FI - 13

The chairman’s office had the best view. It was a requirement of Chairman Ki that since there were so many frustrating people and a lot of work, the view should be so good that it felt like your chest was wide open. Ki Shin-je settled comfortably on the sofa as if it were his own room. His handsome, almost delicate face, which was difficult for anyone to approach, seemed to glow in a strange way. Chairman Ki, who had been watching him with a sullen expression, waved his hand at the chief of staff, signaling for him to leave.

“I gave it to him to use as leverage, and he’s the one who’s seized it.”

The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. And that drive…

“Where else would that blood come from?”

Ki Shin-je mocked his father, bringing up the time when Chairman Ki, a college student back then, fell for his mother at first sight and got her pregnant first.

“Is that the same thing?”

“No, it’s not the same.”

“Right, it’s not the...”

“I’m less of an animal than you, Chairman.”

“You... you...”

Chairman Ki looked around for something to throw, and finding nothing, he leaned back roughly against the chair.

“Are you really going to do it?”

At his sighing question, one corner of Ki Shin-je’s mouth twisted into a crooked smile. As expected, Chairman Ki had grasped his intention precisely. The chairman’s face, still handsomely masculine despite his age, glared at him with a look full of dissatisfaction. The words of Sa-ya, who said they looked alike, came to mind, and his lips curved up even more. Where do I look like that face?

“It’s a good method, Chairman.”

“Damn it, it’s only good for you!”

Chairman Ki finally swore out loud, raising his voice.

“We’d be in-laws with the VIP. Isn’t that a good thing?”

“You...”

“No one will threaten us, and no one will dare to covet what we have.”

“Director Ki.”

“You taught me to get what I want by any means necessary. Wouldn’t being in-laws be better for the organization than just leverage?”

Since he couldn’t deny that, Chairman Ki fell silent. What a scary guy. He’s my son, but what kind of guy is he? If he became in-laws with the President...

Yes, it’s not bad. No, it’s a good thing. If they became in-laws with the President, and a grandchild were to be born, Chairman Ki’s eyes briefly sparkled. When you get old, you naturally develop a family bond you didn’t have before, and your ties to your bloodline grow stronger. That’s why Assemblyman Choi keeps talking about bloodlines.

Half of him has the blood of a bar hostess, but then again, I’m a third-generation gangster myself. In any case, isn’t the other half the blood of the person who will be President? If Ki Shin-je had made up his mind, he was the type of person who would see it through, so there was nothing for Chairman Ki to do separately. It would be perfect to retire, watch the organization flourish, and enjoy the antics of a grandchild. Seeing Chairman Ki’s sulky face slowly soften, Ki Shin-je wore a sly smile.

________________________________________

A small, single-story dessert shop was about a five-minute walk from the entrance of the villa. It was the only place Sa-ya could go alone. Of course, “alone” didn’t truly mean alone; a plainclothes guard followed her quietly like a shadow. Sa-ya, who had fallen in love with the desserts from this shop that the lady of the house brought home, visited the place every day for three days. The time Sa-ya headed to the dessert shop was around three in the afternoon when she felt a little peckish after lunch. When Sa-ya first asked if she could go out alone, Ki Shin-je listened to the place she wanted to go and allowed it. He couldn’t resist kissing and licking her face when she looked so happy.

“Welcome. Oh, you’re here again.”

The employee, who had seen Sa-ya for the fourth consecutive day, greeted her warmly. Sa-ya, looking less nervous than the first time, gave a small smile and greeted him back. Soon, Sa-ya’s attention was completely captivated by the beautiful desserts filling the glass case. She was so engrossed in deciding what to eat with her eyes full of excitement that she didn’t even notice the glances from the employee and other customers.

‘But Sa-ya, are you just going to look?’

‘Huh?’

Ki Shin-je chuckled softly, watching Sa-ya blink her round eyes as if she hadn’t even thought about it.

‘You need money, right?’

‘Ah, yes.’

Sa-ya’s voice was small as she answered. The thought of buying something was secondary to her desire to visit the shop, which the lady of the house had told her was nearby. She was so caught up in the desire to do something that she hadn’t considered the important details. How foolish.

‘Use this.’

And what he held out was a black card. When Sa-ya stared at it blankly, Ki Shin-je smiled beautifully, his long eyes curving.

‘Buy the dessert shop if you want, or buy whatever you like.’

Sa-ya clutched the card tightly in the pocket of her cashmere cardigan. The oversized cardigan, which to anyone else would look like a trendy piece, was actually Ki Shin-je’s. Sa-ya, wearing the grey cardigan that covered her thighs with the sleeves messily rolled up, a plain white T-shirt, and white jeans, looked like a fashionista who put a lot of thought into her outfit, but in reality, it was a thoughtless look made up of her loungewear and Ki Shin-je’s cardigan. The cardigan, which carried the scent of the man, gave Sa-ya a sense of security in an unfamiliar space with unfamiliar people. It was a method she had accidentally discovered when she was loitering in the dressing room on her first outing alone. The first day it was Ki Shin-je’s shirt, the second a black cardigan, the third a black hoodie, and today it was the grey cardigan.

“Have you made your choice?”

The male employee looked at Sa-ya, who was happily deliberating. The woman who came almost at the same time for four days straight made his heart flutter. The young-looking woman seemed to like oversized “boyfriend looks,” wearing clothes that were too big for her small frame. But it suited her in a strange way, making a man fantasize about what she would look like in his clothes. And her appearance was just as stunning.

Her pale skin, as if sunlight had avoided her, wasn’t just white, but clear and fair. Her delicate features were perfectly drawn, and her eyes and hair were the same shade of brown. Her eyes were so beautiful that it was hard to believe they could be that light brown without being mixed race. When those big eyes blinked, you’d feel like doing anything for her.

“Yes, I’ve chosen. I’ll pay for this.”

Sa-ya didn’t look at the employee and held out the tray she had chosen. The pleasure of eating was great, but the pleasure of looking was even greater.

“Will this be for takeaway today too?”

“Yes, please pack it up.”

The employee took the card Sa-ya offered. He wanted to talk to her but couldn’t muster the courage, and he felt he’d regret it if he just stayed silent.

“Here, this is a complimentary coffee. The new beans are great, so it should taste good.”

The employee handed her the packed desserts along with a coffee. Sa-ya’s eyes widened, and she took it with a bewildered expression.

“...Thank you.”

The employee stared intently at Sa-ya’s back until she left the store.

Once outside, Sa-ya’s face lit up with surprise, and she smiled brightly.

“Director!”

Ki Shin-je was standing next to his sedan, smoking a cigarette. His eyes narrowed as he exhaled the smoke. Im Woo-jin, standing next to him, bowed his head to Sa-ya.

“Hello, Chief Im. When did you get here?”

Sa-ya trotted over and looked up at him. The sight of her wearing his clothes and smiling at him was so beautiful it made him want to swear.

“Did you buy coffee today too? You don’t like coffee.”

Ki Shin-je pointed at the coffee Sa-ya was holding with his eyes. Sa-ya looked at the cup she was holding, said “Ah,” and offered it to Ki Shin-je.

“You can have this, Director. It was a complimentary gift.”

Ki Shin-je’s eyes turned icy as he took the coffee she offered. He knew the employee inside was a man. His gaze fell on the piece of paper stuck inside the coffee holder.

The paper, with a phone number and a name written on it, was crumpled in Ki Shin-je’s hand. This punk. Ki Shin-je’s eyes flashed fiercely as he looked inside the store.

“This is for you, Chief Im.”

Sa-ya held out the dessert box to Im Woo-jin, who stiffened in surprise.

“Ah, no. I’m...”

“I can buy more tomorrow. Please, Chief Im, take it.”

Im Woo-jin broke out in a cold sweat, glancing at Ki Shin-je. Sa-ya’s innocence was enough to get someone in trouble. While Sa-ya was looking at Im Woo-jin, Ki Shin-je opened the lid of the coffee cup, dropped his cigarette butt inside, and closed the lid again.

“Sa-ya, Chief Im likes coffee.”

He smiled sweetly and offered the coffee to Im Woo-jin. Im Woo-jin, who had seen all of Ki Shin-je’s actions, took the coffee and quickly headed for the passenger seat.

“Get in. I have to go on a business trip.”

“A business trip?” Sa-ya asked as she got into the back seat that Ki Shin-je opened for her. A sweet scent wafted from the dessert box.

________________________________________

Sa-ya, who arrived in Busan with Ki Shin-je for a supposed business trip, got into a sedan that picked them up at the airport and arrived at an apartment with an ocean view near the Je-ya Hotel in Busan. Sa-ya gazed endlessly in admiration at the ocean visible through the large living room window. Ki Shin-je took off his suit jacket, threw it on the sofa, and fixed his gaze on her. Sa-ya, careful not to leave a mark on the glass, held her palms in the air and turned her head left and right, completely absorbed in the view of the ocean that was visible everywhere she looked.

“...It’s so beautiful.”

Ki Shin-je walked up behind Sa-ya, who couldn’t tear her eyes away. His shirt sleeves were casually rolled up, and his hands were tucked into his pants pockets.

“You can’t take your eyes off it.”

His brows furrowed slightly, as if he was displeased that Sa-ya’s attention was elsewhere. What is it about that view that she’s so mesmerized? Tsk.

Although this was a place he always used when he came to Busan for business, he had never once had the time or inclination to properly look at the ocean. Only then did Sa-ya smile, turn around, and look up at him.

“It’s my first time seeing the ocean. Is it okay for me to like it this much?”

Ki Shin-je pulled Sa-ya into a back hug and buried his nose in her hair. His scent smelled different on her.

Sa-ya was suddenly afraid, feeling that she was living a life too far beyond her means. A shadow fell across Sa-ya’s face as she was held in his wide embrace.

“Was the airplane your first, and is the ocean your first, and am I the first for everything?”

“...Yes.”

His nose, which was resting on her neck, moved. His warm lips sucked on the skin behind her ear. A red mark appeared on the nape of her neck, which was already faint and barely visible because she had told him that leaving a mark on her neck would be problematic.

The white nape of her neck always incited a sadistic desire to bite it. But then again, was it just her neck? There wasn’t a single part of her, from head to toe, that didn’t. He had brought her along because he didn’t want to be separated from her during this short, busy trip, and now he was satisfied.

“Do you want to stay by my side forever?”

He tightened the arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close to his lower body. Her delicate and gentle body tensed but leaned comfortably against him. It was because she had been tamed by Ki Shin-je.

“Can I?”

Sa-ya’s voice was filled with caution. She had learned from watching dramas that people of similar backgrounds ended up together, and if not, conflicts arose. Sa-ya now understood why Secretary Kim liked the director but pushed him away. She knew that if you had nothing, you couldn’t be with someone who had a lot.

She had too little, almost nothing. The only thing she could count on was that she had some usefulness that could be exploited. The question of what would happen when that usefulness ran out often tormented Sa-ya’s mind.

“Tell me what you want.”

“I...”

She hesitated to speak. She had never been greedy for anything in her life, but the first thing she wanted was something that was far too much for her to have.

“...”

“Sa-ya.”

“Do you still have a use for me?”

Ki Shin-je turned Sa-ya around and hugged her waist again. With a look that clearly hoped he would have a use for her, Sa-ya blinked her big, round eyes.

“Let’s rephrase that.”

Peck. His lips softly touched and then left Sa-ya’s lips.

“I need you.”

“Huh?”

Sa-ya stood still as if bound, only her eyes moving. Ki Shin-je sucked on her lips and licked her cheek with his tongue.

“Just look at me,”

“...”

“Just think about me,”

Sa-ya’s breathing quickened. The wet sound of him sucking on her lips echoed in her ears.

“And just hold me.”

Sa-ya raised her trembling hands and wrapped them around Ki Shin-je’s waist.

“...Director.”

“You don’t like that?”

Sa-ya shook her head fiercely at his question. Her eyes welled up. The arm wrapped around her waist was so firm that she didn’t fall even when her legs went weak. His eyes, filled with possessiveness and obsession, were so hot that it was difficult to meet his gaze. That animalistic desire made Sa-ya’s heart pound like crazy. He said he needed her, not that he would use her. The words, “I won’t abandon you,” and “Just look at me,” made Sa-ya’s whole body shiver. Sa-ya rose onto her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and awkwardly pressed her lips against his. Ki Shin-je chuckled softly and readily opened his mouth.