Chapter 47: The Office Lover

Tae-ha’s car came to a stop one block away from the office. Even though Jisoo hadn’t asked him to park discreetly, he instinctively chose a spot out of sight to avoid drawing attention.

Since meeting in early spring and continuing through summer, their shared routines had become natural and precious to her.

One day, when he eventually leaves and she remains behind with only memories, perhaps after much time has passed, she might be able to recount these moments with a smile to someone else.

As Jisoo gazed out at the tranquil scenery passing by, she turned her head toward Tae-ha. As always, his gaze was already fixed on her.

While I’ve been thinking about you in my mind, have you also been holding me in your eyes?

“What are you doing this weekend?”

Tae-ha’s question about her daily life caught her off guard. It was an unspoken agreement between them that most of Jisoo’s time was reserved for him, prioritizing him over everything else.

“Tomorrow? Cleaning, catching up on laundry…”

“I’ll handle those things for you on Sunday. Keep tomorrow free—I’ll pick you up at 10 a.m.”

Jisoo remained silent, her lips pressed together as Tae-ha chuckled softly.

“If anyone saw us, they’d think it’s a kidnapping. It’s a date request.”

“It sounds like a kidnapping warning because you’re phrasing it that way.”

Feeling awkward at the sudden proposal, Jisoo absentmindedly chewed on her cheek. A date request, huh? At most, it would involve driving somewhere, eating delicious food, and taking a walk in a scenic spot—typical things couples do to spend time together.

“I gathered all my courage to say this, so don’t make me feel embarrassed. Didn’t I tell you? I’m a man with fragile, glass-like emotions.”

Jisoo rolled her eyes at his audacity, her mouth slightly agape. Had she looked this absurd when she confidently challenged him to an arm-wrestling match?

“This whole concept of being a sensitive, wounded man—it just doesn’t suit you.”

“Really? Other women seem to think it’s cool.”

Coming from any other man, such words might raise doubts, but hearing them from Tae-ha made her skeptical. He was a self-centered individual who cared little for others, let alone the woman sitting next to him.

“The women you mentioned must not have good taste.”

“So, what does someone with impeccable taste like Han Jisoo see in me? What suits me?”

“Well…”

Jisoo scrutinized Tae-ha carefully. His perfectly tailored suit, even after passionate kisses and intense contact, remained impeccably neat. The tie reflected his refined taste, and beneath it lay a solid, fiery chest.

“This isn’t working. We need a bed.”

Tae-ha took Jisoo’s hand and led her into their private space.

No matter how you described him, nothing seemed unfit for Tae-ha, the human aphrodisiac.

“I’ll show you options; choose and let me know.”

Just as she thought to herself that she should avoid his dangerous advances, his lips suddenly approached. Before she could pull back, he swiftly captured her chin and kissed her.

Though still early for commuting and despite being in an enclosed space, the bright atmosphere felt overwhelming.

Initially wary, Jisoo soon surrendered, closing her eyes as Tae-ha gently deepened the kiss. Kissing the devil shattered normal reasoning and common sense beautifully.

“Option 1: The romantic lover.”

Tae-ha released her lips, which he had been nibbling on teasingly. At his sweet whisper asking her to look at him, Jisoo fluttered her long lashes open. Spotting the gleam of desire in his eyes, her heart involuntarily clenched.

Tae-ha’s large hand caressed her tightly closed knee before parting her legs. His fingers slowly massaged the inside of her thigh, then moved inward with precision and speed, leaving no room for resistance.

“Hnn…”

“This is Option 2: Office romance?”

The mischievous curve of Tae-ha’s eyes as he teased the edges of her intimate area made Jisoo blush. She bit her lip, the lingering taste of his kiss still vivid in her mouth.

When his hand under her skirt attempted to pull down her thin underwear, Jisoo startled and grabbed his wrist.

“How many options are there?”

“I’m pure-hearted and gentle, so according to the angel rule, we should go for at least 1,004.”

Even with Jisoo gripping his wrist, the tips of his long, firm fingers found their way to her perfectly.

“Alright, I acknowledge you as a pure-hearted, wounded man. Stop now.”

The hand teasing her soft skin withdrew from her skirt. Both exhaled simultaneously—Jisoo in relief, Tae-ha with a frustrated expression.

“How will you manage to work after this? Will you be able to focus?”

Who caused this in the first place? When Jisoo opened her eyes innocently, Tae-ha chuckled like a dazed man. She was certain he enjoyed teasing her the most.

Tae-ha adjusted her skirt, lowering it gently while issuing a playful warning.

“Your body reacts so intensely to just a touch. Is daily life even possible for you? Or am I really that irresistible? Just a graze, and you’re soaked…”

Jisoo pressed both hands over Tae-ha’s mouth, silencing his morning innuendos.

His chuckling lips playfully licked her palm.

“Isn’t that what I said earlier? Don’t you get it?”

His deepening gaze pointed toward her legs, and Jisoo, well aware of what was happening between his thighs, didn’t lower her eyes.

“I’m getting out now. I really need to go in. If I’m late, I’ll have to write an explanation.”

“Tell them that Vice President Cha Tae-ha kidnapped you in the company parking lot. Write a detailed report, minute-by-minute, about what we did here—our loyal top employee, Ms. Han Jisoo.”

Tae-ha’s car stopped near the office. The sound of the lock disengaging clicked.

“Tomorrow, don’t dress too prettily.”

“Why not?”

“There aren’t many places to pull over on the way. I don’t want to cause an accident because I’m distracted by you.”

Jisoo considered asking where they were going or what they’d do but checked the time instead and hurriedly exited the car.

After parking in his designated spot, Tae-ha calculated Jisoo’s walking pace and delayed for a moment. Even if they took the executive elevator together, it was timed so they wouldn’t encounter anyone on the 10th floor.

Honestly, his obsessive precision in these matters was impressive.

It was still early to contact his lawyer, but Tae-ha wanted to review the documents he had requested by afternoon.

“This is Cha Tae-ha. If the contract termination feasibility report is ready, I’d like to review it before lunch. Is that possible?”

-We’ve included Kang Yoo-ri’s recent overseas activities. It will be ready by 11 a.m.

“Is it usable?”

Kim, his peer and one of the few people Tae-ha considered a friend, was handling the annulment process through personal channels rather than the corporate legal team for this very reason.

-Kang Yoo-ri’s side wrapped things up quite skillfully. But thanks to their flashy packaging, it made our job easier since we only needed to focus on unraveling the surface.

“Send a reply at an appropriate time. Thanks for your hard work. See you later.”

-Not that I’m in a position to say this, but do you really have to do this? There’s significant financial loss, potential image damage, and it seems Oh Yoo-mi’s side is getting involved too.

Listening to Kim’s words, Tae-ha checked the time and smiled faintly. Jisoo was crossing the intersection just then.

“Even if I have to discard everything, even if I bear all the consequences, there’s someone I absolutely want to be with. Does that answer your question?”

-If that’s your intention, understood.

Tae-ha ended the call with an impassive expression.

On the first floor, Tae-ha immediately spotted Jisoo exchanging cheerful morning greetings amidst the crowd. Specifically, his woman surrounded by men.

Despite his usual lack of interest in office gossip, Tae-ha had heard snippets about Jisoo. Most complaints revolved around her refusal to give anyone an opening, along with dirty rumors filling the gaps about her reputation. From changing luxury collections every quarter to having sponsors who allegedly took turns treating her to drinks—and supposedly needing a ticket system to even share a drink with her—the rumors swirled endlessly.

At first, he had hoped she might be that kind of person. If her body and heart could be bought with money, he was more than willing to pay.

But over the past few months, the Jisoo he’d come to know refused rides home unless there was a proper pretext, and even then, made the giver feel terribly uncomfortable.

As Tae-ha entered the lobby, employees greeted him with nods. Among the group, Jisoo also gave a slight bow… then quickly raised her head. The rapid blinking of her wide eyes hinted something amusing was about to happen.

Her long lashes, trembling lightly, slowly closed and reopened as her gaze pointed toward Tae-ha’s chest.

Tae-ha, who had draped his jacket over one arm, followed her gaze downward—to a faint lipstick mark on his pristine white shirt. Though subtle enough to overlook, it was precisely the kind of opportunity Tae-ha wouldn’t pass up.

Tae-ha stepped back from the group waiting for the elevator, allowing Jisoo to approach him discreetly. Without hesitation, she moved to the rear.

“Vice President, wouldn’t it be better to wear your jacket?”

“It’s hot.”

Though she didn’t expect him to comply easily, his deliberate defiance irritated her to the point of wanting to hit him. Maybe she should’ve pinched his lips harder earlier?

“...My lipstick is on your shirt.”

“I don’t care. Today’s concept for this sensitive, wounded man is ‘the office lover.’”

Jisoo silently vowed to confront whoever had fed Tae-ha such lines as she boarded the elevator.