II - 10

Today, by I-jun’s special instruction, there were no field assignments.

Iryeong wasn’t unaware of his intentions. It was likely his way of taking care of her after their intense night together.

She appreciated his thoughtfulness, but at the same time, she felt uneasy. What if her teammates started to suspect something?

However, when Managing Director Lee announced that he would be making major changes to the workflow, no one raised any objections. As a result, Iryeong found herself comfortably working in the warm office.

As quitting time approached, Iryeong began to relax, thinking about going home and resting after work.

[Wait for me. I’ll come pick you up.]

Just then, a text from I-jun arrived.

The drowsiness that had been creeping over her vanished instantly, replaced by a wave of tension.

How should she interpret his intentions?

Thinking back to how he had relentlessly explored her body until they left the hotel, she couldn’t help but feel consumed by the heat rising within her.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Hyun-wook leaned in subtly, concern etched on his face.

“…What?”

“Your face is really red. Should I check your temperature?”

Before he could raise his hand to do just that—

“No, it’s not a cold!”

“Come on, my hands are pretty accurate. Just let me check.”

Even as she waved him off firmly, refusing his offer—

“Aww, why are you running away? Just let me take care of you.”

Hyun-wook didn’t give up.

“I’m really fine!”

“Could it be… you’re embarrassed?”

Iryeong found Hyun-wook increasingly irritating as he kept putting her in awkward situations, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Hyun-wook, were you always this straightforward?”

“I didn’t know you were such an aggressive guy. Surprising.”

Teammates who had been rushing to leave began throwing jokes around.

Having experienced firsthand how a joke could sometimes feel like a dagger, Iryeong couldn’t hold back her frustration.

Just as she was about to snap at them—

“Ms. Chae Iryeong!”

A loud voice boomed through the office, silencing everyone and drawing all eyes toward its source.

Like the others, Iryeong turned to look at I-jun.

“What is this report?! Come to the meeting room with me right now!”

He stood up, waving a sheet of paper and unleashing his fiery anger.

The office fell silent, as if doused with cold water.

“I, I don’t know! I just submitted the report exactly as Ms. Iryeong wrote it.”

Hyun-wook’s once lively voice shrank to a whisper quieter than the flutter of a mosquito’s wings. Today, he seemed particularly despicable to her.

Leaving behind her colleagues who were hurrying to leave, Iryeong followed I-jun’s gesture into the meeting room.

The department meeting room was small and cozy, just enough space for two people to fill it completely.

“What report are you talking about? I’ll review it again and resubmit it.”

Iryeong stood before I-jun, her head bowed deeply.

“Where exactly is your mind wandering these days?”

She couldn’t focus because of the way he was waving the paper around, but something about that sheet seemed off, so she opened her eyes wide.

“Just go home on your own!”

I-jun flung open the meeting room door, shouted at the team members outside, and then slammed it shut with a loud bang.

“No, Managing Director. The report…”

“Ms. Iryeong, can you even see this report?!”

Of course, I can see it. Why are you making such a fuss over a blank piece of paper?

Iryeong watched in disbelief as I-jun hastily lowered the blinds of the meeting room.

“If you understand, give me some praise.”

At times like this, he resembled an adorable puppy wagging its tail—

“It’d be even better if you kissed me.”

But then he revealed his raw instincts, like a beast, and she found herself helplessly drawn to him once again.

The meeting room, now cloaked in grayish darkness, felt suffocating with just the two of them inside.

“Sit down.”

Before she could even react, his hand pulled her to the chair, seating her without hesitation.

“…Managing Director?”

“I’m sorry for yelling earlier. You’re not coming down with a cold, are you?”

His voice softened as he expressed concern for her.

“A cold? What do you mean?”

“To me, it looked like you weren’t feeling well. Let me check.”

Suddenly, his hand pressed against her forehead.

“Managing Director…”

She wanted to tell him she wasn’t sick, but her trembling lips wouldn’t allow it.

“You’re warm.”

She wanted to say it was probably the heat he had caused, but the words wouldn’t come out no matter how hard she tried.

“From now on, don’t get sick without telling me.”

In the dim, gray-tinted space, his gaze remained sharp and clear. She could see genuine worry in his eyes.

“Managing Director. I…”

Iryeong felt strange, unable to continue her sentence. It was as though he had become her only ally in the world.

“And don’t dare get sick without my permission.”

His low voice pierced through her ears and settled deep in her chest.

Iryeong’s heart raced so fast that her head began to spin. Her vision blurred, and she truly felt feverish.

She had to admit it. Just the sensation of his palm had overwhelmed her completely, paralyzing her entire body.

And she had fallen for Managing Director Seo I-jun, starting to hold him close to her heart.

* * *

The two left work together.

‘Throw away the trash, and a real rich guy shows up.’

Iryeong reflected on the magical events of the past few days, sitting in I-jun’s expensive car.

As the Seoul cityscape rushed by, she stole glances at his reflection in the window.

His profile, silent and focused on driving, was stunning. It was as if a sculpture had come to life, breathtaking in its perfection.

“Do you have something to say?”

Perhaps she had been too obvious in her staring. I-jun’s deep, calm voice broke the silence.

She hadn’t meant to admire his face so openly—it was a mistake.

“What? N-no, nothing.”

Startled, Iryeong stammered and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to suppress the heat that had quietly crept back into her cheeks.

“Don’t lie. I’ve noticed you looking since earlier.”

He was persistent, and without realizing it, she covered her face with both hands. The warmth of her palms only made her more aware of the heat radiating from her skin.

Thankfully, it was nighttime. If it had been daylight, he would have surely caught her blushing by now.

And who knows—she might have been caught reacting to him like a heartbroken mess at every turn.

“Who? Me?”

She denied it firmly, still hiding her face.

“Other than you, Ms. Iryeong, there’s no one else here to sneak glances at me.”

His tone carried a hint of amusement.

Come to think of it, his voice had grown gentler at some point, almost affectionate.

“That’s not true,” she protested lightly, trying to sound nonchalant.

Even if he had become kinder for some ulterior motive, it didn’t matter to her. She liked him regardless of his intentions or actions.

“If you keep this up, you’ll burn yourself out. And if that happens, you’re taking responsibility, alright?”

His teasing voice spread through the car, tickling her ears.

It didn’t matter what kind of person Managing Director Lee was. What mattered was that he was the one who made her happiest right now.

“It’s dark anyway, so you can’t see anything.”

Lost in her thoughts, she heard him say something puzzling.

“Your face is red, Ms. Iryeong. You’re glowing so beautifully, like a perfectly ripe fruit. Can you stop covering it?”

The way he casually complimented her beauty sent a pang through her heart.

Thinking about how he might have said the same thing to countless women before her made her chest ache.

Her good mood plummeted in an instant.

“Why do you keep forgetting?”

He stopped the car at a red light and turned to look at her.

“Stop tormenting me.”

Unconsciously biting her lip, she gently rubbed it, subtly and softly, with a hint of hidden desire.

“I’m going to roll down the window.”

Overwhelmed by a whirlwind of strange emotions, she asked for understanding and lowered the car window. She hoped the cold wind would blow away the lingering sensation of his touch on her lips.

“Ms. Iryeong.”

His sultry voice pierced her ears.

Why does he keep shaking me like this?

Iryeong couldn’t gather her thoughts. She wanted to get out of the car and let the cold air wash over her entire body.

“Look at me.”

As if reading her mind and knowing she wanted to escape, he demanded her attention outright.

Slowly, Iryeong turned her head and met his gaze.

“…Managing Director.”

Her voice quivered with emotion.

Overwhelmed by the uncontrollable trembling of her feelings, she felt powerless in that fleeting moment.

“Are you testing my patience?”

“What do you…”

Before she could finish, his long fingers brushed against her cheek. Her cheek sank softly under his touch, like a perfectly ripe persimmon.

At his gentle touch, Iryeong crumbled completely.

A tingling sensation surged from her toes upward, and her eyes wavered uncontrollably.

“From now on, only react to me. We’re going to be in a relationship where that’s all that matters.”

A relationship where that’s all that matters.

Nothing else was visible or audible. Overwhelmed by the weight of his words, Iryeong felt as though she might lose her mind.

She had thought they were heading home, but his car changed destinations.

She knew that if she followed him into the hotel, something irreversible and enormous would happen.

Even so, trusting I-jun, Iryeong went up to the hotel lounge.

Even after sitting down, Iryeong’s mind was elsewhere.

As the pre-ordered dishes arrived one by one and an exquisite bottle of wine was prepared, her thoughts remained a chaotic mess.

“Ms. Iryeong.”

Drawn by his voice, she gradually regained her composure.

In moments like this, he truly seemed remarkable. Just calling her name carried a power that gave her a sense of stability.

“This might please you, Ms. Iryeong.”

A small red leather box was placed in front of her—a box that seemed likely to contain a ring.

“I asked for just one day, didn’t I?”

Under the glow of the lighting, I-jun smiled stylishly. It was an expression so charming that anyone would fall for it.

“But a proposal should always come from the man.”

Her heart raced at the thought of his marriage proposal.

A marriage with a clear purpose.

It wasn’t a union born out of love between two people.

“Go ahead and open it. It’s yours.”

She only stared at the small box, hesitant to touch it.

Now that marriage was becoming a reality, her mind was spinning with complexity.

She wasn’t sure anymore if accepting his proposal and getting married was the right decision.

Though she had been the one to suggest marriage, it had been an impulsive act born out of frustration.