PROLOGUE
9:30 p.m.
After finishing her preparations to leave work, Sahyun stepped into the elevator. Instead of pressing the button for the first floor, she pressed 25, and unmistakable tension gathered on her face.
There was no way she could feel comfortable heading to her superior’s office after everyone else had already gone home.
But regardless of how she felt, Sahyun had no choice. Her boss had summoned her.
Ding.
As the elevator opened and released her onto the floor, Sahyun glanced back at it almost accusingly before turning her attention toward one place.
The 25th floor of Daehong Group. The office of Executive Director Yoo Ha-joon.
Apart from the minimum lighting, the office was dark. Sahyun slowly surveyed the room before cautiously moving forward.
“Assistant Manager Kim Sahyun. Stop by before you leave.”
Remembering the words he had said several hours earlier, Sahyun composed herself and knocked on the office door.
“Come in.”
When she opened the door, the man who had been looking through documents raised his head and stared at her.
Enduring the nervous feeling tightening in her chest, Sahyun approached him and bowed politely.
“Good evening, Executive Director.”
When she lifted her gaze after greeting him, Yoo Ha-joon came into view.
His monolid eyes, high nose, and well-shaped lips gave him striking features. Beneath his nearly perfect appearance was a neatly tied necktie, while his rolled-up sleeves revealed his strong forearms and hands.
His distinctly masculine appearance made Sahyun clear her throat awkwardly.
“Assistant Manager Kim Sahyun.”
A pleasant, low voice filled the office. City lights coming from behind him cast attractive shadows across his masculine features.
Sahyun was briefly rendered speechless by the sight before forcing herself to speak.
“…Yes, Executive Director. You told me to stop by before leaving work.”
“Have you finished all your work?”
His voice was unusually gentle as he leaned back against his chair.
“Yes.”
“Everyone else has left?”
“Yes.”
“So?”
The large shadow of Executive Director Yoo Ha-joon seemed to fall over her as he questioned her again. Instinctively taking a small step backward, Sahyun answered,
“…If there’s nothing else you need me to do, I’ll leave as well.”
Rather than asking, “May I leave?” she had declared, “I’ll leave.” Amused by her straightforwardness, Ha-joon gave a small laugh and rose from his seat.
While Sahyun nervously clasped her hands together, Ha-joon had already approached her.
He was standing very close.
“……!”
Sahyun flinched involuntarily. Her gaze dropped as though avoiding him, then slowly returned to his face.
She saw his dark eyes looking down at her, and his lips parting as he spoke.
“There is something I want you to do.”
“What is it…?”
“For example…”
The scent of the man standing before her seemed to overwhelm her senses, making her momentarily dizzy.
Ha-joon took hold of her wrist and gently lowered her glasses with his other hand.
Even though her vision became blurred, Ha-joon’s face somehow looked even more striking. Sahyun’s heart began beating faster.
Realizing what he intended, Sahyun instinctively lowered her eyes, and Ha-joon smiled faintly before kissing her.
“This.”
His lips met hers, leaving Sahyun startled. She instinctively grabbed the front of his shirt.
“Mm…”
The kiss continued for a moment, and Sahyun’s face became flushed.
Simply being so close to him made her feel overheated and caused her thoughts to scatter. For a moment, it seemed as though only the two of them existed in the world.
“Mm… Executive Director.”
The atmosphere between them grew increasingly intense. Sahyun wrapped her arms around his neck.
Ha-joon drew her closer and murmured,
“There’s something about you that drives me crazy.”
He pulled her closer again, and their faces met once more.
Sahyun gradually lost her composure. Whenever she was with him like this, she felt as though a tremendous warmth surrounded her—a sensation she had never experienced before.
Then—
She heard a faint sound near her ear.
Click. Click.
“……!”
As though suddenly being pulled back into reality, Sahyun looked around in surprise.
Click. Click.
The cord used to open and close the blinds was lightly moving in the breeze, probably because of the air conditioner.
Sahyun’s face flushed bright red.
The blinds were firmly closed, as though preventing anyone from looking inside, but she was suddenly reminded that this was still an office.
The workplace of Kim Sahyun and Yoo Ha-joon—and the workplace of thousands of other people.
What if someone happened to see them?
Just as anxiety stirred in Sahyun’s chest—
“Focus.”
Ha-joon spoke in a mildly admonishing voice as he leaned closer to her. His warm breath made her shiver.
Trying to suppress the nervous sounds escaping her, Sahyun whispered,
“Mm… I really don’t know if we should be doing this…”
“What?”
The sound of a folder falling from the desk echoed through the room as Ha-joon caught Sahyun and held her close.
Sahyun breathed heavily, bracing one hand against the desk.
“I mean… doing this with you every night, Executive Director.”
“If you don’t like doing it at night, should we do it during the day?”
“What?”
“I was wondering if you’d complain less that way.”
Ha-joon spoke teasingly, knowing how embarrassed Sahyun became whenever they spent time like this.
But his words also meant that he had no intention of ending their relationship.
“That’s not what I mean…”
Sahyun had to swallow the rest of her words.
I’m worried this night will become too long, Executive Director.
I’m afraid that if we keep doing this, I’ll end up falling for you too deeply.
I’m afraid I’ll want not only your presence, but your heart as well.
Sahyun knew.
Their relationship was supposed to remain nothing more than a physical arrangement.
She also knew that the only things he could give her were his attention and affection in moments like these.
And yet her heart continued to waver. Perhaps being so close to him was making it impossible for her to think clearly.
“Ha…”
As though mocking her thoughts, Ha-joon kissed her again, leaving her unable to gather her thoughts.
Soon, Sahyun’s hair spread across his desk. He looked down at her with an intense gaze.
She felt as though his eyes could see straight through her heart. When Sahyun anxiously looked away, Ha-joon took her hand and intertwined their fingers, as if telling her not to move.
It was not only her hand that felt trapped. She was completely surrounded by his presence, and his warm breath brushed against her neck.
Ah…
His warmth and gentle touch gradually melted away her resistance. Her body seemed unwilling to obey her, and her legs felt weak.
Just then—
“Still want to go home?”
Ha-joon whispered near her ear. His voice had become lower and more serious.
When Sahyun couldn’t answer, he gently lifted her chin.
“What should I do? I was planning to keep you here all night.”
“Mm…”
His intense gaze and low voice seemed to overwhelm her.
Sahyun realized that there was nothing she could do now except surrender to the emotions sweeping through her.
And at that moment, one question appeared in her mind.
If that incident hadn’t happened at the company dinner that day, what would my relationship with the Executive Director have been like?
If it hadn’t happened… perhaps we would never have become the kind of people who crossed this line night after night.
Perhaps.
