RB - 1

Chapter 1: Handsome Bastard

The heart was a brazen and shameless organ. Even if it was cut out every day, new flesh would grow back like a punishment the next day.

“Han Seo-yeon, tell me. Do you feel good?”

“…Get lost, Shin Jeong-hyeok, you bastard.”

Even though she told him to get lost, her cheap and worn-out lips slowly parted, allowing him in. The lubricant for her hazy consciousness was alcohol.

At the same time, Jeong-hyeok’s lips met hers. The soft yet strangely cold sensation was the beginning of ecstasy.

It was a complex kiss, too tainted to be called love, too noble to be simply defined as obsession.

Jeong-hyeok’s tongue forced its way between Seo-yeon’s rosy lips. It was a ruthless invader, a ruffian who wouldn’t listen. She was so dazed that she even forgot to breathe.

Her throat opened at the pressure of his tongue, and Jeong-hyeok’s breath flowed into it.

“Haa…”

A shameful moan escaped her lips, finally triggering the desire that had been crouching within Jeong-hyeok. The movement of his tongue, with a different intensity than before, scraped against Seo-yeon’s soft mucous membranes. It was greedy, as if trying to suck out her soul, yet still sorrowful.

Under the faint moonlight shining through the window, Seo-yeon’s flushed cheeks and swollen lips were starkly revealed.

Jeong-hyeok took off her panties and pressed against her moistened pink apex. Seo-yeon’s back arched like a bow at the dizzying sensation, unsure whether it was rejection or longing.

“Haa, haaa… ha.”

Her precarious moans scattered desperately, granting permission for the night’s affair. Jeong-hyeok used his long fingers to pry into Seo-yeon’s wet crevice, stimulating her soft inner walls. Then, Jeong-hyeok’s hardened manhood hovered over her entrance. It was an undisguised movement to find a passage.

Seo-yeon’s entrance, embarrassingly slick, accepted his manhood like a swamp. As Jeong-hyeok’s hips moved back and forth, her flat lower abdomen repeatedly swelled and subsided.

“Haa, ha… It hurts, it hurts too much.”

Jeong-hyeok firmly grasped Seo-yeon’s twisting waist and subdued her. Her black hair swayed like waves.

“You’re wrong, you should say it feels too good.”

They say pain and pleasure share the same context, and Seo-yeon spasmodically convulsed. Jeong-hyeok growled like a beast, exhaling hot breath onto her rounded chest.

“You’re doing well, Han Seo-yeon. Keep doing that.”

Jeong-hyeok diligently explored Seo-yeon’s lips. Her soft mucous membranes thrilled several times, welcoming him. It was pleasure in every inhale and ecstasy in every exhale.

Unable to endure any longer, Seo-yeon trembled slightly and pushed his chest.

Jeong-hyeok touched her flushed cheeks. Warm moisture flowed down his hand.

Seo-yeon’s tear-stained face met his. A painful question flowed from her swollen lips.

“…Jeong-hyeok, are you okay?”

Jeong-hyeok swallowed a bitter smile and remained silent. The time had come to willingly bear the judgment handed down by his goddess, Han Seo-yeon.

JB Company headquarters, conference room.

The HR manager was persuading Han Seo-yeon.

“Ms. Han, company life is all like this. There’s no such thing as other departments’ work, the people who are good at it just do it.”

It was nonsense, saying they were giving her more work because she was a cost-effective slave.

This kind of work assignment was quite familiar to Ms. Han Seo-yeon.

“You’re doing this again, aren’t you? While our Team Leader Woo is on a business trip to Hong Kong? You’re treating me like a disposable child, aren’t you?”

Of course, just because she was used to it didn’t mean she had adapted to it.

“Aah…”

Seo-yeon despaired and lowered her head. Her luscious black hair flowed down over her shoulders. After a moment, she raised her head and vehemently argued.

“Why am I doing real estate work? Have you forgotten that I’m in charge of PR?”

The HR manager flinched at Seo-yeon’s fierce momentum, becoming nervous. He repeatedly gave her awkward smiles and tried to appease her.

“Yeah, I know. Mr. Han is an extremely capable PR manager.”

“Then why do you keep doing this every time? Haven’t you seen me working overtime every day?”

People should have some conscience. Seo-yeon’s expression clearly showed her resistance.

“So, I’m setting up a project team with that great junior.”

The sly HR manager winked and quickly added, “And it’s Shin Jin-hyeok! How about that?”

Shin Jin-hyeok, the hot topic new employee who stirred up the company’s anonymous bulletin board right after joining.

With his tall stature, handsome appearance, impressive credentials, prestigious background, and gentlemanly demeanor that belied his age, he was the perfect specimen.

But Seo-yeon didn’t like the project team, nor was she happy about Jin-hyeok’s inclusion. In fact, it made her uncomfortable.

Ten years ago, her ex-boyfriend Shin Jeong-hyeok, who had a bet over her, and now this guy with a similar name and an oddly familiar atmosphere.

A sigh escaped Seo-yeon’s red lips. Did everyone think they liked good-looking younger men? She didn’t hide her discontent.

When Seo-yeon’s reaction was lukewarm, the HR manager changed tactics. A sly smile crept up on his lips.

“How about this? If you succeed in this task, I can promise a promotion and rewards.”

Well, that was predictable. Even with the handsome younger man being pushed forward, her indifference quickly turned into enthusiasm. Seo-yeon’s eyes sparkled, and she even flashed a faint smile.

She narrowed her beautiful eyes and glared at the HR manager.

“Are you sure? If you’re lying, you’ll die and I’ll live. I won’t die.”

“Of course. Why do you think we have the fast-track promotion? It’s for situations like this.”

The HR manager responded nonchalantly, but his lips trembled slightly.

Seo-yeon worked at JB Company, located in the Yesung Building. The problem was that the building’s resale restriction had been lifted, and the building owner had changed. The new owner, Daniel Gutt, had warned that office rent would rise steeply.

It was Seo-yeon’s job to persuade the building owner and secure the most “reasonable negotiation terms.” Why? Because she was beautiful. She looked great from a distance, but even more so up close. Above all, she was a PR manager who had mastered the social smile. She even had the “attitude of the underdog,” making her a rare talent.

Because of all this, Seo-yeon was saddled with a task unrelated to her main job, and a temporary project team was formed.

Just a few hours later, Seo-yeon’s new seat was diagonally across from Shin Jin-hyeok.

It was the HR manager’s meticulous order.

“If the team is going to succeed, we need to sit closer. Let’s make this work.”

The HR manager, shamelessly including himself with the word “we,” didn’t even make Seo-yeon laugh.

Nearby female employees quickly started typing, and the company messenger system became heated.

―What kind of perfume is Jin-hyeok wearing? It smells really good. It’s my first time smelling it.

―I bet he even smells good when he sweats. Is he really younger than me? What did he eat to grow up like that?

―I heard he speaks four languages. Apparently, when he speaks French, it’s really something. The female employees who took a class with him all fainted.

Even though the project team would disperse after the task, why go through the trouble of moving seats? Seo-yeon felt a surge of irritation, but as always, she kept it in check. Thoughts of her mortgage helped her manage her expression.

Next, Jin-hyeok reserved a conference room. It was for the project team’s kickoff meeting.

In the small meeting room, Jin-hyeok and Seo-yeon sat across from each other. Their gazes met in the air, and awkward silence filled the space. Seo-yeon, uncharacteristically, turned her gaze to the side. She choked up, feeling overwhelmed.

Damn ex-boyfriend trauma. Seo-yeon fought hard to regain control of herself.

Jin-hyeok smiled neatly and placed a stack of papers in front of her.

Having Jin-hyeok join the task made a world of difference. He had already organized cooperation plans between the tenants, and his survey of the average rent in nearby areas was a bonus.

“Isn’t that using a butcher’s knife to catch a chicken? You just took the ace from the new business strategy team.” Seo-yeon, who had been flipping through the papers carefully, glanced at Jin-hyeok.

“Ms. Han Seo-yeon, I look forward to working with you.”

Jin-hyeok belatedly greeted her. Something about the order of things felt off, and Seo-yeon quickly moved to smooth it over.

“Ah... yes, it’s nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you too, Mr. Shin Jin-hyeok.”

“Just call me Jin-hyeok. Everyone does. And this isn’t our first time meeting.”

Seo-yeon hastily tried to recall. Of course, they weren’t strangers, but they had never had a proper conversation.

After a brief pause, Seo-yeon waved her hand dismissively. Her sky-blue silk blouse fluttered.

“I don’t think that’s important, Jin-hyeok.”

What was important now was that the building owner, “Daniel Gutt,” hadn’t responded to either calls or messages.

With her mind growing heavy, Seo-yeon stared directly at Jin-hyeok. She couldn’t let herself be swayed by the memories of her ex-boyfriend, Shin Jeong-hyeok, that bastard. Seo-yeon quickly regained her composure and started taking the lead with her usual drive.

Preemptive strikes always win, and that’s about hitting them where it hurts.

“Jin-hyeok, I started my job a bit late compared to others, so I really need that fast-track promotion. And I’m kind of obsessed with money.”

“Huh? Obsessed with money?”

She came out bluntly with her “money obsession,” but couldn’t quite bring herself to say “a money-crazed bastard.”

“...It’s an abbreviation. You can look it up later. Anyway, it means I really need the success of this project.”

With her refined appearance and elegant clothing, Seo-yeon hit Jin-hyeok with a harsh, down-to-earth abbreviation that didn’t match her looks.

Jin-hyeok, who had been quietly watching her, lifted one corner of his mouth. Normally, such a smile would look arrogant, but Jin-hyeok’s expression seemed languid and even relaxed.

Seo-yeon couldn’t help but smile lightly, thinking maybe all men with the name “Shin ×hyeok” were the same type. Perhaps Jin-hyeok caught the contagious smile, as he soon stopped laughing and asked seriously.

“Ms. Han, are you poor?”

Seo-yeon replied seriously as well.

“Yes. That’s why I need to succeed in this project to get the incentive. I have to pay off my mortgage.”

Seo-yeon forgot to feel embarrassed. What mattered was the method. She just had to reach the work goal “quickly and accurately.” That was the philosophy of the capable Han Seo-yeon. She made a lighthearted remark while wishing for the success of the team.

“If I fail, I’ll ask to borrow money. Because I’m poor.”

The midday sun broke through the conference room window. Jin-hyeok slowly savored the sunlight reflected in Seo-yeon’s pupils. The dazzling light looked lonely like a trophy, and Jin-hyeok silently answered with his silence.