "Should've fired him the moment I thought he was acting dodgy."

"Sir, with all due respect, now's not the time to mull over what could have been done. Since the chief financial officer is in jail, his position is automatically deemed vacant. Our priority right now is that we can't keep the seat empty for too long, because we don't know when and how long the trial will take place. Besides, no one would want a criminal in that seat again anyway. We need to act quickly before the news starts spreading."

Yeonjun takes in a deep, slow inhale, trying to sort out his thoughts and figure out a possible plan to avert this crisis as soon as possible. After much thought, he finally speaks. "I'll transfer you to the position of the chief financial officer tonight. I'm coming over to the company right now. Make sure all the documents and papers are there by the time I arrive."

A surprised and confused gasp is heard from the other side as Mina struggles to find words for the situation that was unfolding so quickly. "But, sir? Are you sure? What about your assistant? And..."

Before Mina could raise any more questions, she is interrupted by an impatient Yeonjun. "I know what I'm doing... You've been the deputy finance officer for a long time, and you've also worked as my assistant for more than a year, so you're the only person I can entrust such a position to right now."

"Yes, sir. Understood." She finally agrees. "But... What about your assistant?"

"I'll think about that later. Just make sure that not even the faintest wind of what happened tonight goes out, or else my chances of striking a deal with Equinox would be gone for good." Yeonjun explains, trying his best to stay calm but failing miserably.

"Yes. I understand." Mina replies and Yeonjun abruptly ends the call.

He starts pacing around the room, running his fingers through his hair once.

Twice.

And thrice.

It's okay. It's alright. I'll manage it. It'll be easy.

He exhales loudly to calm himself down, suppressing the multiple emotions that had been welling up inside him. Panic. Anger. Fear.

As he drove through the city, he couldn't help but wonder about the little encounter he had with you in the elevator. He couldn't point out why you looked a little out of sorts back then. Was it because of him? Or something else? You didn't look like you were in some great distress... So should he be concerned?

Damn it. My mind is all over the place.

At Falcon Estate, Yeonjun rushes through the empty halls and into the elevator that takes him to the top floor, where his office is.

At the reception outside his office, Mina is waiting for him with multiple files in her arms as looks over at him with a worried expression, greeting him with a small bow.

Yeonjun simply nods in response and walks past her into his office.

Mina enters the office after Yeonjun and they both busy themselves with the paperwork to transfer her to the position of chief financial officer.

The two of them drown themselves into paperwork after paperwork.

A handful of the required information was missing since the original chief finance officer was in jail and they both had to resort to mildly underhanded methods, with some forging here and there, to make up for his required information, files and signatures.

It was a tedious and arduous task because even the tiniest of slipup and misinformation in the files could end up exposing the entire situation.

It was half past 2 in the morning when Yeonjun closes the last file in front of him with a long exhausted sigh.

He pinches the space between his forehead, resting his elbow on the armrest of his chair as Mina stands quietly across the desk, waiting for any further orders.

"You can go now. Just make sure to come on time tomorrow." He says in a hoarse voice. Mina nods and leaves the office, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

He then straightens up and opens his laptop, starting to scroll through a list of employees in the company, hoping he could find someone capable enough to be his assistant.

"This... Is going to be a long week..." He slumps back into his leather seat.

~Back to the present~

The sun had started to set and you were going through the first drafted proposal for Equinox, along with your favorite chilled salted caramel latte by your side.

"Hm..." You hum while nodding and taking a small sip of your caffeinated drink, not taking your eyes off the draft. "This is pretty good for the first draft, not gonna lie. Good work, Yuna."

Yuna beams at you, her eyes sparkling at your compliment and gives you a small bow in courtesy. "Oh, really?! Thank you~"

You give a firm nod and settle down the papers you had been holding. "Alright, then. I'll write down the changes and other improvements for the proposal and email it to you tonight. We'll go over the second draft of the proposal tomorrow."

"Understood!" Yuna nods in agreement and turns around to leave the office. Just as she reached the door to exit, she turns around once more, a different kind of excitement circling her eyes. "Oh! I nearly forgot!" She says. "Your dress for tonight has arrived. I've placed it in the studio and arranged everything else for you to get ready. The staff will be ready by the time you arrive."

"Oh? Oh!" You raise your eyebrows in delight. "Good. Very good." You nod a few times to yourself and get up from your seat. "Then, I must hurry. We've started running short on time already!"

Yuna clasps her hand together and smiles widely. "Then allow me to lead the way!"

You step inside the studio right beside Yuna, on the floor just below the one where your office was.

You are welcomed by bright white lights that make you squint for a brief moment before adjusting to their intensity. Three of the four walls of the huge studio in front of you were lined with large mirrors accompanied by half a dozen maroon leather seats and glossy wooden dressing tables in front of them, perfectly and evenly spaced across the three walls.

The top of the mirrors was lined with yet another set of wall lights that were faced such that they projected light right onto the person seated on the seats. If this fancy room filled with all sorts of styling equipment was to be summarized in just two words, they would be: lights and mirrors.

Three French women – dressed in black and white, and tight as hell buns on their heads – approach you and offer a polite bow. They help you take off your coat and lead you to a chair, carefully adjusting the seat and untie your hair.

You close your eyes and let out a small sigh, relaxing into the soft seat as the women worked with their full concentration to doll you up for the important business event tonight.

Equinox Grand Opening and Welcoming Party. Simply put, the Equinox Gala.

Chapter 9: Chapter 08 - The Equinox Gala

The Equinox Gala.

Neat.

And pretty quick, too.

You had been expecting them to hold a grand celebration to announce their arrival in the country. You, however, did not anticipate it happening this soon. They're pretty quick and swift with their actions, you'll give them that.

You take a mental note to keep this in mind when negotiating with them in the near future.

By the time you were done with sorting out your next moves in your mind, the women, or well, more precisely, the stylists, were also done with your makeup and hair.

They help you slip up the dress that had arrived earlier, take their sweet time adjusting it and finally step back to inspect their work. Three pairs of sharp gazes eyeing you, up and down, multiple times, before giving a firm nod and a small satisfied smile.

"Parfait." They whisper in unison.

You sigh in relief.

These women are really hard to please. Or maybe, they're just prime examples of perfectionists, whatever the case may be because the last time, which you remember as clear as day, they spent two, yes, two entire hours adjusting and readjusting your dress, hair and even the makeup for a business dinner with the CEOs of other major companies. Your neck and back were screaming for mercy by the time they approved the look with the same smile plastered over their faces. Perhaps it's their signature smile when they finally achieve the look they were going for, who knows.

The tallest of the three steps forward, gently places her hands over your shoulders and spins you around so you could face the mirror. For a second, you were nervous and didn't know what to expect. You had seen the dress, yes, but combined with the hair, the makeup, and actually wearing it? You were-

Wow...

Your eyes widen in disbelief.

The pattern-less gold dress that hugged your figure was glistening aggressively under the glaring lights of the studio as if hundreds and thousands of little gold stars were plucked from the night sky and sewn right onto the dress, that reached all the way to the floor, almost touching it.

The deep round neck with thin straps that hung over the shoulders, and the bold leg slit that reached up to the top of your right thigh further intensified the overall glamour of the look. It was bold. Alluring. Exceedingly captivating.

You reach out your hand to touch the soft waves of your hair in amazement.

"Oh mon! Non, non, non! Madame...!" The shortest women of the three rushes in front of you, removing your hand from your hair and carefully examines your hair in case it sustained any damages. "This won't do! Don't touch! Not yet- Patience. Patience." She uttered in her deep silky French accent.

"Ah- Yes. Yes, I'm sorry!" You drop your hand to your sides and smile sheepishly at her.

"Miss Park~ I'm here! It's almost time for me to..." Yuna enters the studio and stops abruptly in her tracks when she catches sight of you. Her jaw unhinges, and her eyes widen in awe.

It takes her a few moments before she regains her senses and covers her wide open mouth with her left hand. "Oh my god... Miss Park... Wow." She blinks at you as if you were an alien.

You clear your throat, scratching the tip of your nose. "You had something to say?"

"Oh? Me? Ah! Yes, yes!" Yuna shakes her head in embarrassment. "I came to pick you up. It's almost time!"

"Alright then. Just give me a second." You nod and turn towards a drawer in the table, opening it and taking out a holster. You strap it tightly on your left thigh.

Yuna gulps nervously, the sight in front of her draining the color from her face. "M- Miss Park... A- Are you s- sure this is n- necessary?"

You carefully load the sleek golden pistol that menacingly reflected the lights. Securing it on the holster towards your inner thigh, you get up, adjust the dress and spin around to face Yuna.

You tilt your head, a faint, yet unusually wicked smile playing on your lips. "It doesn't hurt to take a little precautionary measure, now does it? Hm?"

"Yes, I understand but... It's a party held by Equinox! Surely... You wouldn't need to resort to the use of... erm- your handgun... Right?" Yuna laughs weakly, avoiding eye contact with you. Her fear of weapons and anything related to them was nothing less than a phobia.

"Yuna." You say sharply, taking a firm step forward in her direction. "I am perfectly aware of where I will be going and what I am doing. I wouldn't tolerate you, or anyone else, questioning my actions. Understand?"

"Y- yes..." She nods quickly.

"Good."

The drive to the venue was silent. Yuna didn't dare to speak another word after that. She quietly led you to the 10-meter-long, black Rolls Royce limousine waiting for you outside.

The trees, the lights and the streets blurred as the limousine drove. Yuna sat beside you, making sure to concentrate on the view outside her window, a little too hard perhaps. It almost looked like she had held her breath.

You observe her from the corner of your eye. And maybe she felt your intense gaze, she gulped nervously, shifting slightly in her seat. You look away, sighing.

"I appreciate and understand your concern. But, you should know me really well by now. I don't like taking risks, especially not in such grandiose events." You explain, as if to yourself.

"Oh, no, no! I really apologize. I shouldn't have gotten ahead of myself." Yuna shakes her head, waving her hands in front of her. "It's just that... I'm still not used to... This stuff..." Her voice trails off at the end.

"Oh, little Yuna. There's a whole lot of things you'll have to get used to..."

The cameras are flashing mercilessly, not just one, but dozens of them. The swarm of reporters are pushing each other, trying to get to the front of the barricade. They're yelling, furiously waving their hands, hoping to get the attention of the high-profile guests that had started showing up to the venue.

To say the very least, this event hosted by Equinox was nothing short of a Met Gala.

It was like everyone else, just like you, were intent on making an impactful first impression, and maybe even land a profitable deal.

You step out of the limo, slowly and gracefully. The crowd gasps as you appear into view and step towards the long carpet spread out all the way to the grand door of the building. They start screaming your name, desperately waving their arms to get your attention.

"Miss Park!" "Miss Park, here!" "Just a minute, Miss Park!" "Please, Miss Park!"

You ignore their screams and walk past them as if they don't even exist. Looking straight up ahead, chin up, back straight, long powerful steps.

"Miss Park, is it true you and Choi Yeonjun have some sort of affair going on?"

You stop abruptly in your tracks.

This bitch...

Chapter 10: Chapter 09 - Not Even in Your Wildest Dreams

You turn your head and scan the crowd for the person, who dared to ask such a nosy question, from the corner of your eye. Your gaze lands on a woman who was leaning all the way over the barricade, a tape recorder clasped tightly in her left hand while her other hand was circled around her mouth, indicating she was the one who was yelling a second ago.

She makes eye contact with you and as if feeling your piercing gaze, her eyes widen in fear and she doesn't waste a second to sink into the crowd before disappearing completely.

Controlling the urge to roll your eyes, you continue walking towards the entrance. The automatic glass doors slide open and you walk inside, Yuna following you quietly from behind.

The door closes behind you, the noise from outside fading out until you are greeted by a completely different atmosphere.

A soothingly mellow jazz flows around you that calms your nerves. The warm lights dimly illuminate the magnificent ballroom that is embellished with shades of white and pastel blue along with grey and golden accents. Every ornament and piece of furnishing following the same color combinations.

Sleek.

You were silently admiring the venue when an American man, in his early thirties, approaches you with a huge grin plastered across his face. He eyes you from top to bottom, an eyebrow raised in amusement. His gaze then meets your eyes, that try to hide the emotions – and hormones – bubbling inside him but failing, quite miserably, that is.

Your small, and fake, smile disappears from your face. Noticing the change in your expression, he quickly clears his throat and tips his head forward to greet. "Lovely to meet you Miss Park. I'm Andrew Miller." He places his hand out in front of him.

Oh, to twist this hand and feel the bones crack under my palm.

Pushing away the murderous thoughts in your head, you reluctantly reach out for his hand for a brief handshake. "An honor to meet the COO of Equinox in person."

You flash a small obligatory smile and start retracting your arm when he brings your hand closer to himself and bends to plant a soft but disgustingly lingering kiss on the back of your hand.

It took every ounce of energy in your body to not physically cringe, but you make it through anyway.

He straightens up and looks at you, beaming a little too much for his own good, while letting your hand go only after a moment too long. "If you excuse me, I'll attend the other guests. I've heard many amazing things about you. I hope to see you soon."

Heck, I don't hope so.

And with one last crooked smile he strides away.

"Well, well... Look at you; barely stepped in and already charming the guests. The COO, at that." You hear an overly confident and cocky voice behind you.

You let out an annoyed sigh and spin around to face the owner of this infuriatingly charming voice. "Got a problem, Choi?"

He was dressed in a black velvety tuxedo that shone faintly under the lights. The plain white shirt underneath was adorned at the top with a black bowtie with the same velvety texture. His fluffy hair was neatly combed and styled, which was a first for you.

If he didn't get on your nerves every time you two saw each other and interacted, you would've audibly gasped at the drop dread gorgeous man in front of you.

He chuckles lightly, shaking his head. "Of course not. Continue doing your thang."

"What do you mean, thang?" You take angry steps towards him and stop less than a foot away. Instead of grabbing his collars and wringing him violently, you jab your finger in the center of his chest.

The corner of Yeonjun's lip curve up, totally unfazed by your aggression. He then sighs like you were the one that was causing him an inconvenience, and not the other way round.

He opens his disgustingly pretty mouth to speak. "Absolutely nothing, dear. Don't get any wrong ideas."

Dear? Is he for real?

You glare at him, trying to study his expression to know if he's speaking the truth. Your eyes move from his perfect eyebrows to his fox like eyes, that calmly stare back at you, and then over to his plump pink lips.

Dammit. Why does he have to look so damn perfect and also get under my skin every single time.

"Miss Park." He closes his eyes and tilts his back slightly, revealing his brilliant jawline. That smug smirk on his face only widening as he sighs again but with a mix of a low chuckle this time. "What did I say about you staring at me like that?"

You turn your head to a side, feeling your traitorous cheeks heating up and huff in annoyance to cover up for your blush. "Never mind. I have nothing to do with you."

And with that you spin around gracefully to leave his proximity before he could respond with something you have absolutely no interest in listening to. But you had only taken a couple steps before you feel a hand wrap tightly around your wrist, pulling you back. Your back almost bumps into Yeonjun's chest but he stills you before it could even happen.

He lowers his head, bringing his lips close to your right ear and speaks in a gentle whisper. "You need be wary of Andrew. He's a wolf in sheep's clothing."

"Tch." You clench your jaw. "You really take me for a stupid, huh?"

"That's not what-" He exhales out gloomily. His warm breath brushing your earlobe and setting it on fire. "Can't you be cooperative for once?"

"With you? Hell nah. Not even in your wildest dreams." You free your wrist from his grasp. He parts his lips to speak but you interrupt him before words could escape him. "Now if you would excuse me, I have people to meet."

You quickly stride away from his presence and mingle with the guests, who were all thrilled by your appearance. They kept slipping in business negotiations in between conversations, not trying to hide the fact that they would want to collaborate with you and whatnot. They would hand you their business cards with their contact information, which you kept passing over to Yuna without even sparing a glance at the bits of rectangular pieces.

Now sitting at a minibar at the end of the hall and leisurely sipping the drink in your hand – that seemed like you were drinking lava, burning your mouth and throat as it made its way down to your stomach – your eyes scan the crowd from over the rim of your crystal glass as you drank slowly, taking note of all the people present while Yuna was standing beside you, arranging the bulk of business cards you had handed over to her.

She suddenly lets out a gasp and you snap your head in her direction to see that all the cards that were in her hand a few seconds ago were scattered on the floor around her feet as she stared at them with terror.

"Yuna?! What happened?!" You leave the glass on the bar counter and quickly crouch down next to Yuna and help her gather the cards. It wasn't until you both had collected all of them off the floor and straightened up that Yuna spoke.

"M- Miss... Park... L- look at this..." Yuna hands you one of the cards she was holding with a shaky hand.

It was a plain black card. You flip it over to see that there were words engraved on it in a glittering golden typewriter font. When you read what's written on the card, your breathing stops as your brain flips and spins to process what the actual hell was going on.

The card read:

"You're testing my patience and you'll have to pay for it."

Chapter 11: Chapter 10 - A Small Misunderstanding

Your eyebrows are bunched together as you read the singular sentence over and over again, as if doing so will make new sentences appear that would explain the situation.

Yuna fidgets with her fingers as she waits for you to say something – anything. The confusion and surprise slowly starts to dissipate, and in its place, fury starts building up. You didn't know who did this, which makes you mad. The thought of someone daring to do this makes you mad. The fact that you can't do anything about it, at least for now, makes you mad.

You didn't even get on anyone's bad side today. You forced a smile and talked in a civilized manner with each and every one present here, no matter how nice or disdainful they were towards you. Except...

Oh.

You clench your fist that was holding the provocative black card, smashing the thick paper into a crumpled ball.

"Uh- Miss Park... It's best if you clear your head before you make any rash decision out of impulse..." Yuna pleads in a desperate voice that almost cracks at the end. You close your eyes and take a couple deep breaths and exhale loudly. "Alright... Take it easy. No biggie."

You plop down back on the barstool and down the remaining contents of the crystal glass in one go.

The night couldn't get any better, now could it?

You scan the crowd brimming with prim and proper people for a particular godforsaken sly fox. Your eyes darting from one person to the next, from one end to the other when...

Aha. Found that little shit.

You see Yeonjun walking towards the entrance of a small passageway situated at the far, quiet end of the ballroom, that led to the male and female restrooms. You stand up swiftly from your seat and start trailing him, trying to avoid any misgivings from the guests towards your actions.

As soon as you enter the passageway, you spot Yeonjun entering the restroom and the door swinging close behind him. You pick up pace and enter through the door right after him, clicking it lock as you did.

"Huh?"

Yeonjun turns around after hearing the suspicious click behind him, but he only manages to turn halfway through when he was pushed against the wall, his left cheek pressed against the cold tile of the restroom, his arms firmly pinned behind his back, and painfully so.

A cold golden barrel appears out of thin air and rests under his chin, causing his pupils to shrink into dots.

"Damn- Woman-!? Daughter of Hades-?! What did I ever do to you?!" He asks roughly, his voice strained.

"If you try to play dumb with me, I'll shoot you. It's really that simple." You hiss at him, pressing the barrel harder against his chin, forcing his face to tilt up an inch.

"Look- Being killed by a stunning woman doesn't seem all that bad but really- I have a life to live and a company to take care of. So would you please mind telling me what the heck did I do upset you this much?!" He babbles at a nearly incomprehensible speed.

"Enough with this nonsense." You shove the barrel up against his chin while your hold on his wrists give a piercing tug, sending a sudden jolt of pain all the way through his wrists to the shoulders.

"Fuck!" Yeonjun sucks in a sharp breath of air.

You bring your lips close to his ear and enunciate every word slowly and carefully. "If you think that sending a threat in between business cards is oh-so sneaky and intimidating then you are terribly wrong, Mr. Choi."

"If you really think that I'm the one responsible for whatever shit you've received then go ahead and shoot me. I'd love to see the look on your face when you'll find out that you were pinning blame on the wrong person without any evidence." His voice lowers down to a dangerous whisper.

Now, you really started to doubt your own judgements.

"Why should I believe that you weren't the one who sent the threat on the damned black card?" You grit your teeth in frustration that was building up inside you.

"And why should you believe I was the one?! And what threat on a black fucking card, woman?!"

"Answer me!" You give him a shove against the tiles.

"Look-" Yeonjun lets out an exasperated groan. "In case I go mad and decide to threaten you, I'll say whatever the heck I want to right in front of your pretty face, alright?! I ain't no pussy to send you anonymous cards and flowers and shit."

You give him one final push against the wall before letting him go.

He cracks his neck and swings his arm to ease the knots in his shoulders before turning to face you with a frown. "Thank you." He huffs angrily.

You flick your hand in front of his face, making him flinch. On a closer look, he sees that you are holding an abused black card in between your two fingers. "This isn't you then?" You inquire sternly.

He plucks the pitiful card from your fingers and turns it around to read the text written on it. His brows furrow when he's done reading the words in front of him.

"The hell...?" He tilts his head up to look at you with confusion visible all over his face.

You shrug as if it doesn't bother you, which in reality, it did, but perhaps not as much now that you've vented all your anger out.

At the wrong person.

Shit.

"I don't know what pickle you've got yourself in but I already have my own crisis to deal with and I don't have time for this extra drama, alright?" He looks at you straight in the eye, handing back the card.

A feeling of guilt washes over you and you drop your head to look at the floor, not sure what to say. You fiddle with the card in your hands as you spoke. "Oh- Well... My bad... *awkward laugh* I'm sorry... I guess..."

"You guess?"

You force yourself to look up at Yeonjun, only to see him painfully trying to hold his laughter.

"What?!" You cross your arms over your chest and turn your head to a side, the mirrors of the restroom greeting you with your reflection that showed how miserably you were blushing.

Finally, he breaks out in a fit of laughter that echoes in the restroom, leaning his back against the wall behind him to support himself. "You're so bad at this." He shakes his head as he wiped a fake tear off his annoying face.

You glare at him through the mirror but he couldn't care less.

When he finally decides to steady himself, he sighs with a big grin. "Been a while since I laughed this hard. I owe you... I guess..."

And then he doubles over, breaking out in another fit of laughter.

"You're so fucking annoying- I want to kill you..." You pinch the bridge of your nose and groan.

Yeonjun straightens up, waving his hands in front of him as he panted for breath. "Alright, alright, I'll stop... Whew... It's not every day that you see the Park y/n apologize to anyone."

"You're insufferable." You roll your eyes and spin on your heels, heading towards the door to leave. You place your hand on the handle and suddenly stop, turning to look at Yeonjun over your shoulder. "I think it's better if you take the lead here."

"Hm?" He raises a questioning eyebrow.

You sigh tiredly, massaging your temples as you feel a headache coming from a mile away. "We're in the men's restroom, Mr. smart ass. If someone sees me coming out of here, and then you afterwards... God..." A shudder travels down your spine. "I don't even want to know what stupid stories their brains would spin..."

You couldn't afford being caught up in another scandal. This one being... well, more scandalous.

Chapter 12: Chapter 11 - Broken Bones

“Okay, okay, your highness.” Yeonjun rolls his eyes sarcastically. “Would you like… Mind putting away that weapon of yours.” He points at the sleek pistol that was tightly clenched in your hand.

Oh, shit. No way I was about to walk out with this still in my hand…

You curse yourself internally for being so stupid. You clear your throat mumbling, “Ah, yes. Right.” before bending over and parting your gold glittering dress by the slit until your right thigh was exposed with the holster still tightly attached to it in the middle.

You tuck the pistol back into its spot on your inner thigh and stand back up straight – only to see that Yeonjun had his head turned to the left while his right hand was placed in front of his eyes. “I would have very much appreciated a heads up, you know?”

You lift both of your eyebrows and snort in disdain. “I wasn’t doing a striptease for you. You flatter yourself too much.”

“Gosh, woman, your words!” Yeonjun exclaims in a shaky exasperated breath, dragging his palm down his face.

He adjusts his coat and collars, then steps out of the men’s restroom after giving himself one final look in the mirror with a satisfied nod. After a brief moment, you hear his voice. “No one’s outside. Hurry up and come out.” He pops his head back in through the door and whisper yells at you.

You rush out of the restroom, slipping past Yeonjun and into the women’s restroom right in front of the door through which you exited after getting the green signal from him.

As soon as the door of the women’s restroom clicks shut behind you, you press your back against the cold door and slump down, exhaling and groaning at the same time. The soft and sweet floral scent of the restroom fills your nose, doing very little to calm you down.

I’m fine. Everything’s fine. It was just a little mistake. Relax.

You repeat those sentences over and over again in your head until the gears of your brain switch from confusion and surprise to careful contemplation. Since it wasn’t Yeonjun, who could it be?

Hmmm… Think, think, think.

You weren’t sure if it’s possible to hear your own brain spark and crackle as it gathers different pieces of a puzzle available in front of you and tries to put it together, but at least for now, you could hear the insides of your head whirr as it recalled every information that could be related to today’s events.

I don’t believe that it is necessary for someone to threaten me just because of something I might have done tonight, right? Right. It could’ve been a result of some bad blood long before tonight… And maybe that person might have taken tonight’s event as an opportunity to intimidate me. But, that person needs to have a status high enough to get into this party AND have animosity towards me…

As much as you hated to admit it, only one face seems to appear before your eyes. A face that makes your blood seethe dangerously.

Liam fucking Archer.

He ticks off all the boxes that you could think of. Bad blood? Check. Works under the CEO of his company? Check. Threatened and insulted you in the past? Check.

Even if, suppose, in some parallel universe, he wasn’t the mastermind behind tonight’s shit-show, then you’d still rather put the blame on him than anyone else. He deserves it, actually.

You spend the next couple of minutes trying to convince yourself to not do anything stupid the moment you see him tonight, even though you didn’t up till now. But, there is still a possibility he might run into you at some point.

Making sure you look as flawless as you did when entering the gala, you step out of the women’s restroom to head back over to your assistant before she starts worrying until she passes out.

You make it a few steps out of the restroom when you feel someone grab your ass-cheek tightly.

Your body reacts before your brain does as you grab the person’s wrist and spin around to dislocate the wrist, hopefully.

Which, you think you might have, judging by the feel of something crack under your palms, if not actually hear it over the rush of blood through your ears and your heart now pumping pure adrenaline instead of blood.

The color from the man’s face drains faster than you could blink and his lips part, indicating he might be trying to speak or simply whimpering due to the pain, but you’re unable to hear anything.

“I d- didn’t d- do anything!” The man pleads in a wobbly squeak.

“What-” *crack* “Did-” *crack* “You-” *crack* “Say?” *crack*

You finally let go and the man drops on his knees, his eyes as wide as they could go as he looks at his disturbingly twisted wrist and arm in complete horror. His entire being shakes as he fists his mouth with his other hand to bite away the pain while he cradles his dislocated arm as if that is supposed to be of any help.  

“R- really- I- I’m so-” The man tries to apologize but immediately shuts up when you take a step forward and your heels come into his field of view. He slowly lifts up his face and when his eyes meet yours, he immediately staggers back as he pushes himself away. He raises his working hand up in a prayer and begs incoherently, “P- please s- spare me! I- I didn’t know it w- was you!”

“Hah?!” You spit out a laugh in utter disbelief that makes the man flinch. “What’s your name?”

“I- Ian! Ian Archer!”

Of fucking course.

He answers without wasting a second like giving away his name is going to save him from his impending doom.

You give him one last look before turning away, not wanting to waste your breath breathing the same air as him and leaving him to his own misery.

You find Yuna standing anxiously in the exact same spot you left her in a few minutes ago. Her eyes dart across the room, unmistakably searching for you. The moment her eyes land on you, it’s like a huge boulder had been physically been lifted off her shoulders as she darted forward in your direction.

“Ms. y/n! I- I thought something happened to you!” She releases a shaky sigh in relief, that makes you smile a little.

“Nothing can ever happen to me~” You pat her cheek and move towards the bar.

“Wait, Yuna. I have an important task for you.” You stop midway and she nods, listening attentively. “I want you to go back to the company and search up each and every guest that came here tonight. And when I say search, I mean everything.”

Yuna’s eyes go wide in surprise, her mouth parts but no words come out.

“It’s about time you put that degree of yours to some good use.” You give her a wink that snaps her out of whatever trance she was in. She nods frantically, mumbling stuff like yes ma’am, I got it; over and over again before leaving quickly.

You sit down on the only empty barstool available and give the bartender your order. The person sitting on your left slaps his hand on the counter in front of him, pushing forward a couple bills for his drink. His shoulder shake ever so slightly, as if laughing silently.

“We meet yet again.” He straightens his spine and spins the stool to face you, revealing the hideous face you want to rip apart from your bare hands.

Liam Archer.

As if the night couldn’t get any worse.

Chapter 13: Chapter 12 - Intoxicated

Your entire body goes stiff as you narrow your gaze at him. You don’t bother replying. It takes every ounce of your self-control to not break his nose this very second.

Seeing your lack of “kindness” towards him, he only grins smugly, which increases your resentment up another notch. “Just relax and enjoy the night, y/n!” He spits pretentiously. “Surely you can put your pettiness on hold for one night?”

I’m being petty?! This is called being petty?!

You clench and unclench your fists to stop yourself from doing something stupid for the nth time today.

“If my pettiness wasn’t on hold tonight, I would’ve familiarized my fist with your face already.” You hiss at him with a sweet smile that hurt your cheeks.

His gaze darkens in response to your words, making him frown. And then he does the most enraging thing you could have ever imagined him doing. His eyes that were locked onto yours in a glaring contest start to move.

Down.

And down.

And further down.

Taking his sweet time as he checked you out from head to toe just to spite you, knowing how much you hated it. The more the seconds passed, the more self-conscious you started to feel about yourself, making the hair on your body jolt up straight. It almost felt like he could even see through your clothes and it made you want to run away and curl yourself into fetal position.

But there is no way in hell, you were going to reveal any kind of weakness in front of someone like Liam, no matter how much it gnawed at you.

His eyes finally reach back to yours and he opens his mouth to speak but is interrupted by the bartender, who has brought you your drink.

“Here is the Tequila Sunrise you ordered!” She slides the drink over to you and forces a smile that didn’t seem to reach her eyes. On the contrary, her eyes showed distress which puzzled you. Feeling your skeptical gaze, she dials up her smile one more step.

You push a couple notes in front, which she takes with somewhat shaky hands that only adds to your concerns.

“As I was saying-” Liam tries to continue where he left off but you raise your hand in front of him, not wanting to trouble yourself by looking in his general direction.

“I don’t give a flying fuck about what you were saying. Keep it to yourself.” You wave your hand, dismissing him completely.

Feeling overwhelmed with the events of tonight, you down half of the contents of the tumbler in one go.

You place the crystal tumbler down with a thud. From the corner of your eyes, you see Liam smiling at you like the devil he is. His gaze darting around your body occasionally to which you make sure to pretend that you’re unbothered by his presence a couple feet to your left.

Liam leans in a little towards you and attempts to whisper but only ends up speaking loudly than intended – probably on purpose – his breath reeking of smoke and liquor that almost made you gag.

“I heard that the COO of Equinox has taken a keen interest in you, huh?”

You freeze at the spot hearing those words, wanting to do nothing else but take out your pistol and shoot him in the center of his forehead, right there and then.

The way he phrased that sentence… It made you want to throw up.

Taking your silence for whatever he deemed fit in that deranged head of his, he continues on. “See, that’s why you are not fit to be the CEO. Who would’ve thought you’d stoop so low and try to seduce the COO of Equinox to secure your partnership with them.”

You snap your head in his direction; the rage meter in your brain entering the danger zone. “Stop spewing bullshit.” You snarl at him, unable to control your breathing into a steady pace.

Liam clicks his tongue in disapproval, shaking his head in mockery. “Tsk- That’s the only way you women can think of to reach your goals. I mean- Just look at you. It’s so obvious what you’re trying to do here.”

Kill him. Kill him. Kill him.

Your brain chants over and over again. Your inner voice mixing with itself and turning into something entirely sinister that you couldn’t recognize. Red spots cover your entire vision as your brain spins like a ballerina pirouetting out of control.

You almost go on to pull out your pistol but you think better of it and instead redirect your hand to grab onto the crystal tumbler and finish the remaining drink in one big sip – almost choking on it.

The contents of your tumbler seem to have travelled straight to your brain instead of your stomach.

You slam the tumbler back onto the counter and double over, holding onto the counter for support as you pant for air. It’s like someone was squeezing your lungs to prohibit any air from entering inside. Sweat beads form across your hairline and roll down.

Something is not right.

You lift your head up to see Liam looking down at you with so much disgust, you would think he’s looking at a baby’s wet diaper.

“What did you put in the drink?” You ask in between your gasps for breath.

“Nothing that would kill you.” He shrugs.

Where there was one Liam, now there were two more beside him and you couldn’t tell which was the real one.

“I’ll personally make sure you die a miserable death…” You give him one last warning before your head slams onto the bar counter, sending a jolt of excruciating pain before your senses turned off.

Blackness covers your eyes and you feel like you are floating away in space where there is no force to pull you back to the ground. But still, in between this blend of chaos and serenity you were in, you could faintly hear what was happening in your surroundings.

You could somewhat hear the grumbling of Liam saying something along the lines of you being a pain in the ass but a fun toy nonetheless; and then you feel the iron tight grip on your elbows that yanks you off your seat.

You have absolutely no idea how your legs have the strength to carry your weight. You’re not even sure if you have legs anymore since you can’t feel them. Your entire body is numb.

And as if your legs hear your thoughts, they give out the second you put your entire weight on them; and fall into the arms of none other than Liam Archer himself.

You could practically hear him grit his teeth and curse as he holds you with enough force to leave a bruise.

“S- Sir- Where are you taking her?” You hear a female voice ask. Must be the bartender that took your order; if you remember her voice correctly.

“Nothing that you should be too concerned with.” Liam snaps at her. “But if you’re so damn curious, I’d really like to introduce her to the COO of Equinox. He’d be quite happy to see her.”

He then starts to drag you wherever the hell was wanted to take you but stops the very next second. “And if you open your mouth about tonight to anyone, I’ll make your life a living hell.” He warns someone – probably the waitress, again.

You feel your feet move again under the supervision of Liam, wobbling with each step. Judging by the distant chatter of the guests, it’s safe to assume he’s treading carefully among the shadows. Or maybe it was because of the intoxicated drink.

Who knows.

You both only make it so far before coming to a halt once more.

“What’s the hurry, Mr. Archer? The night’s still young~” A low euphonic voice makes its way to your ears amidst all the madness that you were surrounded with.

Yeonjun.

Chapter 14: Chapter 13 - Knight in Shining Armor

It crushes your ego to admit this, but you had never been so glad to run into Yeonjun until now.

“Ah, yes. You are quite right but Ms. Park here has somewhere to be; and I intend to escort her there.” Liam replies in monotone. “As you can clearly see she’s far too gone to even take a step on her own.”

“Oh~ I had no idea y/n got herself a new assistant!” Yeonjun chuckles in amusement which has Liam tightening his grip on your arms; making you wince.

Liam clears his throat and attempts to leave without drawing any more unnecessary attention to you both. “Now, if you’ll excuse us.”

“Hold on second.”

“What?” Liam snaps at Yeonjun, growing frustrated by every second that was slipping through his fingers.

“I’d love to have a chat with y/n.” Yeonjun drawls with a tilt of his head.

“She has no interest in small talk for now.”

“Oh?” Yeonjun feigns surprise. “But I got a message from her a few minutes ago that she has something important to discuss with me.”

“Can’t you see-”

“No matter what.” Yeonjun smiles like the sly fox he is. “Besides, Ms. Park here has been awfully quiet about something she told me herself. I’m sure she would dismiss me herself if she must, no?”

You hear Liam grind his teeth. If he tries to insist any further, even a 2-year-old would come to the obvious conclusion that there’s something odd about the entire situation. And to add to his frustration, the palms of his hand gripping onto you turn sweaty.

Ugh.

“Oh, and didn’t you, yourself claim that she is in no condition to even talk to me; then I wonder what important business she needs to be escorted to so urgently in such a state, hm? Surely, it’s nothing too confidential~” Yeonjun recalls innocently.

“Ah, yes. Of course.” Liam huffs in defeat. “If that’s the case, then I shall leave her in your good hands; since I already have a lot on my plate.”

He hurls your limp body in Yeonjun’s direction, who catches you with an “oomph”; before taking off in long strides.

Maybe you heard it wrong but you hear Yeonjun release a sigh of relief, holding you with a steady grip. He places his palm on your cheek, turning your head so you could face him. “y/n! Can you hear me?” He pats your cheek in a desperate attempt to open your half closed eyes.

“y/n, can you speak? Where is your assistant?” He asks again; his soothing voice only making you want to fall deeper into your muddled dreams.

“y/n, please…” His voice falls into a helpless whisper.

You try to open your mouth to speak but words fail to come out. You try to blink your eyes but the haze never leaves. You try to move your limbs but it’s like the commands never reach them.

I think I’m safe for now, right? Maybe I could sleep for a bit…

And your brain shuts down, only registering Yeonjun’s groan before everything turns pitch black.

When your eyes open again, you realize that your blurred vision has lessened significantly. You can finally feel your limbs; although unable to move them for the time being. Your head feels like it just came off a roller coaster ride; dizzy and aching badly but well enough to be able to understand your surroundings and think about what happened last night.

Speaking of which…

WHY AM I IN A CAR?

A MOVING CAR AT THAT?

You jerk forward in a panic, only to be constricted by the seatbelt locking you in place.

“Oh? Thank god you’ve woken up. The medicines worked quickly enough.” A devastatingly soft masculine voice sounds from the driver’s seat, which, upon turning your head to the right, you see Yeonjun; looking straight ahead as he drove, his right hand on the steering wheel while his left arm resting leisurely on the armrest between the two front seats.

“What the-” You put your vocals cord to use; only to be interrupted by Yeonjun halfway through your sentence.

“Yes, yes, we get it. You’re shocked. No need to yell. My head already hurts from your perfume that could be smelled from a mile away. You should be thanking me for saving your ass back there instead.”

“I wasn’t-” You begin to defend yourself.

“Okay, alright, princess. Whatever you say.”

You clench your jaw and decide to change the topic. “Where are you taking me?”

“Hm, good question. I was thinking maybe I’d take you to a desolate forest, chop you up and sell your organs. How does that sound for a plan?” He laughs deeply.

You shoot him a withering glare.

“Of course I’m taking you to your home! Where else my lady?” He adds in exasperation.

You only roll your eyes in response and look straight up ahead. The storage compartment of the dashboard is propped open and you can see a stash of all sorts of medicines rammed in untidily.

You click your tongue in amusement. “You do drugs?”

Yeonjun bursts out in a fit of laughter and you bite the inside of your cheek to suppress your smile.

When he gets a grip on himself, he shakes his head, the wide grin on his face not leaving. “You must be feeling well already since you seem to be in a mood for jokes. And no, sorry to disappoint you, love, but my perfectly arranged dispensary ended up in ruins thanks to you. Since I couldn’t find the medicine I needed, I turned the compartment upside down for it, only to end up buying it because I didn’t have any.”

The thought of Yeonjun panicking while rummaging through his stockpile of medicines made you want to smile again – twice, in such a short span of time. New personal record, dare you say.

And then, him having to buy some just for you made the trapped butterflies in the cage of your heart thrash against their confines.

Shit. y/n, focus. You can’t let your emotions distract you just because someone did one little nice thing for you.

You clear your throat. “So, why do you have so many medicines anyway?”

Stop initiating small talk, y/n.

Yeonjun smiles for some reason before replying. “My mom’s a doctor. Well, surgeon more precisely.” He chuckles. “She’s always nagging me to have every type of medicine at hand, just in case.” He says the last three words by gesturing quotations marks by his free left hand.

That’s sweet.

You nod in understanding.

“Anyway.” He changes the topic. “How’re you feeling now?”

“A lot better.” You look down at your hands in your lap. “Thanks.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

You regret trying to thank him and turn to glare at him, at which he only laughs. “Okay, okay. I’m just messing with you~ Who would’ve thought I’d see the day when the Park y/n would be thanking me? Awesome.”

“Ugh.”

Chapter 15: Chapter 14 - A Fluffy Threat

Yeonjun pulls up in your driveway and puts his car to park. He steps out and walks over to your side, opening the door for you and presenting his hand.

You wave him off. “I’m perfectly fine now. I don’t need your he-”

Your jelly legs give out and you yelp in surprise as Yeonjun catches you just in time. He shakes his head. “Just because your brain is functioning again doesn’t mean your body is too.”

Unable to think of a rebuttal, you decide to keep your mouth shut and allow him to help you towards the main door of your house.

You grab the knocker of the door and bang it a couple times. “I’m home~!”

Yeonjun stares at you in pure shock, like you just grew a second head. “I did not know you did not live alone.”

“Well, I do, in fact, live alone. Technically speaking.” You shrug.

“Then, why did you just- I-?” He fails to form a coherent sentence. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure we dropped your brain on the way. How about we go look for-”

The door clicks and swings open; revealing a black and white dog the size of a baby bear standing in the middle of the frame, wagging his bushy tail behind him.

Yeonjun’s jaw drops in disbelief. He points at the dog, then at the door and then at the dog again? “The dog? Door? Open? How?”

You choke back a laugh as you begin to explain. “I installed a little nifty system for my little baby~”

Yeonjun blinks at you, at a loss for words, before he helps you inside, seating you on the couch in the living room. Pepper jumps into your lap, sniffing and licking you excessively as if he could sense that something had been wrong and makes sure you are alright.

“What if he opens it to chase away a delivery man? Or a cat or bird he saw outside? What if he decides to run away?!” Yeonjun voices his concerns as he gets on his knees and places a couple medicine bottles on the coffee table, still processing the witchcraft he just witnessed.

You place your hand over your heart and gasp as if his words hurt you. “My pepper would never! Right, my big floofy boy?” You then turn to your dog, squishing his face in your hands. Pepper barks happily in response.

“Can I please have the old y/n back? This one is freaking me out.” Yeonjun scratches the back of his head awkwardly. “Oh crap- What if these are the side effects of the medicines I gave you?!”

You huff at him, scrunching your nose in disgust.

“Anyway…” He rises to his feet and starts to make his way to the kitchen when Pepper suddenly bolts up straight and growls in his direction.

“Hey, hey! Calm down buddy.” He raises both his hands in defeat. “You were all fine and goofy a second ago! What just happened?”

“In case you got a little too comfortable, you’re still a new face for him and he’s still wary of you.”

“Well? Then make it not wary of me!?” Yeonjun takes a step back when Pepper takes a slow step forward towards him.

“Oh? And what if I don’t?” You grin devilishly, resting your face on the palm of your hand as you watch the show in front of you.

“y/n!” He pleads, his voice breaking into a squeak. “You can’t be doing this right now! It’s literally two seconds away from biting off my ass!”

You break out into a fit of laughter, struggling to fill your lungs with much needed air in between your wheezes as you wipe away the tears that had welled up in your eyes.

Yeonjun stares at you in bewilderment, completely forgetting about the threat in front of him for the moment.

Pepper also turns his head towards you, tilting his head, confused by your reaction. He then turns to Yeonjun, and back to you again, his tiny mind trying to understand what the hell was going on.

And as if a small bulb lights up over his head and he realizes that there is no danger in the room, his body relaxes and he sits down on his hind legs, starting to wag his tail at your figure, whose shoulders shook in mirth without restraint.

“See! I’m not the psychopath here, it’s clearly her! She’s lost her mind…” Yeonjun talks to the dog as he points in your general direction. Pepper only tilts his head and smiles at him, wagging his tail.

“Hm, do you think I should up the dosage or something?” He asks the hairy creature; to which he obviously doesn’t get a reply. “Oh god… I think I might be losing my mind too…” He mumbles, putting the back of his hand on his forehead.

Shaking his head, he grabs a glass of water from the kitchen and hands it to you. He grabs the two medicine bottles and waves it in front of your eyes to get your attention before you dozed off. “When you wake up in the morning, take one tablet each from these two bottles, alright?”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Don’t bother me.” You turn your head away and hug the small cushion that was laying on the couch.

“Ugh.” Yeonjun massages his temples.

Rummaging through the drawers of the kitchen, he manages to find a piece of paper and writes down a note for you to take your medicine the next morning and places it next to the medicines; all this while Pepper following him around with his tail swaying left and right non-stop.

Finally, ready to leave, he takes one last look at your figure lying peacefully on the couch.

She didn’t even change…

He thinks looking at your vibrant gold dress that would most definitely be uncomfortable. And cold.

Ugh-! Fuck me and fuck my life. What did I get myself into?!

Yeonjun groans as he steps back into the house from the doorway and enters the room closest to the lounge, bringing out a blanket from the bed and dropping it over you, making sure it’s covering you properly before leaving in a rush.

The next morning when you open your eyes, an agonizing headache greets you as you sit up straight. Your mind all fuzzy and worn out from exhaustion from the night before.

The night before!?

Your eyes widen as you realize that you were still wearing the dress from last night as the memories start flooding in speeds faster than you can even process them. Your eyes land on a piece of paper sitting on the coffee table in front of you. You hastily pick it up, your heart jumping weirdly when you’re done reading.

“Take one tablet from each of the two bottles as soon as you get up, preferably after drinking something warm, like a soup. Call me if you need anything. +82 XXX-XXXX-XXX You’ll be thanking me later~ ;)”

You take the two tablets with a glass of water that was lying next to the note, not having the appetite to eat anything else.

Checking your phone, you see 13 missed calls from your assistant, and almost drop the phone from your hand when you check the time above the missed call notifications.

12:37 p.m.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

You thank the heavens for being the CEO yourself, or else you would have been fired for good.

Chapter 16: Chapter 15 - Double Trouble

Since you were already later than late, you take your sweet time to change and get ready before heading to the company. Only the makeup from last night taking around half an hour to remove.

By the time the elevator slides open and you step onto the top floor of the building, it was almost 2 p.m.

Taking a step out, you’re nearly knocked off your feet after bumping into Yuna. “I’m so-” she starts but her mouth drops when she sees you. “Oh my God! Ms. Park! Thank goodness you’re finally here! I was about to go crazy when you hadn’t shown up until nine and almost called the police but as soon as I picked the phone Mr. Yeonjun called me and filled me in about last night which was a huge shock to me that he called me personally but anyway, it made me worry less but then I started worrying more knowing what happened; but knowing Mr. Yeonjun personally handled the situation, I was finally at ease, but then I had to handle the matters in your absence and I had no idea what to do without your guidance so I started losing my mind again and I was rushing to a meeting that had suddenly popped up and bumped into you on the way and I’ve never been so glad to be just a mere assistant while you do all the heavy work and my respect for you has grown tenfold, not that it was any less before but I hope you get what I mean!”

She finally stops blabbering and takes in a huge breath of air that sounded more like a wheeze, while you stand at your spot, blinking at her in surprise.

“Oh- Well… That was… A lot.” You give her a lopsided smile. “Now that I’m here, why don’t I begin my work and head to this meeting first.”

Yuna shakes her head like a pepper shaker, brimming with excitement. “Yes, yes! Please, follow me, I’ll lead the way~!”

Heading towards the conference room, Yuna briefs you about today’s discussion with the representatives of Equinox. You hold up your hand and stop her midway, “Wait- Hold up… This is a meeting with Equinox?! And you were planning on attending it yourself?”

Yuna’s eyebrows shoot up, stuttering in confusion as she replied, “Oh, no- no- I could never have participated in it even in my wildest dreams. I was planning on excusing them because you weren’t available and giving them the draft you had proposed since I didn’t want them to leave empty handed; that wouldn’t have given a good impression!”

You study her expression, rubbing your chin in contemplation. “Hm. You did the right thing. But… I don’t get it? Why didn’t they inform beforehand that they wanted to arrange a meeting? Is this their way of looking down on me? Thinking that I’m so desperate that I’ll always be available for them?!”

“No need to get worked up, Ms. Park. Surely there’s a reasonable explanation. I’m not too sure either myself but let’s get to the meeting first!” Yuna forces a tight smile.

You nod firmly and follow Yuna as she enters the conference room. You were expecting a lot of people to show up but only two people were sitting behind the long desk sprawled across the room with their back facing you two, so you couldn’t tell who they were just yet.

With your head held up high as always, you strut across the floor and seat yourself at the head of the table, finally looking up to the faces of the two people.

If it weren’t for the fact that you had good self-control and were an expert at masking your emotions, you would have gasped if you saw the two very familiar faces. And what confused you even more was that they both were completely unrelated to each other, so why the hell were they both showing up together in a meeting that was supposed to be representing only Equinox?

While Yuna’s eyes were ready to pop out of their sockets, you keep the most neutral expression as if you had never met the two people and their presence was not supposed to have any effect on you.

“Andrew Miller and Liam Archer. To what do I owe the pleasure.” You clasp your hands in front of you on the table and smile, hoping it didn’t turn out too sinister.

After what happened last night, it enraged you beyond comprehension over how casually Liam thought he could show up in your building after literally trying to abduct you.

One day, my morality will go flying out the window, and when it does, there’ll be nothing holding me back on how I plan on torturing this son of a bitch.

Andrew speaks up first while Liam keeps his lips sealed shut. “Ho, ho! You’re too kind Miss Park! It is in fact my pleasure to be able to meet you.”

Of course it is.

“Sincere apologies for not informing you beforehand about the meeting, it was decided on a bit of an impulse. I hope we didn’t bother you in your incredibly busy schedule?”

Of course you did.

“Don’t worry about it, it can wait for a bit.” You wave your hand, dismissing his supposedly fake concerns about bothering you.

Andrew laughs merrily. “I brought along Liam with me!” He says as he claps Liam on the back like they have been the best of buddies since forever; the gesture only adding to your confusion. And newly arousing suspicions.  

I don’t think I like the look of whatever that is…

“He told me he knows you pretty well and I was elated! Bringing along a friend when we’ll be meeting for the first time helps lessen the tension doesn’t it?” Andrew chirps on, excited for you don’t know what, but whatever it was, it couldn’t be anything good anyway.

“I think friend is highly an overstatement. We’re nothing close to that; never were and never will be.” You cross your arms over your chest, your expression as icy as the south pole.

Andrew blinks blankly at you. “Ah, well-”

“I would very much appreciate it if you get straight to the point. Just because I can delay my plans for a while doesn’t mean I intend on waiting an entire day for you to get out of the pleasantries.”

For the first time in this conversation, Andrew looks stumped over what to say in response.

Your lips straighten to a thin line in visible disappointment at his lack of response. “Isn’t the Chief Marketing Officer supposed to do these meetings? Why is the Chief Operations Officer (COO) here? Is there no other work for you to attend to?”

You hear Yuna’s soft gasp at your attitude while you see Liam’s jaw tighten.

“Well, we were just getting to the point.” Liam utters in a strained voice and you give him an unimpressed look, which he dutifully ignores while continuing. “Mr. Andrew Miller, COO of Equinox, personally wanted to have a face-to-face meeting with the CEO of Black Pearl Marketing Group (BPMG) in hopes of drafting a first proposal for the collaboration, to see if their interests aligned with yours.”

He says Andrew’s full name and title as if that was supposed to intimidate you, which it didn’t, in the same way the obvious disdain in his voice when mentioning your title had absolutely no effect on you. He could be salty as much as he wanted for all you cared.

“Interesting.” You nod. “And what about you? What is the purpose of your arrival?” You turn towards Liam, narrowing your eyes with suspicion.

Liam glares at you which only makes you smirk.

“If it wasn’t obvious, I’m showing Mr. Andrew around the city.” He lifts up his chin proudly.

“Oh?” You tilt your head with raised eyebrows. “And is he not interested in collaborating with your company?”

Chapter 17: Chapter 16 - Only One Way to Find Out

Notes:

Apologies for the really long delay :,)
Uni went so hard on me in the past few days with all the assignments and tests that I barely even slept, cz finals are around the corner. I finally managed to get some time to post a couple more chapters before I disappear again for just another week or two T^T
Please be patient and wish me luck~ ^^

Liam’s chin drops, shooting daggers at you with his eyes that were overflowing with hatred. He then sits up straight and adjusts his collars to regain composure. “We do have a meeting planned as well, thank you for your concern.”

“Of course you do.” You smile sweetly. “Anyway. Yuna! Bring the draft.” 

Yuna jumps into action and presents the brown paper file in front of you on the table, which you push forward towards Andrew. He looks at the file, and then over to you, giving his lips a quick lick. “Ms. y/n is as efficient as everyone claims.”

y/n, calm down, you can’t risk losing a huge boost to your company just because the COO of your dream company collaboration is a total freak.

Your phone rings, bringing you back to the conference room. You look at the caller ID and your expression softens by a smidge. You get up to pick the call somewhere else.

“I believe we’re in the middle of an important meeting.” Liam scoffs, trying to downplay you, which you had been used to since… Forever.

You heave a sigh. “This is more important. Now, if you shall excuse me. I’ll be right back.” And without waiting for anyone’s response, you exit the room to pick up the call.

“Hey, Jungwonie~! How’s my baby brother doing?” Your shoulders relax and you smile ear to ear speaking to your 17-year-old brother.

You hear his adorable soft laugh from the other end. “Hello, sis! I’m doing pretty good. I haven’t called you in forever so I decided to today, well mostly because my graduation is approaching and I was hoping you could come, if you aren’t busy, that is!”

“Oof- I’m hurt- You only called because you needed me for something and not because you missed me!” You sniff dramatically.

“Oh, come on sis!” He laughs. “Even you know very well how much I missed you! That is why I want you to come to my graduation. We’ll finally meet up after so long!”

From the way his voice was all squeaky with excitement, you could almost see him jumping on his toes with anticipation for his big day.

“Of course I’ll come. I wouldn’t miss if for the world!”

“Yay! You’re the best, sis~”

“I know.” You giggle when he groans exaggeratedly.

“Anyway~ How’s the company treating you?” He asks.

“Eh. Same old, same old.” You sigh. “What about you? Have you decided a major yet? I remember you saying that you really wanted to major in journalism.”

“Oh… Well. Uhm- About that…” The energy in his voice dies down, replaced by uncertainty. Sensing the change, you feel your heart hurt because you knew exactly what could have been the reason.

“Wonie… Did dad say something?” You ask softly.

Jungwon forces a little laugh to lighten the mood, which only ends up increasing your pain tenfold. He clears his throat before replying. “Dad’s been becoming more and more insistent that I pursue my major in business so that I can take after you and help ease the burden from your shoulders.” You hear him swallow through the line. “It- It’s not that I don’t want to! I just…”

“Wonie.” You cut in firmly. “You don’t even have to give me a reason. If you don’t want to take over the company, then I’m never going to force you. If journalism is what you dream of doing, then I’ll make sure that dream doesn’t only remain a dream. Alright?”

“Sis…” His voice cracks, nearly exploding your fragile heart into smithereens.

“Don’t worry about dad. I’ll find a way to convince him otherwise. For now, keep your head high and celebrate your graduation, making sure to never let go of your dream. Got it?”

You wait for him to give a response, which never comes. Listening closely, you’re able to make out faint sobs on the other end. “Wonie!? Are you crying?! Oh my god- Why are you crying?!” You exclaim as your heart jumps to your throat.

“I… I just love you so much, sis. Thank you for everything.” He mumbles in a shaky voice.

“Anything for my baby brother, okay?”

“Mhm.”

“Darn, I need to go now. Take care of yourself. Bye, Wonie~”

“Bye, sis!”

You hurry over to the conference room and seat yourself. A furious Liam and an overly relaxed Andrew greet you. You don’t bother with their attitudes and decide to wrap up the exhausting meeting.

“If there isn’t anything else. We can conclude this unforeseen meeting.” You give them a stiff grin. “If you have anything to say, you can contact my assistant and I shall now be taking my leave. The staff will escort you both out in a moment. Have a wonderful afternoon.”

You exit the room without sparing another glance at the duo.

Heading towards the elevators, to speak to Yuna. “Alright. Yuna, what’s next in my schedule?”

Yuna scans the clipboard in her arms before responding. “Oh- Uhm. So… The thing is that Falcon Estate has not yet paid their monthly sum for the business partnership contract of a Black Pearl subsidiary they signed six months ago. It’s been thirteen days past the due date, so I’ve arranged a meeting with the board of directors in the evening.”

You huff. “Are they playing some sick joke or they’ve actually forgotten? Either way, it’s not going to do wonders for my temper.”

“Only one way to find out.” Yuna taps the clipboard before opening the elevator for you, and stepping in afterwards.

You decide to drive to Falcon Estate yourself. As Yuna seated herself in the passenger seat, you both discussed the points to make during the meeting.

“Oh, speaking of which. Did you do as I told you?” You ask Yuna suddenly.

“Ah, yes! Yes, I did!” Yuna’s eyes widen as she remembers the task she had been assigned with last night. She whips out her phone and starts scrolling through it. Her nose still glued to the small screen, she starts speaking.

“I easily managed to get a list of all the attendees that were present in the gala, with their phone numbers and email IDs in front of their names. None of the identities seemed suspicious or shady on the surface, except for Liam Archer and Ian Archer, of course. So I decided to trace all the phone numbers and email IDs just to be sure.”

You nod as she explained her findings.

You take a quick glance at the rear view mirror of your car and see a silver 80s retro car behind you.

These models are pretty classy. Maybe I should buy one too.

The silver car then slowly overtakes you, and you see two men on the front seats, wearing suits and sunglasses. The car travels in front of you for a while before it slowly starts to pick up pace, progressively increasing the distance between you.

“As I had expected, there was nothing worth noting in anyone’s history, except guess who? None other than-”

“Wait, Yuna. Hold up!” You gasp.

“Is… Something wrong?” Yuna snaps her head up and finally looks away from her phone.

“That car that just overtook us… Its front number plate is different from the one on its back…”

Chapter 18: Chapter 17 - Perfect Aim

"Miss Park- What is that supposed to mean?!" Yuna suddenly panics and asks in a trembling voice.

"My reasonable guess is that they obviously want to trick people if they want to escape after doing something they have to hide."

"Oh my god, oh my god! We were just crossed by thugs!" Yuna rummages through her bag and takes out her inhaler, taking in a big puff.

"Fancy thugs at that." You squint at the car in front of you, that was starting to fade from your view. "They must be hired by someone with deep pockets."

"Should we call the cops?!"

"And how are we supposed to explain the situation to them? And tell them where the car is headed and for what purpose, when we don't have any solid evidence ourselves."

"T- then... We let it be? And h- hope for the best?"

"Of course not." You smile devilishly.

"Oh no- I don't like the look of that smile..." Yuna shrinks into her seat. "It's the smile you have on your face when you are about to drop a last minute bomb in the stock market..."

"Oh relax~ We're just gonna follow them for a bit and observe from afar." You reply as if it's the most normal thing to do when encountering a possibly dangerous car on a quiet highway during a Monday afternoon.

The only response you get is another deep puff of Yuna's inhaler, which you take as a yes.

And so, you tail behind the car for a couple minutes. Far enough to avoid their suspicion and close enough to be just able to see the speck of car ahead of you. You had started to get bored and were about to end the sluggish chase to get back to the business at hand when the silver car overtakes another car, black in color, and starts slowing down, forcing the car behind it slow down as well. When the black car tried to switch lanes, the silver car was quick to block it by steering right in front of it.

You straighten up while Yuna deflates further into the seat, becoming one with it.

"Ah. So it was finding its target. How amusing." You slow down your car to maintain a considerable distance from the two cars that had started slowing down further with the passage of time.

"Dear Lord, please forgive me for my sins. If I do not make out of this situation alive, please make sure my parents would at least be able to find my body intact so..." Yuna has her eyes shut tight and her hands clasped in front of her in a prayer.

"Pssh! Must you really worry when I'm here?" You roll your eyes in offence.

"Lord, I trust you with my life..."

"*sigh* Never mind."

You park the car on the side of the highway when your speed got so slow that you might as well just walk up to catch the two cars ahead. And also to avoid alerting the silver car if you tried slowing down any more.

You retrieve your pistol from under your seat and rush out of the car and head towards where the two cars might be.

"Miss! Where are you going?!" Yuna yells from behind, to which you don't bother answering. You then hear distant pleads from Yuna and eventually the sound of the door opening and closing, her footsteps finally approaching behind you.

"Stay behind me and far away, in case the situation gets ugly." You instruct her, loading your pistol and holding it in front of you, the barrel facing the ground as you treaded swiftly across the shoulder of the highway.

You finally see two cars parked on the side of the highway at a distance from you and think better of just running up to them out in the open, waving a gun in your hand. So you hide yourself in the tall grass and bushes growing off the road, continuing to approach them with soft steps.

Reaching close enough you see two men towering over a middle-aged woman, who was shaking terribly, while a third man in white was knocked out on the ground, definitely her chauffeur. You motion Yuna to stop following you and continue onward until you could hear what they were saying.

"Look, grandma, if you don't cooperate we will have you use harsher methods. We don't want to injure an old hag like you and complicate our mission. Alright? So just sit in our car without making another sound." One of the thugs says to her.

"I'm not a grandma!" She snaps back at them in a wobbly voice.

"Do we look like we care? No. And for fuck sake stop shouting for help. No one is going to hear you in this desolate highway." The other one yells at her.

Jeez, who's the one shouting now?

"Thank goodness we lost that car behind us. For a second I thought it was following us." The first one speaks again.

Hearing that, your hearts jumps but you exhale in relief knowing that they think they've lost you.

Too bad they don't know what's coming for them.

"We've wasted enough time already. At this rate someone is going to pass by and we'll be in trouble. Drag her into the car." The second thug spits out the cigarette in his mouth and takes a threatening step towards the middle-aged woman. The woman shrieks when he grabs her arm and yanks her towards their car.

"Let go of her."

The two men jump at your voice and turn around to face you, completely forgetting about the woman, who takes a few cautious steps away from them. Their eyes widen when they see a gun pointed at them.

"Or else what?" One of them barks at you, trying to buy some time, just enough for him to pull out his own firearm. His hand only managing to reach his belt when...

Bang.

Bang.

The two men drop onto the ground, dying in an instant. Crimson red blood starts pooling around their head at an incredible pace. You step forward to inspect the damage and see holes, smack dab in the center of their foreheads, from which blood was spilling out, painting their entire face in streaks of blood while their lifeless eyes reflected horror as they stared back at you.

"My aim is still perfect as ever. Sweet." Your lips curve up proudly.

"Miss!? Are you okay?! I heard gun..." You hear Yuna running over to you but as soon as she sees the bloody scene in front of her, she doubles over and starts retching her guts out. Your face pinches at the sight and you turn your back towards her, walking over to the woman, who takes two steps back for every step you take towards her.

You raise your hands up in surrender. "Ma'am, I won't hurt you."

"That's what those bastards also said!" Tears fill up her eyes.

"I promise..." You reply softly.

You see her resolve falter but she still keeps her guard up.

"*sigh* Ma'am, I would've loved to take my time and explain how I managed to show up but I have a really important meeting to get to and I'm already pretty late. How about this? I will drop you wherever you want me to and in exchange you don't tell anyone I was involved in any of this. Does this sound good enough to you?"

Hearing that you wanted to keep your involvement out of this whole scenario, her brows bunch together as she asks, "Who are you exactly?"

Chapter 19: Chapter 18 - Shall We Begin Our Meeting?

You sigh once more. There was no point in trying to hide anything. She'll find out at one point or another.

Straightening up and lifting your chin, you put on your business smile and place your right hand forward. "Park y/n. CEO of Black Pearl Marketing Group. A pleasure to meet you."

Not very flattering to introduce myself in a dignified way right after taking two lives... Tch.

She eyes your hand as if inspecting it for some hidden ticking bomb and decides not to shake your hand, which you don't really mind. You retract your hand and place it to your side, putting the gun that was in your other hand at the back of your belt, away from her view; in case the woman went haywire and suddenly ran off.

Still suspicious, the woman takes out her phone and searches up your name. Getting the verification that she needed, her jaw drops.

You keep up your smile. "Now would you like me to take you somewhere else? That is much safer, and away from this mess?"

"L- look at yourself! You're a CEO and you're out here murdering people!" She exclaims in half disbelief and half terror.

"Oh? So what you're trying to say is that you were willing to accept your fate and let those thugs take you wherever they wanted?" You quirk up an eyebrow.

"N- no! But I... I mean... You didn't have to kill them recklessly like that! I- I'm going to report you!" The woman takes a step backwards.

"Ma chère dame..." Your tongue presses against the inside of your cheek as a deadly smile unveils. It takes only one long step for you catch up and stand right in front her, towering over her frail figure. "You have quite the confidence to even think that you'll be able to get that far."

Her small frame starts shaking violently, the dull colors of her face draining away. You subtly roll your eyes with a frustrated sigh and steady her, firmly grabbing her arms on the side. "But you shouldn't worry about it as long as you don't involve me in this mess... And let me make sure you reach your destination safely."

"What if you are a clone?!"

Your forced-to-look-polite smile drops like it was never there. You don't have much energy left for dealing with this bullshit. "Sure. Suit yourself. I'm not wasting any more of my time. Yuna, get yourself together and let's get out of here. These corpses are starting to stink." You spin around your heels and start walking back to your car. Yuna follows suit, scurrying behind you.

Suddenly you feel someone grip your arm tightly. You look over to see the woman grabbing on to you, her face as pale as a ghost from the shock of the past few minutes.

"I'll go with you."

જ⁀➴

The drive had been silent for fifteen minutes now. Yuna was busy cradling herself in the backseat while the woman had been fidgeting with her fingers, sitting on the passenger seat next to you.

"What about my chauffeur?" She finally speaks up, her voice low.

"You don't have to worry about anything, ma'am. I've already sent a message to my men to clean up the mess."

She only nods in response, looking slightly optimistic.

"May I ask where should I drop you off?" You ask politely.

"Falcon Estate."

Your eyebrows shoot up your forehead. "Oh?"

"Huh? Is that a problem? I don't mind, I'll give you another location."

"No, it's totally fine. I have a meeting there, actually."

It's like the woman magically regains her bright spirit as a warm smile spreads across her lips. "That's wonderful! If you want anything done there, do let me know! I have connections~" She ends her statement with a care-free laugh, which only leaves you confused but hey, at least she doesn't look like she'll drop dead any second.

જ⁀➴

You turn off the engine of your car in the underground parking of Falcon Estate as the woman and Yuna got off.

"How should I address you, ma'am?" You ask the woman, looking straight up ahead towards the door of the elevator as the three of you waited.

"Ah, yes. I forgot to introduce myself amidst all the... err- chaos. Anyway, no need for formalities with me, you saved my life back there. Please, call me Soyul."

"It wouldn't sit right with me if I just called you Soyul. I'll go with Miss Soyul."

Soyul giggles like a teenage girl, visibly pleased by your etiquette. "Maybe I should introduce you to my son sometime~"

You offer an awkward laugh in response. "Thank you for the offer, but I'm practically married to my work."

Soyul waves her hand, laughing at your supposed joke. The elevator dings, sliding open and you all step inside. You press on the button to the top-most floor where the conference room is.

"Which floor Miss Soyul?"

"Oh! The top floor as well~" She smiles at you with motherly love.

This is getting weirdly suspicious.

You wanted to ask if she worked here but you refrained yourself from saying anything, since you weren't really the type of person to initiate small talk unnecessarily and poke your nose into matters that didn't concern you.

Oh my god... What if she's one of the board members with whom I have a meeting with. Shit...

The elevator reaches the top floor and finally opens up. You step outside alongside Soyul, who walks right next to you. "I've been here so many times, I've pretty much memorized every nook and cranny there is!" She states proudly, patting the back of your shoulder. "Just let me know if you can't find your way around here."

"Mom?"

"Ah! Junnie~"

Soyul abandons you and rushes over to the owner of the notorious voice that you had mentally prepared yourself to run into since you were stepping into the said person's territory in the first place.

But this... This sight that was unfolding before your eyes was something you hadn't ever dreamt of.

Soyul grabs hold of Yeonjun's face and brings it towards herself, making him bend over since he was just so tall, and starts to pepper kisses all over his face, leaving faint lipstick marks across his face.

That's his mom... And, that's her son... God...

You stare at the duo, not daring to blink your eyes in case the illusion disappeared. Unable to hide your amusement, the corner of your lips tilt up without you knowing.

Soyul holds Yeonjun's face in front of her like a trophy, as if admiring the male version of Aphrodite that she gave birth to.

In that moment, his gaze collides with yours and a tiniest smirk forms on his lips that makes your heart skip a beat.

What is wrong with me?!

You are quick to avert your gaze and pretend nothing just happened.

When Soyul, or more precisely, Yeonjun's mom, is done greeting her son and showering him with affection for a lifetime, she finally turns to you, grabs your arm and brings you closer so that you stood beside her, in close proximity to Yeonjun, which you officially declare as the danger zone.

"I met her on the way. Her name is..." She begins introducing you.

"Park y/n." He finishes the sentence for her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, yet again."

Soyul looks at you in surprise, and then back over to his son, her eyes ping-ponging between you two; all this while Yeonjun having his eyes fixated on you, making your palms sweat for some reason.

"You both already know each other?!" His mom exclaims, needlessly delighted.

"We're well acquainted, if I may be so bold as to say." He grins cheekily.

"Well, that's wonderful. I'll leave you both at that. I'm already pretty late for my meeting." You give Soyul a polite bow and Yeonjun a side eye as if to say, don't you dare bother me.

"Oh, yes! That reminds me, I, too, have a meeting I should get to. Hey, mom, why don't you go wait in my office for a bit while I tend to this matter." Yeonjun states coolly, as if taking on the challenge to do the exact opposite of what you wanted.

Soyul nods, patting his cheek and strolling off towards his office.

To avoid engaging in anything that involved Yeonjun, you take a turn around the hallway and enter the conference room alongside Yuna, which, to your surprise was empty...

"What?" You squint your eyes into the distance like that was going to do anything.

The door opens and closes behind you once more and you spot Yeonjun come into your field of view. He walks up to the chair at the head of the conference table and sits down leisurely.

"Shall we begin our meeting?" He tilts his head, his eyes twinkling in delight.

Chapter 20: Chapter 19 - You're Not That Special

Notes:

Finals have ended! And so did the little break I got :,) So I'm still adjusting to my new normal schedule :) The next updates might be a little slow T^T

“What do you mean?” You cross your arms. “I have a meeting with the board members, not you.”

It’s as if he sees something hilarious written on your face, which was probably just your shocked and partly disgusted expression, that makes him throw his head back and laugh to his heart’s content before he even bothered to give you a reply.

Wiping off an invisible stray tear from his right eye, he shakes his head, smiling like the idiot he was. “Oh, my dear.” He sighs to calm himself down. “I love seeing you so flabbergasted.”

“Stop playing these stupid games with me, Choi. Where are the board members? And where is the meeting?”

“Oh, come on. This is the meeting you’re here for. As for the board members…” He tilts his head with a mischievous smile. “I dismissed them.”

“What?!” Your jaw drops. “Why?!”

“As soon as I came to know that the Park y/n is personally gracing a meeting in Falcon Estate with her presence, I just had to attend it myself. I mean, I need to make sure that you’d have the warmest of welcome.”

“Ugh- Could you stop emphasizing “the” when you say my name. It… doesn’t feel right.” You grumble as you step forward to seat yourself on the opposite end of the conference table.

“Must you really sit that far away? I don’t bite.” A short pause, before he continues with a tiny smirk. “Yet.”

You snap your head in his direction and shoot him a death glare, to which the tiny smirk plastered over his face only widens.

Lord, give me strength.

Not wanting to waste any more of your energy on bickering with him any longer than you should, you clench your jaw and silently walk across the length of the table to sit on the chair next to the one Yeonjun was seated on. “Besides…” He adds as you sit down. “Every flattery directed towards you is quite well deserved.”

His words remind of your not-so-passive aggressive meetup with Yeonjun a few weeks ago when you barged into his office and took out your anger on him for swooping your stocks. And his words that had stuck with you till this day…

Instead of coming all the way to Falcon Estate to complain about me buying the stocks first, why don’t you work harder to keep your clients more inclined to your deals?

The words echo through your mind. Word by word.

Why don’t you work harder…?

Yes, you’re still petty about it. And rightfully so, is what you would tell yourself. How could you not be? You were sick and tired of hearing those words over and over again. Words that were said with so much disappointment. For so many years.

After these words had been basically engraved onto your brain, how could you ever think that any praise you got was well deserved? And whether people actually meant it when they would generously throw compliments at you. But you knew too well, that in reality, all they’d do is spread nasty rumors about you as soon as you’d walk out of the room.

“Humph.” You put on a strong front, that was in stark contrast to your inner turmoil. “I don’t trust your words. Since that’s not what you thought about me a few weeks ago.”

“A few weeks ago…?” Yeonjun’s face morphs into a frown as he tries to recall what you were referring to in that span of time. “Wait… You’re kidding me, right?!”

You shrug it off, not wanting to talk anymore about your feelings from the past that didn’t really matter.

You don’t dare look Yeonjun right in the eye, because you feared that if you did, he might see your emotions and worries written all over your face. The atmosphere had already turned pretty heavy and there was no way in hell you were going to turn it into some therapy session next.  

Yuna gives you a file, which you open and take out the document which contained written proof of the transactions that verified Falcon Estate had not paid their dues and were well over the given deadline, and push it over towards Yeonjun.

He doesn’t even spare a glance to the important item that was passed over to him, instead, he keeps his eyes locked onto your face, his arms folded in front of him. “I wouldn’t have ever guessed that you’d be so hung up over something so futile.”

“If you turn to page number seven, you’ll see the total amount.” You ignore his statement and try steering the conversation back to where it should be. “It’s no small amount.”

Yeonjun doesn’t budge. Doesn’t move an inch. Doesn’t speak a word. He only stares at you intently. Searching for answers that he would never find.

You wait for him to speak. To change the subject. But he doesn’t. So you attempt to change the topic of this conversation yourself by reaching over to the file that you previously pushed in front of him. “If you can’t even flip the pages then I’ll just…”

Yeonjun’s hand instantly lands over yours, stopping you from opening the file.

Your eyes widen in surprise and you retract your hand the very next second. Feeling like you just touched a blazing hot ball of iron.

“Why did you let my words affect you so much?” He presses on. “Why should only those words matter, and not the ones that I just said. And meant it…”

This is getting out of hands.

The way he spoke with so much sincerity... It made you wonder if you could just allow yourself to bask in the comfort of those words for just a little while…

“Seriously, Choi?” A hollow laugh escapes your lips. This entire situation was draining every ounce of your energy. “You’re not that special. I wouldn’t let a small comment by just a singular person get to me so easily.”

But it did anyway because my wounded soul couldn’t ever catch a break to heal itself since you weren’t the only one to say something like that.

Is what you had silently conveyed through your words without even realizing. But it was too late, and you couldn’t take back what you had already said.

The look in his eyes…

You couldn’t tell apart the emotions swirling through them. Was it pity? Sympathy? Understanding? Concern? Affection? All of them? None of them? You didn’t know.

But one thing was for sure. And it was that you didn’t want to know.

Because if you did. You wouldn’t be so sure of the feelings that will rage inside you.

Yeonjun clears his throat and picks up the file, turning to the page number you told him to. He starts scanning the page from the top. His jaw unhinging halfway through.

You finally let yourself relax and let out a quiet sigh, leaning back into your chair. “Huge. I know.”

“Why does Falcon Estate owe Black Pearl so much?!” He exclaims while rubbing his forehead.

“Like I’m supposed to know. Ask your CFO (Chief Finance Officer) or something? I don’t know. I wasn’t the one taking loans.” You counter, partly annoyed and partly baffled at him not knowing about such an important issue.

“Ah yes… The CFO…” He mumbles under his breath.

“What about him?” You raise an eyebrow, intrigued.

“Ahem. Nothing about her.” Yeonjun shifts in his seat and turns to the next page, meticulously examining its contents.

“Her?” You try to reconfirm what you just heard. “When did he become a her? Hold up- Did you change your CFO?”

A disgruntled voice escapes from the back of his throat before he looks up from the papers in his hand. “We had a minor issue so we had to change him, yes.” He replies in a strained voice.

“A minor issue you say? That made you change the person in such an important position entirely? Without the media or anyone knowing? How fascinating.” A wicked smile dances over your lips.

Chapter 21: Chapter 20 - Rumors

Yeonjun runs a hand through his hair and groans. “Why do you have to be so damn smart all the time. Next you’d go on to guess he was arrested for smuggling drugs and owning a couple brothels downtown.”

Your eyes pop out of their sockets over his words. You blink at him in astonishment.

Once.

Twice.

And a few more times for extra measure to make sure that the Yeonjun sitting in front of you was in fact the real Yeonjun and not some random employee spreading rumors he heard in the streets while walking on his way to work.

“Shit… I said too much didn’t I?”

“Too much might be an understatement.”

“Right... That’s why you need to pretend that I never said anything and you don’t know a thing about anything either.” He puts the papers down and gives his forehead a tight squeeze.

Your lips quirk up. “Oh? And what if I refuse to keep quiet about it? You know deals don’t work one way in this day and age.”

Yeonjun’s coquettish grin in response only makes your heart jump, faltering your confidence. His leans forward on his chair, his movements unnecessarily slow and languid. “Sweetheart, I know more than just one way to make you forget about a lot of things.”

God fucking dammit.

You swallow the little lump, that had magically formed, down your throat, trying hard not to make it visible; but judging by the look on his face and the way his eyes moved down to your neck, you knew you failed miserably.

“Heh. I guess I can now expect you to heed my warning and keep your lips sealed for me. Hm?”

“You seem to have a death wish lately, don’t you, Choi?” You readjust your shirt’s collar and take out your black rimmed glasses from your suit’s pocket and put them on to distract yourself from looking directly at him; in case your face gives away how much of an effect he has on you, that could end up inflating his already huge ego.

“You can be so cute sometimes, you know?” He smiles.

“Sometimes?” You squint your eyes, in a lousy attempt to tease him back. “Then what am I the rest of the time?”

This time, Yeonjun is the one to break eye contact and look away, his eyes darting around everywhere but your face. Your lips part to ask but he clears his throat and quickly changes the topic back to the business at hand. “So you were saying that this is the total amount?”

Why do I feel... Disappointed? No- What? I shouldn’t be disappointed… Oh my god, what has gotten into me?

“Mhm.” You nod your head, pushing the unusual feeling away. “Would you mind enlightening me why the heck did your company take so much loan?”

Yeonjun stares at the document in front of him for tad too long, deep in thought. In this moment of silence, all you can hear is the blood pumping in your ears and the menacing ticks of the clock.

Yeonjun’s frustrated groan breaks through the still air as he drops his head on the table, lifting it by an inch and dropping it back again in a repeated motion. “I might actually be screwed this time.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“The list of transactions made by the ex-CFO showed multiple exchanges made from various unknown sources. And now I have a feeling that Black Pearl isn’t the only one he reached out to.” He explains.

“Oh… Kay? And?”

“I need to find which companies he borrowed from and return them the sum before they decide to file a lawsuit against me all at once.”

“So what’s the big deal? Get your assistant to do that.” You state, looking at him like he’s the biggest idiot known to mankind. Which he was. For you. At least…

“Sweetheart…” He sighs. “That is the problem. I don’t have one.”

“…”

“Keep your thoughts to yourself, thank you very much.” He raises his hand in front of him to stop you from making a sound, in response to which, your mouth that had opened, snaps shut.

“I transferred my assistant to the position of CFO before word got out and kept this whole ordeal a secret…” He sighs before continuing. “And today I had called a potential candidate, to come before the meeting started and be my assistant, but it looks like she is in fact, very severely late.”

In that exact moment, the door of the conference room bursts open and a fairly young woman barges in, bends over and starts panting for breath as she holds onto the doorframe. “I- I’m sorry for being so late!” She says while choking on air.

“Don’t bother apologizing. Simply email me your resignation letter and see yourself out the building.” He orders sharply, his jaw set in annoyance.

“But…” She begins but is interrupted by Yeonjun.

“Stop wasting my time.”

“Y- yes… Sir…” She squeaks in embarrassment as her eyes turned misty, and without wasting another second, she flees out of the room.

This new side of Yeonjun sure did catch you off-guard.

That was kinda…

NO- y/n. Don’t you even dare think in that direction.

“So where were we?” He turns his attention back to you, his demeanor instantly changing to what it was a minute ago, surprising you once more. “Ah, yes. Returning the sum. Hm… Weird… Now where is the…”

“Don’t tell me you forgot something.” You cross your arms in front of you.

“That… I did.” He gives you a silly smile. “Let’s just head over to my office. All the stuff I need is over there.”

જ⁀➴

You follow Yeonjun into his office and see his mom lounging leisurely on one of the sofas, a shawl draped over her shoulders as she read a magazine. Seeing the two of you enter, she lowers the magazine. “Oh! So the meeting that you were talking about was with Yeonjun!” She looked oddly pleased. “What a small world~”

“Indeed. A bit too small in fact.” You offer a tight smile. “It’s becoming a little suffocating…”

Yeonjun gives you a sharp nudge with his elbow, earning himself a glare from you.

Seeing the obvious interaction between you and Yeonjun, Soyul giggles like she’s watching her favorite rom-com drama unfold before her eyes.

Great. Thanks for feeding into her delusions…

You sneakily give his arm a tight pinch, making him jump, before walking off to seat yourself in front of his desk.

Yeonjun huffs, rubbing his arm where you pinched him as he seated himself on his glorious chair.

As he opened and closed different drawers of his table, arranging an array of papers in front of him, your mind wanders off to the whispered conversations you heard from his employees on your way to his office.

Wait! So you’re telling me he already fired the new assistant?!

She was packing her stuff in a rush and wouldn’t answer any of my questions.

It was so obvious she’s fired even if she didn’t say a word about it!

This is like… What? The seventh time he fired someone…

He’s firing an employee almost every day!

He must’ve gone mad…

There’s no way in hell I’m going to step forward to be his assistant. I don’t want to get fired…

Have you heard that one of the assistants he called over leaked his number!

I also heard that one of them was going through his private stuff!!

These women are all crazy for him! Kind of understandable, hehe~

Chapter 22: Chapter 21 - Beg for It

Yeonjun flicks your forehead with his slender fingers. “Knock, knock?”

The sharp sting of the impact instantly snaps you out of your thoughts and you swat his hand away from your face. “Hey! What was that for?”

“Revenge.” He shrugs carelessly with a teasing grin.

Just you wait... I’ll wipe that smirk off that pretty face of yours.

“Anyway~” He pushes a couple papers towards you. “You just need to sign these to agree that you won’t trouble me for this teeny tiny mistake and I’ll sign to assure you that you’ll get the exact amount back. Not a penny more, not a penny less.”

“What did you just say?” Your eyebrows bunch together in a scowl. “Won’t trouble you for this teeny tiny mistake? Tch. Don’t you think I should demand for some sort of compensation? I wouldn’t want to let you off the hook so easily.”

In response to the threat you just gave him, his only reaction is to clasp his hands together under his chin and break out in a wide grin.

What is up with him???

“Why do I have the feeling that you just want to spend some more time with me.” He tilts his head, giving you a coy wink. “I mean; I wouldn’t say no exactly.”

“You, son of a bi–”

Dammit, his mom is literally in the room right now…

“I would never drop my standards that low.”

“Playing hard to get. I see.” He rolls his eyes playfully. “I can deal with that.”

You give him a bewildered expression. His flirtatious remarks were beyond your comprehension. What the heck is wrong with you?! You shoot him a death-glare in hopes of silently conveying this message – and to stop your face from heating up.

He looks behind you, in the direction where his mom was seated, and lowers his head to a side to avoid her gaze, before whispering in such a barely audible voice, forcing you to read his lips to fully understand what he was trying to say.

Just play along for a bit, alright? If she sees how close we are, she might actually stop forcing me to go on blind dates against my will. He whispers incoherently.

“Ah… I see.” You rub your chin and pretend to think about it that only makes Yeonjun get a little restless.

You lock your gaze with his in challenge. Beg for it. You mouth with a teasing smirk that makes him freeze in his place.

Am I dreaming or is he actually blushing?!

If it weren’t for the fact that his ears had turned completely red, you would have never imagined that this man was capable of getting flustered. You see his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows. “Please… y/n… I beg you…” He mumbles.

The overwhelming sense of pride and satisfaction you feel is nothing like you’ve ever felt.

I think I might have a screw loose but damn, I really should include this in curriculum vitae (CV)…

Shaking yourself out of your thoughts, you grab a pen nearby and quietly start signing the documents Yeonjun had presented you with, making sure to read the fine print, which, to your surprise, were not demanding at all…

After signing the papers, you decide to give it a final read. As you did, you speak without looking up from the papers in your hands. “I’ve heard you’re free on Fridays. Should we grab a drink together next Friday?”

You didn’t have to look to see the astonishment that would be written all over his face. A sentence like this coming from you is bound to shock the entire country.

“I’d be more than delighted to spend the evening with you.” He replies almost instantly in a surprisingly calm voice that makes your heart jump, almost regretting ever saying that.

I can’t believe I just put myself into this situation…

Wanting to get out of here as soon as possible, you rise to your feet, rubbing your sweaty palms against your sides. “Since everything is settled, I shall be taking my leave then.”

“Aw. That’s sad.” Yeonjun pouts dejectedly.

You were unable to tell if he was acting or… Being serious… Because with him, you never knew if he meant whatever came out of his mouth. But, in this case, you decided to believe that he was simply putting on a show for his dear mom.

જ⁀➴

As soon as you stepped out the building, you release a heavy sigh that seemed to have been trapped inside you this entire time. That sure did take a toll on your energy for the day.

The sun had almost set by the time you were done with business at Falcon Estate, and the sky was painted with brilliant hues ranging from indigo and pink to orange and yellow. The cool breeze blowing played a calming melody of the rustling leaves.

Yuna walks right behind you, just as tired as you were. “I’ve been wanting to tell you about what I discovered when I looked up the details of the guests that attended the Equinox Gala but…” She laughs awkwardly. “Things took some wild turns today pretty quickly and I never got the chance to elaborate.”

Oh my god, yes… One of the most important piece of information I wanted to know about today.

“Yeah, we should…” You are interrupted by your phone starting to ring in your pocket. You groan in exhaustion before picking it up. “Yes?”

“y/n, dear? Are you free right now?”

“Oh… Hey, mom. Yeah, I just got free. Why?”

“Hm… Good, good… I just wanted to remind you, in case you had forgotten, to pay a visit-”

“I would never forget. Don’t doubt my memory, mom.” You sigh heavily, your head starting to hurt.

“Hm. Good to hear. Oh, and your dad wanted me to pass you a message-”

“He can say whatever he wants to me himself. Take care.”

And with that, you hang up, partly annoyed and partly upset, because ever since you told your little brother, Jungwon, that you’d support his every decision, your dad had been disgruntled when he found out about it, since he was expecting you to try to persuade Jungwon into becoming the CEO after you.

“I’m utterly disappointed in you, y/n.” His firm voice echoed through your mind.

Not the first time I’m hearing that…

“Ugh… Sorry, Yuna. We’ll have to discuss this another time. You go home, I have somewhere to be.”

Yuna nods, a little reluctant. “Are you sure, Ms. Park?”

“Yes.”

જ⁀➴

After dropping off Yuna to the nearest bus stand, you speed your car towards the highway. It was already getting late so you wanted to make this trip quick since you believed visiting a cemetery in the dark was a bad omen.

You turn on the radio in your car to listen to some news as you drove.

“Breaking news, everyone! The distinguished CEO, Jeong Yangho, of the Atlas Enterprise has passed away in an accident and his assistant, Liam Archer, will be the acting CEO of the company until further notice…”

WHAT. THE. FUCK???

You almost pressed the brakes with full force as you’d seen in dramas, but since you were not that dramatic to begin with, you keep driving at the same pace. Your mind, however, was caught up in a flurry of thoughts, speculating on what could have happened…

You exit the highway via a turn that led you to a mildly bumpy road soon after. The headlights of your car illuminating the dusty road in front of you. Hardly many people lived in this area and those who did, avoided the vast cemetery. The abandoned houses around the perimeter of the land only made the scenery more eerie, and the tall lush trees did not make it any better.

The closer you got the more despondent, and unsettled, you felt… A couple hundred meters away from the gate of the cemetery, a powerful collision against the rear of your car sends your face flying towards the steering wheel.

Chapter 23: Chapter 22 - A Murder All Along

Never have you ever been more thankful for being a law abiding citizen who would always wear their seatbelt, as your face stops just inches away from the wheel, saving you from the brutal impact that could have knocked you out for good.

Your hand reaches for your gun before you could think and rush out of the car to take cover behind it and observe the car that hit you on purpose. Peeking over the bonnet of your car, you see four men step out.

You hear the clicks of guns loading. Footsteps approaching you in rushed paces.

“Where is she?” “Hurry up and look around the car.” “She couldn’t have gotten far anyway.”

Bless the darkness, for once...

Taking in a couple deep breaths to calm your nerves, you aim for one of the men that seemed to be the closest to you… And fire.

The bang of the barrel pierces through the stillness of the quiet night, followed by a grunt and the thump of the man dropping onto the ground.

The remaining men left standing blindly start firing in the direction from where they thought you could have fired. Their bullets clanging against the metal of your car right behind you. Taking this opportunity, you make haste and crawl around the car, emerging from the other side so that their backs were facing you.

Bang. Bang.

Two bullets rip through the skull of another man.

The other two instantly turn in your direction and you make a dash to take cover behind the nearest tree amidst the shower of bullets behind you.

Right before you dove behind the safety of the tree, a stray bullet tears through the flesh of your left arm, sending a burning sting that knocks the air out of your lungs.

You clench your teeth and hiss through the pain. Your mind turning foggy, you decide to risk it and dash from behind one tree to another, taking this opportunity to send another bullet flying through the air. The sound of another one falling to his knees with a grunt, before landing face first on the ground gives you the much needed satisfaction.

You clutch your left arm tightly, your breathing becoming ragged and your vision blurring around the edges.

Click. Click.

The sound of the barrel emptying catches your attention. The last man standing spews some colorful words before you hear him speak in a panic stricken voice. “Three dead. Bullets finished. Send backup.”

You don’t waste a moment and stagger out from behind the tree, aiming the gun at him as you took slow steps towards him.

The man drops his gun, raising his hands in the air, trembling.

“Who sent you?” You yell at him through the blinding pain.

“I won’t…”

Bang.

You were not stupid enough to waste your time on making him spill the truth when he had already called reinforcements. You had to get out of there. And quick.

You dart towards your car to make a run for it before the loss of blood made you weaker than you already had become.

You swing the door of your car open.

But the agonizing ache of another bullet ripping through the same left arm blackens your vision, soon followed by a pair of muscular hands covering your mouth and eyes.

જ⁀➴

A sharp slap across your face forces you to open your eyes.

As the blurred view slowly clears out, you see Liam rubbing his hands, his eyes deflecting nothing but the desire to kill.

Behind him, in a far corner of this huge room, stood three bulky bodyguards, clad in black suits. Their entire figures enveloped in darkness; the only part of them visible was below their knees, that was illuminated by the weak bulb hanging above your head.

You take in a shaky breath that made your entire body ache. You painfully swallow the metallic liquid in your mouth down your throat.

You try moving your limbs, but couldn’t. Not because your entire being was throbbing in pain but because your movement was restricted as you realize that you were tied up on a wooden chair that was covered in splinters which felt like a thousand needles jabbing your skin.

“You fucking lunatic…” You hiss at him.

The only response you get is the sound of his hand striking against your cheek, the sound reverberating around the walls surrounding you.

“I will kill you.” You threaten him in a weak whisper, which earns you another excruciating strike across the same cheek.

Liam adjusts his cuffs and takes slow careful steps towards you. “Hand me what is mine.” He orders in a calm tone, stopping behind the chair. Getting no response from you, he grabs your ponytail and yanks your head back.

You feel the press of cold blade against your exposed neck, causing your muscles to stiffen out of instinct.

“Do you really wish to suffer the same fate as your naïve older brother?”

Your pupils shrink into little dots at the mention of your deceased older brother.

Noticing the change in your expression, Liam laughs an ugly laugh. “Oh, how I wish that were possible, but I know it’ll only complicate things for me.” He gives your hair a sharp tug and presses the blade on your neck with increased force. “So, I’d rather drag you to hell and back until you stop being a stuck-up little bitch and give up your seat.”

“Why…?” You utter the only word you can get out of your mouth in this state of shock.

Liam barks out a laugh as if you had just told him the most hilarious joke he’s ever heard. “You really think you’re all high and mighty to be able to claim what you stole as yours. Disgusting.”

He puts a little more force on the blade until it starts sinking into your skin and you could feel the warmth of your blood slowly trail down your neck.

“Quite foolish of me to assume that getting rid of big brother Minho would be enough. Who would’ve thought that they’d put little sister y/n in his stead. A damn woman… Only if I had known that your bastard of a dad wouldn’t wait until his youngest son was of age to take over the company and would rather give it to his just as stubborn daughter instead.” He barks in your ear. “I would’ve dealt with you much sooner… You just don’t know how long I planned and waited to take back what’s mine…”

“Weren’t you… Friends?” You muster up the strength to speak, at a loss of words to say anything else. All these years since your brother’s death… A death that was not an accident… But a murder all along…

Liam retracts the blade from your neck and releases his grip on your hair. Instead, he kicks your chair, breaking its leg, causing you to fall on the concrete floor, hundreds of splinters penetrating into your flesh.

“You have until midnight. Go back to Black Pearl, resign from the position of CEO and hand it over to me.” He steps forward and you see his shoes appear in front of your eyes. “And if you try to act smart, you won’t have a brother at all.”

Jungwon… No…

You wanted to cry. You wanted to scream. You wanted to kill him. But you couldn’t do any of those. The burning sensation of every cut and bruise and gunshot on your body was pushing away any reason or plan that tried coming to mind. The only thing you knew you had to ensure was staying alive. No matter the cost.

Staying alive so you could come back and torment him a million times over. Make him pay the price for every breath he took the wrong way. Even if that meant handing over the most precious thing you, and your dad, had spent their entire lives on to build, and make sure that it flourished to became what it is today…

Reluctantly, through gritted teeth, you manage to nod...

Liam’s victorious laughter is the last thing you hear before his foot comes flying towards your head, causing your vision to black out once more.

Chapter 24: Chapter 23 - Everything Lost in the Blink of an Eye

When you open your eyes again, you find yourself lying on damp ground. The gentle trickle of rain enters your eyes, blurring your vision.

You tilt your head to a side and see you're lying right next to Minho's grave. The blinding pain of your untreated wounds make an appearance yet again, making you cry out an agonizing scream until you could no longer make a sound.

You fight against the shooting pain and reach for your pocket inside your coat, thanking the heavens for your phone still being there and intact. Knowing that Yuna would still be outside your office, you send her a short text with your uninjured arm.

"Transfer my position to Liam Archer. Now."

You send the message, followed by two emoji's. A snowflake and a crescent moon. A kind of a secret code that only a few people knew about, verifying that you are indeed the person sending such a sensitive message and not someone else. You finally drop your phone, unable to hold it any longer.

Your phone starts ringing. Yuna.

You don't bother paying it any attention and lie lifeless onto the cold ground, staring into the pitch black sky, the raindrops landing directly into your eyes. Your phone keeps ringing for a full minute before going completely silent.

"How poetic isn't it." You talk to the piece of stone beside you in a weak whisper, hot tears mixing with the cold gentle rain that seemed to pat your cheeks in consolation. "To lose the company on the same day as you did... And died. Do you think I should also die and complete the story?" You let out a hollow laugh that sent waves of a sharp stinging pain across your body. "The heavens are playing some sick prank on me, aren't they?"

You use the remaining bits of strength left to sit up and lean against Minho's gravestone, biting your tongue to bear the fire your body was under, until your mouth was filled with the taste of copper.

Bzzz. Bzzz.

Your phone starts vibrating.

You look over at the screen and see Yeonjun's name flashing on the screen. You sigh and close your eyes.

You just love bothering me in every situation, don't you Choi?

The phone doesn't stop buzzing. As soon as it would stop ringing, another incoming call from him would appear the next second. It kept on repeating until the ringtone started getting on your nerves. You curse him under your breath and accept the call.

"Park y/n?! Where the fuck, are you?! And what the fuck does the news mean by Liam Archer is now the CEO of Black Pearl?!" His anxious yelling is muffled by the speakers being soaked wet, to which you don't care to reply.

"Hello???"

"Y/N???"

"Answer me, Park y/n!!!"

"I... Don't know..." You try sounding fine, maybe a little tired, but your hushed voice breaks up completely as you had started getting breathless with each passing second.

Shit... I might have lost too much blood now...

"Dammit! Where are you, y/n??!"

"Off-road cemetery, Seongnam." You breathe out.

He hangs up immediately and you quietly watch the phone screen go black. You couldn't tell if you were getting sleepy or the grim reaper had arrived. You close your eyes and hoped your wounds would stop throbbing after you rested for a while.

જ⁀➴

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The rhythmic beeps of some device knocks at the door of your consciousness. Your eyelids were too heavy to be opened, but the excruciating pain from before had subsided quite a bit.

You force yourself to open your eyes and find yourself lying in a soft bed, the morning sunlight pouring in abundance through windows. You're surrounded by a handful of monitors that were connected to some part of your body. Was this a hospital? You ask yourself. Didn't really look like it, because it seemed more like a room, judging by the way it was furnished.

You start suspecting that this was another one of Liam's doing. You frantically look around to see anything that would either verify or deny your suspicions, but you see nothing that could help.

Your heart starts picking pace, which results in one of the devices to start blaring some sort of warning signal and the door bursts open as two people rush inside. Upon a closer inspection, you see Yeonjun and his mom standing on either side of the bed.

What the...?

"Oh my goodness, my dear! You're awake!" Soyul exclaims in joy, her eyes turning misty. "The state in which Yeonjun brought you to me was so concerning..."

"That she cried for a good five minutes." Yeonjun finishes the sentence nonchalantly.

Soyul clears her throat loudly, throwing him a glare before turning her attention to you and taking your hand in hers. "Don't worry, dear. You're in Yeonjun's room. It's completely safe here... I'll go and bring you something to eat since you're awake."

And with that, she quickly rushes out of the room, leaving you both behind.

Yeonjun crosses his arms over his chest, a frown forming over his face. "You had two bullets in the same arm, y/n."

"Thanks for the reminder." You reply gloomily and look down at your hands that were covered in bandages.

Yeonjun bends over and holds your chin, forcing you to look up at him. "Who did this to you?" He enunciates each word in a low voice so deep, you could swear you felt a shiver run down your spine.

You push his hand away and look away, avoiding his intense gaze. "I appreciate the gesture but you don't have to drag yourself into this mess."

"I'm simply asking." He states calmly.

"To drag yourself into this mess." You reply back.

Yeonjun sighs in defeat. "Let's put that aside for a minute... Why the hell didn't you tell me you saved my mom from being abducted?!"

"To not drag myself into unnecessary drama." You give him a careless shrug.

You both fall into silence, neither of you knowing what to say further.

"I need to go back home." You push the sheets aside and try getting up but Yeonjun stops you by holding onto your shoulders and gently pushing you back onto the bed.

"Rest." He says firmly.

"I have to feed Pepper." You stir up an excuse and try freeing yourself from his grip but your weakness didn't let you.

"I already did. Now rest."

Your eyes widen at what he just said. "H- How?"

Seeing your baffled expression, a small smile replaces his previously worn frown. "You, yourself installed that thingamajig for Pepper, didn't you? He simply recognized my voice and opened up."

"I'm..." You're too stunned to think of something to say.

"Food's here~" Soyul enters the room with a tray in her hand.

જ⁀➴

You spend the remaining day glued to the bed, restless from the events that transpired last night. Now that you had started regaining your senses, the realization of the severity of the situation hits you like a truck.

You had no idea how the news channels would be reporting about the situation. What Liam would be doing in his new position. More importantly, you were afraid to know what your parents would be thinking right now, but you hoped that they're smart enough to realize that something must have gone terribly wrong that made you take this absurd decision. And more importantly, Jungwon would be worried sick.

But above all, you basically lost everything you had.

You lost the company, your position, your job. Where were you supposed to go now? What were you supposed to do? And how? All these questions, uncertainties, and concerns made your head spin. Your heart picking up pace as your breathing got shallower.

Please calm down. Please calm down.

Chapter 25: Chapter 24 - Sneaky Little Fox

Your body was starting to tremble. You tried taking in deep breaths to stop anything worse from happening but you couldn't push enough air inside your lungs. Slowly, and quietly, the dreaded foreboding of a panic attack started creeping up behind you, quietly wrapping its claws around your neck, holding you in place while it pulled apart your flesh to rip out your rapidly beating heart.

You spring up from the bed, wanting to run away from this terrible feeling, but it felt as if the floor was trembling alongside you.

You could hear the raucous beeps of devices surrounding you, but they all sounded like they were so far away, as if in another dimension.

What is happening to me...

Tears start streaming down your face without warning, making you feel so lost... So helpless...

"y/n!" You hear Yeonjun's voice break through the madness that was engulfing you. The chaotic beeping also stops a second after, allowing you to calm down to some degree.

What have I done...

A silent sob of despair escapes you and echoes through the stillness in the room.

"y/n..." You hear his voice. Much closer. Much softer.

You make an attempt to move, to look around and steady yourself, but a strange warmth envelops you. Your face presses against something firm, yet so soft. A soft minty fragrance enters your nostrils that soothes your nerves. The steady heartbeats you feel divert your attention away from the turmoil inside your head.

That's when you realize that Yeonjun has his arms wrapped around you, holding you still while he gave the back of your head gentle pats. "I'm here..." He whispers.

You immediately start trying to break free from the warmth of his embrace but his hold around you only tightens. "Please, y/n. Let me hold you a moment longer." His calm voice forces you to stop struggling and accept the solace he gave you.

You both stand like this, for who knows how long, until your breathing and heartbeats had calmed down, that he finally releases you from his arms. The loss of warmth turns the air around you much colder than before, making you shudder. Yeonjun helps you back onto the bed and wraps you in a bundle of blankets before taking a seat at the other end.

"You need to tell me what happened. Both the incidents; when you saved mom and when you were attacked." His demands in all seriousness, his tone still gentle.

You hesitate for a bit, but eventually decide to narrate your entire day. Starting from when you stepped foot out of your company's building and when you woke up in this room. All this while your eyes burning from the pressure of unshed tears.

When you've finished speaking, you look up to see Yeonjun deep in thought, his dark brows bunched together in a frown. His foot tapping the tiled floor at a constant pace.

"Hm..." He hums. "I may have a temporary plan."

You tilt your head, surprised at how he could have thought of something so quickly. "And...? What might that be?"

Yeonjun stands up, walks over to the side table beside the bed, on which different kinds of medications were placed, and picks up a bottle of some syrup, unscrews the cap with one hand while the other reaches for a spoon. He pours the orange liquid from the bottle onto the spoon and brings it closer to your lips.

You look at the spoon like it's some foreign object you've never seen before.

"What? Want me to say: Ah! Open wide~ The train is coming! Choo~ Choo~" He subtly rolls his eyes, grinning.

"You're ridiculous..." You grumble before opening your mouth to take the medicine.

He shakes his head with a soft suppressed laugh.

You turn your head away in a huff. "Stop dragging the topic at hand. What plan did you say you have?"

"Well... How about this? You can work under my company to let everyone know that you've gained my favor, so no one will dare to trample on you, while you can secretly work on how to deal with this situation, safe from everything." He pauses, a tiny smirk forming across his face, indicating trouble. "And help me out while you're at it. Like you know... Be my assistant."

Your head snaps back in his direction. "Be your assistant? This is absurd! Couldn't you be any more selfish? I refuse!"

He puts the cap back on the bottle, putting it away. "Oh, come on, y/n. I'm trying to help you out. It'll be a win-win for the both of us. Don't you think so?"

You sigh in frustration. "Why are you so insistent about helping me out in the first place? When something's too good to be true, that's because it is, so you better turn around and run away as fast as you can. There's definitely more to this plan."

Yeonjun sits back on the bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. He runs his fingers through his ridiculously soft hair before speaking. "Well, consider it returning back a favor, if you want. You saved mom's life so I help you in return."

You fold your arms in front of you. "I saved your mom's life, and you saved mine. That's it. Favor returned."

Yeonjun chuckles, shaking his head in a no. "No, no, sweetheart. That's where you're wrong. You saved my mom's life, so consider me helping you out because of her. I saved your life, so now you got to help me and be my assistant. Fair and square."

"Darn you..." You groan. "You're a sneaky little fox, aren't you?"

He beams like you just gave him a compliment. "If that's what you like to think, then sure."

જ⁀➴

The silvery streaks of the moonlight sneak in through the cracks in the curtains, casting a soft glow throughout the room.

You stare mindlessly at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Soyul had come late in the evening to take out all the machines from the room since your condition had stabilized by a lot. She helped you wash up and change into a clean pair of clothes.

You raise your left hand in front of your eyes and gaze at the tattoo on the inner wrist. A beautifully shaded crescent moon adorned with dull pink cherry blossoms that were sprawling across it. A simple yet meaningful work of art permanently imprinted on your body.

A soft sigh escapes your lips, the tattoo that you were used to covering with a thick layer of concealer and color correctors, was now visible in plain sight, bringing back the bittersweet memories of your three years in the military.

A crescent moon because it was the only thing you looked forward to during your time in the military, the changing phases of the moon being the only visible sign to show that time was not frozen in place, since within the confines of the military grounds, the evergreen trees made it seem like time does not move, which suffocated you beyond words.

And cherry blossoms because Minho loved them so much; partially because it was his birth flower, and also because the entire family of five would take a couple days off in early April to enjoy the cherry blossom festivities together...

Chapter 26: Chapter 25 - Strength, Resilience & Rebirth

The very next day after Minho died, you were enlisted in the military so you could train and defend yourself for the dangers that would be threatening you when you would take the position of the next CEO after your dad. You weren't even given the time to grieve the loss of your beloved big brother, and were instead pushed into the harsh environment on the military.

Not only all these events, but any of your dad's personal details had been kept under the wraps so tight that barely anyone knew the CEO of Black Pearl had three children, two sons and a daughter – let alone the fact that one of his sons died.

Minho's death was classified as confidential and no one was allowed to know anything related to it. This very topic became a taboo for your family, and no one dared to mention it. It made you so, so mad, because you felt like your brother died in vain. Instead of bringing the matter into light and find out the exact reason of his death, you thought your father took the cowards way out and decided to keep it all a thorny secret by his side for the rest of his days, which ended up becoming a constant burden for you too.

Back then, you would constantly ask yourself, why was this accident even confidential? Did your dad's and the company's reputation matter more than Minho's life? So much so that to preserve his image, he decided to be silent about his own son's death?

Alas, you've realized it too late, that it wasn't just any accident, but a goddamn murder. Which gave you all the more reason for being furious at your dad. But did it really matter in the end, what your father did and why, because he only chose his reputation over his family...

One year into the military training, the small group of friends you had grown close to suggested secretly getting a tattoo. Since having tattoos was frowned upon by the older people, they desired to do something rebellious, something exciting that could momentarily brighten up the dull days because they had grown tired of the strict rules and schedules that had to be followed every single day without break. And that, is how you got your first tattoo...

You didn't even realize that you managed to fall asleep while reminiscing about your past last night. You are woken up by Yeonjun bursting into the room and ripping the curtains apart that splashes sunlight right into your eyes. You groan in protest and pull the covers over your face, which is soon snatched by Yeonjun.

"What is your problem?!"

"Rise and shine, princess. I need to check your wounds." He neatly folds the blanket he just snatched and places it to a side.

"Just how many nicknames are you planning to give me?" You scrunch your nose in disapproval.

"As many as I like." He shrugs, the corner of his lips curving up.

You roll your eyes, which, either he doesn't seem to mind or just completely ignores as he sits on the bed right in front of you, grabbing your left hand and begins rolling up the sleeves of your shirt.

You snatch your hand back, the quick movement resulting in a sharp sting to shoot up your arm, making you flinch. "Hey! Hey! What do you think you're doing?" You mask the pain before exclaiming, your eyes wide.

"Checking on your wounds." He states the obvious.

"Hah? Since when did you become a doctor?" You give him a distrustful look.

"Since never." He chuckles as if you're an idiot. "I'm merely doing what mom ordered me to. She's busy with her own work today so you need to cooperate, milady."

Reluctantly, you offer him your left arm and he proceeds to roll the sleeves all the way up to your shoulder, exposing the slightly bloody bandages around your upper arm. You could see his jaw clench together, a pained expression written all over his face as he undid the bandages, his movements slow and careful.

When the last bit of bandage is removed, he leans in closer towards you, bringing his face closer to your arm as he lifts it gently to examine the two stitches at the places where the bullet had penetrated at the back of your arm.

"Does it hurt?" He asks, moving your arm cautiously.

"It's bearable."

"Hm." He sighs and lowers your arm, but doesn't let go. "It doesn't look infected. So that's wonderful." He nods to himself, his gaze slowly moving down your arm, until it lands on the tattoo on the inside of your wrist. He raises his eyebrows, seeming surprised.

"Oh? I didn't know you had a tattoo..."

"Hm..." You swallow nervously, feeling weirdly awkward for some reason.

"It's beautiful..." His admires in a low voice, gliding his thumb across the tattoo. The small movement setting that tiny fraction of your skin on fire.

You're somewhat relieved when he lets go before you could protest about it. The feeling of his gentle touch still lingering over your skin, heating up your cheeks.

"I really need to get going. I've been sitting idly for too long now." You muster the courage to look him right in the eyes to show your determination. Seeing the look on your face, he relents with a sigh. "Fine. Only if you promise to take it easy on your wound. I wouldn't want my assistant to get injured on her first day and delay my work."

You shoot him a withering glare. "Couldn't make it any less obvious, could you, Choi?"

The only response you get from him is a quiet laugh, as he gets up and moves towards the door to leave. "Get ready. We'll leave in 30 minutes."

You hurry over to the bathroom to change. You take off your pajamas and toss them into the laundry hamper before leaning onto the sink and taking deep breaths.

You got this, y/n. You'll handle it all. Slowly, but surely. Yes. Yes, I will.

You lift your head and find your own reflection in the mirror staring right back at you. A new kind of fire burning in those eyes. The need to avenge. The need to kill. To end this dramatic play once and for all.

Your eyes move towards your right shoulder. The brilliantly colored red lotus flowers bloom and glow in all their glory below your collarbone, reminding you of what they represented and why you got it inked on yourself in the first place.

It was your second, and last, tattoo that you got after you completed your time in the military. The lotus flowers symbolizing strength, resilience and rebirth. The three words that defined you completely after spending the three painfully difficult years in the military. As for the color. Red... It represented the newly found passion and desire within you; finally being able to deem yourself worthy of the position of CEO and take the challenges head on, proving the people who looked down on you that you were way ahead and above them all.

I will crush you, Liam Archer...

જ⁀➴

You silently follow Yeonjun all the way to his office in Falcon Estate. None of you having said a word to the other. He walks around the large desk and seats himself on his grandiose chair, while you stand in front of him across the table, your arms crossed in front of you, as he browsed through his drawers, taking out some files and placing them on the table.

"Here." He says, presenting you a small stack of files. You pick one up and start skimming through it as he continued to speak. "These would be the things you'll have to know about. My schedule for today is listed on the second page of the file in your hands. The different rows are my meetings and tasks, and in front..."

"I know." You close the file and place it back at the top of the pile.

"But I didn't even begin explaining the basics..." He raises an eyebrow.

"In case you didn't know, I, in fact, worked as an assistant under many people before I became the CEO. So I know what all this means." You reply nonchalantly, the word CEO now tasting like some bitter poison on your tongue. You wanted to laugh at the reality in front of you, the reality in which you were back to square one – starting off as a mere assistant.

"Oh?" The corners of his rosy lips curve upward. "I can't seem to imagine you running around and doing errands for anyone with that personality of yours..."

"That personality...?" You narrow your eyes at him.

"Yup, that. The one right now, that makes it look like you're just a second away from ripping me into shreds with your bare hands." The chair groans under his weight as he leans back, casually placing his hands behind his head.

"You look far too much at ease for someone who knows what I'm capable of doing if I wanted to..." You huff in annoyance.

"Keyword: if. If, you wanted to."

Oh, that damned smirk of his...

Chapter 27: Chapter 26 - Unspoken Words

“Why are you so adamant on getting on my nerves?” You hiss, snatching the files from the desk and storming out of the office.

જ⁀➴

Having almost memorized his schedule for today after a single read, you stand outside the door of his office to escort him for the meeting he had. You raise your hand to knock but your knuckles stop midair, just before touching the door, as you think about how were supposed to act around him in the company as his assistant.

Am I supposed to really knock, or just go in? I’m not exactly his assistant, just pretending to be one… There’s no need for me to be so polite towards him.

Ugh… Why am I making it so difficult for myself?!

“Just come in already, y/n.” You hear Yeonjun’s voice from the other side of the door that catches you off guard.

“What?!” You spin your head to your right and left but see no one, making you feel embarrassed to know he somehow saw the awkward position you were in. A glimmer of something metallic catches your attention. On close observation, you realize he had a camera installed outside his office. No wonder he was able to see you…

You glare at the camera before bursting inside the door and stand in front of his desk with your jaw tightly clenched, your face red from a mix of anger and embarrassment. “You have two meetings scheduled for today. The first one begins in an hour and the second meeting in 3 hours.”

“Mhm.” He nods mindlessly, his eyes focused on the paper in front of him, on which he had untidily scribbled some points, his sleeves rolled up, exposing his veiny arms.

“You’re not listening…”

“I am, I am.” He puts down the pen and looks up. “Why are you in a rush? We have a lot of time.”

You open your mouth to protest but he speaks up before you could. “My pen is almost out of ink. Could you give me a new one from that drawer over there, if you don’t mind?”

“Oh, I would really mind.” You snap at him. Who does he think he is?!

He doesn’t even refute and only gives you a sweet innocent smile that forces you to move your feet in the direction he pointed to without any more complaints. You pick one up from the bundle of identical pens and place it in front of him with a small thud.

“Oh, and could you take out a new file and separate the documents for this meeting?”

You take in a deep breath to control yourself before quietly obeying him. As soon as you place the neatly arranged file in front of him, he opens his damned mouth again. “Ah, I almost forgot. Could you give a call to the rest of the people to be ready-”

You slam the palm of your hand on the table that makes him shut up. “Open that mouth of yours again and you’ll regret it.”

In that instant, the playfulness from his face vanishes and he raises a brow – perhaps in a warning, or maybe a challenge… “Oh, really? And would you like to enlighten me as to how I’m going to regret it?”

“You-!” You lean across the table and grab the front of his shirt between your first, yanking him off his chair and towards yourself. For a brief moment you could see the look of shock on his face before it morphs back into indifference. Although his brows are knitted together in a small frown, his stable breathing gets noticeably heavier as the two of you face each other. The wide desk being the only separation between you both.

“You are getting on my nerves, Choi.” You try to ignore his intense gaze and the ridiculous stance you got yourself into.

Yeonjun doesn’t care about the death grip you have on his shirt and leans even closer to you, bringing his face just inches away from yours. He looks right into your eyes, his narrowed eyes reflecting calm; a calm that came by default with a calculating person. He tilts his head and he silently watches you, as if waiting for the right opportunity.

You catch his eyes subtly dart to your lips for a split second before focusing back to your eyes. His jaw hardens as he brings his hand forward and tightly grips your wrist that was clenching his shirt. “I’m pretty sure getting on your nerves is far better than selfishly using you or stabbing you in the back. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Unable to counter his perfectly reasonable and valid argument, you let go of him and he lets go of your wrist as you take a step back and look away with a frustrated sigh. Yeonjun lets out a victorious huff and adjusts his collars before walking around the desk towards you, picking up the file and holding it in front of you. “The meeting will start in ten minutes. Let’s go.”

You grab the file from his hands as nicely as possible and strut out of the office without sparing him another glance.

Yeonjun walks behind you, following you as you headed towards the conference room. Although, you couldn’t see him behind you, you could feel his eyes boring holes into your back.

As you both passed through the busier areas of the building, you could hear the surprised gasps and whispers of people at the sight of you, or perhaps more so at the sight of Yeonjun casually following you as you lead the way with your head held high.

From now onwards, I will not be listening to whatever the fuck people have to say about me.

જ⁀➴

The handful of people who were attending this meeting seat themselves around the table was stretched across the length of the room, while you and Yeonjun sit in front of each other. The table between you two proving helpful in preventing you from strangling him.

A deathly silence envelops the conference room as the rest of the people hold their breaths, sensing the tense atmosphere and waiting for someone to begin the meeting.

Clack.

The dull sound of you closing your eyeglasses case echoes through the room, seeming like the boom of a thunder in the noiseless room.

Still, no one dares to speak up, so Yeonjun decides to break the ice. “Let’s begin with you, y/n. Could you brief us about the purpose of today’s meeting?”

“… Of course.” You stand up while pushing the glasses back across the bridge of your nose with your middle finger, making sure to emphasize the gesture to convey your silent message to him.

You hear a couple hushed gasps from the attendees of the meeting. Their eyeballs covertly turning towards Yeonjun, eager for his reaction to your not-so-subtle display of impertinence.

Chapter 28: Chapter 27 - Whatever You Say, Goes

A tiny smirk spreads across his lips. He leans back on the chair to sit more comfortably. He does not speak a word, or show any more emotion, but patiently waits for you to begin. You couldn't tell if he was trying to annoy you right now, but you could say for sure that he was pretty damn good at it.

"Today's meeting was called because the marketing department of Falcon Estate wanted to request more funds to expand its services into a few other countries where it saw potential for considerable growth. Present the proposal you have come up with and highlight its importance while justifying your statements."

You don't get a response for a few seconds before someone decides to open their cursed mouth. "Why are you reviewing our proposal with Mr. Choi? Shouldn't you be at your own company?"

"You only have 15 minutes to convince me if your proposal should be accepted. If it fails to meet the standards of the company, it will be rejected immediately." You reply sternly, placing one hand on your hip while the other readjusts your glasses.

A wave of surprise and unease washes over the attendees. They take a moment to recover. "You have no authority to reject our proposal!"

"Oh, yeah? Try me."

Everyone in the room, along with you, turn their heads to look at Yeonjun once more to hear what he had to say about the situation. Yeonjun looks uninterested in where the conversation was heading. He doesn't bother to face the audience, rather, he keeps his eyes fixated on you as he spoke.

"Whatever you say, goes."

The man who was trying to be so bold shrinks back into his seat as a wave of relief washes over you. You were kind of anticipating such a response... He could have chosen to deny it completely, or professionally handled the situation by simply emphasizing the importance of your role in approving the proposal. But instead... He gave you the full authority to accept or reject it without having to seek his consent...

Ba-dump.

Ba-dump.

You exhale deeply to calm your nerves.

You need to chill out, y/n. It's just a part of the plan...

You nod and sit down back on your seat in front of Yeonjun as a person from the table comes up to present their proposal, tiny droplets of sweat spread across her forehead as she begins.

જ⁀➴

"This concludes the points of our proposal. Thank you." The woman who finishes her presentation exhales shakily while the rest of her team members clap unenthusiastically. "What do you think about it, sir?" She asks Yeonjun nervously, but brimming with great anticipation.

You move your attention from the woman standing to Yeonjun seated in front of you, only to find out that already had his eyes focused on you, his fervent stare making the hair on your body stand up in response. Not a single thought could be deciphered behind those dark eyes.

"What do you say?" He asks you.

To divert your attention, you look down at the points you had noted while she had been presenting and think hard about what you should say.

Why is it so hard to give an answer? It was never this hard when I was the CEO... Why can't I decide? I could give a yes or no answer halfway through the presentation back then...

The words on your notepad start mixing with one another, making it impossible for you to read them, let alone understand them.

"y/n will send you an email about her answer in 3 days. You all are dismissed." Yeonjun declares and no one wastes a single second to scurry out of the conference room.

"You alright? You suddenly blanked out..." He asks in a gentle voice when everyone leaves and it's just the two of you.

"Yeah..." You pinch the center of your brows and silently berate yourself for letting your self-doubt take over your judgement.

"Mhm..." Yeonjun acquiesces with a hint of skepticism. "Let's return to my office and go through the files for the next meeting, then." He suggests, to which you agree and follow him out.

જ⁀➴

Along the way towards his office, you both bump into two people who were walking towards you, talking to each other like good friends.

Yeonjun stops in his tracks at the sight of them, causing you to almost bump into him. "Oh, hey, dad... I didn't expect you to be here today. Is something the matter?"

What? Dad?

You side-step Yeonjun and stand right next to him to examine the person he was addressing to. One of them was his dad alright, you could now see where he got his genes from; anyone would be able to see the resemble.

As for the other person... It wasn't the fact that you were seeing him in person that shocked you, but the fact that he was the person walking side by side with Choi Yeonjun's dad like a good friend was something that you were not looking forward to experience, ever.

Ryan Archer. Father of Liam Archer.

What the actual fuck is he doing here in this building with his dad?

Whatever the reason was, it definitely did not bode well for the future...

"Ah, Yeonjun, wonderful to bump into you." His dad greets him and starts speaking to him without even looking in your general direction. "I wanted to introduce you to Ryan here. We were talking about a lot of fruitful opportunities that could be possible if you both were to work together."

Only when he is done talking – talking about something that brought you horrors – does he look towards you and the warmth that his face radiated instantly lessens as surprise and confusion takes over, which was expected, actually. The news of you not being a CEO spread like wildfire the very moment Liam stepped over your position. So of course, he was not expecting you to be here with his son; not when everyone was assuming you to be hiding away somewhere in the shadows because of the humiliation that came under these circumstances.

"Oh... Park y/n..." He says, although awkwardly, but you are easily able to look past his calm, unbothered demeanor and feel the fierce, unforgiving look towards you he had in his eyes.

You only give a small bow in response, not bothering to give Ryan even a second of your attention.

"Hah." Ryan scoffs, which you knew was coming. "So this is where you've come to seek shelter after being ridiculed by the masses?"

"What...?" Yeonjun gives Ryan a puzzled look, oblivious of the reason of his hostility towards you.

"Oh, dear child." Ryan shakes his head in utter disappointment, pretending as if he cared about Yeonjun like his own child. "You better be on guard against this woman here." He gives you a dirty look before continuing. "Her superiority complex will make her do anything to get what she wants, including sleeping her way to the top."

"You better keep your nonsense to yourself." You take a step forward and warn him through gritted teeth. Even Yeonjun's dad had started giving you disapproving looks with a frown that he couldn't hide.

"Tch. Stop acting like you're oh-so innocent. You did it once and you plan on doing it again. How shameless can you be?!" Ryan's nose flares in disgust.

Crack.

Thud.

Chapter 29: Chapter 28 - Glad You Noticed

You land a brutal punch on his nose and push him against a wall, clawing at his hair with enough force to pull them all out along with his scalp. A tiny stream of blood makes an appearance from his nose and slowly trails down towards his cracked lips.

“Crazy! This woman is crazy! Save me!” He starts struggling to break free from your grasp, but your hold only tightens.

“Should’ve thought about the consequences of yours words before opening your mouth.” You grab his arm and twist it behind his back that makes him howl in pain.

“y/n!” Before you could inflict more pain to the wrinkly old man, Yeonjun grabs your arms and pulls you away from him, panic etched across that pretty face of his. You glare back at him and pluck your arm free from his hold.

“Stop this nonsense right this instant!” Yeonjun’s father steps between you and Ryan and orders harshly.

“You, crazy bitch!” Ryan yells, pointing a shaky finger at you.

You look at Ryan over your shoulder and narrow your eyes, causing him to take a step back behind Yeonjun’s dad, to use him as a shield in case you jumped at him once more. “You got that quite right.” You nod your head calmly and turn to face him, or more precisely Yeonjun’s dad, who was now a barrier between you two. “I am a crazy bitch. I don’t waste time barking. I bite.”

“Show some respect, Park y/n.” Yeonjun’s dad frowns.

You laugh in disbelief. “Respect? Hah. Respect is shown to those who deserve it, not just anyone, or else that shit starts getting to their heads.”

And before anyone could say something else, you walk past them and storm off without saying another word. You don’t know what happens after you leave – what Yeonjun’s dad says to Yeonjun or what Ryan has to say about you to the other two – but, soon enough, Yeonjun catches up to you right outside his office and stops you by holding onto your wrist, spinning you around so you could face him.

“What is it, Choi?”

“Ryan… Was it Ryan who attacked you?”

Your lips press into a thin line as you think about whether you should tell him who exactly attacked you… Since you purposely avoided it the last time you were telling him about the incident, even though he did ask a couple times.

I’ve already told him almost everything about that day, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to fill in the last empty blank... If only for the sake of formulating an efficient and foolproof plan.

You sigh. “It was Liam. He was personally there himself. But, I wouldn’t put it past Ryan to have had a hand in it as well.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” A flicker of hurt flashes across his face.

As much as it hurt- no. No. Why should it hurt? It shouldn’t hurt. So what if you hid an important piece of information from him… It was just guilt doing its work, making you feel this feeling akin to being hurt. Nothing else.

“I’m not obligated to tell you everything.”

“Yeah, right…” Yeonjun nods, offering a tight smile. “I think… I understand your reservations... But, now that I know who’s involved has made the situation more complex.” He groans, running his fingers through his hair, disheveling them, making him look all the more devastating than he already was.

“Oh, I wonder why.” You drawl sarcastically, earning a soft laugh from Yeonjun, lightening the mood, even if just by a tiny bit.

“I doubt dad’s going to be happy about you being my assistant. And now that many people in the company have seen you parading around in the building alongside me, I believe we might have another headline in the news tonight… *sigh*”

“Interesting choice of words.” You roll your eyes, somewhat lightheartedly. “Anyway, what are you suggesting we do then?”

He shrugs carelessly. “Eh. Nothing, actually.”

“…”

“We’ll just tackle these nuisances as they come. No need to dwell on the what-ifs beforehand and waste our time when we have a more important issue to deal with.”

“You sure are a little too optimistic for your own good.” You fold your arms in front of you, shaking your head in disbelief.

His signature smirk makes a reappearance. “Why wouldn’t I be? We’ve got brain and brawn. It’ll be a piece of cake, I’m sure.”

“Oh? And I wonder who’s the brain and who’s the brawn.”

Yeonjun chuckles. “Darling, who said one of us has to be the brain and the other has to be the brawn. We both have got both, which is exactly what gives us the upper hand.”

Your heart decides to make a jump in your chest over him casually throwing a pet name for you in the conversation out of nowhere, and you, as usual, try to hide this unwanted feeling by acting as if it didn’t suddenly affect you. “Are you trying to compliment me, Choi?” You tilt your head with a tiny grin.

“Glad you noticed.” He playfully rolls his eyes and walks past you to enter his office.

Well, fuck…

જ⁀➴

You busy yourself with some paperwork for the next meeting inside Yeonjun’s office. None of you having said each other a word after the exchange in the hallway outside his office.

To prevent yourself from thinking about anything unwanted that has been happening between the two of you, you instead divert your thoughts to other more pressing matters. Matters that involved you dealing with your parents and letting them know about all the development in the past couple of days. You also needed to somehow urgently contact Yuna to ask about the current affairs in the company. You bet nothing right would be happening right now, which put you at unease.

Sometimes dealing with the aftermath of a tragedy was more punishing than the tragedy itself.

You hadn’t touched your phone, or listened to any news broadcast about your situation. And as Yeonjun said, you were in for another surprise tonight. Who knew how your father would react to all this, what conspiracy theories the tabloids would be cooking up, and what else Ryan and his son would be plotting against you.

Soon enough, all these bombs would start denoting one by one, until they would push you to your limit, which was starting to make your confidence in being able to handle these blows to waver.

“One step at a time, y/n.”

Yeonjun’s soothing voice pulls you out of the void you had started falling into.

How did he know…?

Seeing your baffled expression, his lips curve up. “Accompany me for this last meeting and you’ll be free for the day.” You wipe the surprise off your face and nod, gathering the pages that were sprawled in front of you on the coffee table.

As you grab the handle of the office room to exit, Yeonjun calls out from behind, “y/n!” “Hm?” You turn around to see Yeonjun walking towards you, his long legs carrying him across the room in just a few strides before stopping in front of you, unintentionally making you hold your breath.

He pauses for a couple beats, scanning your face. “You’re doing amazing.”

Three words. Once sentence. That’s all it took for the butterflies in your stomach to start thrashing against their confines. Such simple words, yet they had such an impact on you; and why wouldn’t they? When your life had taken such a shitty turn and you were so lost about it all, these little words of affirmation had the potential to instill new hope that would help in overcoming any hurdle thrown your way.

A meek, yet genuine smile unknowingly makes its way to your lips. “Thank you…”

Chapter 30: Chapter 29 - Old Habits Die Hard

((Recommended song: I'm a B - HWASA))

You’re sitting right next to Yeonjun in the meeting room as one of the employees is presenting the triannual updates about the company’s profits and expenditures while dramatically highlighting the major, as well as minor achievements they’ve made. From the corner of your eyes, you see Yeonjun mindlessly tapping his pen on the notebook in front of him, obviously not paying attention to anything the person was saying.

You nudge him by your elbow, tilting your head towards the presenter. “You’re not paying attention.”

Yeonjun fakes a yawn and sinks deeper into his chair, a teasing grin dancing over his lips. “Why should I worry about it when you’re here listening for me.”

And there goes your newly budding fondness for him down the drain.

“Seriously, Choi?!” You groan in exasperation, trying to keep it as low as possible so the others wouldn’t hear. “How is this company even thriving with you loafing about like this?!”

You turn your attention back towards the front of the conference room and the presenter bows, marking the end of his presentation, and begins making his way back to his seat.

“Who gave you the permission to leave?” You call him out with a frown, crossing your arms over your chest. The man stops in his tracks and gulps fearfully, sensing trouble. “I’m not done with you. Get back on the podium.”

A hush falls over the room and the rest of the people present stiffen over your imposing articulation, their backs straightening instinctively. The person who you were addressing to bows apologetically and unwillingly walks back to the exact spot where he had been standing before while giving his presentation. Even Yeonjun sits up straight out of curiosity.

“Go to the third to last slide.” And he does, with trembling hands. “These last two lines. Why is their font size smaller to the rest of the text? The font color is also a couple shades lighter.” The man gulps, his eyes bulging out of their sockets as he stares at the unnoticeable details you pointed out. “Read it out loud.”

“Y- yes.” He clears his throat before beginning. “The- The Strategic Marketing Department invested a total of 6.77 billion won, equivalent to 5 million US Dollars, from January 2^nd to March 23^rd.”

“Yes, and?”

“A- and…?” He mutters hesitantly.

“And what happened to that investment? Where are its results?” You snap at him, beginning to lose your temper.

“We- we haven’t heard from the team, yet—.” He blurts out without thinking twice.

“I wonder what that’s supposed to mean.” You narrow your eyes, that makes him start sweating. “You have one hour to present me with the results or you will be detained.”

“You can’t!” He yells, petrified by your threat. You click your tongue in an unimpressed tsk. One of the senior members present gives Yeonjun a pleading look, hoping he would mitigate the issue before it spiraled out of control. Yeonjun gives a careless shrug in response. “Whatever she said.”

“B- but, sir!” The man on the podium exclaims. “We’ll present you the files when we get an update, please, don’t worry!”

“Unbelievable.” Your lean forward on the table on your elbows, clasping your hands below your chin. “Do you really expect someone as busy as me to always have time on my hands just so I would listen to the updates presented by some Mr. Jang? Are these triannual update meetings a joke to you?”

“I- I…”

“In case you don’t know what these meetings are for.” You cut him off. “Let me remind you, and everyone else present, for the first and last time. That these meetings are held precisely because the company is supposed to update its owner about each and every penny that it has been invested in the last 4 months, and present their results up till this meeting, no matter how insignificant.”

The man fiddles with his fingers, nodding his head like a salt shaker. Despite his regretful attitude, it was not hard to tell he was completely unapologetic about it all by the way his jaw was set. “But you’re not the owner.” Someone seated on the table retorts.

Your eyes snap towards that woman’s direction and she flinches, obviously not expecting you to figure out it was her who spoke since you were focused on the man on the podium. Her reaction pulls a wicked smile out of you. You may have lost your company but your merciless reputation was known far and wide, and that was something no one could ever steal. “I may not be.” You answer calmly. “But I am sitting here for such an important meeting and making decisions on the owner’s behalf, with him sitting right next to me. Is there a problem? No? Good.”

It sounded more like telling than asking, which wasn’t your problem. You had started getting restless and needed to get this over with to go back home. You turn back to the man. “Got. It?” “Yes.” He replies through clenched teeth.

“Great. You all are dismissed.” You sigh and lean back on the chair. But, no one moves. They stay where they are, looking towards Yeonjun.

Right…

No matter how imposing you were, or how much you intimidated them, at the end of the day, you were still not their boss. They may have let you speak on Yeonjun’s behalf – since he wasn’t particularly saying or doing anything himself – because they needed the remarks on their reports. But when it came to little things like these, they weren’t obligated to follow your orders. Besides, it’s not like you were expecting them to heed your every command anyway. It was just… something you said out of habit.

Old habits die hard; I guess…

Yeonjun simply waves his hand and they all pick up their stuff and rush outside, leaving you both alone in the room.

“Damn, woman.” A low deep chuckles from your left graces your ears. “You really are as ruthless as they say.” You roll your eyes for the nth time, which he ignores as per usual and continues, “I didn’t really think you’d notice such a teensy-weensy mistake.” You huff proudly in response, which is immediately dampened by his next sentence. “But I bet you didn’t notice that the slide number on the second to last slide jumped to 43 instead of 42.” Your jaw drops at his observation. “They must have haphazardly taken out that slide right before the meeting. Which leads me to think that it must have been some info about that strategic marketing department investment you noticed, that they ultimately decided to not share in the meeting.”

“How did you...” You stare at him in disbelief. “You weren’t even paying attention!?”

He laughs, his turn to be proud of himself. “You thought I wasn’t paying attention. Too bad, sweetheart, I’m a step ahead of you.”

“Hmph. You sure hold true to your title of a sly fox.”

Yeonjun closes his eyes and tilts his head forward as if accepting the praises that he was being showered with. “Don’t stop, keep ‘em coming.”

“Jeez. You’re so full of yourself.” You shake your head with displeasure and get up, grabbing your pen and notepad and heading towards the exit. “I’ll be taking me leave then, see you.”

“I didn’t say you could leave.” His captivating voice rings out from behind, sounding gravellier than before. You spin around only to see he was right in front of you, his sudden presence making you suck in a breath of air out of surprise and you take a step away from him, your back thudding against the door. He steps closer, closer than he’s ever been, towering over you by a good 4 inches.

“Don’t go...”

Chapter 31: Chapter 30 - Azalea Flowers

He places one hand on the door's handle to your right while the palm of his other hand rests on the door frame on your left, encaging you between the door and himself. His body so close, you could feel the warmth radiating off of him. "Don't go..." He whispers in a voice that sounded wrong in every way. His eyes stare deeply into yours, emotions swirling behind them.

Ba-dump.

Ba-dump.

Your heart begins racing inside your chest, driving you mad. Out of all the ways you could be reacting – giving a snarky comment, ignoring and leave him hanging, pushing him away, hell, even a kick in between his legs – the only thing you could do was stand frozen in place, unmoving and unable to speak, while that damned heart of yours desperately fought for a way to escape your chest.

How laughable, embarrassing even.

"Why?" The word comes out like a breathless whisper.

Oh, god.

In that moment, Yeonjun suddenly shifts and straightens his back, stepping away from you and readjusting his collars, even though they were perfectly fine. He deliberately avoids your gaze and stares at the tempered glass door behind you as he spoke, "I'll drop you off."

The sudden shift in the atmosphere made your head spin as the oxygen rushed to your lungs. The air around you was still tainted with the sizzling tension from before, which was getting extremely hard to simply brush off like something dangerous didn't just spark between you two, even if for a split second.

"You don't have to." You answer coolly, letting yourself breathe normally again. Yeonjun shrugs. "I don't have to, but I need to." You raise a questioning eyebrow, to which he responds, "I doubt it'll be appropriate for you to be using public transport under the current circumstances." Having no more energy to argue with him when he made a valid point, you relent with a sigh. "Alright."

જ⁀➴

At long last, you turn on your phone – whose speakers were damaged due to the intense rain that day – and navigate your way to your messages with Yuna, while painfully ignoring every missed call and message you had received from your family.

You needed to know what Yuna had found out about two Archers, Liam and Ian, during her little investigation about the guests who had attended the Equinox Gala. You need to know about it now more than ever. Funnily enough, she never got the chance to elaborate it since something would always come up, as if the heavens were deliberately preventing you from knowing about what she had found.

You knew that you had to be discreet about it because you couldn't say for sure if Yuna was still in Black Pearl and if she was working under Liam; if she was, there was no way in hell you were letting Liam get wind of this matter in case he was keeping an eye on Yuna, knowing how paranoid he could be.

He may have gotten what he so desperately wanted, but being the coward he was, you could bet he was having nightmares and sleeping with one eye open in case you would magically appear out of thin air inside his room and stab him while he was peacefully asleep. Which was a very tempting idea indeed, but you had greater plans for his destined demise.

[ice emoji] [newspaper emoji] [fan emoji] [orange emoji] – [lock emoji] [ice emoji] [strawberry emoji] [tire emoji]

You send her a string of emojis in the text, having full confidence in her to decipher the message by forming the two words you wanted to tell her using the first letter of what each emoji represented.

Info list.

Stupid as it was, you had no other option right now. You had to get the message across. If Liam did have access to every call and message Yuna made throughout the day, you hoped that stupid man would brush it off thinking that you've either lost your mind or your phone, if all went well, that is...

"We're almost there." Yeonjun announces from the driver's seat, his sleeves curled up to his elbows like always, one hand on the steering wheel and the other arm resting on the armrest between you two. He was devastatingly handsome. You had to admit, because right now, you were too tired to convince yourself otherwise. "Hey, cheer up a little, you'll finally get to see Pepper. That fur ball must have been missing you like crazy."

You turn off the phone and put it down with a sigh. "I know..." You closer you got to your house, the more exhausted you started to feel. The weight of all the burdens you had been carrying finally beginning to take a toll on you.

Task no. 01, done. Now I need to be patient.

Yeonjun pulls up in the driveway of your house and turns off the engine. You don't waste another second to get out and rush towards the main door. You ring the bell, knock a couple times and call out. "Pepper! It's me, I'm home!"

A nauseous feeling envelops you, maybe because you were finally back home after quite the traumatic experience and the only thing you wanted to do was to lay down and sleep your stress away; praying that when you wake up, you'd realize that it was all just a bad dream.

Hah. How pathetic.

Your brows bunch together in concern as you stare at the door, waiting for it to open. "Why is he taking longer than expected...?" You ask the door, panic starting to creep in. Yeonjun walks across the lawn to try to look at the backyard, but he stops midway. "It's pitch black back there." Unable to stand still any longer, you rise up to your tiptoes and place your hand inside the small opening of the birdhouse that was hanging next to the door and fish out the spare key to the main door. "Well, that's ingenious..." He comments casually, but his voice was dripping with unease.

Your shaky hands take about three tries before successfully inserting the key into the lock. As soon as the lock clicks, you burst inside and switch on every light that came your way. "Pepper?!" You call out, tension building inside your body.

Silence.

Your heart picks up a dangerous pace and adrenaline starts replacing the blood in your veins. You and Yeonjun split up to look for Pepper in every nook and cranny of the house. It wasn't long before you both reconvene in the living room. He shakes his head that makes your heart drop.

You both turn your heads towards the last option, and only hope left.

The back door that led to the backyard.

With hurried steps, you turn on every light in the backyard and quickly scan the considerably small area, still unable to find anything noteworthy that could tell about Pepper's whereabouts. Your unsteady deep breaths begin getting shallower, quicker. Your head spinning and your body trembling. You were starting to lose sense of your surroundings.

You decide to head back to the living room to regain your five senses before thinking of your next course of action. "Wait..." Yeonjun suddenly calls out and you stop abruptly in your tracks. His voice so grave that your heart almost stopped beating altogether. You run over to his hunched figure in the corner of the backyard, near the bush of soft pink Azalea flowers that you painstakingly grew. "What is it?!" You ask anxiously, your voice cracking at every syllable.

Yeonjun grabs onto something that was lying on the ground near the bush and uses all his strength to give it a pull towards him. The bush rustles furiously as a large figure emerges from it. The dim lights of the backyard slowly illuminate the shadowy figure.

It takes you a full minute to register what he pulled out from the bush of gloriously blooming Azalea flowers.

Pepper...

Chapter 32: Chapter 31 - The Things I Would Do

You drop on your knees, uncaring of how much the impact hurt, of how badly the needles of grass pricked your skin through your clothes, of how the small gravels bruised your knees. All of it didn't matter in the face of what you were seeing in front of you.

A cold lifeless Pepper.

The front half of his body covered in crisped blood. So much blood that was so dark, it was painfully difficult to realize this was your dog, whom you hugged and kissed and cuddled with a few days ago.

Maybe you had started hallucinating at this point but you could feel his pain, probably more so because you faced a similar situation not too long ago, the only difference being that you made it out alive. Facing this absurdity of a situation, you started to wonder if living to tell the tale was even worth it or not. What was his hand in all of this that he deserved to die such a gruesome death? Why did your beloved companion have to face the consequences for your actions?

You lift a shaky hand to feel his soft fur. "Don't." Yeonjun's voice puts a halt to your action. "Not now. Wait until the investigation team has gathered the evidence they would need... Please." You hang your hand in front of you as your shoulders shook uncontrollably with silent sobs. You dig your nails into the soil and fist a handful of mud. Who was to blame at the end of the day? You. Of course, it had to be you.

"Where is the security room?" He asks the next second. Your eyes widen in realization and you get up to make a run towards the security room upstairs inside your house. Pepper's unexpected death had knocked out every bit of your sanity that the CCTV control room in your house completely slipped out of your mind. Finding out the culprit behind all this would be much easier now... Hopefully.

You scan your thumb on the handle of the door and slam it open like a madman, rushing to the central computer and logging in. The entire wall lights up with dozens of monitors. Each one displaying a view of every corner outside your house and even a few streets around it. You reach out for the mouse but Yeonjun grabs your wrist. "You can leave now."

"What?!" You exclaim in disbelief and anger.

"I'll take it from here. You don't need to see this." His brows bunch together, his face telling you that there will be no room for negotiations. "You can't command me what to do! I need to see for myself what happened to my... my..." Your voice starts breaking up with hiccups. "My... my Pepper..." All you had to do was say Pepper's name for your tears to start streaming down once more.

You were not sure how Yeonjun managed to walk you out of the room, but the next moment when you get yourself together, Yeonjun was kneeling in front of you as you were seated on the couch in the living room. His firm hold on your shoulders helped you steady yourself a tiny bit, his face levelled with yours and he spoke each and every word with immense calm and clarity. "I will go upstairs and study the footage, alright? And what I need you to do is stay put for a while. I'm not going to let you see or hear anything. I promise I'll be quick. Okay?"

You stare at him for a good while, not wanting to agree to whatever the hell he was saying. You manage a small reluctant nod before he gets up and walks away, leaving you alone in this eerie silence in the middle of a crime scene.

Losing your multimillion dollar company couldn't even manage to disorient you so much as this goofy ball of fur did.

My goofy ball of fur...

You run your fingers through your hair and tug on their roots sharply. You had gone numb. You couldn't feel the pain. You jump off from the couch and start pacing around the living room. Cracking your knuckles, pulling your hair, scratching your arms, fidgeting with your fingers; nothing seemed to calm your nerves. Your entire focus was on the stairs leading upstairs; thinking about what Yeonjun could be seeing on the monitors right now.

Fuck it.

You drag your nails across your face to wipe off the tears and silently make your way upstairs. With your agility, it didn't take much long for you to be standing right outside the security room. The door locked from inside which was indicated by the red light on the door handle. Although somewhat unwilling, you press your right ear against the door to hear anything from inside. Yeonjun was smart to keep the volume low, but it was just loud enough for you to be able to hear the voice of a man speaking, though completely incoherent.

The man speaks for a bit before going silent. Soon enough, you hear stomping and banging, followed by Pepper's aggressive barks. Your eyes widen but you remain silent. The man's string of curses is cut short by a painful howl that was accompanied by Pepper's growl. Not being able to see what was happening on the monitor, the sounds you hear next feels like a punch to your gut, as Pepper's pained cry tears through the silence. The muddled sounds stop abruptly, leaving you in complete silence for a few seconds before the man's painful howl is followed by Pepper's cry once again. The noises stop for a second before repeating. Again, and again, and again, that ripped open your chest in helplessness and agony.

Yeonjun was rewinding the scene again and again... He must have found something...

The rewinds seem to finally stop and the recording continues to play. The man could be heard no more, and Pepper's cries were the only sounds left now. Every silent whimper, every painful howl shredded your heart into tiny and tinier pieces, as the sounds grew quieter and quieter before going completely silent.

A sob escapes you and you clasp your hand over your mouth to remain quiet but it seems to have been too late, your legs give away and you fall onto the floor, your knees banging against the door.

My baby... My pepper... Why...?

You hold your head in your hands and let your tears fall as they pleased and let yourself choke and cough on the dry air around you, unable to care that you didn't listen to what Yeonjun told you.

The door swings open. "y/n!!" Yeonjun calls out, a hint of anger evident in his tone. "Let me see the footage!" You look up at him and demand through teary eyes.

"I've deleted the footage. We don't need it anymore." He says unapologetically, that makes your body freeze, taking way too long to understand what he said.

"You!" You yell at him, giving him a push and punching his chest. "You monster! You bastard!" He sighs deeply, unaffected by your hostility while remaining firmly rooted on floor. "You're too weak right now, y/n. I've called my team to handle this situation. We should leave now."

"Leave?!" You shriek, your face swollen and red, stained with tears. "I'm not leaving Pepper!"

"You'll see him in the morning."

You shake your head desperately and clasp your hands in front of you. "Please, I beg you! Don't take me away from Pepper. Please! I can't bear this."

In that moment, you see his defenses crumble right in front of you. His calm and unfazed demeanor is stripped away, leaving behind nothing but a wreckage of emotions. Lines of tension decorate his face as he inhales deeply to steady himself. His usually clear eyes are blurred with a thin layer of mist. He gently holds your face in his hands, as if you're made of glass fragile enough to break with just a touch.

"You don't know the things I would do to be able to take away your pain right now..."

Chapter 33: Chapter 32 - Nightmare

Notes:

Sorry for the really long wait! T-T
I had been so busy with studies and then spent some time unwinding myself and relaxing~ Updates will be slow for a while, but I'll try my best :)

Your chest tightens with emotion. You barely remember anyone having said such words to try to comfort you, to let you know that your pain was their pain too, that they were willing to do anything to get rid of your misery. The gentleness of his action, heck, even the action in itself was something so new, so foreign, that it took a while for you to fully grasp the meaning behind it all, and it unwillingly takes you back in time to that one moonlit night, during your first few weeks in the military. The night where you felt just as helpless and broken as now, when someone pulled the locks of your hair behind your ear and held you close. The moonlight casting a pearly white outline around his figure while he hugged you tight, a gentle reminder that he was right next to you.

“y/n…” Yeonjun’s soft voice pulls you back to the present, not having moved an inch. The stream of tears had stopped flowing and you could breathe a little better.

Downstairs, the door opens loudly and at least a couple dozens of hurried heavy footsteps enter the house and disperse across it. One pair of footsteps separate from the commotion and makes it way upstairs. “Sir! You’re here! Are you alright?” Only then does Yeonjun reluctantly let go of your face and turns towards the source of the voice. He nods firmly. “Good to know, sir. We’re all here. My team has started the detailed investigation. I’d request you to leave this place for now.”

And with that, the man clad in an all-black uniform leaves you both to head downstairs and lead his squad.

Yeonjun turns back to you and holds your hands in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “We should go now.”

You wanted to refuse, cry, scream, protest, but all those thoughts died the second he grabbed your hand firmly in his. You weren’t used to this at all. No one cared enough to waste so much of their time to persuade you to listen to them or give you any sort of comfort. It was just you and your demons. And now, with all this happening, you weren’t sure how to act like you usually would. All you could do was quietly give in.

You follow Yeonjun as he led you to his car through the commotion in your house.

Thud.

The instant the doors of the car close, the heavy footsteps, the commands and shouts by the members of the Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) vanish like they were never there as the eerie silence envelops you like a blanket, except that it was cold instead of warm. Seconds pass by and you think you hear something from a distance. You divert all your attention to make out what the sounds were and where were they coming from.

Soon enough, those sounds start getting louder and louder until you realize what they were.

A sharp cry, followed by loud and painful whimpers.

“Pepper?!” Your body jerks up in response and you try to find the source of the sound but it stopped altogether in an instant. Tears well up in your eyes once more. “y/n…” Yeonjun looks at you, just as helpless as you were in this moment. You shake your head, and look down at your hands that were trembling on your lap.

જ⁀➴

Yeonjun opens the door to his room and leads you inside. “You don’t have to give me your room again… I’ll be fine in the guest room.” You look around his perfectly arranged and clean bedroom. “It’s isolated from the rest of the apartment in this quiet corner, where there won’t be any disturbances. I thought you’d like that.” He turns to you and replies, his hands in the pockets of his pants.

“Oh… Thank you…”

His lips curve up ever so slightly and for a moment you thought he’d say something like, oho, is the Park y/n thanking me? But he remains silent.

Huh… Since when was I so fond of him?

Ugh- I’m seriously not in the right state of mind right now…

“You have a lot on your mind, and it’s been a long day. You should rest.” Observing your silence, he finally speaks and begins to leave when something compels you to grab his arm and stop him, catching him by surprise. “Where’re you going?”

Yeonjun pats your head reassuringly, “Don’t worry, I’ll be in the living room if you need me.” You nod, reluctantly, and let go of his arm.

જ⁀➴

Tic. Tic. Tic.

The needles of the wall clock showed half past three in the morning and you were still wide awake, with not even an ounce of sleep. You were so damn exhausted, but you still failed to fall asleep. You wanted to sleep, but couldn’t. It was so frustrating but you lacked even the energy to be mad about it. You were now fully convinced that the heavens hated your guts.

It was a pitch black night, where even the moon refused to shed its light on the city, kind of like reflecting your sorrow in a way. Or so you thought.

You close your eyes and take a couple deep breaths to calm yourself down, but how was one supposed to calm his mind when his heart would be racing. Racing like it’s the end of the world, racing like it’s trying to escape from something, racing like it wants to overclock itself to death.

Finally, everything goes quiet.

The clock ticks no more, your heart races no more and all you see is darkness. But instead, you hear something so familiar, something you’ve heard before…

You open your eyes to see Pepper standing so far away from you, his tail wagging as he sees you and barks happily. You cannot believe what you’re seeing, and you’re frozen in place, feeling so many emotions all at once. Pepper makes a run towards you. But before any happy thoughts could make their way to your mind, you see something glimmer from the corner of your eyes and before you could think anything further, a large machete appears, its blade shining menacingly one last time before slamming right into Pepper’s neck, tainting itself and everything around you in deep red.

No. no. no. no. no. no.

Pepper falls down in an instant, crying and whimpering as it still tried to move towards you, but only flailing instead on the ground. He whimpers so loudly that his pain slams right into your chest and rips out your heart. His body stops moving but the whimpering and cries never stop, instead, they got louder and louder every passing second.

You try to dash towards him but your legs had become so heavy that they were basically unmovable. You exert every bit of your strength to lift your legs but you only manage to get one measly step closer to the body. You fall onto the ground in despair but refused to give up, using your arms to pull yourself and crawl towards him, you realize that his body is starting to move farther and farther away from you and now your arms were getting heavier too.

Pepper’s cries were ringing louder than ever, surrounding you, driving you mad.

Please, no… please. No!! No… no. no. Please, stop. Stop, please!!

You were yelling but you couldn’t hear yourself. Pepper’s cries had drowned your own shouts to the point where you failed to her them.

End… this… please…

You see something glimmer again and you look up to see the machete hanging midair above you like a guillotine.

Swish.

And before you knew it, it crashes right into your face.

Chapter 34: Chapter 33 - Goodbye

Your body jerks up and you inhale sharply, letting the cold air pierce your lungs to remind you that you’ve woken up and it was just a dream. You look around to see you were still in Yeonjun’s room and everything was as still as ever.

Just a moment later, the door swings open and you see a panicked Yeonjun run over towards you, almost tripping while doing so.

“y/n??! What happened? Are you alright?” He grabs your shoulder, unaware of how his strong grip was hurting you. His eyes wider than they’ve ever been. He carefully swipes his thumb under your eye, only for you to realize that you had been crying, yet again…

Your harsh breathing didn’t let you speak and you close your eyes as you drop your head in your hands to process what the fuck just happened.

“I’m here…” He whispers reassuringly. “Nightmare…” You whisper back, feeling torn over the images flashing in front of your eyes.

“What…?”

“I had a nightmare, Choi. A shitty one.” You sigh, running your fingers through your hair. “About… Pepper…”

“Oh…” Yeonjun looks down gloomily, dark shadows cast beneath his eyes, making him look completely worn out. “You didn’t sleep?” You ask, glancing at the faint light starting to emerge through the cracks between the curtains. “I couldn’t.” He replies vaguely.

“Why…?”

A faint smile makes an appearance as he thinks for a moment. “Hm? Are you worried about me?"

"You little-!" You groan as you pinch his arm with full force.

"Ouch! Ouch!" He grabs your hand and holds it tightly in his own to prevent you from harming him any further. The gesture much more intimate than it should've been, causing your face to unnecessarily heat up. "I kept asking the CSI team for updates. They left an hour ago.” He finally answers your question and you nod in response, “And...?”

“And we’ll have to wait for at least a day before we hear from them.” You sigh, and he continues. “But… Since you’re awake, maybe we can head to the morgue early and give Pepper a proper goodbye?”

Pepper… And goodbye… Never thought I’d hear these two words in the same sentence… There's nothing "good" about it.

You gulp, nervous and definitely not ready face any of that. But what had to be done just had to be done regardless of how you felt about it, and you wouldn’t want to delay the burial process anyway.

“Alright. Let’s go then.”

જ⁀➴

When you stepped out of Yeonjun’s apartment, the sky was still painted in dark hues with hints of light just starting to show, and by the time you step out of the car in the morgue’s parking lot, the sun had fully come out, the air still cool and quiet. So quiet that you could hear the rustle of leaves and the chirping of birds in their trees.

If it weren’t for the fact that you had a depressing matter to handle, you would have loved to bask in the serenity of your surrounding a while longer.

Click. Clack. Click. Clack.

Your footsteps echo through the quiet halls of the morgue. There was minimal staff and no outsiders at this hour, which was exactly what you needed.

The deeper you walked within the walls of the morgue, the tighter your gut clenched inside you, warning you to turn around and leave. But you really wanted to see Pepper, even if it meant facing the harsh reality of his passing away.

Yeonjun opens a door and leads you inside, and you see three people wearing white coats, who greet you and Yeonjun with a silent bow and quickly walk out of the room, leaving you both alone with a table in the center of the room that was covered with a white sheet. You didn’t have to be told to know what that was. Steeling your nerves, you step in front of the table and grab the fabric in your hand, and pause.

I cannot do this, but I have to…

Taking in a deep breath, you lower the sheet and see Pepper’s cold frail body lying beneath. You stand there in complete silence as your mind rehashes the moments you two spent with each ever since you adopted him as a Puppy. 

You remember the head of the adoption center saying, “It’s a shame such a precious breed of dog had to be sent here. A couple came by when they dropped him off and said that their dog gave birth to puppies but only one managed to survive. And because they couldn’t afford the time and money for another dog in their already bustling household, they had no choice but to send him away. Such a high maintenance breed in a dirty place like this isn’t doing wonders for his health. So, I’m glad you decided to choose him despite his conditions…”

As your vision clears, you see the puppy you once brought home, scared, sickly and tiny, all grown up into a healthy and beautiful dog. But in the end, even the pure, innocent creatures aren’t spared by the hatred of mankind.

You were surprised, and relieved, to know you didn’t cry at the sight of Pepper. But instead, this strange emptiness had spread in your chest, that ironically, was weighing you down. You stroke his fur for the last time before covering his body with the sheet once more.

જ⁀➴

A silent drive to the cemetery later, you were now standing alongside Yeonjun, as you both watched his men lower the coffin carrying Pepper into the ground, before covering it with soil.

When Yeonjun asked where you wanted Pepper to be buried, you insisted it be near your brother’s grave because you wanted the ones dear to you close to each other.

So, this really is goodbye…?

Your clench your fists at your sides and try to push back the tears that had welled up, but to no avail, they poured out once more regardless of your attempts. You crouch onto the ground and let yourself cry your heart out for the last time.

Yes… This will be the last time you will let your enemies make you cry. You had wasted too much time grieving over the things they took away from you. It was about time they faced the consequences of their actions and you showed them the person you can become if tipped over the edge.

Follow the rules and laws, they said, yet the criminals are roaming free while the innocent suffer. Be kind to everyone, they said, yet the people who are the most ruthless get to rule the world. Always tell the truth, they said, yet the liars are the ones who are trusted and considered truthful. Do good, they said, yet the evil doers are the ones who flourish the most.

Trying to be the perfect human, that you were forced to become, did you no good. Instead, just look at how everything turned out for you. Anything but the perfect life you were told you’d live if you became some saint.

As if a switch is flipped inside you, your tears stop and the entire way of how you viewed the world and your role within it is flipped alongside it.

Revenge. I will take my revenge and hunt down each and every bastard until I’ve drained every single drop of their blood. And before that happens, I will not stop myself nor will I be stopped. 

Now, it’s my turn to show them the world they forced others to live in.

You get up from the ground and harshly wipe away the tears from your face. You find Yeonjun standing at a distance and talking to his men with a serious expression. Your reach your hand into your purse to fetch your phone, only to feel a piece of paper next to it. You don’t remember placing any paper inside your purse, so the alarms in your head start ringing as you grab the paper and pull it out to see a note written on it.

“Meet me at the Clover’s Club downtown at 5 p.m. today sharp and alone. Please, you better not be late, or else things might have to get unpleasant."

Chapter 35: Chapter 34 - The Forgotten Daughter

The brief moment of terror is replaced by curiosity as you re-read the neat handwritten note. Right on cue, Yeonjun walks over. “What are you staring so intently at?” You casually hand him the note. His brows furrow when he reads it. “The heck is this now? Liam again? You better tear it to shreds and pretend you never read it.”

“That’s the thing. It’s not Liam.” You pluck the note from his hands and place it back inside your purse. Yeonjun’s gaze narrows as he tilts his head. “And how are you so sure about that?” You fold your arms in front of you as you speak, “First, he would never send a hand written note only to expose himself by his handwriting. Second, his handwriting is nowhere nearly as neat as this, if we assume no one else wrote it for him. And third, he would never say please to me.”

For some reason, Yeonjun’s jaw tightens as he drops his burning gaze to your purse, where you had just kept the note. “You sure know him a lot.” He replies with a silent but annoyed huff. His reaction catches you off-guard and you feel the need to clarify whatever this was… “I don’t know what ideas you’re getting in that head of yours, but let me tell you, this is just called observing your foes. Which is especially easy when you’ve worked with that said foe.”

Yeonjun clears his throat in an attempt to hide his abrupt change in attitude. “You can’t go alone.” You sigh. “Yes, I can.” Yeonjun takes a slow step closer to you. “Not after what you’ve been through. I can’t have you get injured twice. Your wounds haven’t even fully healed yet.” Your own voice gets caught in your throat as his words sink in, taking a few seconds before you could respond. “It won’t be like before. I’m now mentally and physically prepared for every scenario.” Yeonjun raises an inquisitive eyebrow. “Mentally? Probably. Physically? Nuh-uh.”

Annoyed at his stubbornness, you grab the front of his shirt tightly in your fist. “Choi. I am not obligated to heed your every order. This is not a part of our deal. Got it? My duty is to work in your office from 9 to 5, and that is exactly what you’ll get. No more, no less. Do you understand?”

“… Fine.” He relents after a while and you let go of his shirt. Though his eyes were clearly telling you he was still just as stubborn, but he had no other choice. “At least send me a message when you reach there and when you’re done.”

“Excuse me?! Do you think we’re some married couple that I’m-”

“Please.”

You grind your teeth. “Fine.”

જ⁀➴

After everything was wrapped up in the cemetery, you check the time and see it’s 1 in the afternoon. “Clover’s Club… Clover’s Club… Hm…” You pace around Yeonjun’s car in the parking lot. “I should leave right now if I want to reach in time.”

“No, you don’t” You hear Yeonjun say as he walks over to the car. You roll your eyes. “Now what?” Yeonjun shakes his head like you’re the dumbest person alive. “Oh dear, were you really thinking of leaving ASAP? No source of transportation and no weapon on you. Jeez. Were you planning of going by foot and fight through fist if it came to that?”

Ah, so maybe I am the dumbest person alive.

“Of- Of course not!” 

Yeonjun only smirks in response, that makes your blood boil once again. “Enough glaring, get in, or you won’t make it in time.”

જ⁀➴

You speed across the highways and into the narrow streets, taking sharp turns that could possibly wreck your car, but you couldn’t care about it any less, since you were running late and had to make it in time. Who would’ve thought that going back to the company and preparing yourself before you headed out would end up taking so much time. But oh well, at least Yeonjun was kind enough to do all that in the first place.

You look towards your phone that was propped at the center of the dashboard, for a brief moment to see that you would reach the club in just a couple minutes, the thought of it causing anxiety to slowly creep inside you.

Soon enough, you see the tiny rundown building of the club that was decorated in a wide variety of blinding neon lights. Every single aspect of it screamed shady but business was business, which had to be done no matter what.

You hastily park the car and grab your phone to check the time, 04:58 p.m. Not bad.

You were about to open the car’s door but stop, thinking of what Yeonjun said to you as you stare at your phone screen.

Ugh! Yeonjun, you little shit.

“I’ve reached.” You send him a message and immediately get out of the car to dash towards the club’s entrance. Although a person who seemed to be the bouncer was present near the entrance, he paid no mind to you as his attention was fully occupied by a group of women nearby, who were laughing and whistling at him.

Ignoring your surroundings, you head inside to be greeted with music loud enough to explode your eardrums, people yelling as they raved amongst the colorful laser lights and a huge but cheap looking disco ball in the center of the dance floor, that were the only sources of light in the club.

You see someone in the far corner of the room wave at you, beckoning you to come over.

You take a deep breath and start to casually make your way towards that person, looking around the club to take in every single detail, just in case.

As you walk past a full length mirror hung on one of the pillars, you finally get to see your full outfit, which you weren’t able to when you were leaving since it was getting late.

A black sequin mini dress with long bell sleeves paired with black block heels. Simple enough to not stand out too much, but fashionable enough to not seem suspicious. But Yeonjun was against the idea of you wearing anything fancy as “it will restrict your movements in a fight”, which was unlike him to make that comment.

That brat thinks I’m here to have fun and hookup, huh? Too bad, I’ll have to disappoint him today.

But behind you, you were also accompanied by many pairs of hungry eyes that were ogling at your figure. If it were any other day, you would have snapped their necks in half, but sadly enough, today was not that day.

The music changes to something less eardrums-destroying as you pull the chair opposite to the fully covered figured, but before you could settle down, the person speaks in a soft hushed tone. “Good to see that you’re punctual.”

What??? A woman’s voice??!

“Who are you and what do you want?”

You hear a soft laugh from the woman as she lowers the scarf she had been wearing. “Not only you get straight to the point, but you’re also dressed for the occasion, I like that. You must be a pro at these type of things.”

When the scarf covering her face is completely removed, you see yourself staring at a pretty young woman, though probably a few years older than you. You refuse to lower your guard and impatiently question her again. “Who are you and what do you want? I don’t have a lot of time on my hands.”

The woman props her arms on the table and rests her face in-between her hands. “I’m well aware the infamous Park y/n has a lot on her plate, especially with everything that has transpired recently, but I can’t stress how important it is for you to patiently listen to what I have to say. Something that has the ability to pique your interest to the fullest.”

“Only when you decide to stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point, will I be able to entertain your request.” You snap at her harshly.

The woman swallows and clears her throat. “I am Sophia Archer. The forgotten eldest daughter of the notorious Archer family.”

Chapter 36: Chapter 35 - Unexpected Alliance

Hearing the name Archer, your brain short-circuits and you stand up abruptly, the chair behind you falling as you did. “I have no interest in listening to what the Archers have to say. Understand?”

And in that moment, Sophia’s façade, that you hadn’t even realized was there, breaks as the top half of her body lunges across the table towards you and she grabs your wrist, stopping you from leaving. “What the?!” Your eyes widen at the sudden turn of events and you keep your free hand ready to pull out your gun. “Please! Miss Park! Please, you have to listen to me! This is my only chance for a negotiation! I beg you!”

No matter how pitiful she looked, you knew all too well to be on full alert around the Archers. Speaking of which… Sophia Archer… You had never heard of this name before, which only intensified your worries.

What if all of this is just a bait to lure me in to some other trap? To buy some time for an ambush? No… No. I can’t let that happen again. I need to leave.

“I don’t know who the hell you actually are, but you chose the wrong last name as your alias. Let go of me before I resort to crude methods to dispose you off.”

The panic in Sophia’s eyes only grew with every word you spoke. “M- Miss Park! Hear me out! P- Please!” She begged unyieldingly. “I am the first born in the Archer family! My mother died while protecting me from father and the reason Liam was fired from the company was because he was caught abusing an accountant so she’d change valuable records in his favor!”

You immediately stop in your tracks and your breathing stops at the bombardment of information. But this was not just any information, rather it was information that no soul had even the faintest idea about, except the Archers, of course, and your dad, since he was the head of the company. And then you too, but only because you had overheard many things outside your dad’s office.

So assuming that even if the Archers had indeed set up a trap for you here today, there was no way in hell they would let some random person on the streets know about all this just because they wanted to lure you in. No. They would never, no matter how desperate they become. They’d rather take this secret to their graves than use it as a means to carry out their mission.

With your breathing heavy, you face Sophia, your face reflecting the calm before the storm. “Before I ask you what you want from me, I need you to answer my questions first.”

“Yes, yes, anything!”

“On what date did your mother die?” This was a crucial question since the date that was told to the media and the general public was way different than the actual date of death.

“Friday, May 13^th.”

“What was the name of the woman who was abused by Liam?”

“Eunji. And if I’m correct, she’s the mother of your assistant, Yuna. Right?

What the hell...

“How do you know all this?”

“In the beginning, father wanted to get rid of me as well, but considering the backlash they were already facing after my mother’s death because of the mysteries surrounding her sudden departure, they couldn’t risk adding another person into the equation, even if no one in the world knew about me in the first place. So, for a long time they had me caged inside the house, making me do all the chores and dirty work for them. I had endured so much abuse and I was sick of it. So I finally ran away…”

Your jaw drops in disbelief. “How on earth?!”

Sophia lets out a shaky breath to control her emotions. “After spending so much time in that house, I had memorized every single aspect of their lives and routines. I bribed one of the servants in the house for three nights straight so that he could help me escape after I was sure that I found the perfect opening.”

When the last few words left her mouth, the silence that followed after was heavier than anything you had experienced. Though she carried the blood of an Archer, in this moment your heart ached and you felt nothing but sympathy for her.

“What do you want from me?” You ask, trying your best to keep yourself composed and your emotions in check. The very instant your words hit her, she snapped her head up to check if you actually meant what you just said. Her shoulders relax as if mountains and mountains of burden had been lifted off them and tears start gushing out from her eyes without warning.

Your force an awkward smile. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, shall we? I still haven’t agreed to any of your terms.”

Sophia straightens her back and fumbles with the tissues to wipe away her tears. “Yes… Yes, sorry…” She takes her time to blow her nose vigorously before neatly folding the tissue paper and putting it away. “I just… want you to keep me under your wing. I- I swear I won’t be a bother. In fact, I’m willing to tell you anything and everything that I can remember that might prove helpful to you. I just need a sense of security… Because after all these years, I still can’t sit or sleep in peace, with this constant of fear of being found out and then killed ruthlessly.”

“But, why did you search for me?”

“Because of what the Archers did to you, I knew for a fact that I wouldn’t have to fear you siding with them. And… Also because you would probably seek revenge. So, if I could somehow contribute in helping you achieve that, I would also seek my revenge, in a way…”

You nod, letting out a long exhausted sigh. “Sophia… Look, I’m assuming you’re well aware that I’m in a pretty tight situation myself, so you do realize that I can’t promise you anything, right?” Sophia closes her eyes and drops her head in defeat. “Yes, I know… That is exactly why I’m offering myself to you; to help you in any way I can, in exchange for the peace of my mind. Even if it costs me my life, I’m willing. I just don’t want to be scared anymore. If I’m going to die either way, I, at the very least, want to choose the path in which I wasn’t running for my life like a prey.”

“Sophia…”

Sophia stands up abruptly and bows deeply, her voice shaking but determination strong. “Miss Park, please! I beg you to consider my request. You’re my only hope.”

You look around and impatiently motion her to sit down. “Hey, hey, don’t cause a scene!” Realizing her mistake, she apologizes and plops back onto her seat.

“Hm…” You rub you chin, thinking carefully about everything she just said. “Sophia. I accept your request.” Sophia’s eyes nearly pop out of her sockets and she covers her mouth to contain herself. “But I need you to pledge your loyalty to me and hold yourself true to your words that you will assist me in anything that I ask you of.”

She nods her head with full force. “Yes! Yes!” She immediately clears her throat and sits straight. “Ah, I’m sorry. I wasn’t ladylike of me to act desperately but I hope you understand where I’m coming from. So, thank you...” You smile and nod in response, but instead of returning the kind gesture, her smile disappears in an instant as her eyes widen that display her shrunken pupils. You frown noticing this change.

Something’s amiss.

“I thought you came alone.” She speaks in a low voice, trying to conceal her fear. You tilt your head in confusion. “What? What are you saying? I did come alone.” Sophia hides her trembling hands under the table. “But that weird person has been constantly observing us.” You immediately turn your head over your shoulder and see a manly figure dressed inconspicuously, his face shrouded in darkness.

Seeing that he has attracted the attention of you two, he immediately gets up in an attempt to leave.

“Not so fast.” You grit your teeth angrily before darting in his direction, your hand already pulling out the pistol.

Chapter 37: Chapter 36 - For You

((Recommended song: dimple - BTS))

You see the figure turn around the corner that led into a hallway. You run after him in full speed, Sophia trailing behind you cautiously. He was fast but you were faster, at least in the heat of the moment. The shadowy figure has just taken a turn when you catch up to him and haul him backwards, trapping him between the wall and yourself.

You make sure his face his pressed against the wall and pin his arms behind his back with one hand, while pressing the pistol against his temple with your other hand, which might as well be your signature move at this point.

The man groans as you shove the barrel harder. “Who are you and who sent you here? Speak. Now.” The man tries to struggle for a chance at escaping but you twist his arms that forces him to stop moving with a sharp gasp. He was clearly trying to keep quiet. “You have three seconds… Three. Two.”

“Dammit, woman! You’re heartless.”

“What?!” Hearing the mildly familiar voice along with those words, your grip loosens for just a brief moment, but that was enough for that man to turn the tables around and within the blink of an eye you were the one who was now pinned, your face against the wall with your arms behind your back, your pistol however, falls to the ground with a loud metallic clink.

No. No. No.

You start to panic and turn your face towards Sophia who was terrified and taking slow steps back to escape unnoticed. You blink your eyes at her, acknowledging her smart move.

“Listen-” The man’s voice sounds right next to you ear and without thinking twice, you use this close proximity and swing your head and smash it in his face. Your own skull starts hurting terribly but you take advantage of his weakened grip to spin around and push the man onto the ground. You pounce at him and grip his neck with both your hands, your body straddling over his, to trap him in place.

For a moment, when neither of you moved, the neon lights from the main club room outside the hallway manages to sneak in and falls onto you both, finally illuminating the mysterious figure’s face.

“Y- Yeonjun?!” Your eyes widen at the sight of the person trapped under you and you instinctively loosen your grip on his throat. You weren’t sure if it was because of the colorful lights playing tricks on your mind but Yeonjun’s face was flushed completely red. “What are you doing here?”

“Could you first… like maybe… let go of me.” He speaks breathlessly, grabbing your wrists with his hands.

“Gah! Get a room you two! Or I’ll make you clean your own mess afterwards!” A janitor walks past you two, dragging his supplies cart behind him.

“What? No!” You push yourself away from Yeonjun and stumble backwards, creating a large void between yourself and him, and he finally gets up, walks towards you and offers his hand to help you up. When you manage to stand steadily on your feet, you clutch the front of his shirt in your fists and start giving him a good shake. “What the hell were you thinking?! What if I broke your bones? And why the hell did you attack me back? What are you even doing here in the first place?!”

A tiny grin appears on his face and he removes your hands from his shirt and holds them behind your back to stop you from destroying his clothes any further, the distance between you both decreasing considerably in doing so. “Hm? Is that concern I hear? For me?” He asks in a rough voice that makes you go silent.

“That’s- That’s not the point! Why the hell did you try to attack me?” You change the topic before his captivating voice and deadly eyes could distract you any further.

“Oh? So I’m not allowed to protect myself when I have a barrel pressed against my head? C’mon, sweetheart, be for real. Besides, I always wanted to give you a taste of your own medicine.” He inches his face closer to yours and all the words you wanted to say die at the tip of your tongue. “And before you ask me why I followed you all the way here, then let me ask you, did you really think I was going to sit idly by when you could possibly be in danger?”

He pauses for a few moments to let his words sink in before continuing. “I came for you. I was worried.”

You didn’t know what to say. You weren’t sure if you even had anything to say.

What’s gotten into him?

What’s gotten into me?

He finally steps back and picks up your pistol that had fallen earlier and hands it back to you. “Ahem. Anyway, what’s the situation here?”

You sigh as the tension dissipates and you lead him back into the main club room, only to find Sophia hidden behind an empty bar counter. You tell her to come out so you could introduce the two parties to each other and explain everything to Yeonjun. Upon hearing her story, he agrees with your decision and calls his team to take Sophia to the company and give her a place to stay there.

જ⁀➴

You assure Sophia everything will be alright and send her off along with Yeonjun’s team, now leaving only you and him standing in the parking lot.

Feeling the tension starting to starting to grow between you both once more, you avoid looking at his face as you speak. “I’ll be going then.” Not wanting to wait for his response, you turn to leave but you feel his hand wrap around your wrist.

“Wait.”

You stop in your tracks but don’t turn around, only waiting for him to continue. “y/n. Look at me.”

Your pulse spikes at his words, and you slowly face him. “What?”

“Are you alright?” He asks softly. You get a little confused by his question but manage to nod anyway. “Do you want me to drop you off?” He asks again, as if looking for an excuse to not let you go. Since you were extremely exhausted today and his words of concern for you filled your chest with warmth, for once you find it in yourself to smile genuinely in his presence as you shake your head. “I’ll be fine. Really.”

And before the atmosphere got any sappier, you spin on your heels to walk towards your car. But, from the corner of your eyes, you see Yeonjun’s face turn red, for real this time, which was noticeable even amidst the green, purple and blue neon lights. His sharp eyes appearing much softer as they reflected the vibrant flickering lights like mini fireworks.

જ⁀➴

The rest of the week goes by pretty fast and weekend arrives before you knew it. Your 9 to 5 shifts at Yeonjun’s company were pretty smooth and quiet. Well, mostly because he had to go on a business trip out of city and you were pretty much alone, handling the work in his stead. And for some reason, that feeling of being in charge once again gave you a push you didn’t know you needed.

The goal of reclaiming your lost glory resurfaced stronger than ever. And so, after settling the matters of the company, you would meet Sophia every day at 6 p.m. to discuss what she had to share. Since the trauma and stress had made her memory hazy, you had given her a notebook to write whatever she could remember.

Turned out that she had secretly gone through every file that the Archers had kept inside the house, so trying to recall everything she had memorized was quite the challenge. It was like a puzzle, not only were you supposed to find all the pieces that were hidden away but also assemble them so it could reveal the final big picture. The progress was slow, but it was there, and that was all that mattered.

But the biggest development in this week was that you finally received the Info List from Yuna…

Chapter 38: Chapter 37 - Urgent Call

It was Friday evening, and Yeonjun will be coming back today, probably by nighttime. You had just finished your work for today and were preparing to go meet Sophia when you hear your phone’s notification. It was an email from an anonymous sender, which was already suspicious on its own but you decide to give its contents a read.

You only had to read the first sentence before your mind goes into a frenzy.

“Miss Park, it’s me, Yuna. I’ve got the info list for you.”

You immediately call Sophia to cancel the meeting today, telling her to rest and eat well before focusing your entire attention on the email that was now opened on the laptop screen in front of you. You download the attached file and read the rest of the email.

“Surprisingly, Liam didn’t kick me out, but he has been burdening me with all his workload and I barely get time to eat. He keeps an eye on my every move, in case I try to contact you; installing trackers in my phone and car. Thankfully, I was able to misdirect the signals from those trackers for long enough to send you this email.

I’m unsure of what he’s planning but he has already transferred a huge sum of profits to his personal account, reduced the salaries, sold some major assets and is now preparing to sign a huge deal with some company abroad. As far as Equinox is concerned, we haven’t heard from them in ages. It’s a complete mess. Please save us before he reduces the company to dust!”

Oh, this fucking bastard…

Your jaw clenches when you finish reading, your fingers drumming over the table in anger. This was way worse then what you had imagined. How will you restore the company back to normal after it has taken such a huge blow? It was practically impossible.

There has to be a way. Something. Anything!? Think, think, think.

“Hey there, sweetheart~” You hear Yeonjun’s voice right next to your ear, making you jump in shock. “What the?! When did you enter?!” You catch your breath and ask furiously.

“Just now. You were so engrossed in your work that you didn’t see me come in.” He smiles, spinning the chair so you could face him. He places his hands on the armrests on either side of you and leans in closer. “You seem to be really enjoying sitting on my throne. Hm?”

“Throne, huh? What if I say I do?” You retort with a tilt of your head. “Maybe you should start worrying about me stealing your position. Doncha think?”

“I should be worried about that? Hah. I wouldn’t mind it actually.” He answers seriously, his gaze darting between your eyes and lips.

“You’re… insane.” You swallow nervously.

“Maybe I am…” He mutters, his voice dropping a few octaves lower. His intense gaze locked onto yours as heavy silence envelops you both.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Sharp knocking on the door suddenly interrupts the conversation and Yeonjun jumps backs. “Mr. Choi, the car has been arranged.” A voice comes from the other side of the door.

“Ah, yes.” He looks away, adjusting his tie. “I’ve prepared a few dresses for you. Pick whatever you like and get ready.”

You bunch your brows together as you give him a blank stare. “Get ready? Pick a dress? What?” Seeing your state of confusion, Yeonjun’s signature smirk makes its long awaited comeback. “Hm? If I remember correctly, weren’t you the one who offered to go for drinks with me some time? In front of my mother? Does it ring any bells?”

Oh no…

“Today seems a good day.” He continues. “Well… Mostly because I’m sick of her calling me every day to ask about it.” You sigh in defeat, pinching the bridge of your nose. “This is absurd.” You mumble, earning a chuckle from Yeonjun. “You know what’s more absurd?” He asks, clearly very delighted. “That even though you’re the one who made that offer, I went out of my way to prepare outfits for you to pick from. Because, at the end of the day, you’re stuck in this entire ordeal because of my mom.”

“Ah. Shifting the blame from yourself to your mom? I see.” You look up at him with a mischievous smile of your own. “Because if I remember correctly, weren’t you the one who begged me to help you out?”

Yeonjun clears his throat loudly, lifting his wrist to look at the time on his watch. “Well, I suppose we should get moving!” He closes the laptop’s lid, grabs you by your arm and drags you out of the office. “But I had important work!” You exclaim as you catch one last glimpse of your laptop sitting on the desk before the door closes.

“Work can wait.”

Ugh…

Yeonjun leads you towards a room and you see three familiar petite stylists, who were waiting at the door. You gasp the sight of them.

Standing in front of you were the French stylists that worked under you in your company. “Que faites-vous ici les gars?!” (What are you guys doing here?!) You exclaim excitedly. “Nous avons quitté l'entreprise parce que cet homme était complètement odieux.” (We left the company because that man was completely obnoxious.) The tallest one of them replies with visible disgust written over her face. “Ton copain est venu nous chercher.” (Your boyfriend came to look for us.) She nods her heard towards Yeonjun and smiles pleasantly.

Your heart almost stops functioning. “Ah! No, no! That’s not it!”

જ⁀➴

Either Yeonjun knew you better than you thought or your tastes were similar, because all the five dresses he had prepared were too beautiful and it was painful to pick just one, so the stylists help you choose and get to work.

When you’re ready, they lead you towards a mirror for you to see the final look and your eyes widen in astonishment. “Wow…” You whisper.

A knock on the door interrupts the compliments your stylists were giving and Yeonjun’s chauffeur comes in. “Sir Yeonjun got an urgent call and left the company some time ago, but he told me to take Miss Park to the venue if she is ready and that he’ll meet her there after he’s done taking care of matters.”

Hearing those words, an explicable feeling of dejection washes over you. You nod politely and quietly follow the chauffeur to the car.

જ⁀➴

You swirl the sparkling drink in your hand, staring at it blankly. It has been 15 minutes since you arrived at Bar81, and there’s still no sign of Yeonjun. Even though this wasn’t a real date to begin with, it was still embarrassing beyond words to be left hanging like this. And at some point, this embarrassment turns into anger.

You down the drink in your hand in one go before ordering another.

And another.

And another.

Until you lose count.

Your cheeks were now flushed red and your face warm, yet your mind was still as clear as ever. You slam the glass on the counter. “Why don’t these have an effect on me?! Give me one more!”

Just when you decide to give the main entrance of the bar a quick peek for the last time, you see Yeonjun’s 5’11 tall figure enter in all its glory.

You roll your eyes and look away, disregarding his presence altogether.

Chapter 39: Chapter 38 - Hide-and-Seek

((Recommended song: Killshot - Magdalena Bay))

You tip the glass back and drain its contents in one swift motion, the burn barely registering as you rise from your seat. Without a second thought, you slip into the crowd, letting the bodies of the people become your shield against Yeonjun’s gaze. He catches a glimpse of your silhouette, and with his steps purposeful, he begins to follow, but a tide of strangers cut across his path, and you vanish. The lights of the bar dim, casting a sultry haze over the room. A low, pulsing melody with soft beats begins to ripple through the air, transforming the atmosphere from lively chatter to something charged, something electric—sensual.

You look over your shoulder to see Yeonjun hopelessly searching for you on the opposite end of the bar. You scoff and make your way deeper into the crowd in the center of the bar, where people were swaying to the hypnotic beats of the song with drinks in their hands. You glance back to where Yeonjun stood moments ago, but the spot is empty. Your brows knit together in confusion as your eyes scan the crowd. Then, as if appearing out of thin air, Yeonjun is suddenly standing right in front of you.

You mask your surprise and try to ensure your seemingly nonchalant expression conveys the anger swirling within you. Yet Yeonjun, on the other hand, remains unfazed by your silent message. It’s as if he’s in a trance, leaving you puzzled.

His gaze… so deep, so dark. It was nothing like him. His eyes locked onto yours, yet they flickered downward, unable to resist tracing the contours of your dress, your figure. The world around you faded into a hazy blur, leaving only him in sharp focus—a man transformed, standing before you, his attention unwavering. The heat of his intense stare burned through you, setting your skin ablaze.

His black tie hung loosely around his neck, the top button of his white dress shirt undone, and his sleeves casually rolled up a few times. It was the classic Choi Yeonjun attire—absolutely devastating.

But the real problem was why he looked like he had just stepped out of the office after a long day, while you, on the other hand, were dressed to the nines—making you feel like the odd one out. Why go through all the trouble of picking out an outfit for you, when he shows up looking like he’s meeting you during his lunch break?

Unable to take it anymore, you break eye-contact that seemed to have lasted an eternity, and turn to leave.

You barely make it a few steps before Yeonjun grabs your arm, pulling you back towards him. Your back collides with his chest as he traps you, his arms wrapping securely around you. You freeze at the suddenness, holding your breath. “I knew you’d pick this dress,” he chuckles, resting his chin on your shoulder. Before you can respond, his voice lowers again. “Because you love hiding your weapons in the most inaccessible places.” His fingertips hover just above your thigh, near the beginning of the slit. “Did you hide anything today, too?”

Your heart almost jumps out of your chest and you quickly grab his hand to stop him from doing anything crazy. “Choi…” You warn him.

He laughs softly and then sighs, his hot breath brushing your ears and neck. “I’m sorry I’m late.”

“…”

“Did you miss me?”

“What?! No!” You push him away. “Are you drunk?!” When you give his face another closer look and the answer was clear as day. He puts his hands in the pockets of his pants and tilts his heads languidly. “Mm. Because of you.”

“Tsk…” You look around in disbelief. “I’m not interested in your aimless flirtation. Go away and sober up so we can leave.”

He takes a slow step closer, lowering his head to study your face more closely. With a slightly shaky hand, he tucks a strand of your hair behind your ear. “Then help me.”

What’s gotten into him? Something must’ve happened…

You hardly ever saw eye to eye with him, well mostly out of spite, but right now you couldn’t bring yourself to push him away, especially after how he has looked out for you time and time again. As your frustration subsided, your heart began to race. All your mixed emotions that you had concealed behind the façade of hatred towards him slowly starts chipping away. The close proximity and the intimacy of his gestures, these actions were enough to drive any sane person insane.

Whatever the case, there was no way you were going to let him know what was going through your head right now. Whether it was uncertainty, complications 0r rejection that you feared, you will not be risking anything. Not today.

“Help yourself.” You respond, though much softly than before, as you hold his hand that was next to your face and place it back to his side. Yeonjun didn't speak, but the raw emotion in his eyes, begging for something you couldn't understand, left you completely defenseless; shattering your resolve like a fragile vase.

“No.” He replies firmly. You scoff at his willfulness, but think better of it and side step to walk past him but he grabs your arm once again. “Why are you running from me?” He asks, hurt and annoyance mixed in his voice. “It’s called minding my own business.” You sigh. “Are people really supposed to mind their own business on a date?” He retorts. “It’s not a real date.” You reply indifferently, but something within you stirs making you feel bitter.

“Who said it can’t become a real date?”

“What do you want from me?” You ask, your voice catching in your throat. His tipsiness seemed to have magnified his charm, and you couldn't deny the pull you felt towards him.

“Your time. Your attention. You.”

Ba-dump.

Ba-dump.

“I...” You avoid his gaze, and feel his grip on your arm tighten. “Why? Do you hate me that much?” He steps in front of you and demands; his breathing ragged and his brows bunched together.

“Choi… Step aside.”

“No.”

“You really want my answer?” You jab your forefinger on his chest, slowly dragging it down the length of his tie, stopping at the edge. With a firm grip, you wind the fabric around your hand. “I’ll give you an answer...” With that, you yank the tie, making him stumble forward with his face barely inches away from yours. His chest rises and falls heavily with every breath. “Yes. I hate you. Hate you with a burning, agonizing passion… because that’s how much I want you. I hate it. Hate that I want nothing to do with you, yet want nothing but you.”

“y/n…” Yeonjun whispers, his pupils dilated. Like a venomous snake slithering across your skin, his raspy voice sends icy shivers down your spine.

“I don’t get it,” you mutter, glaring at him, your breathing growing uneven. “Why… why can’t I hate you the way I used to?”

The moment the words escape your lips; you realize you’ve said too much. Without thinking, you release Yeonjun and slip into the crowd, leaving him rooted in place—stunned and speechless

What have I done?!

You rub your temples and let out a groan, silently praying he won’t remember any of this tomorrow. Drinking might not get you tipsy, but it certainly loosens your tongue in all the wrong ways. And your mission for the rest of the night? Avoid Yeonjun at all costs.

As more and more people trickled out, you found yourself increasingly exposed, making it easier for him to spot you, but you knew you’d have to bite the bullet soon or later anyway. That’s when you spot Yeonjun’s glorious face amidst the crowd, and your gazes collide, setting off alarms in your mind – strange ones. Alarms that were compelling you to keep playing this little game of hide-and-seek.

He starts walking towards you, but you quickly slip out of his line of sight. It doesn’t take long before he spots you again in another part of the bar, only for you to elude him once more, laughing as you go. His face is a mix of determination and subtle irritation, which only excites you more. Each time he finds you in the sparse crowd, you vanish again, keeping the game alive.

You spot his back from afar and quickly turn in the opposite direction, silently laughing at your clever escape. But just as you begin to relax, you’re startled to find Yeonjun standing right in front of you, a wide grin stretching across his face. “Gotcha,” he mouths, his eyebrows playfully raised. Your eyes widen, and before you can process what’s happening, your first instinct is to run. However, Yeonjun pulls you back to him effortlessly, stopping you before you can take even a single step away.

Once again, you find yourself cornered. Yeonjun’s arm wraps firmly around your waist, his other hand gently tilting your chin to meet his gaze under the dim bar lights. The chatter of the crowd fades into nothing, leaving the two of you in an isolated world. Your heart pounds violently, while you wait for him to speak. “y/n…” he breathes your name like a prayer, his thumb brushing slowly across your lower lip as he stares intently. “Maybe you really should be running away from me.”

The weight of his words barely get time to settle before a woman’s distressed shouts pierce through the air, snapping you both out of your trance. Heads swivel toward the source of the commotion. He quickly steps back, releasing you as he fumbles with his disheveled tie, avoiding your gaze. Sensing the awkwardness creeping in, you seize the opportunity to escape the moment and turn toward the noise. With a quick nod, you signal for Yeonjun to follow.

“My daughter is missing!” A middle-aged woman cries, her voice trembling. “She was right here a moment ago—her belongings are still on the table!” she exclaims, clutching at a waiter as panic spreads through the room.

Notes:

this is the millionth time i'm interrupting something xD and y'all probably hate me for it by now lmaooo but trust me, the wait will be worth it~~

Chapter 40: Chapter 39 - Psychopath

Confusion washes over you as you take in the scene before you. How could someone simply vanish in a supposedly secure place like Bar81? The notion was absurd, yet undeniably intriguing. Curiosity tightens its grip on you, urging you to observe, but without drawing too much attention to yourself, of course.

Minding your own business had always been your forte, but lately, you felt that resolve slipping. Perhaps it was because of the nagging voice in your head convincing you that every piece of information you could obtain would eventually prove useful to you. The thought of unanswered questions gnawing at your insides like a persistent ache.

The person standing on guard at the entrance was summoned to the scene, and the frantic woman questioned him in a voice rising in urgency. He swears, hand to heart, that he hadn’t seen anyone leave. The certainty of his answer only deepening your suspicion.

Your gaze shifts toward the entrance, a plan forming in your mind, and you decide to check outside, just for a moment. Before you could slip away, Yeonjun’s fingers encircle your arm, his grip firm. “Where are you going?” he asked, his voice tinged with a frown. His flushed face and drowsy eyes betraying the effects of his drinking spree earlier. You smirk, leaning in just slightly. “Be a good boy and stay put. I’ll be back before you even notice I’m gone.” The teasing lilt in your voice makes his breath hitch, and he falters, unable to form a coherent reply. Satisfied, you pull away and leave the bar.

The sharp bite of cold air hits your face as you step outside, clearing the haze of the bar’s stuffy warmth. You take a deep breath, letting the coolness sharpen your dulled senses. That’s when something catches your eye—a shimmer under the glow of the lights. You move closer, crouching down to see a single earring lying on the ground.

Hm?

You pick up the earring and continue walking, only to find another identical one lying a few meters ahead. As you bend to retrieve it, realization strikes you like thunder.

The girl was leaving a trail—breadcrumbs for someone to follow and find her. It was an act done in desperation—when a person knew they were in danger. Your heartbeat quickens as you pick up your pace, stopping in front of an elevator where a few sequins glimmer faintly on the floor. You press the button, and the doors of the elevator slide open.

Stepping inside, you rack your brain for a way to figure out which floor the elevator might have stopped at. But you didn’t need to think too hard since a faint smear of lipstick marks the button for the highest floor: the rooftop.

Now that’s one smart cookie.

When the elevator dings and the doors slide open, you step out, greeted by an icy wind that cuts through your frame and makes you shiver. You’re close—so close you can feel it. Frantically, you search the rooftop for any sign of the girl. Just when you start to lose hope, a terrified cry pierces the air.

“Please, let me go! I want nothing to do with you! I swear I’ll never cross your path again. Please!”

Your breath catches as you follow the sound with careful steps, keeping low and quiet. The source comes into view, and you quickly duck behind cover. Two figures stand near the parapet of the rooftop—a woman and a man.

The man has the woman cornered against the parapet, his body far too close for comfort. From your vantage point, you can see his hand gripping the fabric of her dress near her shoulders. His voice is low and threatening. “Remember what I said the last time we parted ways?” he snarls, his tone oozing with malice. “That if I ever saw you again, I’d fuck you up for good?” He smirks, tugging lightly at the elastic fabric of her dress. “But it seems like you just couldn’t resist me. Coming back for more, huh?” He leans in closer, sinister intent in his voice. “You know what? I’m feeling generous. Be a good little lamb and take it off.” He yanks at the fabric again, his tone hardening. “Turn around and bend over. I won’t take long.”

Ka-chink.

“Dare to move a muscle, and you’re one step closer to being a dead man.” The cold press of your gun against the back of his head makes him freeze.

“Who the f—?!”

“That includes your mouth.” You give him a sharp shove with your gun, forcing him into silence. Turning your attention to the young woman, you motion for her to leave. “Hurry. Leave. And don’t mention anything that happened here, understand?” She nods frantically, tears streaming down her face, and takes off running without another word.

“You played the hero, now leave me the hell alone! Do you even know who I am?!” the man barks with indignation. You lower the gun slightly, giving him a false sense of freedom before slamming it hard against the back of his head. He lets out a pained howl, crumpling to the ground. “Turn over,” you command coldly, punctuating your order with a hard kick to his stomach that flips him onto his back. “My father will hear about this!” he spits, fury and fear warring on his face.

Tch. Ian Archer.

The sight of his disgusting face makes your blood boil.

“If you even manage to tell him, that is,” you sneer, a sinister smile curling your lips. Dark intent clouds your thoughts, and you decide to finally let yourself relish in the opportunity. The Archers had lingered in the back of your mind for too long, and now was the perfect opportunity to take the first step toward your long-awaited revenge.

Recognition dawns on Ian’s face, and the arrogance drains from his expression. He starts to tremble. “I—I have a gun on me too!” he stammers, trying to recover his bravado.

“Do I look like I care?” Your voice is ice-cold, your gaze even colder.

His tone shifts instantly, desperation lacing every word. “Wh—what do you want from me? I swear I’ll give it to you! Please, spare me!”

The sudden change in his demeanor—groveling and pathetic—ignites a fresh wave of anger within you, making you look less like a human and more like a monster eyeing its prey. “Take out your gun,” you command, your voice low and chilling. Confused but too terrified to defy you, he fumbles to pull the weapon from his belt, clutching it tightly in his hands. “Now,” you continue, “place it against the side of your head.”

“What?! You crazy bi—!” His insult is cut short as your pointed heel slams into his gut again, forcing a guttural groan from his throat. He doubles over, clutching his stomach, trying in vain to soothe the pain. “I-I’ll shoot you!” he sputters, his voice shaking with a mix of anger and fear.

You raise an unimpressed eyebrow, staring at him like he’s the biggest fool in the world—which, in this moment, he truly is, though he clearly hasn’t figured that out yet. “Do you really have that much confidence?” you sneer and lean in a smidge closer. “That I won’t shoot you first?”

Your patience snaps like a taut string. Grabbing him by his shirt, you yank him upright, forcing him to stand on his feet with his back facing you. The city’s shimmering lights stretch out before him, a breathtaking view he’s too terrified to appreciate. With one sharp tug, you position his elbow so the gun in his hand presses against his own temple. “Pose for me like the obedient little pig you are,” you hiss, your tone chillingly calm as you place your own gun in parallel to his. He freezes, his breathing ragged. “W-what are you planning to do?!” he screams, his voice cracking under the weight of his terror, too paralyzed to move a muscle.

“Helping you in a suicide that’ll be etched in history~”

Your crazed eyes gleam with unrestrained malice, the epitome of a psychopath. Without hesitation, you pull the trigger, the sharp crack of the shot slicing through the night air. And just a little push from you sends him tumbling over the parapet of the 123-story building.

The gunshot reverberates across the rooftop, mingling with your laugh—that begins as a light chuckle, almost playful, but quickly morphing into a frenzied cackle that seemed to echo from the depths of madness.

The biting wind slaps against your skin, helping you return to your senses. Your laughter subsides, leaving behind a cold stillness as you roll your shoulders and crack your neck, as if shaking off the madness. Without sparing a glance at the ledge, you turn and stride toward the exit, silently disappearing into the shadows to rejoin the bar downstairs, as if nothing ever happened.

Chapter 41: Chapter 40 - The Monster Inside You

You enter the bar and spot Yeonjun sprawled on the sofas near the floor-to-ceiling windows. With quiet steps, you approach and give him a gentle shake. “Choi. Get up. We should leave.” “A few more minutes,” he mumbles, shifting into a more comfortable position, his arm draping over his eyes. Your patience wears thin, and with a sigh, you pinch his ear between your fingers and give it a sharp twist. He jolts awake with a pained groan, “Fucking hell!?”

જ⁀➴

Later, in the car, Yeonjun ends a call and slips his phone back into his pocket. “Quite sober now, I see,” you remark dryly, your eyes fixed on the streetlights blurring past the window. His reflection in the glass offers a faint smirk. “After you nearly ripped my ear off? Tch. Of course, I had to be,” he mutters, shaking his head. Unknowingly, the corner of your lips quirks up, but you suppress it quickly. “Anyway,” you begin, steering the conversation towards heavier matters, “What had you drinking off your ass?”

Yeonjun’s expression shifts, tension creeping into his shoulders. He holds his breath as though weighing his words carefully. “You don’t need to think of ways to sugarcoat it. Just spit it out,” you press, turning to face him fully. He avoids your gaze, staring out at the city lights behind you. “When you were getting ready, dad called me. Turns out, he just found out that you’re working under me as an ‘assistant’. Tsk. Took him long enough.” A bitter smile plays on his lips as he continues, “He ordered me to come over immediately, and when I did, he tried everything in his power to convince me to get rid of you. Saying it was the ‘logical’ move to protect the company’s reputation and integrity.”

The words land heavy, but you maintain your expression, swallowing slowly.

“I refused, of course. Maybe even threatened him back a little,” he admits, leaning his head back against the seat, eyes closing briefly. “That didn’t go over well. He got mad, shoved me out of his apartment, and said he’d ‘figure something out.’” A long sigh escapes him as he stares at the car’s ceiling, exhaustion etched across his features.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” you say quietly, your voice thick with emotion. “Because of me... You’ve already done so much for me, and if it’s starting to cause you trouble, then maybe—”

“Stop.”

Yeonjun turns his head, his gaze locking onto yours with an intensity that freezes you in place. There’s something raw in his expression, an unreadable mix of emotions swirling in his dark eyes. A faint smile tugs at his lips, though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Hah... Didn’t think I’d live to see the day you’d actually worry about me.” He shakes his head, letting out a dry chuckle. “Don’t overthink it, darling. This isn’t just about you,” he says, his tone softening. “It was about time I stood up for myself. If he made me head of the company, then he should trust me to run it. But no—every decision I make has to be approved and scrutinized by him. It’s like he doesn’t believe I can handle it. Or worse...”

His voice trails off, his gaze distant.

“Or worse, he doesn’t think I’m worthy of it at all.”

You stay silent, the weight of his words rendering you speechless. No combination of words seemed adequate to ease the heaviness in the air; let alone the burden he carries. And in this quiet moment, a startling realization dawns on you: you two weren’t so different after all.

“I…” You part your lips, grasping for anything—any fragment of comfort to offer him. But before you can speak, he cuts you off with a gentle, “Shhh.” His voice is soft, but firm, like a soft blanket draped over a weary soul. “You don’t have to say anything,” he murmurs, eyes fluttering close, as if to shield the vulnerability in his eyes from you. A faint smile tugs at his lips, its edges tinged with both weariness and solace.

જ⁀➴

It was midnight when Yeonjun dropped you off at your place.

Washing up, changing into something comfortable and then collapsing onto your bed was the easy part. The hard part was coming to terms with the fact that there were going to be major consequences of your action. Consequences capable of causing massive waves across the country the next morning.

The satisfaction it brought, however, was sickeningly sweet. The heinousness of the act didn’t faze you—it fueled you.

You had crossed a line tonight, but you didn’t regret it. Not one bit. The monster inside you wasn’t something you feared; it was something to nurture. What you had done was only the beginning, a taste of the brutality yet to come. You weren’t just prepared for the sins you’d eventually commit—you were eager to drown in them.

જ⁀➴

You step into Yeonjun’s office the next morning, a document in your hand. It was what Sophia was able to write so far, that detailed the Archers’ tangled web of transactions, swindling countless small companies through deceit and manipulation. It was a potential goldmine of information, but there was one major problem: no one would take the words of an ordinary woman written on a blank sheet seriously without any concrete evidence.

You let out a sigh, your grip on the document tightening. Utilizing this is going to be tricky. Still… better to keep it on hand. A stray thought creeps into your mind, making your eyes widen slightly. And speaking of information… Oh god… Yuna’s list! How could I have forgotten to go through it?

You swiftly pull out your phone, searching through your files to locate the document you had transferred from your laptop.

“The day’s barely started, and you’re already neck-deep in work, hm?” Yeonjun’s voice cuts through the quiet as he leans back in his chair, stretching his arms with a casual ease. Without looking up, you raise a brow. “The day’s barely started, and you’re already exhausted, hm?” His confident yawn is cut short, replaced by a startled coughing fit. He glares at you mid-cough, and you can’t help the chuckle that escapes your lips. “Heh.”

You return your attention to the screen of your phone to scroll through the document; the small smirk still lingering. The morning banter did little to ease the weight of the Archers’ schemes looming over your head, but it was enough to ground you, even if just for a moment.

“Call log details between Liam Archer and Andrew Miller:

Andrew: Can you really get this hottie for me?

Liam: Sure. Not a problem.

Andrew: What if she refuses?

Liam: I have my ways.

Andrew: Hm… Then, if you manage to fulfill your promise, I’ll happily join hands with you.

Liam: My absolute pleasure.

Call log details between Liam Archer and Ian Archer:

Ian: That bitch you hate just twisted my arm! I had to go to the ER!

Liam: Just stay calm, I’ve got big plans for her tonight.

Ian: Oh, you better.

Call log details between Liam Archer and Andrew Miller:

Andrew: Where’s she???

Liam: She slipped away.

Andrew: The fuck you mean? Looks like you don’t want the deal then?

Liam: I’ll take you to her company tomorrow if you want. I’ve already planned a big surprise for her. She’ll be helpless and you can take her whenever and however you want.

Andrew: I’m starting to find it a little difficult to trust you.

Liam: I’ll admit that it’s going to take some time to find an opening after my plan but rest assured, I’ll give you what you want. I just need your patience.

Andrew: Humph. This is your last chance, or I’ll cut off my aid to you.

Liam: Yes, understood.

Call log details between Liam Archer and Ryan Archer:

Ryan: You’re going to the Equinox Gala?

Liam: Yes. Why?

Ryan: I want results.

Liam: I know.

Ryan: What are your plans?

Liam: If I’m successful, you’ll have a deal with Equinox very soon.

Ryan: What?!

Liam: Hah, I’m just stating facts.

Ryan: And what if you fail?

Liam: … I won’t…

Ryan: You better not, or you won’t like what happens next... In the meantime, I’ll be looking for ways to strike a deal with the chairman (Yeonjun’s father) of Falcon Estate. The CEO is too prideful and immature for our grand visions. So, you better not ruin anything for me.

Liam: Yes, father.”

The document ends, leaving you staring at the final page in disbelief. If only you had read it sooner, you could’ve predicted the dangers awaiting you and possibly averted them. But it was too late now. Every warning etched within those pages had already come to pass, rendering the information completely useless. You clench the paper tightly, the weight of missed opportunities pressing down on you. How could I have let this slip by? The thought stung, but you shoved it aside. No. There’s no use dwelling on what’s already done.

Suddenly, an alarm blares in your mind and you re-read the last call log between Liam and Andrew. “...find an opening after my plan…” So there’s still more in store for me, huh? Well… At least this document wasn’t entirely useless.

Your scattered thoughts immediately vanish by a sudden news broadcast playing on the office television.

“Ian Archer, the youngest son of the prominent Archer family, has been found dead at the base of Lotte World Tower in Seoul. The tower and its surrounding area have been sealed off as investigators scour the site for evidence. Preliminary reports suggest suicide, though the authorities are actively questioning the family about Ian’s recent activities and mental state. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.”

The room feels colder as the broadcast continues, the words echoing in your mind. Suicide? That’s what they’re calling it, but you know better. A sick sense of satisfaction flickers within you as the situation unfolds exactly the way you wanted.

Chapter 42: Chapter 41 - Chin Up, Princess, or the Crown Slips

You turn away from the news, only to catch Yeonjun’s wide-eyed stare, his disbelief absolutely comical. He grabs the remote, switches off the television, and swivels his chair to face you fully. “How are you so calm about this?” he exclaims, his confusion palpable.

You shrug nonchalantly in response. “What? Did you expect me to mourn someone like him?” A short laugh escapes him, sounding more incredulous than amused, as he shakes his head. “That’s not what I meant. Shouldn’t you at least be surprised? Happy? Something?”

“I’m satisfied,” you reply in a flat tone. “That should be enough, no?”

Yeonjun narrows his eyes, suspicion flickering in his gaze. “Even if you are satisfied, it still doesn’t explain how you didn’t react at all. It’s almost like… you already knew.”

Your nose twitches ever so slightly, betraying your otherwise indifferent façade. “I’ve got a lot on my mind,” you say dismissively and walk over to one of the shelves to place Sophia’s file in. “Shouldn’t be too surprising.”

He leans back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other, his stare boring into your back. The growing silence between you starts to feel heavy, charged. “Oh, sweetheart,” he drawls, “I think you’re underestimating my ability to read people. No one reacts this calmly unless…” He pauses for dramatics. “…they were involved.”

Your fingers tracing the spines of the books on the shelf suddenly freeze and you feel his warm presence behind you; close enough to send a subtle shiver down your spine. The cat’s out of the bag anyway, so it made little sense to try to hide anything.

“You’re right,” you admit, turning around to meet his gaze head-on. A faint yet deadly smirk curls your lips. “I did kill him.”

For a few brief moments, Yeonjun doesn’t react and only stares with unblinking eyes, but when he actually understands the meaning of your words, it’s as though his brain short-circuits. “Wait—what?” His voice pitches higher than usual. “You—you’re telling me you didn’t hire someone to do it for you?!”

“Jeez. Why would I hire someone to do such a simple task for me?” You throw him a judgmental look.

“Simple… task…?” Yeonjun runs his fingers through his hair, unable to believe that you were the only person responsible for Ian’s death. “You never fail to surprise me…”

“Why? Does it… bother you?” you ask, suddenly hyper-aware of yourself. Yeonjun exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “You could’ve at least given me a heads-up if you were going to start pulling off whatever plan you had in mind.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“Ah—well…”

“It’s alright. Don’t bother.” You turn away, biting back the lump in your throat. A stupid question to ask in the first place. Who in their right mind would be okay with the person next to them being a murderer? No one.

“Impressive. But scary. But still impressive,” Yeonjun cuts through your spiraling thoughts. “How’d you even pull it off? A normal person wouldn’t be able to.” You avert your gaze, fingers toying with the edges of the file in your hands. Sometimes, you never understood his intentions. Is he really trying to make you feel better? You couldn’t decide, for now.

“I’ve been in the military…”

The room falls silent. The weight of the admission lingers in the air. “When?” He asks, his voice lower. Softer.

“20XX,” you reply without looking at him.

A soft, surprised gasp escapes him—barely audible, but in the stillness, it might as well be a shout.

“That means you joined the company right after being discharged…” He mutters to himself, as if trying to piece together a puzzle. You nod once, stiffly. There’s no reason to feel ashamed of saying it out loud, but no reason to share it either. Maybe this conflicting feeling inside you stemmed from the old memories, tainted and heavy, and you refused to associate that time with anything close to pleasant.

“It must’ve been hard for you,” he whispers, holding your chin between his fingers and turning your face towards him, forcing you to look at him. “Hey,” he drags you out of your thoughts, “Chin up, princess, or the crown slips.”

Unshed tears burn the back of your eyes, and you struggle to keep yourself together. Yeonjun notices it and smiles, his face emitting nothing but pure warmth as he opens his arms for you, “You look like you could use a hug.” You stare at him, contemplating your next move. He gave you free will to choose if you wanted to accept his gesture; meaning, you could either reject him altogether, or…

You squeeze your eyes shut and fall into his embrace, squeezing him hard. The steady rhythm of his heartbeats and the gentle pats on the back of your head melt away every last bit of sorrow you had within you. The soft citrusy undertone of his cologne enters your nose, helping you calm down; its effectivity comparable to a drug. He squeezes you back just as tightly in return, his head resting on top of yours.

“Feeling better?” He asks, and you nod in response. “Good, because I have a lot of work cut out for us.” You stifle a laugh, giving his chest a playful punch before reluctantly pulling away from the comfort of his arms.

જ⁀➴

You stare at the invitations, paperwork, receipts, and countless other documents scattered across Yeonjun’s desk. “What the hell is all this?” you ask, picking up an embossed invitation closest to you. “For Mr. Kim of TechTrove Innovations?”

Yeonjun rubs his temples, a visible strain pulling at his features as he scans the chaos laid out in front of him. “Long story short? Falcon Estate’s 57^th anniversary is next week, and Dad decided to dump all of this on me.” He waves a hand over the mess, sighing deeply. “Mom’s usually the one who handles the invitations, the decorations, and all the other boring, non-CEO-related stuff.”

His tone carries an unusual heaviness, and you sense there’s more beneath the surface. Carefully, you ask, “She isn’t doing it this year?”

The usual glimmer of mischief in his eyes is gone, and instead, replaced by a somber flicker. He busies himself with stacking papers, avoiding your gaze. “It’s been almost six months since my parents stopped talking to each other.”

The weight of his words settles over the room like a thick fog, and you feel your chest tighten. “Oh—I’m so—” “Don’t be,” he cuts in, forcing a tight smile as his eyes finally meet yours. “I don’t even know what happened. Every time I asked, they dodged the question, so I just… stopped trying.”

For a moment, you hesitate. Then, with quiet determination, you move around the desk to stand beside him. He’s slouched in his chair, looking more drained than ever, and you bend slightly to meet his level. “Looks like you could use a hug right now.”

He blinks, confused at first, before breaking into unexpected laughter. The sound is genuine, which lightens the mood just enough to ease the tension. Then, before you can react, he grabs you by the waist and pulls you closer, wrapping his arms tightly around you and pressing his face into your stomach.

“Hey! Hey!” you yelp, flustered by the suddenness of it all.

He only hums in response, his grip firm. You sigh, giving in with a shake of your head, your hand gently patting his back. “We’ll get this done,” you say softly. “Don’t worry.”

જ⁀➴

It was nearly midnight by the time you finished sorting through the invitations and coordinating with the necessary agencies for the anniversary preparations. The exhaustion clung to you like a second skin. Yeonjun had insisted on driving you home, and now, as you finally collapsed onto your bed, all you wanted was to sink into oblivion.

But sleep wouldn’t come.

The memory of the cold murder you carried out the previous night still lingered in the corners of your mind like a shadow. Yet, inexplicably, your chest felt light with an unfamiliar warmth. And his face emerges in your thoughts, unbidden and unwelcome. Your heart quickens, an involuntary reaction that sends alarms ringing in your head.

No, no, no… This can’t be happening to me…

You squeeze your eyes shut, willing the image away, but it was of no use. The feeling of his arms around you, and the quiet comfort in his embrace surge forward with a vengeance, leaving you restless. Tossing and turning, you fight the unwelcome emotions, turning your mind into a battlefield of denial and vulnerability.

Suddenly, a creeping dread settles over you, that gnaws at the edges of your sanity, and you realize that you couldn’t afford to feel this way. Forcing a ragged exhale, you did what you’d perfected over the years: Shove it down. Lock it away.

You bury the unwanted feelings in the deepest, darkest corner of your heart, sealing them like a forbidden secret, never to be unearthed again.

જ⁀➴

With the mountain of work that you and Yeonjun had to tackle, the week flew by in a blur. And now, the most anticipated day of the year—for not only Yeonjun, the chairman and the company, but the entire country, along with its news and business industries—arrives.

The 57^th Anniversary of Falcon Estate.

Chapter 43: Chapter 42 - Falcon Estate's 57th Anniversary

Evening was fast approaching as you wrapped up the last bit of work for the day. After ensuring everything in the office was in order, you grab your bag and make your way to the door. Yeonjun, who was writing an email, stops typing and calls out after you. “Hey, where are you going?”

Your hand still resting on the handle, you turn to face him. “Home. Why?”

He arches an eyebrow, “You’re supposed to attend the anniversary too, you know.”

You purse you lips together, his words making your stomach twist. “I’d rather sit this one out,” you reply, choosing your words carefully. “It’s a big event, and I don’t want to draw too much attention.”

Yeonjun chuckles, shaking his head as though you just said something amusing. “Oh no, sweetheart. You misunderstand.” He leans back in his chair, tilting his head as a smirk curls his lips. “That wasn’t a question.”

You open your mouth to protest, but he cuts you off before the words could form. “y/n,” he begins, his voice firm, “the theme this year is a masquerade.” He gets up from his desk and walks toward you. “What are you so worried about?”

Panic bubbles beneath your calm façade as you try to find an excuse, but your mind betrays you with silence. “I just don’t think it’s appropriate for an assistant to—”

He raises a finger and presses it gently to your lips. The sudden gesture startling you into silence. “You won’t be attending as my assistant.” He says and you blink in response, confusion knitting your brow as he pulls an invitation from his pocket, holding it out in front of you. “But as the Park y/n.”

“I, Choi Yeonjun, hereby formally invite Park y/n to attend the 57th anniversary of Falcon Estate,” he says, his tone rich with playful formality. “I will eagerly await her presence at this important event.”

His way with words sends a jolt through you, and you could feel the steady rhythm of your heartbeat turn frantic.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Everything you wanted to say dies at the tip of your tongue and you gingerly pluck the card from his fingers. “Then… should I expect to see her this evening?” He asks softly.

You nod, and the grin that spreads across his face is nothing short of dazzling. His eyes sparkling with a brilliance that rivalled that of the stars in distant galaxies, leaving you momentarily breathless.

જ⁀➴

Despite having only two hours to prepare, you somehow manage to pull off a small miracle—not just putting together a jaw-dropping outfit but also getting ready and arriving at the venue on time. Or so you thought…

As the car inches forward, you glance at the live broadcast of the event playing on your phone. The news anchor’s voice buzzes in your ears as the screen displays a glittering montage of elegantly dressed guests making their entrances.

“Judging by the dazzling display of outfits worn by tonight’s attendees, it’s clear that this year’s theme is a masquerade! Rumors suggest that the CEO himself organized the event, and we’re all eagerly anticipating what surprises he has in store for this grand occasion.

Now, as we turn back to the venue, you’ll see the long line of cars dropping off guests at the red carpet has nearly cleared! Inside the main entrance, Choi Yeonjun, the CEO of Falcon Estate, is personally greeting each guest as they arrive. While cameras are prohibited inside, our reporter is among the few who were granted access to witness the buzz inside, and will be providing us with exclusive updates through call!

Oh! Word just came in that the CEO was seen sharing a mint margarita with a guest who just entered. Stay tuned for more exciting updates!”

The broadcast cuts to an aerial view of the glittering venue, and you turn off your phone with a sigh, glancing out the car window. The once-promising journey now seems doomed by the dense traffic ahead. “How much longer till we get there?” you ask the chauffeur, trying to not sound nervous. He drums his fingers against the steering wheel, his gaze fixed on the unmoving sea of vehicles. “The traffic’s not too terrible, but it’ll still take us at least fifteen minutes.”

You groan, leaning back against the seat. “Fifteen minutes? We’re going to be late…”

જ⁀➴

The car slows as it approaches the venue, and you notice the buzz among reporters has died down. A few are packing up their equipment, their faces marked with fatigue, but also excitement. Strangely enough, you find relief in the dwindling attention. The fewer eyes on you, the better—especially considering how you practically vanished from public view after your "accident", you wouldn’t want anyone to speculate your presence here tonight. Still, whatever the case may be, you had mentally prepared yourself for tomorrow’s inevitable flurry of rumors, along with the media’s gossip over the identities of attendees hiding their faces under a fancy mask.

As your car halts in front of the red carpet, eyes of the remaining reporters turn in its direction. Their puzzled expressions shifting to intrigue as they zero in on the new arrival.

You take a deep breath, exhaling the last of your nerves. Adjusting your mask, you step out of the car with measured grace. The long stretch of the red carpet sprawls before you, feeling far more imposing in person than it did on screen. Without sparing the reporters a glance, you straighten your back and begin the walk to the entrance.

The moment your heels click against the pavement, the reporters scramble for their cameras, the once-muted air erupting into a frenzy of shouted questions. The blinding flashes of light bounce off your glittering gown, making it shimmer as though stitched from a million tiny stars.

“Miss! Are those the latest heels from Jimmy Choo?” A sharp, distinct voice cuts through the chaos, unmistakably familiar.

Yuna!

Your head snaps to the right, your eyes locking onto her glowing face amidst the densely packed crowd of reporters. Relief washes over you like a tidal wave. There she is—alive, intact, and unmistakably herself.

Without hesitation, you veer toward her, causing the crowd to go wild. Cameras flash in rapid succession, the chaos intensifying with every step you take toward the stanchions.

Stopping just short of the barrier, you meet her eager gaze. “Yes,” you reply, your voice steady. “Yes, they are.” Yuna beams at your reply. “You look absolutely stunning, miss!” she exclaims, her excitement buzzing in the air. You smile behind your mask, and gently pat her head. “Thank you,” you say before turning back to the entrance.

The doorman pulls the towering doors open, and you step into a world of quiet luxury. The noise from outside disappears in an instant, replaced by the smooth hum of jazz music that fills the air. Inside, the lavish décor is nothing short of breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over polished marble floors, and intricate floral arrangements line the hallways, each detail exuding perfection.

And there he is.

Yeonjun stands not too far away, engaged in conversation with a guest. Dressed in a sharp white suit with his hair slicked back, he radiates an otherworldly charm. A simple yet elegant white mask covers the top half of his face, adding an air of mystery to his already devastatingly handsome appearance.

If you thought Yeonjun looked untouchable in black, tonight, he is a revelation.

The man speaking with Yeonjun pats him on the back before walking away, and Yeonjun bows politely in return. As he spins around to head toward the entrance, his eyes lock onto you—and he freezes mid-step. Even through his mask, there’s no mistaking the recognition in his gaze, and with the way he scans your attire, it makes your heart skip a beat.

You approach him with steady confidence, and it’s as if he forgets how to breathe. His wide eyes remain glued to you, his lips parted in stunned admiration. The corner of your lips quirks up at his utterly dumbfounded expression.

With a teasing smile, you lift a finger and gently press it under his chin, closing his mouth. “Careful, Choi. It wouldn’t look good if people caught you drooling.”

A bright flush creeps up his neck and spreads across his face. Embarrassed, he immediately looks away, his hands instinctively adjusting his collars as if to regain some composure.

“I—I’m glad you came,” he stammers, fumbling with his words.

“I’d never miss an opportunity to dress up,” you reply with a nonchalant shrug, though your grin betrays your amusement. His reaction to you bolsters your confidence, sending it skyrocketing to entirely new heights.

“Well…” You tilt your head, your smile widening. “Aren’t you going to lead the way?”

He chuckles softly, the embarrassment giving way to a delighted look. Clearly, he’s enjoying your boldness. With an elegant bow, he extends his hand toward you.

“Of course, my lady,” he says, his voice warm and inviting.

Chapter 44: Chapter 43 - Distant Spark

((Recommended song: Looking at Me - Sabrina Carpenter))

With your hand securely wrapped around his arm, Yeonjun guides you through the crowd, leading you toward a quieter corner near the bar. The low hum of conversation fills the lavishly decorated hall, but it feels distant—since your focus is elsewhere.

Catching a glimpse of yourself in one of the grand mirrors adorning the walls, your gaze lands on the tattoo sprawled across your right shoulder. It sticks out like a sore thumb, or so you thought it did as it was no longer concealed beneath layers of heavy makeup.

For years, you had hidden it, worried about what others might say, especially in settings like this. But times had changed, and so had you. Instead of fretting over every whispered word or the looks of disdain directed at you, you’d long decided to not give a fuck about it anymore and to stand unapologetically tall and proud of yourself, no matter the circumstances.

When Yeonjun brings you to a stop, he turns to face you, his eyes flickering briefly to your tattoo before darting away. The faint blush still dusting his cheeks from earlier stands out even more against his completely white attire. “Everyone seems to be staring at us,” he remarks, his tone casual as he sweeps his gaze across the room.

He’s right. You can feel the weight of curious glances, and the occasional whisper exchanged as heads turn in your direction.

“Uh-uh.” You wave a finger in front of his face, your lips curving with a smug smile. “They’re not looking at you. They’re looking at me.”

His eyes narrow, and something flickers in their depths—something sharp, almost dangerous. But he doesn’t argue. Instead, a slow grin spreads across his face. “I like your spirit,” he murmurs, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

You shrug, feigning nonchalance even as your heart flutters at his touch. “There’s something undeniably freeing about behaving without restraints when you’re behind a mask.”

“You don’t say,” he drawls, his smirk deepening as he steps closer, the space between you shrinking in an instant. His gaze travels over your features of your face, deliberately slow and intense, igniting a heat that spreads through you.

“Ah, Mr. Choi, there you are!” A booming voice interrupts the moment, pulling you both back to reality. An older gentleman strides toward you from the crowd.

Yeonjun’s hand lingers for a brief second before he withdraws it, deliberately grazing his knuckles across your cheek in the process. “Let me know if you need anything,” he says, his voice low and smooth, “I’ll be nearby.”

With that, he steps away to greet the approaching man, leaving you standing there. It’s only after he disappears into the crowd that you notice how fast your heart is racing, pounding like a drum against your ribs.

Something about tonight feels different—electrifying, unpredictable, and your instincts are screaming one thing, and one thing only: tonight is going to be crazy.

જ⁀➴

With Yeonjun busy entertaining guests, you find yourself wandering the grand hall, a mint margarita swirling idly in your hand. The soft hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses fill the air, but none of it holds your attention.

Just as you take another sip, a young man clad in a sleek black suit and a full mask approaches. Bowing slightly, he extends a gloved hand toward you. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, miss.” His voice is smooth and confident. You place your hand in his, and he lifts it to his lips, placing a feather light kiss against the back of your hand. “May I have the honor of a dance with you?” he asks, expectation glimmering in his dark colored eyes.

You blink in mild surprise, instinctively glancing around as if searching for an answer—or maybe, for someone.

Never mind…

Loosening up was the whole point of tonight, wasn’t it? A dance never hurt anybody. “Of course,” you reply, letting a note of mystery slip into your voice.

His grip is steady yet gentle as he leads you to the center of the ballroom. With effortless grace, he positions one hand on the small of your back, the other enclosing yours.

As the two of you begin to move, the atmosphere in the hall shifts. The quiet chatter around the hall fades. One by one, heads turn, eyes locking onto the pair of you gliding across the mirror-like marble floor. A hush falls over the room.

“You sure are able to draw attention to yourself even after all these years.” His voice is low, sounding amused. What? Your eyes narrow in confusion. But before you can say anything, he tilts his head slightly and smiles knowingly. “It’s been a while, y/n.”

Your breath catches. You knew that wasn’t just an empty remark. He knows you. “Who are you?” you whisper, your grip on his hand tightening. “How did you—?”

“Tch, tch, tch…” He clicks his tongue in mock disappointment, shaking his head. “Did you really forget me, y/n?” Before you can respond, he twirls you gracefully, then pulls you back close to him—closer than before. “With the time we spent together, I thought you’d recognize me… even with a mask.” His tone holds a touch of feigned hurt, but there’s something deeper underneath. Longing, perhaps…

He lifts your intertwined hands and presses them lightly to his chest. “Remember that one Christmas day when we were on duty together? When you pulled out a mistletoe from your pocket and held it over our heads?”

Hearing him tell such an intimate memory out loud, your heart lurches and a sharp inhale leaves your lips when you finally recognize the person standing before you. “Kang Taeha!”

The man who made your time in the military ten times more bearable. The one with whom you had shared late-night conversations, stolen kisses, and moments that felt like fleeting escapes from reality. You always thought you’d never see him again after you left the military. Yet here he is, standing in front of you.

A slow smile spreads across his lips as he watches realization dawn on your face. “Yes, it’s me,” he whispers. His hand lifts, thumb grazing your cheek with aching familiarity—

You flinch as you inch your head away from his touch.

It’s subtle, barely noticeable, but he still catches it. His fingers pause mid-motion before he pulls back, the brief flicker of hurt in his eyes making guilt twist inside you. “It’s alright,” he reassures gently, as if sensing your unease. “It’s been years.”

A beat of silence lingers between you, thick with unspoken words.

Then he exhales softly, the warmth returning to his smile. “Let’s catch up. I’m sure you have a lot that you want to ask.” You nod in response and without another word, he guides you away from the prying eyes of the crowd.

Seated at the bar, you finally find your voice. “What are you doing here?” Taeha props an elbow on the counter, resting his chin in his palm. His lips curve mischievously. “I own this place.” Your eyebrows shoot up. “You what?”

He laughs at your reaction. “You know how my parents always wanted me to become a colonel, right?” He gestures around the opulent ballroom. “But this… this is what I truly wanted. High-profile parties, luxury, freedom. This is my calling.”

You study him for a moment before nodding, a proud smile tugging at your lips. “I’m happy for you, Taeha. You stood up for yourself.”

His fingers find yours on the table, and he gives them a light squeeze. “Thank you,” he says softly. Then, after a pause, his expression shifts. “Now, my turn to ask…” His thumb brushes idly against your knuckles. “Are you… here with someone else tonight?”

His question catches you off guard, and for some reason, you hesitate. The answer should be obvious— ‘No’— but the word catches in your throat. “Uh…” You open your mouth, but nothing coherent comes out. Taeha laughs. “I didn’t realize I asked such a difficult question.”

You chuckle softly, feeling awkward. “No, it’s just… yeah, I’m alone here…” Your gaze drops to your intertwined fingers, his warmth seeping through the touch. You hate to admit it, but you’ve always yearned for moments like this with someone—for touch, for closeness, for love that isn’t bound by contracts or transactions.

Taeha sighs in relief, his grip tightening. “Ah, good to know. But, to be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised even if you were seeing someone.” He chuckles and leans forward, and for a split second, your body tenses in anticipation. But instead of what you expect, he grips the bottom of your barstool and pulls it closer—eliminating the space between you. “I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t be overstepping in case you were taken.”

Saying that, he pulls out his business card, swiftly writes his personal number on the back of it and hands it to you. “Now we can be in touch again. So, don’t hesitate to call me if you ever need anything.”

You smile as you take the card from him, and a question pops into your mind. “How’d you recognize me anyway?”

Taeha shrugs, looking pleased with himself. “I remember you saying something about getting a floral tattoo that represented you. And when I saw someone proudly wearing such a tattoo, I knew it was you. Oh, and did I mention you look stunning tonight?”

“Thanks,” you reply earnestly. But something feels… different. You can’t deny how much Taeha once meant to you, but the spark you used to share seems distant now. The realization comes across a little saddening. “You’re always welcome,” he smiles, pressing a kiss to the back of your hand. When his eyes flicker up to meet yours, you sense his gaze shift slightly—looking past you for a brief moment.

“I feel like I’m doing something I shouldn’t be doing,” he mutters, lowering your hand from his lips with an uncomfortable laugh.

“Huh?”

“The… er—CEO has been glaring at me for quite a while now.” His brows pinch together in confusion. “Did I mess up something with the event arrangements?”

“Are you sure… it’s really him?” Your heart drums against your ribcage. Weird. Taeha’s closeness didn’t unnerve you. His touch didn’t make your pulse quicken. But the mere mention of Yeonjun’s name? That alone managed to send your senses into overdrive.

“Mhm. I wouldn’t mistake him for—”

"Hope I’m not interrupting anything." The voice behind you is unmistakable, yet there’s something chillingly unfamiliar about it—a cold edge that wasn’t there before.

Chapter 45: Chapter 44 - Forbidden Fruit

((Recommended song: Shameless - Camila Cabello))

"Of course not." Taeha offers a polite bow to Yeonjun, who has suddenly appeared in front of you. "Good. Because I'm taking her with me." Yeonjun's reply is cold and unwavering. Without waiting for a response, he wraps his fingers around your wrist and pulls you along, leaving Taeha standing in his place like a statue carved from pure shock.

"What—what are you doing?!" you whisper-shout, stumbling slightly as you try to keep up with his brisk pace. He doesn’t answer, but his steps slow just enough for you to match his stride.

"Choi!" you call out again, feeling frustrated. "Where are you even taking me?!"

"My office," he finally mutters, his tone clipped. You barely have a second to process before he ushers you into the backseat of his car and moves to the driver’s seat.

"What could possibly be so important in your office that you need to leave in the middle of the event?!" you demand as he starts the engine. "We've barely passed the halfway mark—you shouldn’t be leaving right now!"

Despite your protests, Yeonjun remains silent. His grip tightens around the steering wheel, and through the rearview mirror, you catch a glimpse of his darkened eyes—fixed straight ahead on the road, and unreadable.

જ⁀➴

Yeonjun slams the car into park and steps out without hesitation. You barely have time to react before he’s already striding away, his long legs carrying him forward with purpose. With no other choice, you scramble out and hurry after him, struggling to keep up.

Neither of you speaks as you move through the quiet corridors of the company. The occasional flicker of activity from late-working employees passes by in a blur, but the heavy silence between you two drowns out everything else. And then, his office comes into view.

Your stomach tightens as the door clicks shut behind you—locked. Just the two of you now, enclosed in the dimly lit space.

Yeonjun doesn’t bother turning on all the lights. Instead, with a few haphazard presses of the control panel, a couple of warm, orange-hued lights flicker to life, casting the room in a dreamlike glow. The floor-to-ceiling window behind his desk captures the glimmering city lights below, while the full moon spills its silver glow into the office, merging with the amber tones to create an almost surreal world.

With a sharp movement, Yeonjun strides to his desk, rips off his ornate white mask, and tosses it onto the polished surface. Then, he turns to face you, his jaw set. "Give me that card," he demands, extending his hand.

Your fingers tighten around the card instinctively. "What do you mean?"

His eyes darken. "You know exactly what I mean." He takes a step forward, his gaze flicking to your hand clutching the card. "Now, hand it over."

"What? No!" Your hand shoots behind your back, gripping the card out of reach. Yeonjun advances without hesitation, his presence overwhelming as he closes the gap between you. The heat of his proximity makes the air feel stifling.

"Give. Me. The. Card."

His voice is razor-sharp, each word laced with a warning, but your glare remains unwavering. He suddenly lunges forward and reaches for the card behind your back. You react on instinct—lifting the card above your head, despite knowing that it’ll be useless since he’s taller than you.

“What is your problem?” you snap at him. “You have absolutely no use for it.”

"Oh, and you do?" He lets out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Yeah, more than you, at least!" you fire back, anger boiling beneath your skin. What has gotten into him?!

He scoffs. "Of course you do. What? Gonna hold up a mistletoe again?"

The familiar words hit like thunder, stunning you into silence. Your eyes widen, and your momentary shock gives him the opening he needs.

Yeonjun moves—fast. You step back, scrambling to switch the card to your other hand, but he’s quicker. In one swift motion, his hand clamps around both of your wrists, yanking them above your head. Your back collides with the wall, the impact stealing your breath.

That’s when you realize you’ve been pinned, with no way to escape.

The room crackles with unspoken tension, his grip firm and his expression unreadable. “When I said I can read people,” he murmurs, his voice low yet commanding, “that also meant being able to read their lips.”

Realization strikes like a jolt of electricity. So that’s how he knew. That’s how he learned about your conversation with Taeha.

His face inches closer, his breath fanning across your lips—so close that your noses nearly touch. “Did you really think I wouldn’t see you? Dance with another man? Smile at another man?” His voice drips with raw emotion.

“Does it even matter?!” Your voice wavers, higher than usual, a product of the cacophony of emotions swirling within you.

“It does!” His sudden outburst shatters the air between you, his breath ragged, his grip on your wrists tightening with the force of emotions he's barely holding back.

From the corner of your eye, you see the card slip from your fingers, fluttering downward. But neither of you move. Neither of you look away. Every ounce of your focus is consumed by him—his presence, his touch, the intensity in his eyes.

“Why?” you finally whisper, your chest rising and falling with uneven breaths.

His gaze softens—just barely—as he leans in, his lips brushing against the shell of your ear, his voice dropping to something dangerously intimate.

“Because it’s you.” His words send a shiver through you. “You matter to me. If I don’t deserve to hold you close, to see you smile; then no one else does either.”

A warmth that is anything but gentle spreads through your veins as his lips press to the sensitive skin beneath your ear. Soft. Lingering. Possessive. He trails lower, following the curve of your jaw, each kiss unraveling the restraint you were desperately clinging on to.

You let out a shaky breath, your eyes falling shut as if that might extinguish the fire threatening to consume you. But this isn’t a simple flame—it’s an inferno, one that has been smoldering for far too long, waiting for the right moment to ignite. And now… it burns like a conflagration.

He stops just at the corner of your lips.

Then, just as quickly as he shattered your defenses, he pulls away. His hands release your wrists, letting them fall limply to your sides as he turns his gaze toward the door. “You should leave.” His says, his voice hoarse.

Your pulse pounds in your ears. The ache in your chest tightens. You should leave. You should listen.

But you don’t.

“What if I refuse to?” The challenge slips from your lips before you can stop it.

His eyes snap back to yours, darker than before—hooded with wild desire. A promise of things that can’t be undone.

“You’re going to regret it,” he warns, his voice barely above a growl. You scoff in response, tilting your chin up to meet his gaze head-on. “You don’t get to decide that for me.”

“y/n…” He breathes your name like a silent prayer, his voice spilling with reverence and desperation. Slowly, he plucks off your mask, letting it slip from his fingers and onto the floor, forgotten just like the card, before curling his hand around the back of your neck—clinging to the last frayed thread of his sanity. A thread that could snap at any second.

“This is going to be a huge mistake.” His whispers, brushing his lips over yours. His other hand finds the slit of your dress, and his fingertips brush against the bare skin of your thigh—a touch so light, yet so searing.

“Oh?” You tilt your head, your lips barely grazing his. “And does it look like I care?” Your arms snake around his neck, pulling him closer. “What’s another drop in an ocean?”

“Dammit…” His jaw clenches, and you see his self-control beginning to slip away like sand between fingers. The once gentle touch of his fingers, now spread wide against your thigh, setting it aflame as he grips you with a newfound urgency. The heat between you ignites, fanning into an all-consuming fire.

“Just give in already…” Your words are a mix of plea and provocation, your own sanity spiraling into an abyss of anticipation.

It’s as if he had been waiting for those words. The moment they leave your lips, he crashes into you, capturing your mouth with his own. His kiss is punishing, devouring you like a man starved for days, finally given his first taste of salvation. His hand on your thigh drags upward, lifting the fabric of your dress as he did, fingers digging into your hip as if to ground himself in the moment, to make sure you’re real.

He presses you against the wall, his body a solid weight against yours, his kisses growing deeper, hungrier, and more desperate with each passing second. He steals every breath, every thought, until there is nothing left but him.

Only when you’re both completely breathless does he finally pull away. But before you can regain your senses, before you can think of anything, his lips find yours again, resuming his reckless, intoxicating assault. Your legs begin to give way beneath you, the sheer intensity rendering you weak.

You manage to push against his chest, barely parting from him as you pant for air, still clinging to him for support.

“You—you animal…” you manage between ragged breaths.

Yeonjun chuckles, the deep sound sending shivers cascading down your spine. He shifts his attention to your neck instead, pressing heated kisses onto your sensitive skin. Each one meant to brand you in ways you can’t even begin to comprehend.

Your breath hitches as his teeth sink deeper, sending a jolt of pleasure straight to your core. “Yeonjun…” His name escapes your lips in a breathless gasp.

He suddenly stops.

The sudden stillness sends a wave of confusion through your already-fogged mind. And you feel his grip on you tightening. His breathing turns heavier. His entire body stiffens against yours. “Say it again.” He whispers, sounding desperate. “Say what?” you ask, your voice barely above a whisper, quivering under the weight of his intensity.

“My name.”

His hot breath fans against your neck, each syllable dripping with something dark, and possessive, something that threatened to consume you entirely. “It’s the first time you’ve said my name.” A pause, filled with anticipation so thick it suffocated you. “Say it again.”

“What are you trying to…”

Your question is cut short when he bites you again. Harder.

“Yeonjun!” You stifle a scream, digging your nails deeper into his skin. “What the fuck?!”

Yeonjun hums in satisfaction, pressing tender kisses over the fresh bite to soothe the sting. “You know what you are?” His suddenly asks in his hypnotic voice, as his mouth drifts to the tattoo on your shoulder, lingering there, giving it his undivided attention.

You close your eyes, trying to focus—to ground yourself—but the sensations are overwhelming, leaving you breathless and utterly undone.

“You’re my forbidden fruit,” he mutters against your skin. “The one temptation I know I shouldn’t give in to… but you make me want to lose all control.” His grip on you tightens as his lips trail back to your own, his breath hot against your damp skin. “And now?” He pauses, meeting your intoxicated gaze. “I don’t want to hold back anymore. Consequences be damned.”

Chapter 46: Chapter 45 - A Life for a Life

You find yourself trapped once again in Yeonjun’s ruthless onslaught of desperate, fervent kisses. He couldn’t get enough of you—nor you of him. Neither of you knew when to stop, and frankly, neither of you wanted to. The anniversary celebration had long faded into oblivion; in this moment, nothing existed but the intoxication of each other.

“Yeonjun—I can’t breathe…” You push against his chest, and he stumbles back a couple of steps, both of you gasping for air in sync.

Hearing his name spill from your lips, the corner of his mouth quirks up. He closes the distance, grabbing you by the waist before resting his forehead against yours, eyes fluttering shut. “Me neither,” he breathes. “I can’t breathe when you’re not next to me. I can’t breathe when I’m not the one making you smile. I can’t breathe when your attention belongs to someone else.”

Your fingers tremble as you reach up, tracing the sharp angles of his face to make sure he’s real. That this moment isn’t just a cruel illusion. As your fingertips graze his cheek, he tilts his head, pressing into the warmth of your palm. “Just… stay with me a little longer.” He pleads in soft whisper, barely audible, but it tugs at your heartstrings. You hum softly in response, allowing the moment to stretch between you.

But then, the shrill ring of his phone shatters the tranquility. Yeonjun exhales sharply, irritation flickering across his features as he answers the call, putting it on speaker. “What is it?”

“Sir, we’ve got the intel you requested.”

At that, his expression darkens, his eyes snapping onto yours. “Go on,” he orders and you hold your breath.

“We’ve tracked down the perpetrator behind the attack on Ms. Park’s dog… It’s Ryan Archer.”

Yeonjun ends the call and the warmth in the room vanishes in an instant, replaced by an icy stillness. Your pulse pounds against your ribs as you shake your head in disbelief. “This has to be an awful joke.” Your voice wavers, your breath coming in shallow, uneven bursts. “How could someone go to such lengths—take out their anger for someone else on an innocent creature?!”

Yeonjun cups your face gently between his hands. “y/n, look at me. You don’t have to worry about this anymore. I’ll take care of it.” You close your eyes, exhaling shakily before prying his hands away. “No.”

His brows furrow in confusion. “What is it?”

You take a deep breath, steadying yourself. “Look, Choi, I appreciate your help, I really do. But I don’t want you handling everything for me just because I’m a woman. I’ve always managed on my own, and I—”

“Oh, no, sweetheart. I’ll have to stop you right there.” Yeonjun chuckles, shaking his head. “I’m not doing this for you because you’re a woman. I’m doing it because you’re my woman.”

Your heart jumps, breath hitching at the unexpected declaration. You open your mouth, but no words come out. His gaze is unwavering, and the warmth blooming in your chest is foreign yet intoxicating.

“But,” he continues, caressing your cheek with his thumb, “if you insist… I’ll never be able to refuse you.”

You inhale deeply, forcing your emotions into check. “I’d like to handle this on my own. For my own peace of mind.” Yeonjun studies you for a moment before nodding. “Very well then. I’ll send you the details. How much time do you need?”

You pause, considering. “Three days should be enough. I’ll leave right away and take care of some personal matters back home while I’m at it.”

“Mhm.” He hums in acknowledgment before lifting your hand, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to the back of it. His voice drops to a murmur. “Don’t keep me waiting too long.”

A small smile tugs at your lips. “I won’t…”

જ⁀➴

You race back home, eager to analyze the data Yeonjun sent and devise a plan to settle the score with Ryan Archer.

After that, a much-needed—albeit unexpected—visit to your parents' house awaits. You know they’ll be furious, so you brace yourself for the inevitable confrontation. But for now, you push aside the looming dread of their reaction and focus on the task at hand.

જ⁀➴

You lock the car and head toward your front door, sliding the key into the lock—only to freeze at the sound of approaching footsteps from the backyard.

Instinct kicks in. Your body tenses, muscles coiling, ready to strike the moment the intruder comes into view. It’s only then that you curse yourself for not having your gun with you.

“Miss—?!” A shadow emerges from the corner.

Without thinking, you lunge.

A startled shriek pierces the night as you tackle the figure to the damp grass, pinning them in place. "AHH! Miss Park! Miss y/n! It’s Yuna!"

The familiar voice snaps you back to reality. Gasping, you release her immediately.

“Yuna?!” You scramble to your feet, helping her up as you brush away the blades of grass clinging to her clothes. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Sighing in relief, she catches her breath before answering in a rushed tone. “I… I quit. So did a lot of others. They had no choice. The company’s finances are in ruins.” Her voice wavers. “I thought—maybe—it was salvageable. But every day, that hope gets smaller and smaller.”

Her words hit you like a brick to the chest. Was there really no hope left? And if not… was there even a point in fighting for the company anymore?

You swallow hard and force yourself to focus. “Do you know what he’s planning?”

Yuna shakes her head. “Not exactly, but he’s delusional if he thinks he can keep the company running forever like this.”

You groan, raking your fingers through your hair. “Ugh. I’ll deal with him later. But what are you doing here so late? Shouldn’t you be home by now?”

“I joined the press yesterday,” she says, her tone shifting. “And today, I got my hands on something big. I had to tell you. Since I didn’t know when you’d be back, I decided to wait.”

Your brows lift at the mention of intel.

"Interesting," you drawl, tilting your head toward the door. "Let’s talk inside."

જ⁀➴

“It’s not much, but it’s still a crucial piece of information.” Yuna sets her glass of water on the coffee table, her expression serious. “The CEO of Equinox back in the States has no idea what Andrew Miller, the COO, is up to here in South Korea. Apparently, Andrew has a few higher-ups in the press on his payroll, keeping them quiet about his operations.”

Your eyes widen slightly. “Hah… No wonder he’s running around like a rabid dog. There’s no leash to keep him in check.” Fingers drumming idly along the sofa’s edge, you let the revelation settle before shifting topics. “Ah, Yuna… I wanted to know what people are saying about my appearance at the anniversary tonight.”

Yuna hesitates for a second before answering. “From what I’ve gathered, no one seriously suspects it was you. A few people did mention your name, but they were laughed off. Most think that, given your… current situation, you wouldn’t be anywhere near an event of this scale.”

You press your lips into a thin line. That stung more than you cared to admit—but for now, it worked in your favor. “I see. Thank you.”

“Anytime.” Yuna offers a small smile before pushing herself up. “I should get going now. Goodnight, Miss y/n.”

You nod, leaning back into the sofa. “Mhm, goodnight.”

જ⁀➴

Lying beneath the comfort of your blankets, pages are sprawled across your bed—Sophia’s meticulous notes, and the details Yeonjun sent, everything was printed and highlighted. The pieces of a puzzle laid before you, waiting to be assembled into the perfect plan. A plan that could satisfy your wrath.

As you sift through Sophia’s details about the usual habits of the Archers and Yeonjun’s intel, connections begin to form, weaving together into something dark, something dangerous. A scheme that is both ruthless and perilous.

And that’s when you decide: A life for a life.

જ⁀➴

You carefully apply your favorite lipstick, using the sun visor mirror of your parked car beside Lotte World Tower. Once satisfied, you give your reflection a firm nod and your sunglasses slip down onto the bridge of your nose. Smooth.

Tossing the lipstick back into the glove compartment, you flip the visor up and shift your focus outside, your eyes locking onto the man stepping out of the tower. Ryan Archer. He strides toward his car, flanked by two bodyguards, feigning the aura of a VIP.

Pfft. Pathetic. You scoff under your breath, amusement curling at the corners of your lips as you start the engine.

Your gaze flicks to the glowing display of your car, where a red dot moves steadily across the map. The tracker you planted on his vehicle when you arrived is working flawlessly—ensuring you can tail him undetected.

As you merge onto the highway, the traffic begins to thin. Soon enough, it’s just you and your target.

Reaching into the dashboard, you retrieve the sound suppressor and attach it to your gun with practiced ease. One hand grips the wheel, the other steadies the weapon as you lean out of the window, lining up your shot.

Click. Bang.

The bullet rips through the rear tire. The car lurches violently, fishtailing as the driver struggles for control—before skidding off the road and slamming into the guardrail.

You pull up behind them and step out. The moment your boots hit the pavement, the bodyguards scramble from the wreck, guns drawn.

Bang. Bang.

Two shots. Two bodies collapse to the ground. The driver barely has time to react before you silence him next, leaving only Ryan Archer, bloodied and shaking, trapped in the wreckage. The sight of his terror sends a wicked thrill through you. Smirking, you twirl the gun around your fingers and take a slow step forward.

“How about we play a game?”

Chapter 47: Chapter 46 - Russian Roulette

Without waiting for his response, you swing the handle of your gun against his skull. Crack. A sharp grunt escapes him before his body goes limp, collapsing like a marionette with its strings cut. He's out cold—but still breathing, for now.

Wasting no time, you grab him by the collar and haul his dead weight toward the trunk. With a grunt, you shove him inside, slam the lid shut, and drive off into the night.

જ⁀➴

When Ryan's eyes snap open, they are wild with sheer terror. His chest rising and falling in sharp, erratic motions. He tries to move—only to jolt at the sharp sting tearing through his skin. The realization sinks in: he's bound to a crude wooden chair, its surface riddled with jagged splinters that stab deep into his flesh. Tiny rivulets of blood snake down his arms, pooling at his fingertips before dripping onto the cold floor.

A single, blinding spotlight hangs above him, its harsh glow searing into his vision. Beyond that, nothing. Just an abyss of impenetrable darkness.

Then the pain begins to register. A strangled howl erupts from his throat as he thrashes against his restraints. The splinters sink in deeper, biting into his skin like tiny daggers. His struggling ceases, but the air remains thick with his ragged, shuddering gasps. And the screaming—his voice, hoarse and fractured, spills curses into the void surrounding him.

Without warning, the room floods with light, revealing a small, rustic cabin. His frantic eyes dart around before landing on you—lounging comfortably on a worn-out sofa, legs crossed, and a lazy smirk curling at your lips. A revolver spins effortlessly around your finger, glinting under the light.

You click your tongue. "Tch. Took you long enough to wake up. Would've been a shame if you died on me just like that." Your gaze sharpens, amusement laced with something far more dangerous. "I told you—I wanted to play a game."

Recognition dawns, and his face morphs into a twisted mask of rage. His skin flushes a sickening mix of red and purple. "You—!" he bellows. "You, crazy bitch! What the fuck do you think you're doing?!"

Feigning offense, you blink, tilting your head. "Aw," you coo, pouting. "I just wanted to have a little fun."

His chair rattles as he jerks against his binds. "You lunatic! Let me go this instant, or else—"

"Or else what?!" You snap, eyes glinting with unrestrained hostility. "Do you really think you can intimidate me in your current situation? God, how delusional."

Slow, deliberate footsteps echo as you close the distance between yourself and Ryan. Like a predator aiming to strike down its prey. You lean down, pressing the cold barrel of the revolver against the center of his forehead. "Don't start whining when you begin to suffer the same fate you forced others to endure."

Click.

Ryan's eyes widen, bulging in sheer panic as a bloodcurdling scream tears from his throat. But the deafening bang after pulling the trigger never comes. Only silence. His breath hitches, his body frozen in terror. Slowly, realization creeps in.

You pout, tilting your head. "Oops~" Your voice drips with mock disappointment. "Silly me. I forgot to load my revolver."

His moment of relief is short-lived. The fear doesn't fade—it mutates into desperation which overtakes him as he thrashes against his restraints, paying no mind to the splinters sinking deeper into his flesh, nor the warm blood pooling beneath him. "LET ME GO! LET ME GO RIGHT THIS INSTANT!"

You let out an exaggerated sigh. "I'm warning you. Shut your mouth, or—"

"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK, LET ME GO—"

Crack.

Ryan stiffens. His breath comes out in ragged gasps, his entire frame convulsing as his left arm drops lifelessly to his side. His mouth gapes open in a silent scream, but the pain is so excruciating that no sound escapes. You grin. "Go on. Open your mouth again and see which part of you I break next."

Tears spill freely down his face, his body wracked with trembling sobs. You squat down to his level, watching his expression crumble as the weight of his helplessness sinks in. "Now that you've finally stopped making a fuss, let's continue our little game, hm?"

Ryan barely manages to shake his head, his lips quivering. His fear amuses you. "No?" You feign surprise. Your smile, sweet and taunting, is anything but kind. "Tell me, Ryan—did you ever stop to consider what my Pepper must have gone through when your men took his life?"

Ryan shakes his head furiously, tears streaming down his face in relentless waves. His expression is one of pure, silent pleading—begging you to let him go. You cock your head in defiance. "Of course, you didn't. So why should I?"

With your hands casually clasped behind your back, you begin circling him, each step slow, deliberate—akin to a cat toying with its catch.

"Killing an innocent creature that had nothing to do with what was between us... pretty unfair, don't you think?" You pause behind him, leaning in close to his ear. "But guess what? What I'm about to do with you? Completely fair."

Stepping back into his line of sight, you flash him a smile—sweet in appearance, yet oozing with something far more sinister. Your fingers work the revolver's cylinder open with practiced ease, the metallic click echoing through the dimly lit cabin.

"Ever heard of... Russian Roulette?"

A soft chuckle escapes you as you slide a single bullet into the chamber, give it a spin, then snap it shut. The sound alone makes Ryan flinch. His entire body goes rigid. And then he starts shaking his head violently. "No, no, please, don't—please, I'm begging you—"

You sigh dramatically, waving a dismissive hand. "Oh, come on now. Look on the bright side! There's a five-in-six chance you'll live. And a one-in-six chance I die. Pretty optimistic odds, don't you think?" You tilt your head, lips curling. "So... shall we begin? Wanna go first?"

Ryan shakes his head so hard it's a wonder his neck hasn't snapped yet.

You roll your eyes. "Fine. I'll let you go first." A breathy laugh slips past your lips as you press the revolver firmly against his temple, the cold steel sending another shudder through him. "Having fun?" you ask playfully. "Because I sure am."

Click.

Nothing.

Your frown deepens as Ryan lets out a shaky, relieved sob, his body sagging in the chair.

"Tch. Boring." Without hesitation, you flick the cylinder open again and slip in another bullet before giving it a spin, watching Ryan's relief evaporate in an instant. "Let's make this a little more exciting, shall we?"

Ryan's eyes nearly pop out of their sockets as he thrashes in his seat. "You—you cheater! This isn't how you play! It's against the rules!"

You arch a brow, as you give him a slow, deliberate once-over. "Look who's talking."

Just as you're about to snap the cylinder shut, you hesitate. A thought crosses your mind, and a wicked grin spreads across your face. Instead of closing it, you slide in another bullet, give the chamber a good spin, and then snap it shut with a satisfying metallic clink.

Ryan sucks in a sharp breath as the cold barrel returns to his temple, his trembling sending fresh droplets of sweat trickling down his face. You lean in, voice dropping to a whisper. "And did you care about playing by the rules when you took everything from me?"

Panic consumes him. He's shaking so hard now that the chair creaks beneath his weight. His clothes are torn in several places, fabric sticking to his sweat-drenched skin. Blood trickles down his arms where the splinters have buried themselves deep, but even as he drowns in fear, you feel... nothing. No pity. No remorse. No hesitation.

Click.

Nothing happens and you let out a humorless chuckle, flipping the revolver in your hand like it's to blame. "Hah. You really are lucky today." With an exasperated sigh, you pluck two more bullets from the table, popping open the cylinder once again.

Ryan's breath hitches. "You can't do that! There are five bullets in the cylinder now! I'll die!"

You giggle, tilting your head. "Isn't that the whole point?"

Ryan's terror twists into rage. "You haven't even pointed that damn gun at yourself! If you want to kill me so badly, try your luck first!"

Your lips curl into a smirk. "Why don't I let you do the honors instead?"

Confusion flickers across his face, his fury replaced by wary suspicion. He glares as you step in front of him. Then, with a flick of a knife, you slice through the rope binding his one usable arm. His fingers twitch as the tension is released.

You hold the revolver out to him. Ryan hesitates, eyes darting between the gun and your face. Slowly, he reaches for it and you step back, arms folding across your chest. "You've had your share of luck. Let's see where mine stands with only a one-in-six chance of survival."

With trembling hands Ryan lifts the revolver, aiming it directly at your face. His eyes blaze with desperation and unchecked fury.

Click.

Silence.

A muscle twitches in his jaw as panic sets in, twisting his expression into something almost grotesque. He knows what's coming next for him if he hands back the revolver to you. "I WON'T LET YOU LIVE, BITCH!"

Click. Click. Click.

Three rapid pulls of the trigger—three hollow, empty clicks. The room remains deathly still. Ryan's breath catches. His fury flickers, giving way to ugly fear. "Wh-what... what did you do!?"

You exhale, shaking your head as if scolding a child. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. And here I thought you were smarter than that."

Slowly, you raise your hand and uncurl your fingers, revealing five bullets resting in your palm. With a tilt of your wrist, they slip through your fingers, clinking softly against the floor.

Ryan's face drains of color. The revolver slips from his grip, landing with a dull thud. His entire body stiffening before erupting into hysterics. "YOU—YOU LYING PSYCHOPATH! A DECEIVER! A FRAUD!!"

You roll your eyes, unimpressed by his recycled insults. Pulling another sleek pistol from behind your back, you casually take aim at him. "In a world where you want to slaughter to stay on top, you better brace yourself when karma finally drags you back down."

Bang.

 

Chapter 48: Chapter 47 - Shattered Heart

Your fingers brush tenderly over Pepper’s photo frame, lingering as if your touch could somehow bridge the distance. You set it down on the bedside table, your voice a ghost of a whisper. “I’m sorry… You got caught up in this mess because of me. And I couldn’t even protect you… It’s my fault. Please… forgive me.”

You know—deep down—that Pepper wouldn’t have blamed you. But maybe that’s just wishful thinking. You’re not so sure. Sighing, you turn your head toward the window. The curtains billow gently, soft moonlight spilling across the floor like liquid silver. It looks peaceful. Beautiful. But lonely.

There weren’t many people you cared about—fewer you actually missed when you were alone. But tonight, in the stillness, one face lingered in your mind. Raven hair. Sharp features, and even sharper eyes that always softened when they met yours. You’d never bothered to notice the details before—that gaze filled with quiet admiration, the constant, gentle smiles, and the steady, reassuring words. Small things, but now the only things you could focus on.

When he offered to help you in exchange for becoming his assistant, you’d known there was more to it. Nothing that significant came without a price. It didn’t make sense—someone like him asking for so little. But as time passed, it became clear: he really never wanted anything in return.

Realization crashes over you—sudden and sharp. That the title of assistant had always been a pretense. A way for him to ease your guilt, to shield you from the weight of feeling like a burden. It should’ve been obvious. But with everything else spiraling in your life, you hadn’t noticed. Not until now. Not until you thought back to all those moments—when he kept you close in the company, and treated you not as an assistant, but as an equal.

…Yeonjun…

You shut your eyes, as if the darkness could hold back the surging waves of emotions tightening your chest.

Bzzz. Bzzz.

The vibrations under your pillow snap you from your thoughts. You fish out your phone, blinking down at the screen. Yeonjun. Hah… speak of the devil. You swipe to answer and let your body sink back into the mattress.

“Hey, beautiful.”

His captivating voice like smooth velvet greets you the very next moment, and all the words wither at the tip of your tongue. For a moment, you forget how to breathe. “You there? Is everything alright?” Concern shadows his words when you don’t respond right away.

“Mm,” you hum, lips tugging into a faint smile. “I’m… perfect.”

A breathy chuckle from him caresses your ear. “I know.”

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Heat blooms under your skin, rising up your neck and painting your cheeks. Your breath catches. Silence stretches between you, but it’s not awkward. No… It’s the kind of silence that lingers when words are unnecessary—speaking louder than any conversation.

Time blurs until his voice breaks through, low and close, like a secret meant only for you. “I miss you.”

You bite back a laugh, warmth curling in your chest, and for a moment, you feel like a teenager caught in the glow of a first love. “Hey!” he protests when he hears you laugh. “Before you say it’s barely been a day—”

“Me too.”

Silence.

But this time, it's heavy in a different way. You can almost see his grin, sharp and boyish, and the thought pulls a smile to your lips, one you don’t bother hiding.

“Did you… want to say something? Since you called?” you ask softly.

“Nope. Just wanted to hear your voice.”

You shake your head, a laugh slipping free. “Who would’ve thought you’d be such a sweet talker?”

“It’s only sweet talking when it gets to you.”

A rush of warmth pools in your stomach. You roll over, clutching the phone like it’s something precious, trying to bury your giddiness. “Hmph- Sly fox.”

Yeonjun laughs once more. “Judging by your attitude, I suppose your mission was successful?”

“Mhm~”

જ⁀➴

Turning off the engine, you step out of the car in the basement parking lot of your parents’ apartment. It’s 12 in the afternoon, and the entire complex is peacefully quiet. Too quiet. But the gnawing feeling in your chest tells you it won’t stay that way once you see your parents.

As the elevator ascends, you slip your old SIM card into your phone. The moment it connects, your screen explodes with missed calls and unread messages. Ignoring them, you open Jungwon’s chat and type a quick message: I’ll be outside the door in a couple of minutes.

The second the message sends, you shut off your phone and toss it into your purse as if it burned you.

Ding.

The elevator doors glide open, and you step out.

“Sis!” A familiar voice calls out, and before you can turn, you’re pulled into a tight hug. “Ah! Sis! Where have you been? I missed you so much!”

“Wonie…” His voice, so soft yet full of emotion, nearly brings tears to your eyes. He pulls back, and you cup his cheeks, squeezing them gently. “How have you been?”

“I’m fine, but… you?” His eyes shimmer as he studies your face. “You look frail…”

You force a reassuring smile. “It’s just stress. A lot happened, but I’m fine now, see? I’m standing right in front of you.”

But… was it really fine? No. Not really.

“Sis…” Jungwon frowns. “I know you too well. You’re downplaying it. The more you try to reassure me, the more I know you’re lying.” You clear your throat loudly. “Ahem! It doesn’t matter anymore. It’s in the past.”

Jungwon sighs, his expression falling. “Just say you don’t want to tell me… You don’t have to lie.”

Something in your chest twists. He knew you too well. It was true—you could never lie in front of him. But you didn’t want him to worry, and somehow, that always backfired. “I’ll tell you,” you murmur. “Someday. But not now, alright?”

Jungwon swallows, eyes searching yours before finally nodding. Then, without warning, he pulls you into a tight hug. You laugh softly, patting his back. “There, there.”

જ⁀➴

He leads you inside, his voice echoing through the apartment. “Mom! Dad! It’s really her—she’s here!”

The sound of hurried footsteps fills the air. Your parents rush out from their rooms but freeze in place the moment their eyes land on you. They don’t move, or speak.

Their faces mirror shock—like they’ve just seen a ghost. A reaction you weren’t expecting. A reaction that places a tiny, aching crack in your heart.

You force a small, awkward wave. “Hey… It’s been a while.”

Silence.

Then, your father’s voice slices through the air. “Park y/n… What have you done?” He asks in a grim tone.

Your breath stutters. Your hand falls back to your side. “What?” Your voice barely escapes—a broken whisper.

“We thought you were gone for good… If you’re still in one piece, why aren’t you doing anything about the mess you made?” His harsh words cut deep, sharp as knives sinking into your chest. Your gaze flickers between your parents, searching for something—anything—that could make sense.

“What… do you mean?” Your fists clench at your sides, trembling. “You’re not going to ask how I’ve been? What I went through? If I’m okay?”

“You’re clearly fine if you managed to come here.” His voice rises slightly, irritation creeping in. Your mother grips his arm, a silent plea, but he doesn’t stop.

“You thought I was dead?” Your voice wavers, disbelief settling in. “And now you’re—what? Disappointed that I’m alive?”

Silence.

Jungwon rushes to you, his fingers wrapping tightly around your hand in silent comfort. You turn to him, catching a glimpse of your own reflection in his wide, teary eyes. A reflection of disbelief—of something on the brink of insanity. “Jungwon…” Your voice barely comes out. “What is happening?”

Jungwon glares at your parents, confusion clouding his face. “I—I don’t get it…”

Your father exhales sharply, his expression darkening. “Not only did you deal a huge blow to the company, but now, by suddenly reappearing, you’ll stain our image even further. You’ll make it look like you faked your death. That’s not how this works.”

When his words finally settle in, you laugh out loud. A crazy humorless laugh, filled with hurt and disbelief.

“I should’ve known. Of course.” Your voice drips with venom. “When it comes to your damned company and spotless reputation, you don’t give a shit about turning your own daughter into dust. That’s exactly what you did to Minho, isn’t it?”

Your mother gasps. Your father’s face twists in rage, and he takes a step forward.

Jungwon moves instantly, placing himself between you and your father, his glare sharp enough to cut. But you rest a hand on his shoulder, silently asking him to step aside before closing the distance yourself.

“Hah… Father,” you scoff, tilting your head. “Do you realize you’re no different from Ryan Archer?”

“YOU—!” His roar of fury shatters the air as he grabs your collar in his fists. And just like that, whatever lingering thread of sentiment you had left for him disappears into nothingness.

Your expression hardens, turning as cold and lifeless as stone. Everything blurs. Instinct takes over. In one swift motion, you twist, throwing him over your shoulder. He crashes onto the cold tile floor with a sickening crunch.

Jungwon and your mother scream, rushing toward him.

You stand there, breathing heavily, staring down at the man who once called himself your father. He writhes on the floor, a broken whimper slipping past his lips.

“You just proved,” you say, voice eerily steady, “that you’re no father to me.” A stray tear makes its way down your cheek. “And I promise you—I will burn down the very company you hold so dear.”

“Y/n, please!” Your mother grabs both your hands, her own trembling, and tears falling freely. “We can fix this… We’re family.”

You yank your hands away from her, shaking your head with a hollow laugh. “I don’t want your family bullshit.” Your voice drops in warning. “But listen carefully—if you ever lay a hand on Jungwon, if you even think about hurting him…” You step closer, watching her flinch. “I will drag you both to hell and back. Just like I did to Ryan and Ian Archer, except that they’re still there.”

“Sis…”

“Jungwon, please, I want to be left alone for now.”

Not wanting to stay here any longer, you walk out of the apartment, leaving your shattered heart behind.