RB - 15

When you covet something unattainable, it’s not the voice of God but the whisper of a devil that guides you. 

Above Seo-yeon’s head, Jin-hyuk’s ragged breathing grew heavier, his hot breath enveloping the nape of her neck. 

From his adolescence to adulthood, Jin-hyuk’s desires had always been fixated on her. 

“Hnn...” 

Startled, Seo-yeon flinched and trembled, causing the hardened “thing” pressing against her blouse to shift restlessly as if searching for an entrance. 

Jin-hyuk groaned like a tormented beast, and the dark confines of the cabinet transformed into an unfathomable universe of ecstasy. 

Jin-hyuk thought to himself: When the time came, he would admire her flushed cheeks from beneath him. After effortlessly breaking through her feeble resistance, he would ravish her without restraint. 

As her desperate moans escaped her crimson lips and her bare skin peeked through disheveled clothes, he would claim every inch of her. He wouldn’t show mercy, pushing her relentlessly to the edge of pleasure. 

The sound of flesh meeting flesh would ripple through the universe of passion, and when tears welled up in her clear eyes, he would lick them away, savoring each drop. 

Like taming a wild dog, Seo-yeon leaned her face against Jin-hyuk’s chest and closed her eyes, trying to steady herself. 

Click. The sound of a drawer closing. Then, thud, the door shutting. 

The room was now empty; the HR team leader had left. 

Creak. Jin-hyuk slowly opened the cabinet door, and Seo-yeon, her legs weak, stumbled out. 

In silence, they gathered the documents with concise movements. 

Finally stepping out of the room, the two walked down the empty office hallway. 

“Are you okay?” 

In that moment, Seo-yeon realized how awkward her question sounded. 

It felt as though she were inquiring about the state of the “thing” that had pressed so insistently against her lower abdomen. 

You idiot! Why didn’t you just ask, “Do you need some time to calm down?” 

Seo-yeon berated herself harshly and quickly changed the subject. 

“Hungry? Let’s grab some sandwiches before heading back.” 

Jin-hyuk gave her a faint smile, signaling his agreement. 

All of this—mere acting, a preparation to conceal the uncomfortable truth. 

Jin-hyuk calmly placed a safety net between them, wary of losing her in a reckless move. 

If he had acted on his earlier impulse... 

By now, Jin-hyuk would have already pushed into her opening, reaching the universe of ecstasy, and painted her pale skin with the red flames of passion. 

He counted—one, two, three—slowly exhaling as he weighed his future with Seo-yeon. 

In the moment their desperate breaths and precarious cries mingled, perhaps she would fully take him in, releasing a surge of arousal. As her soft breasts swayed up and down, Jin-hyuk would say: “Miss Han, I can go one more round.” 

After walking for a short while, they arrived at a café near the company. 

Americano and a sandwich set—a menu Seo-yeon often favored. 

“Miss Han, how was it?” 

Caught off guard by Jin-hyuk’s sudden question, Seo-yeon choked on her sandwich, coughing violently. It felt as though a piece was stuck in her throat. 

Jin-hyuk quickly handed her the coffee, and Seo-yeon grimaced as she took a sip. 

She found it difficult to look directly at Jin-hyuk’s face. 

The once “naive new employee” she had affectionately teased now made her feel exposed. 

It was akin to soberly facing a man she’d spent a drunken night with—an awkward, unsettling encounter. 

Seo-yeon had undoubtedly relied on Jin-hyuk, even wrapping her arms around his waist. Feeling a pang of guilt, she hesitantly opened her mouth to speak.

“…What do you mean, how was what?” 

“I meant how it felt to try something for the first time. Anything new is exciting, right?” 

“What are you talking about? It’s not like I’ve never been held by a man before. I’ve lost count! Hundreds of men, maybe? Ah… no, not hundreds. But still, it’s not my first time.” 

Seo-yeon’s cheeks flushed as she protested, but her ears turned beet red when Jin-hyuk continued speaking. 

He slowly traced his lips with his index finger. 

“Oh, I wasn’t talking about that. I meant how did it feel to steal something for the first time?” 

Seo-yeon gulped down her iced Americano in one breath, not even pausing to inhale. Jin-hyuk kindly handed her a napkin with an amused smile. 

That evening, Seo-yeon pushed open the door to Café Le Rêve as if it were second nature. 

Having already passed the “document screening” and “first interview” with Ethan, the silver-haired Frakchi, it was time to seal the deal with a “final acceptance.” 

Jung-hyuk spotted her and smirked, giving her a quick nod. Without realizing it, she found herself responding in kind. 

“Wait a moment,” he said before disappearing behind the counter. His tousled hair fell messily over his forehead, and oddly enough, Seo-yeon thought it suited him well. 

His disheveled, slightly decadent look was easier to handle than his usual polished perfection. After all, he was a wealthy playboy who treated love like a game—a detestable bourgeois brat. 

As Seo-yeon settled into a secluded corner, Ethan appeared with his signature bright smile and sat across from her. True to form, he slid a warm cup of cocoa toward her. 

“It’s not too sweet. Prejudice is a scary thing, Nuna. Just try it, okay?” 

Thinking it would be impolite to reject him twice in a row—once yesterday and again today—Seo-yeon forced herself to take a sip. 

Ethan was right. The cocoa had a rich, bittersweet dark chocolate flavor. 

“You see? I’m good-looking, witty, and just assertive enough. Phew… You definitely passed the first interview, but Nuna, your prejudices might make the second round tricky.” 

Familiarity breeds fondness, and Seo-yeon found Ethan’s somewhat cheeky demeanor increasingly intriguing. 

“Listen, even your future mother-in-law wouldn’t be as picky as you. What’s your relationship with Jung-hyuk anyway? It’s not like you’re dating him, so why do you act like the jealous wife?” 

“Ah, come on. Nuna, you’re great, but you need to drop some of those prejudices. Not all cocoa is sweet, and not all men are straight.” 

Her suspicion from before was confirmed—Ethan casually revealed that he was gay. 

Aha! As the puzzle pieces fell into place, the bigger picture began to emerge. 

“Now I get it. I understand why Chairman Shin assigned you as his spy.” 

“Exactly. No one pays closer attention to the boss’s every move than me. If he gets involved with a woman, I’ll be the first to notice.” 

Suddenly, Ethan’s playful expression shifted to one of seriousness as he leaned in to whisper. 

“So, Nuna, I have a keen eye for these things. I can tell whether a woman has slept with our boss or not. That’s why I’m saying this—you haven’t passed the final test yet. Don’t even think about using the excuse of ‘platonic love’ in this day and age.” 

“…How can you possibly know everything that happens between a man and a woman? And didn’t you see last time? Jung-hyuk gave me my lipstick back—it was something I left at his place.” 

“Maybe you just slept there. Our boss is quite the Casanova. It pisses me off that he’s straight and doesn’t give me a chance, but facts are facts. Still, judging by how he acts around you, you two definitely haven’t slept together.” 

Frustrated, Seo-yeon took another sip of cocoa, barely suppressing a sigh before asking: 

“What do you mean by how he acts around me? Does he shower women he sleeps with in luxury brands? Or buy them cars?” 

“He doesn’t see them twice. Once he’s slept with a woman, that’s it.” 

Seo-yeon shivered, goosebumps rising on the back of her neck. 

She already knew Shin Jung-hyuk was trash—a bad man—but she hadn’t imagined he was this much of a player.

She resolved once again: absolutely never would she end up in bed with Jung-hyuk. 

“So, are you going to tell him? Chairman Shin’s father, I mean?” 

The conversation between Seo-yeon and Ethan was undeniably abnormal, but fortunately, Jung-hyuk intervened at just the right moment. 

Plop. Sitting down next to Seo-yeon, Jung-hyuk casually draped his arm over her shoulder and pressed a kiss to her smooth cheek, as if they were lovers. 

Seo-yeon tensed, worried that someone from JB Company might be nearby, but thankfully, no one was still working late at this hour. 

Jung-hyuk smiled leisurely at Ethan, his tone affectionate yet laced with cruelty—a strange blend of warmth and menace. 

“Ethan, don’t torment my girlfriend too much. Before I rip your tongue out, that is.” 

Ethan grinned brightly, clearly unfazed, and apologized to Seo-yeon. 

“Nuna, I’m sorry. The money I receive from Chairman Shin Taemyung is quite substantial. Since I’m leeching off him, I have no choice but to earn my keep. You understand, right?” 

Well, she understood. Should they shake hands and agree to get along? Forcing a bitter smile, Seo-yeon turned to Jung-hyuk and said: 

“Take me home quickly. And tonight, let’s do it. Forget all that ‘platonic love’ nonsense—I need Eros. You say you’re so incredible? Perfect. I’ve been stressed lately, and nothing relieves stress better than sex.” 

Han Seo-yeon, the capable team leader. She was a talent who delivered more than what her salary warranted—a woman who firmly believed in give-and-take. 

Jung-hyuk met her gaze, his expression devoid of humor. Memories of the kiss they had shared last weekend flooded his mind. 

Her shirt pulled up slightly, revealing her full breasts, the delicate curve of her navel, her slender waist, and the softness of her groin—it all came rushing back to him. 

Jung-hyuk was certain of one thing: 

It wasn’t Seo-yeon who would be ravished—it was him. He had already surrendered long ago before her fragile body. 

He accepted it willingly. 

If his fate was to kneel beneath her feet and kiss them like a goddess, then so be it. 

And who knew? Perhaps, in her pleasure, the goddess might part her legs and reveal the valley of ecstasy.