IT - 19

19. No Matter How Crazy

Yoo-ri was curious. How would Ji-soo react to such a rude request? Her serene demeanor and sharp eyes suggested kindness but also hinted at a firmness that wouldn’t easily yield. Would she leave with an irritated expression, or openly reveal her emotions? Either way, Yoo-ri doubted it would soothe the inexplicable discomfort gnawing at her. 

But Ji-soo didn’t appear upset or flustered. Instead, she calmly met Yoo-ri’s gaze. 

“There’s a convenience store on the first floor with a variety of products. If you’re unsure how to get there, I can guide you. Since we’re still in the middle of shooting, perhaps it’d be better for an actress of your caliber to wear affordable yet durable stockings like those used by office workers like me.” 

Her soft tone carried a hint of condescension, subtly dismissing Yoo-ri’s request. The elegant rejection wasn’t over yet. 

“Kang Yoo-ri, who immerses herself so perfectly into roles that she even seeks indirect experiences about office life, likely made this unusual request due to a lack of understanding about workplace hierarchies and social norms. A reasonable employee wouldn’t ask a colleague to run such errands.” 

So, she thought of me as a naive, pampered brat? This woman had the audacity to mock me while smiling sweetly throughout? Yoo-ri clenched her fists tightly, fighting the urge to lash out. Before she could fully process Ji-soo’s unexpected response, she nearly screamed in frustration. 

“In that case, I’ll take my leave. I’ve already sent the written interview questions to your manager’s email. Please respond by tomorrow if possible. If your schedule is too tight, we can note that the on-site interview couldn’t proceed due to timing constraints.” 

Ji-soo gave a polite bow, lowering her head respectfully before leaving the waiting room. 

“So even not featuring the interview is somehow my fault? Is she serious?” 

Yoo-ri crushed the ice cubes in her iced coffee and swallowed them bitterly. 

---

Entering the studio, Ji-soo exchanged greetings with the production staff and stood quietly at the back of the set. 

She hadn’t caused harm to anyone nor sought to take what belonged to others, but simply existing quietly often left her deprived of her own. It had always been this way—starting with her mother, living under suspicion and anxiety rather than trust. 

She understood Yoo-ri’s intentions all too well. Those born with everything often viewed people like Ji-soo with disdain, their most unpleasant feelings triggered by perceived inferiority. 

On another day, with someone else, in a different situation—or if Yoo-ri weren’t tied to Tae-ha—Ji-soo might have considered granting the favor in the spirit of goodwill. 

“Vice President Cha is coming down now.” 

“The rumors seem true.” 

“I saw them too. Are they real?” 

“We’ll know soon enough once he arrives. Whether he’s here as a lovesick fiancé visiting his bride or a businessman ensuring no damage to the company’s image remains to be seen.” 

Hearing the crew’s chatter, Ji-soo decided to leave the set quickly. Though she tried to convince herself she felt nothing for Tae-ha anymore, she knew she couldn’t suppress her lingering attachment just yet. 

As Ji-soo waited for the elevator, she suddenly recalled the earlier scene. Why had Tae-ha taken the employee elevator instead of the executive one? And why hadn’t he exited on the 10th floor, choosing instead to keep the doors open? 

Staring blankly at the descending numbers, Ji-soo turned toward the emergency staircase. Despite wearing high heels unsuitable for climbing ten flights, avoiding another encounter with Tae-ha seemed preferable to enduring the awkwardness of meeting him again here. 

But fate—or perhaps the gods of coincidence—were against her. As Ji-soo headed toward the stairs, Tae-ha appeared, blocking her path. 

“Am I glad to see you often, or do I see you often because I’m glad?” 

His smile wasn’t feigned; he genuinely looked amused. Not because he enjoyed seeing her, but because she amused him like a toy to play with. 

Ji-soo sidestepped him, intending to send him ahead to the set and then slip away via the stairs. 

“Han Ji-soo seems intent on avoiding me. Every time she sees me, she looks like she’s facing death itself—as if I’m some monster ready to devour her. Am I really that fearsome? She hasn’t done anything wrong.” 

“Please go ahead.” 

Ji-soo hoped Tae-ha would stride off toward the set where Yoo-ri awaited, but he remained rooted in place. She could feel his icy gaze piercing through her without needing to look up. 

To escape, she either had to push past him or retreat back to the studio. 

“I thought I told you last time to wear lower heels?” 

Surprised that her shoes were the source of his irritation, Ji-soo raised her eyes. His gaze traveled from her perilously thin ankles, up her smooth calves, and further still—to the warmth-inducing curves of her chest, neck, lips, and eyes. 

If she stayed here any longer, Tae-ha might rip off her shoes and toss them aside, just as he had done in the car that day. What would Yoo-ri think if she witnessed such a brutish display? A strange mischief bubbled within Ji-soo. 

“These heels are comfortable and suit me well now. I can even run in them.” 

“Go ahead and try.” 

His sharp eyes bore into her face. Why should he care whether she wore heels or discarded them? Was this another method of torment—denying her something she liked to make her beg for it? 

“In that case, I’ll be going.” 

“Go. Who’s stopping you?” 

“You’re blocking my way.” 

Tae-ha smirked slightly and shifted his body just enough to create a narrow gap between himself and the wall. It was sufficient for Ji-soo to pass through, though doing so meant brushing close against his chest—a position that made her uncomfortable. 

Click, click, the rhythmic sound of her cautious steps grew closer. Watching her approach with bated breath, Tae-ha playfully tapped the tip of her shoe. Her ankle wobbled, and Ji-soo staggered. Just before she fell, Tae-ha pulled her waist toward him. Their lips nearly touched, but Ji-soo hastily bowed her head, leaving a vivid red lipstick mark on his pristine white shirt. 

“My, my.” 

“Ah.” 

Two exclamations escaped simultaneously. Flustered, Ji-soo alternated her gaze between the glaring red stain and Tae-ha. The bold shade she’d applied defiantly after leaving his office earlier was now the cause of her distress. 

“See? My words just proved themselves multiple times over.” 

Right, as if hearing him gloat brought her joy. That wasn’t the pressing issue right now. 

“You ignored my advice, caused trouble, and won’t even apologize? I heard this year’s apple harvest was bountiful.” 

Did he really want to joke around in this situation? Still, since Ji-soo had caused the mishap, she had no grounds to argue as he teased her mercilessly. 

“I’m sorry, Vice President. Do you have an important appointment tonight?” 

“Yes, I plan to meet a woman. Thanks to Han Ji-soo, my image might suffer if I show up like this.” 

Of course—he’d come down to the studio because of Yoo-ri. How could she forget? Why did she keep making mistakes in front of him? In school, he’d stirred her heart; now, he shook her very being, pulling her time and consciousness into his orbit with overwhelming intensity. 

“I’ll ensure you have a replacement ready before your evening plans.” 

Tae-ha chuckled, watching Ji-soo squirm uncomfortably with amusement. By the time they met at the hotel, this designer shirt would serve no purpose anyway—but her rare gesture of concern pleased him, so he decided to enjoy it. 

“It’s a custom-tailored piece. Until I leave work...”

Tae-ha checked his watch, noting there were about two hours left until the end of work, and smirked. His lips curved more gently than usual today, making Ji-soo’s heart twist uncontrollably in response.

“Do you really think you can manage that before I leave? Han Ji-soo isn’t exactly Superwoman, is she?”

Ji-soo exhaled sharply, her hand clutching her phone as she wiped her forehead with it. 

“Your phone's cracked. Why? Did you throw it away because you didn’t want to hear from me?” 

The truth was, she had dropped it in shock after hearing the news of Tae-ha’s engagement.

“Just wait a moment. I’ll go out now and buy the closest matching shirt I can find.” 

As Ji-soo hurried toward the elevator, Tae-ha grabbed her wrist. Her light frame was pulled effortlessly into him like a magnet. The sweet scent of her skin enveloped him as she pressed against his body. 

His persistent gaze lingered on her eyes, then trailed down to her nose and red lips. 

“Do you really not know, or are you pretending not to?” 

“Huh?” 

“We’re supposed to meet tonight—8 PM, Hera.” 

Ji-soo shook her head. When she had heard that proposal, she hadn’t known about Yoo-ri. Now, meeting him like this would be wrong. Even her earlier defiance toward Yoo-ri stemmed from her lingering feelings for Tae-ha—a stubborn refusal to let go entirely. 

“No, I never agreed to that.” 

“If you don’t remember, I’ll remind you again. As many times as it takes.” 

Laughter and footsteps echoed from the emergency staircase, growing closer as their owners approached the third floor. 

“This time, I’ll need witnesses since you keep feigning ignorance. I have to protect myself too, you know.” 

Surely not. Here? No matter how crazy he might be. 

Before Ji-soo could retreat further, Tae-ha yanked her waist, pulling her flush against him. Gripping her trembling chin, he claimed her overly alluring red lips in a searing kiss. The sharp pain of his forceful suction and the pounding awareness of his proximity made it impossible for Ji-soo to focus on anything but him. Wet, slick sounds filled her ears as her mind went blank. 

Tae-ha’s broad, solid chest remained immovable no matter how much she pushed or hit it. Only when she twisted her shoulder did his lips part slightly—but not for long. 

“Vice President… my leg… mmph.” 

Tae-ha thrust his tongue back into her mouth, exploring her tender insides roughly. He guided their entwined bodies toward the emergency stairwell door, pressing Ji-soo’s back against it while gripping the rattling handle with one hand. 

“What’s going on? It’s locked!” 

“That’s why I told you to take the elevator.” 

“Let’s hurry, we’re going to be late.” 

The grumbling voices faded as the people moved farther away. 

Once the area cleared, the raw sounds of their colliding desires became starkly audible. Ji-soo’s flailing hands pounded against Tae-ha’s chest, leaving behind red marks that spread like scars across his skin.