Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
On the way to the pre-booked restaurant, her mind felt like a messy graffiti-covered wall—chaotic and cluttered.
Why had Lee Ho-beom come?
Why was he visiting Seo Mu-won?
As these questions spun endlessly in her head, they arrived at their destination before she realized it. Following behind Seo Mu-won into the space, she found Lee Ho-beom already seated there, having arrived in a separate car. His mere presence seemed to shrink the vast room, which could easily accommodate dozens of people, into an oppressively narrow space.
Entering a place where Lee Ho-beom was present, trailing behind Seo Mu-won, felt unbearably suffocating.
To be honest, Hae-soo half-expected Lee Ho-beom to start throwing a tantrum at any moment. Surprisingly, however, he reacted with unexpected calmness. More specifically, he treated her as if they were meeting for the first time.
While pretending to remain disinterested during their conversation, Hae-soo occasionally tuned in to their discussion. From the flow of their dialogue, she vaguely inferred that Seo Mu-won’s company, Sung-jo, and Daeyoung Construction, where Lee Ho-beom was affiliated, had secretly formed some sort of alliance.
“Ah, thank you.”
Even while engaging in conversation, Seo Mu-won didn’t forget to serve food onto Hae-soo’s plate. Though she wasn’t sure whether she was eating with her mouth or breathing through her nose, she forced herself to swallow the food to avoid looking awkward. Each time she did so, Lee Ho-beom would glance toward her. His gaze unmistakably lingered on her hand holding the chopsticks. Every time she noticed his stare, Hae-soo’s breath caught momentarily, and her heart pounded erratically, struggling to find its rhythm.
After what felt like an excruciatingly long meal, Lee Ho-beom casually pulled out a cigarette and lit it. The sight triggered many memories for Hae-soo. It wasn’t just her—it seemed to resonate with others too. Through the hazy smoke, Lee Ho-beom locked eyes with her directly.
“By the way, Director Seo seems not only capable in business but also quite skilled in other areas, doesn’t he?”
Seo Mu-won, who had been wiping his hands after finishing the meal, looked up at Lee Ho-beom’s comment. Though Hae-soo didn’t fully grasp the meaning behind his words, they made her uneasy, and she watched him with bated breath.
“It’s common in this industry for influential figures to openly flaunt their mistresses… but—”
“…”
“The one I’ve seen today is the most beautiful by far.”
Since the three of them had sat facing each other, Lee Ho-beom had completely ignored Hae-soo, treating her like a transparent being. But now, without warning, he brought her into the conversation.
“Have you ever worried about it?”
“About what?”
“Her face value, so to speak. Whether she might secretly be seeing other men behind your back, given her pretty face.”
Though he feigned concern, his words carried a mocking undertone. Hae-soo’s head throbbed as she struggled to endure the discomfort. She had wondered why he had been so quiet until now—perhaps he had been biding his time to drop such a loaded remark. The pressure was so intense that she felt the food she had forced down earlier might come back up.
At that moment, a soft chuckle came from beside her.
“You’ve got sharp instincts, Representative Lee. You’re right on the mark.”
Seo Mu-won spoke lightly, as if trampling over the tense atmosphere that had settled between them.
“But you’ve got the order wrong.”
“…”
“She wasn’t taken from me—I took her. From my younger brother.”
Lee Ho-beom’s piercing gaze, which had been ready to pounce, faltered with confusion. He slowly mulled over the word “younger brother” that Seo Mu-won had dropped and scanned Hae-soo’s face.
“…Younger brother?”
The eerie chill in his tone as he finally voiced the word sent a shiver down Hae-soo’s spine. Without thinking, she stood up. At that moment, her desire to escape the situation outweighed her fear of being left alone with the two men.
“Um, Director Seo. May I step out for a moment to use the restroom?”
Seo Mu-won nodded generously, giving his permission. As soon as he did, Hae-soo turned and left the room without sparing a glance at Lee Ho-beom. Arriving at the restroom, she stared at her reflection in the mirror and couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. Her complexion was deathly pale—she must have been more anxious than she realized.
‘Maybe I should have just been honest from the start…’
She turned on the faucet and rinsed her sweaty hands under the cold water. The reality of having to tread carefully between both sides, despite none of this being her fault, filled her with frustration and sorrow. But after a moment, she shook her head.
‘If I had been honest, Seo Mu-won wouldn’t have helped me. And if that happened, I’d probably be captured by Seo Hae-seung and dragged abroad by now.’
The following events were too dreadful to even contemplate. The bleak future was as clear as daylight, and she had resorted to lies in a desperate attempt to avoid it.
After drying her hands, Hae-soo reached for the restroom door, intending to leave. But before she could open it, someone barged in.
The door swung violently, nearly hitting her, and she quickly pulled back. A tall figure filled her vision. Bang! The door slammed shut. She stared in disbelief as Lee Ho-beom entered the women’s restroom without hesitation. Hae-soo instinctively retreated, but there was no time to create distance. With long strides, he closed the gap between them and raised his hand.
Smack!
The sharp sound of a powerful slap echoed through the silent restroom. The force of the blow rattled her senses, distorting her focus. Blood trickled into her mouth from where her lip had split open after just one strike. Before she could fully recover from the shock, her waist was grabbed, and her body was slammed against the wall.
“Ugh…!”
A suffocating kiss swallowed her gasping breaths whole. The more she tried to shrink away, the more aggressively his tongue invaded her mouth. Even when she attempted to bite down on his tongue, he swiftly anticipated her move, gripping her chin tightly to restrain her.
“Hnn... wait, th-that...!”
No matter how hard she pushed against his rock-solid chest or tugged at his clothes in random directions, he acted like a man possessed, relentlessly grinding his lips against hers. Her trembling tongue was helplessly entangled with his, sucked greedily as if unwilling to let go. The suction was so intense it felt like her tongue roots were being stretched raw.
When Hae-soo finally gave up resisting and relaxed her body, Lee Ho-beom eased his aggression slightly. Yet, he continued to vent his pent-up anger by occasionally pressing his fingers or tongue against her already-split lips.
“Ahh...” A faint moan escaped her lips as their kiss broke apart.
“There we go... that’s more like it.”
He leaned his forehead against hers.
“Hnn...”
“Your place isn’t beside Director Seo—it’s beside me.”
Her vision blurred as she struggled to catch her breath while pinned against the wall. Suddenly, Lee Ho-beom grabbed her hand, which had been bracing against the wall, and shoved her fourth finger deep into his mouth.
Specifically, he clamped down hard with his teeth on the spot where a ring would typically sit.
“Ahh...!”
When she opened her sore, abused mouth to protest, her tender lips stung painfully.
“No ring?”
“...No.”
“Lucky for you. Looks like I won’t have to snap Director Seo’s neck just yet.”
His words dripped with mockery, as if confirming some grotesque certainty about her relationship with Seo Mu-won. Hae-soo swallowed the saliva pooling in her mouth—whether hers or his, she couldn’t tell—and pushed against the massive frame pressing down on her upper body.
“Get off me.”
“Is that how you greet your older brother after such a long time?”
“...What do you want?”
“Heh, I’ve searched high and low for you, damn near exhausted myself, and here you are.”
Lee Ho-beom raked a hand through his neatly styled hair, his expression betraying frustration and disbelief. Only now did Hae-soo take in his appearance properly. He wore an impeccably tailored suit that rivaled Seo Mu-won’s elegance. From his perfectly knotted tie to his polished cufflinks, everything about him screamed refinement—a stark contrast to the thuggish demeanor he once carried when sneaking in and out of her tiny apartment.
Lee Ho-beom, CEO of Daeyoung Construction.
The introduction given by Seo Mu-won’s secretary echoed in her ears.
“Does Director Seo know?”
Her scattered thoughts snapped back into focus when Lee Ho-beom roughly pushed aside her skirt and gripped her thigh tightly.
“Do you even realize what’s going on between us?”
She froze, unable to resist his domineering attitude. His next words pierced straight to her deepest fears.
“Don’t you remember? I’m your first man.”
His thick arm, nearly as wide as her thigh, took control between her legs. The same hand that had slapped her moments ago now rested over her underwear-covered core.
“Remember? I was the one who broke you in, made you see stars during sex.”
Hae-soo pressed herself against the wall, trying to escape. But Lee Ho-beom refused to let her retreat, bringing his face close enough to invade her personal space. His obsidian eyes bore into hers with intensity. Had her inner turmoil become so visible? He smirked cruelly.
“Still clueless, huh?”
“...Stop this.”
“What happens when you find out? Come to think of it, Director Seo has quite the obsession with cleanliness, doesn’t he? After meeting him a few times, I can tell he’s got some high standards.”
His ruthless probing left her breathless.
“...Why are you doing this?”
“Did you sleep with him? Tell me, how does a germaphobe handle sex? Hmm? Does he shove himself inside you, then pull out to clean himself off?”
His taunts came in a relentless torrent, leaving no room for her to breathe. Meanwhile, his hand continued to circle the center of her panties. As it began to push aside the fabric, Hae-soo blurted out desperately:
“I didn’t! We haven’t done anything!”
The long, straight fingers stopped just before they forced her open. Bolstered by his reaction, Hae-soo continued to protest in quick succession.
“I told you... we didn’t do it.”
“Then what was that back at the office? You were fixing your clothes, weren’t you?”
“...That—”
“Ahh... So you two haven’t gone all the way yet, just some foreplay?”
He grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her head back.
“Damn, I thought I was prepared for this, but... this feeling is disgusting as hell.”
“Ugh!”
As her head tilted back, Lee Ho-beom leaned in slowly this time, his movements deliberate, almost like slow motion. His kiss seemed to carry an effort to suppress the rising heat within him.
“What should I do with you?”
“Hnn... Let me go...”
“I’m so pissed right now. What do you think I should do, Hae-soo? Hmm?”
“Huu...”
“Oh, I know... Should I just tell Director Seo everything?”
Hae-soo’s eyes widened in panic, darting toward him. Seeing her alarmed expression, Lee Ho-beom smirked maliciously.
“Yeah, that sounds good. Let’s see how that smug face of his crumples.”
Having cornered her against the wall moments ago, he now withdrew all contact and moved toward the door. Feeling her resolve collapse, Hae-soo desperately grabbed his arm.
“No! Please don’t!”
“...Why not?”
“Please, don’t do this... I’m begging you.”
Lee Ho-beom glanced down at her hands clutching his sleeve in desperation. Then, as if something had caught his attention, he roughly seized her wrist and pulled her into another violent kiss. His emotions were running wild, just as he had admitted—his anger making his actions unpredictable even to Hae-soo. Still, one thing remained clear: she had to stop him from going to Director Seo at all costs.
“Why are you stopping me?”
“Hnn...”
“Why don’t you want me to tell him? What exactly is Director Seo to you that you’re so desperate to hide this from him?”
“...What?”
“Could it be... Do you actually like Director Seo?”
The word “like” sounded oddly sentimental coming from him. Yet, the moment she heard it, Hae-soo’s spine stiffened. Her hesitation only deepened the sneer on Lee Ho-beom’s face, though it gradually faded into something more unreadable. He grabbed her chin, forcing her gaze to meet his. Watching her pupils tremble weakly, as if struck by truth, his own expression twisted in response.
“What is this?”
“...”
“Why can’t you answer? Is it true? Do you really like him?”
It was an expression Hae-soo had never seen on him before. Beneath his usual arrogance and brazenness lay a raw anxiety she hadn’t expected—a vulnerability akin to someone whose Achilles’ heel had been touched. The man who had always been confident, arrogant, and shameless in front of her now revealed a side of naked unease. Sensing this shift, Hae-soo nodded instinctively without room for logical thought.
“Yes... I like him.”
“...I see.”
“So... please don’t say anything.”
For a fleeting moment, it felt as though the air around him froze solid. Lee Ho-beom’s demeanor plummeted so suddenly that the chill seeped into every corner of the restroom, clinging to her skin like frost. An indescribable tension radiated from him, his dark eyes devoid of light, exuding a threat sharp enough to cut. Overwhelmed, Hae-soo pressed herself further against the wall. But contrary to her expectations, Lee Ho-beom didn’t close the distance. Instead, he took a step back.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a cigarette and lit it. The sound of the lighter clicking, the flare of the flame, and the way it clung to the tip of the cigarette—all these calm yet subtly oppressive actions squeezed her heart, tightening and releasing in waves.
“You like him.”
“...”
“Director Seo...”
The acrid scent of smoke thickened the air between them.
“What about the debt you owe me?”
The next moment, an unexpected question slipped from his lips.
“Debt...? What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb. You threw up my money before paying it back.”
“But... Hae-seung already paid it off for me.”
That was what she had been told.
For a fleeting moment, Hae-soo doubted whether Seo Hae-seung had lied about repaying the debt. But the thought quickly dissipated. Given his wealth, it was more in character for Hae-seung to throw money around like charity and sever ties completely rather than allow her to remain entangled with Lee Ho-beom over some trivial pretext.
Unlike Hae-soo, who was drowning in confusion, Lee Ho-beom smirked knowingly, as if he were privy to details she could never grasp.
“You’re hilarious. That brat owes me? The one who owes me is you, An Hae-soo. Unless I personally accept your repayment, whatever he threw at me was just him pissing money into the wind.”
He exhaled a plume of smoke directly toward her face, his voice cold and cutting.
“Your debt... you’ll pay it yourself.”
“That’s absurd—”
“With your own mouth.”
Lee Ho-beom jabbed the cigarette-holding hand sharply between her breasts.
“You already promised to repay it with this body, didn’t you?”
It felt as though venomous ice spread through her veins from where his fingers touched her.
“But since you’ve managed to land the famous Director Seo, I suppose your price has gone up.”
“...”
“Let’s see... How about 100 million won per session?”
The memory of him appraising her with those calculating eyes back in that tiny studio room came rushing back uncontrollably.
“If we roughly calculate what’s left, ten sessions should clear it.”
“...”
“What do you think? Use this chance to settle everything and be done with me.”
Sex as a means to an end—what a strangely twisted proposal it was.
No, it wasn’t even a proposal; it was coercion cloaked in choice. For Hae-soo, maintaining her relationship with Seo Mu-won required resolving things with Lee Ho-beom.
Still, the idea felt preposterous. First, she couldn’t trust that the man who had treated her so harshly moments ago—as if she were an unfaithful wife—would simply walk away after ten sessions. Second, the very notion of sneaking around behind Seo Mu-won’s back to have sex felt utterly far-fetched.
If he were serious, would such a thing even be possible?
Her mind raced with frantic calculations and weighing of options. Accepting Lee Ho-beom’s demands, enduring ten sessions, and then ending their connection. Alternatively, confessing everything to Seo Mu-won upfront. Either way, the likelihood of breaking the deal she’d struck with Seo Mu-won—the one that had never once felt burdensome until now—seemed higher with the latter option.
Hadn’t Seo Mu-won asked outright from the start if there was another man? If she had admitted to being involved with someone other than Seo Hae-seung, would he still have offered her the deal so willingly? No, he wouldn’t have. This man, whose arousal was evident yet who refrained from touching her due to his hypersensitive condition, wouldn’t tolerate deception easily.
”I like him.”
The words she had blurted out earlier echoed within her.
She had thought they were merely a desperate attempt to stop Lee Ho-beom, but now she wondered if they held more truth than she realized.
The fear of Seo Mu-won no longer needing her, the deep sleep she had fallen into without resistance in his unfamiliar home after only a season together, the lack of revulsion when their bodies pressed close—all these things hinted at something deeper.
Could it be love? She couldn’t say for sure.
But one thing was certain:
With Lee Ho-beom and Seo Hae-seung, she had endured endless humiliation and violence. Yet with Seo Mu-won, she hadn’t experienced any of that. He neither exposed her shameful vulnerabilities like Lee Ho-beom nor carried the violent tendencies she couldn’t stomach in Hae-seung.
So perhaps, amidst all the worst-case scenarios, the lesser evil was the best she could hope for.
For Hae-soo, who had fallen into the black abyss, choosing that lesser evil seemed to be her only viable path forward.
“If you’re thinking of sweet-talking Director Seo to somehow wiggle out of this debt, forget it. I’ll collect what’s owed from you—no exceptions.”
“Why go this far?”
His cruelty in extinguishing even a sliver of hope made her tremble as she forced herself to ask.
“You don’t need me specifically. You can find any woman to sleep with, right?”
“And what about Director Seo? Does he need you specifically?”
“Yes.”
“...He says he needs me.”
Hae-soo’s unwavering response caused Lee Ho-beom’s gaze to dim slightly, losing its sharp edge.
“What if I said I needed you too? Only you?”
“...”
“Would you believe me?”
The question carried a strange bitterness, almost as if it revealed a vulnerability he didn’t want to show. But Hae-soo had no desire to delve deeper into his psyche. As she averted her gaze, Lee Ho-beom crushed his cigarette on the floor and grabbed her hair, forcing her head up.
“Hnn.”
“Three days, An Hae-soo.”
The breath laced with cigarette smoke pierced her eardrum.
With his other hand, Lee Ho-beom grabbed Hae-soo’s wrist and slid something into her palm.
“If you don’t contact me within three days, I’ll do whatever the hell I want.”
After leaving yet another piece of advice—no different from before—he bit down hard on her earlobe, then released her hair. As he disappeared like a storm that had uprooted everything in its path, the restroom fell into an eerie silence so cold it felt suffocating.
Alone now, Hae-soo smoothed back her tangled hair and looked at what Lee Ho-beom had pressed into her hand.
It was his business card.
She stood frozen in the restroom for what felt like an eternity.
Finally realizing how much time had passed, she stepped out only to encounter one of Seo Mu-won’s secretaries waiting by the door.
“Ah, why are you...?”
The secretary handed her the handbag she’d left behind in the private room.
“You didn’t return after a while, so Director Seo sent me to fetch you.”
“Ah... I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. Both of your meals have already concluded, so I’ll escort you to the parking lot.”
Following behind the secretary, Hae-soo shoved the business card into her handbag. When they arrived at the car, Seo Mu-won was already seated in the backseat.
“I’m sorry, did I keep you waiting?”
“Why are your lips like that?”
Seo Mu-won, who had been watching her climb in, asked the question. Lips? Tilting her head in confusion, she saw him reach out without hesitation. When his fingers brushed the corner of her left lip, it stung slightly. Only then did she belatedly realize the wound Lee Ho-beom had inflicted. Though the sky had darkened and the car was dimly lit, how he noticed it so quickly was beyond her.
“Oh, um, my lips have been dry for a few days now, so they’ve been cracking often.”
Hae-soo offered the excuse she had prepared earlier while checking her reflection in the mirror. Seo Mu-won carefully fiddled with the corner of her lip before withdrawing his hand.
“Was the meal okay today? It must have been quite surprising to suddenly find yourself in such a situation.”
“Yes, it was delicious.”
In truth, she couldn’t even remember what she had eaten, but she smiled convincingly as she praised the food. During their brief conversation, the car had already exited the parking lot and merged onto the road. Hae-soo gazed out the window at the layers of deep ink-black clouds blanketing the sky. The handbag resting in her lap inexplicably felt heavier than usual. More specifically, it was the business card hidden inside that weighed on her mind.
Upon arriving home, Hae-soo stopped Seo Mu-won before heading to her room.
“Um, Director Seo... would it be alright if I turned in early tonight?”
Her thoughts were tangled, making her head feel heavy. In this state, she found it burdensome to engage in any intimacy with Seo Mu-won. She doubted whether she could mask her emotions well enough to act as though nothing had happened. Asking cautiously, she watched as Seo Mu-won studied her for a moment before nodding.
“All right.”
With his permission, Hae-soo returned to her room and spent a long time washing herself. Beneath the warm water—a luxury she could never have imagined in her cramped studio apartment—she became acutely aware of just how comfortable her life with Seo Mu-won truly was.
“Ah...”
When she emerged from the shower, expecting to find the bedroom empty, she discovered Seo Mu-won there instead.
“I thought you said we didn’t have to do anything tonight...”
“I know.”
Unlike the nights when he used to appear wearing only a robe, tonight he still wore his shirt and pants, having merely removed his jacket.
“Come here.”
Only as she approached did she notice the ointment sitting on the side table next to him. He pulled her close, settling her onto his lap. The man who once obsessively wiped his hands clean after the slightest brush of her neck now showed no hesitation in physical contact.
He gently lifted her chin, opened the ointment, and squeezed out a dollop of milky-white cream.
“I can apply it myself.”
“Stay still. I bear some responsibility for this too.”
“Huh?”
“It might be because I’ve been biting and sucking on your lips so much lately.”
His blatant self-deprecation accompanied the sticky, viscous sensation spreading over the corner of her lip. Hae-soo remained still as he applied the medicine, stealing glances at his face intermittently. He treated the task as if it were an important duty, focusing intently. As always, he carried himself with gravity, regardless of the situation.
Though he could have simply dabbed it on and moved away, she noticed his unusually long fingers lingering far longer than necessary. At that moment, he murmured softly:
“I know it’s shameless of me.”
“...”
“But touching you makes me want to suck on them again.”
His tone carried the weight of a distant lament, and Hae-soo couldn’t help but laugh this time. As her laughter bubbled like soap bubbles, Seo Mu-won leaned in and kissed her unexpectedly. It wasn’t rough or forceful; rather, it was gentle, his hand cradling the nape of her neck as their lips met softly.
The tenderness of that kiss obliterated all traces of Lee Ho-beom’s touch, stirring something strange in her heart. Just as the hand resting on her thigh unknowingly crept upward to cup her breast, Hae-soo pulled away.
“Tonight...”
Seo Mu-won, gazing steadily at her hesitant expression, lifted her in his arms and stood. Feeling as though she were floating in midair, Hae-soo instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. Even while carrying her, he moved with the ease of someone walking alone, gently laying her down on the bed. Sitting beside her pillow, he stroked her hair before quietly leaving the room.
Left alone, Hae-soo absently moved her lips. The bitter taste of the ointment clung thickly to the tip of her tongue. Yet during her kiss with Seo Mu-won, she hadn’t even had a moment to notice it.
Hae-soo quietly rose and retrieved her handbag from the corner, then sat in front of the vanity. She hesitated briefly before pulling out the business card inside. After lingering for a moment, she finally dialed the number written on it and held the phone to her ear.
”Three days.”
If there was still a chance...
”If you don’t contact me within three days, I’ll do whatever the hell I want.”
Lee Ho-beom was like gasoline—prone to turning even the faintest spark into an inferno. He had a way of blowing things out of proportion, making small matters spiral into catastrophes. That’s why Hae-soo felt trapped by his words. She feared that even trivial memories could be twisted and exaggerated through his mouth, leading to disappointment from Seo Mu-won. Rather than regretting later...
As she waited for the call to connect, a wave of bitter self-deprecation washed over her.
When had offering her body become so easy?
It was like they said: the first time is difficult, but after that, it gets easier. Now, she felt as though she had been reduced to something irredeemable, almost polluted. Had her thought process become so muddled that she now believed preserving peace and safety justified sacrificing her body? The thought made her hands and feet feel cold, as if they were decaying.
The call didn’t ring more than twice before it was answered. Pushing aside the grimy thoughts clouding her mind, she spoke.
“It’s me.”
Though she was alone, the sharp scent of cigarettes suddenly stung her nose.
“Let’s meet tomorrow. We’ll talk.”
She wanted to erase even the lingering traces of him now.
---
“Driver, you can go back first.”
“I’ll wait.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll handle it myself.”
After some hesitation, Kang Gi-sa rolled up the car window and drove off. Watching the car disappear, Hae-soo entered the nearby building—a bustling shopping mall already crowded despite the early hour. She went to the restroom to change into clothes she’d brought from home, then stopped by a bookstore to buy a book—an alibi, just in case. Afterwards, she wandered through areas with large crowds, weaving through spaces like a maze. Finally, she slipped out through the back entrance and boarded the subway instead of taking a taxi. The book purchase was made with Seo Mu-won’s card, while public transportation was paid for with cash withdrawn earlier.
Seo Mu-won rarely showed much interest in what she did during the day. This fact played a significant role in her decision to meet Lee Ho-beom. While he was busy with work as usual, she planned to quietly take care of her errand and return without raising suspicion.
Still, unable to shake off lingering anxiety and unease, she devised this plan.
Hae-soo took the subway to the designated location. Waiting for her was a sleek sedan that had arrived ahead of time. Standing beside it was a burly man in a suit whose presence exuded something extraordinary even from a distance. A long scar ran from his eye to the corner of his mouth—a familiar face. It was the same giant who had been sitting in the driver’s seat when Lee Ho-beom visited her high school.
Without a word, he opened the rear door for her, signaling his consent.
The pitch-black car, absorbing every ray of sunlight, drove along the Han River for quite some time. Eventually, they arrived at a towering high-rise apartment complex. After multiple security checks, they entered the parking lot.
“You may go in now.”
The hulking figure who had escorted her opened the heavily secured door.
Lee Ho-beom resided in the penthouse—the topmost floor of the imposing building. With a heavy thud, the door closed behind her as she cautiously stepped inside. Passing through a labyrinthine hallway, she was greeted by a breathtaking view. The Han River she had traveled alongside earlier stretched out before her eyes, magnificent and vast. Despite knowing she shouldn’t lose herself in the scenery, she was momentarily overwhelmed. The aesthetic of the space resembled the cramped, outdated studio apartment she once lived in, except here it was meticulously recreated with luxurious precision.
“You’re here?”
Hae-soo turned her head, which had been lost in the shimmering silver ripples of the river reflecting sunlight. There stood Lee Ho-beom, shirtless save for a pair of pants clinging low on his hips. His chiseled abdomen rippled with each movement, the long, straight lines of muscle unmistakably defined.
“Wait, just a moment…!”
Before she could stop him, Lee Ho-beom lunged forward, attempting to kiss her. Desperate to halt the man who seemed ready to collide their bodies together at any moment, Hae-soo hastily raised her hands. He dismissed her resistance as laughable, cupping her chin and pressing his lips against hers before pulling away.
“What?”
“Let’s talk.”
“Talk?”
With one swift motion, he grabbed her hips from behind. Recognizing the all-too-familiar frivolous touch, she felt dizzy for a moment.
“Didn’t we finish talking on the phone yesterday?”
“No, wait…!”
“After always communicating with our bodies, are you seriously trying to play house now?”
Lee Ho-beom shook his head in genuine amusement, then immediately reached for the buckle of her pants. Barely managing to push him away, Hae-soo glared at him.
“How can I trust you?”
“...What?”
“That you’ll end it after ten times.”
“So, you want us to write up a contract now, like civilized people?”
“Yes, a contract sounds good.”
Lee Ho-beom burst into laughter at Hae-soo’s unhesitant response, his expression incredulous.
“Haa... You really don’t trust verbal agreements, do you?”
“Just like always, our Hae-soo has a knack for testing my patience in the strangest ways.”
Smiling mischievously, as he used to when teasing her back in that tiny studio apartment, Lee Ho-beom finally relented and stepped back. But before she could feel relieved, he suddenly grabbed her hand and began pulling her somewhere.
“Where are we going?”
“You said you wanted to write up a contract, didn’t you?”
They crossed the long marble floor and entered a large room. The space was so expansive that one side resembled a bedroom setup for rest, while the area closer to the door was designed for simple office work. At first, he had merely held her wrist, but by the time she realized it, he had already intertwined their fingers, making escape impossible. Before she knew it, she found herself seated on a sofa next to the bed.
“Alright, start writing.”
He tossed a piece of paper and a pen onto the table. Fearing he might change his mind, Hae-soo quickly grabbed them. After writing “Contract” in bold letters at the top, she looked up—only to freeze like stone.
“What… are you doing right now?”
Across from her, Lee Ho-beom was stroking himself, already exposed and pleasuring himself with slow, deliberate movements. His pitch-black pupils were fixed firmly on her face.
“You focus on your part, and I’ll focus on mine.”
“Are you insane?”
“I’ve been crazy for a long time. Do you know what it felt like after you disappeared? Every time I tried to calm myself down, all I could think about was how you stabbed me in the back. I trashed so much furniture out of frustration—it wasn’t just one or two pieces. Hell, I almost ended up in therapy because of it.”
“...”
“And yesterday, after talking to you on the phone, I couldn’t get it down. I spent the entire night jerking off like some hormonal teenager.”
As if to prove his words, the weapon between his legs twitched, half-erect and pulsing. The tip of his glans glistened greedily, already anticipating release.
Hae-soo averted her gaze, deciding silence was the best course of action.
“One session equals 100 million won, and we’ll end it after ten sessions. Each session counts as one ejaculation.”
Even as she spoke, low moans continued to emanate from Lee Ho-beom across from her. They were soft, raspy sounds. Pretending not to hear, like someone deaf, Hae-soo added:
“We’ll meet twice or three times a month. No more than that.”
“...And?”
“Don’t leave marks on my body during our encounters.”
She hesitated briefly over mentioning condom use but ultimately decided against it. Given his nasty temperament—he’d once joked about wanting her to get pregnant—it might provoke unnecessary defiance. Besides, she was already on birth control pills. With a sigh, she swallowed her unspoken thoughts.
Only after transferring her spoken words verbatim onto the paper did Hae-soo finally look him in the eye.
“If you can’t promise these three conditions, I’m calling this off and leaving.”
“Why?”
“...What do you mean, why?”
“Why only meet that many times a month? Why no marks on your body?”
His questions, though feigned innocence, reeked of ulterior motives. Moments later, Lee Ho-beom dramatically exclaimed, “Ah!”
“Because you don’t want Director Seo to find out?”
“...”
“But Hae-soo, have you never wondered?”
“...”
“Do you really think Director Seo doesn’t know about us?”
The question pierced her consciousness like a stone thrown into a lake.
“Yesterday, I was so blinded by rage upon finding you that I couldn’t think straight.” He tapped his temple lightly.
“It’s strange, isn’t it? How perfectly everything aligned. Just as I was about to storm into the office out of frustration, there you were, fixing your clothes as if you’d been caught red-handed. A man who never forgets appointments somehow forgot our dinner plans, overlapping them with yours... And lo and behold, the two of us ended up meeting under such ‘coincidental’ circumstances.”
A single thought in her mind wobbled precariously.
“What are you trying to say?”
“I’m asking if you’ve ever doubted Seo Mu-won.”
“...So you’re suggesting he already knows about our relationship?”
“Exactly.”
The mere assumption suffocated her.
But that assumption quickly grew hazy.
Would Seo Mu-won even have a reason to act this way?
If he already knew, why would he keep her around given his personality? And if Lee Ho-beom’s suspicions were correct, why would he have orchestrated their reunion? Everything was murky. If Seo Mu-won didn’t know, the timeline loosely fit together. But if he did, his intentions remained an impenetrable mystery.
Suddenly, a dark shadow loomed over her head.
Before she could look up to check the source of the sound, Lee Ho-beom had already approached. He braced his hand next to her knee and leaned in close as if to kiss her.
“Let me give you some advice—don’t trust Director Seo too much.”
“...What do you mean?”
“I expected rich bastards in this world to be sleazy and underhanded, but seeing it firsthand? It’s beyond disgusting. The stench of rot is practically vibrating off him.”
“Are you saying Director Seo is like that?”
“No, Director Seo seems clean.”
“Then why are you saying all this...?”
“For now, at least.”
“...”
“Our Hae-soo really knows one thing but misses two others.”
“...”
“You know how those who seem flawless on the surface often have something foul hidden underneath when you dig deep enough? That’s what makes you suspicious. What could he possibly be hiding so desperately?”
He grabbed her chin and pulled it upward.
“So I’m digging hard now. Not just as part of my work, but with a personal grudge added to the mix.”
Lee Ho-beom’s eyes gleamed with chaotic light as he spoke. Hae-soo glared at him before swatting his wrist away from her chin.
“You’re talking without any evidence.”
“The evidence is right here.”
“…What evidence?”
“That bastard took something from me…”
Hae-soo had intended to criticize “Director Seo’s dark side,” but Lee Ho-beom was entirely focused on his “personal vendetta.” The absurdity of their miscommunication only fueled her frustration.
“I was never yours to begin with.”
“...”
“So there’s nothing for him to take or not take.”
A faint crack appeared across Lee Ho-beom’s savage features. With an expression teetering on the edge of explosion, he yanked her closer to him.
“Why do you like that guy?”
“...”
“What’s so different between me and Director Seo? Why do you like him, but not—”
Lee Ho-beom abruptly cut himself off, as if the word he wanted to say had lodged itself painfully in his throat. But even without voicing it, the unspoken word hung heavily between them. His expression, for a fleeting moment, resembled that of someone wounded.
Wounded.
It was hard to believe, and even if true, it wasn’t something Hae-soo felt obligated to care about.
“He doesn’t treat me badly.”
“...”
“He’s never hit me or forced himself on me when I said no.”
“...”
“At least... he shows consideration for my feelings and situation.”
That’s why he’s different from you.
Even without saying it outright, Lee Ho-beom seemed to understand. His face twisted bitterly, and he covered his eyes with one hand, letting out a low, sharp laugh that sounded like the scrape of a blade. As Hae-soo instinctively hunched her shoulders at the chilling sound, he pushed her down onto the sofa without hesitation.
Staring at her with an expression that oscillated between resentment and hurt, he murmured:
“Right... When did we ever share anything more than sex?”
Though framed as a statement of fact, his words carried the weight of self-condemnation. The sorrowful glimmer in his eyes vanished as he blinked once, replaced by a sharp, almost violent energy.
As if the earlier vulnerability had been a lie, he kissed her fiercely.
“Hnn...! Wait, the agreement...!”
Gasping for air, Hae-soo managed to choke out the words. Lee Ho-beom pulled back slightly, then bit down hard on his thumb, producing an audible snap. Startled, Hae-soo’s eyes widened. Spitting out the piece of flesh, he smeared the bloodied finger across the paper she had scribbled on.
“There. Done.”
With that, there was nothing left to say.
To be precise, Hae-soo lacked the courage to actively resist further. Lee Ho-beom’s presence was overwhelmingly ferocious.
Google Sites
Report abuse