RB - 37

37. The Trapped Offering

That evening, Seo-Yeon was led by Jin-Hyuk through the bustling heart of Myeongdong. 

Seo-Yeon was not the kind of person who thrived in crowded places. But tonight, she found herself enjoying it. Surely, it was the magic cast by Jin-Hyuk’s refreshing presence. As they weaved through the throng of people, Seo-Yeon felt some of her tangled thoughts begin to loosen. 

“Jin-Hyuk, just a moment.” 

Seo-Yeon paused by a small stall brimming with accessories. Tiny earrings and necklaces sparkled under the lights, catching the eyes of passersby. A young salesgirl, likely barely an adult, greeted her warmly. 

“Sister, aren’t they so pretty? Earrings start at 30,000 won, necklaces at 50,000 won. Super affordable!” 

While the prices weren’t exactly cheap for non-precious metal accessories, Seo-Yeon found herself wanting to savor the moment. Beside her, Jin-Hyuk stood quietly and asked in a low voice, 

“If we walk a little further, there’s a department store. I’ll buy you something nice. You already treated me to an expensive lunch today.” 

Seo-Yeon lowered her voice as well. 

“I’m enjoying this atmosphere. Please pick something out for me here, Jin-Hyuk.” 

With an expression more serious than when reviewing M&A documents, Jin-Hyuk scrutinized the accessories. Watching him struggle to decide, the salesgirl chimed in. 

“Sister, your neck is so fair and long—necklaces suit you better than earrings.” 

Jin-Hyuk didn’t bother hiding the smile spreading across his face as he slowly nodded. Finally, he picked up a delicate necklace with a small wing-shaped pendant. 

“Does the wing appeal to you, Jin-Hyuk? I liked the skull-shaped one next to it.” 

When Seo-Yeon teased him with a playful grin, Jin-Hyuk furrowed his brow seriously and replied, 

“Assistant Manager Han, you’re like a saint. Wings suit you much better than skulls.” 

What? What did he just say? Flustered, Seo-Yeon glanced at the salesgirl before lightly tapping Jin-Hyuk’s shoulder. 

“Jin-Hyuk, stop calling me a saint. Is it a habit of yours to embarrass people?” 

“…How could it be a habit?” 

“Then what is it?” 

“Hmm, I’ve never really thought about it. Let’s call it a skill, then.” 

As Jin-Hyuk paid with a calm demeanor, Seo-Yeon giggled like a child while fastening the necklace around her neck. 

---

That night, in Jin-Hyuk’s study. 

Moonlight seeped through the open window. Jin-Hyuk drew the blackout curtains with a swift motion, displeased by the light, and clicked on a desk lamp. A glass of brandy sat ready on the table. 

Droplets of condensation from the brandy glass clung to his fingertips. 

The sharp burn of alcohol slid coldly down his throat. Jin-Hyuk swallowed it in one gulp, letting the taste linger on his tongue. 

“She borrowed private loans. There’s exactly one week left until the debt collection deadline.” 

A satisfied gleam flickered in Jin-Hyuk’s eyes as he stared at the elderly butler. He downed the remaining brandy in one go—a clear toast to his success. 

This was the perfect example of giving a little to take a lot. Kim Min-Ah was the fly caught in the spider’s web, and naturally, Shin Jin-Hyuk had spun that intricate trap. 

“Shall I prepare some snacks?” 

“There’s no snack sweeter than revenge, Butler. Tell me more. I enjoy hearing it.” 

“Ah… Ms. Kim Min-Ah borrowed a total of 170 million won over the past month through private loans. It seems she used all of it to buy stocks, so her financial situation is likely dire by now.” 

Jin-Hyuk listened to the butler’s report like background music, taking another sip of brandy. The liquor tasted sweet. 

---

At the same time, in Kim Min-Ah’s cramped studio apartment. 

She crouched awkwardly, her posture teetering on the edge of kneeling. Across from her stood two men in sleek black suits, their legs crossed casually. They were loan sharks, here to collect. 

“Hey, miss, I told you to answer your phone properly. Don’t act like my words are meaningless. You think we look nice because we’re being polite?” 

Tattoos peeked out from the backs of the burly men’s hands, moving like living illustrations whenever they clenched their fists—likely extending across their chests or backs. One of them muttered a curse as he stubbed out his cigarette on the wall, watching Kim Min-Ah gnaw nervously on her nails. 

“Hey, you’re not answering? Should I help you open your mouth?” 

Startled, Kim Min-Ah glanced at the cigarette-scorched wallpaper and stammered, 

“I can pay it back. My stocks are about to soar. Really, the weekly chart… um… yes, I’ll pay back everything, including the interest, by then.” 

Her attempt at a plausible explanation fell flat—it was obvious nonsense to anyone listening. Promising to repay a loan with stock profits was laughable to these loan sharks. 

Though cursing was their usual response to such nonsense, the men noticed how pitiful and haggard Kim Min-Ah looked. For now, they softened their tone slightly—but only for the moment. They had no intention of showing mercy a week later. 

“Listen, miss. The stock market’s been brutal lately. What weekly chart are you talking about? You’ve got one week left, missy. Did you think borrowing someone else’s money would be easy? Prepare the cash if you don’t want that pretty face of yours to get ugly.” 

Kim Min-Ah strained to steady her trembling gaze, but fear threatened to overwhelm her. She felt as though she might faint at any moment. 

“Damn, always acting entitled when we’re being nice. Hey! Are you even listening?”

As the loan shark’s urging faded, sobs erupted uncontrollably. 

“Huuhhh... I’ll do it, I promise. I’ll definitely pay you back.” 

“You’ve got exactly one week. Next time, we won’t be so nice about it. Make sure you have 200 million won ready, including interest! If you don’t have the money, either break your lease or call your parents! Honestly, young people these days have no sense of responsibility.” 

BANG! The entrance door slammed shut with a thunderous crash, as if it might shatter. 

Left alone in her empty studio apartment, Kim Min-Ah collapsed like an exhausted old woman, her body trembling as she sank to the floor. 

“...It’s over. Everything is over.” 

An overwhelming sense of helplessness and sticky despair crushed her throat. Her chapped lips twitched involuntarily as she prayed through tears that morning would never come. 

Forcing her gaping mouth shut, Kim Min-Ah retraced the events of the past few weeks, murmuring faintly to herself. 

“It all started with Shin Jin-Hyuk.” 

That day when she sought out Han Seo-Yeon’s seat—not because they were close, but because she wanted to catch Jin-Hyuk’s attention—she thought she was following the rule: Proximity leads to love. And indeed, that day, Jin-Hyuk had made the first move. 

“Would you like to grab a coffee with me? There’s a great place nearby.” 

Instead of heading to Café R.A.M. on the first floor, he led her to a private café next to the company building. This thrilled her—it was a trendy spot famous on Instagram for its unique beans and recipes, where a single cup of coffee cost over 10,000 won. 

The latte was sweet enough to make her eyes pop, but even more dazzling was Jin-Hyuk’s handsome face across from her. As she floated on fantasies of dating him, her heart raced toward climax when Jin-Hyuk casually rested his wrist on the table. Kim Min-Ah’s eyes sparkled. 

“Wow, is that a Rolex?” 

The watch everyone coveted, one of the rarest models, gleamed on his wrist, exuding presence. Instinctively, she recalled something Jin-Hyuk had once said: 

“I’m rich enough to pay off your lease instead of taking out a loan.” 

Of course—he was an Ivy League graduate who’d spent his entire school life studying abroad. Even by conservative estimates, he was undoubtedly at least silver-spoon material. 

In an instant, Kim Min-Ah imagined their wedding: a long, luxurious bridal walk in a five-star hotel, a honeymoon in a Gangnam apartment, and a wealthy life raising a son who looked like him and a daughter who resembled her. 

Her cheeks flushed a peachy pink. 

“Jin-Hyuk, is this the café that’s famous on Instagram? Did you know about it when you invited me here?” 

Jin-Hyuk responded with a faint smile. Not wanting to ruin the romantic atmosphere with silence, Kim Min-Ah opened her mouth to say something. At that moment, Jin-Hyuk shook his wrist as if the watch felt tight. Diamonds embedded in the dial glittered under the café lights. 

The elegant refractions of light from the diamonds mesmerized her. Imagining one of those diamonds resting on her left ring finger, she spoke dreamily. 

“They barely show any Rolexes in stores… and the waiting lists are endless. Are you from a wealthy family?” 

He humbly chuckled, brushing his fingertips over the smooth surface of the watch face. 

“Not exactly. I worked hard to get rich—studying stocks.” 

“You invest in stocks? Wow, I’m super interested too!” 

Lately, watching stock trading videos on YouTube had replaced Netflix in her evening routine. But how could someone make so much money in stocks without limits? A flicker of doubt crossed her face, but Jin-Hyuk’s explanation erased it completely. 

“Of course, my parents gave me seed money. But since I was twelve, the money I made from stocks far exceeded my father’s salary. I guess I have a knack for it.” 

With that, he opened his phone’s stock app and showed it to her. 

The returns were staggering—so high they seemed almost like cryptocurrency gains. One account alone held 1.2 billion won. Dizzy with excitement, Kim Min-Ah pressed him urgently. 

“What stocks are you buying these days? Tell me just a few. Hurry!” 

Jin-Hyuk frowned and shook his head. His perfectly groomed eyebrows twitched slightly. 

“I’m sorry, but I don’t recommend stocks—not even to family. That’s just how it works.” 

His tone was firm enough to deflate anyone’s hopes. But Kim Min-Ah, already intoxicated by the scent of money, couldn’t let go. 

What should I do? How can I ask for his portfolio? She was practically wracking her brain so loudly it felt audible. 

A fleeting cruelty flickered in Jin-Hyuk’s eyes. Having dangled the tantalizing bait before her, it was now time to push it down her throat. He half-rose from his seat and politely excused himself. 

“Let me use the restroom for a moment.” 

He left his phone—with the stock app still open—on the table. Kim Min-Ah brightened immediately. 

“The restroom is to the left after you exit. Take your time!” 

As Jin-Hyuk walked away, her heart pounded wildly. Swallowing hard, she reached for his phone. Though she couldn’t access other accounts without the password, checking his recent transactions was simple. 

Shin Jin-Hyuk had purchased 800 million won worth of two stocks over the past five days: Opung Materials and Geumhwa Industries. 

Kim Min-Ah carefully repeated the names of the companies in her mind as she gently placed the phone back on the table. When Jin-Hyuk returned moments later, her smile was noticeably brighter.

Assistant Manager Kim Min-ah returned to her office and whispered her happiness in a very small voice.

“Ohpyeong Mulsan, Geumhwa Industries… heehee. I’m going to be rich now.”

The savings and lease deposit Kim Min-ah had accumulated were all used to buy stocks that day. The next day, the stocks rose by 12%, and she was so immersed in happiness that she even considered quitting her job.

Should I open a small workshop? Or maybe a well-decorated café? Kim Min-ah tossed and turned in bed, lost in her dazzling fantasies. Somehow, the routine tasks at work now felt insignificant.

Feeling lonely and craving something, she carefully pulled out a box she had hidden deep in her drawer. It was a dildo she had playfully bought at a fancy adult store while wandering around Myeongdong with her friends not long ago.

Among the various dildos of different thicknesses and lengths, Kim Min-ah had chosen one while imagining Jin-hyuk’s. He was tall and well-built, so she thought that part of him must also be firm and exceptional.

Kim Min-ah slowly pulled down her panties, her mouth slightly open. The thought of Jin-hyuk’s touch made her wet down there. The dildo seemed a bit too large to insert, but she whispered affectionately,

“I’ll be doing it with Jin-hyuk soon anyway, so it’s good to… get some practice in advance.”

She moistened the entrance with the disposable gel that came with the dildo. It had been over half a year since she broke up with her boyfriend, so her tight entrance might have shrunk like a virgin’s. With a mix of worry and anticipation, Kim Min-ah swallowed a breath and pressed the blunt end of the dildo against her entrance.

“Ah…”

It didn’t go in all at once, but the thought that this was Jin-hyuk’s made her juices gush out. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes softly. In her distant gaze, Jin-hyuk’s sharp jawline and handsome nose flickered. She vividly remembered the thick muscles and bulging veins she had seen when he rolled up his shirt sleeves one day.

Even the veins on the back of his hands were visible when he held documents. Ah, imagining those fingers touching her clit made her muscles relax and her entrance open. Soon, half of the thick dildo was inside her. The small bumps on the dildo scratched against her walls.

“Ah, ah… ha, ha…”

She briefly considered pushing it deeper but decided it would be too much. Kim Min-ah shuddered and moved her hips back and forth. Even though she was the one moving, in her imagination, Jin-hyuk was thrusting vigorously.

It didn’t matter. All of this would soon become reality. She would feel Jin-hyuk’s weight and captivate him with her wetness.