Chapter : 10
In front of a convenience store in a residential neighborhood, one block away from the main road.
Dogeon got out of the driver’s seat, leaned against the car, and took out a cigarette.
He put the filter between his lips and pulled out a lighter, when the alley across the street suddenly brightened. Yoonseol was walking toward him with light, fluttering steps.
She usually wore only light makeup, but today her eyes looked particularly defined, and her lips were redder than usual. Her pale, clear skin seemed even more translucent against her dark-gray coat.
I’m seriously sick with this.
Dogeon scoffed at himself and put the cigarette he had taken out back into his pocket.
“…You came early.”
“Don’t you have anything else to wear?”
“Huh?”
Taken aback by his criticism of her clothes the moment he saw her, Yoonseol looked down at herself.
In the meantime, the coat she had brought to return to him suddenly disappeared from her hands.
“It’s too noticeable.”
Clicking his tongue, he draped his own coat over Yoonseol’s shoulders.
Her modest, ordinary duffle coat was completely covered by his large black coat.
“You think my gray coat is too noticeable?”
“It’s too bright.”
Dogeon himself was the one who stood out excessively, giving a completely incomprehensible reason.
His physique and appearance were so out of place in the shabby, dreary neighborhood convenience store that Yoonseol could practically feel people sneaking glances at him.
He was a man who normally wore perfectly tailored suits, but today he had on a neat round-neck knit sweater, wide slacks, and a long coat that reached his knees.
Even his hair, which he usually styled flawlessly, had been loosened slightly, with only half of it slicked back. Overall, he looked unusually relaxed.
It wasn’t the first time she’d seen him dressed casually. She had seen him like this several times in Italy, which only made things more troublesome.
It reminded her of the handsome man who had stood like a picture beneath Italy’s scorching sun—and of the fluttering feelings she’d experienced back then.
“Um… Did you come alone today? I don’t see the people you always have with you.”
Watching Yoonseol subtly change the subject, Dogeon’s brow furrowed.
“What kind of idiot brings other men along on a date?”
“D-Date?”
Yoonseol’s round eyes grew even wider. The more startled she became, the deeper the crease between his brows grew.
“Then what do you think you call it when a man and woman who have already had quite a lot of sex make time to meet each other separately? You.”
“Gasp! Executive Director, please…!”
Startled by his blunt wording, Yoonseol froze up. He skillfully ushered her toward the passenger seat.
Click.
The sound of the seat belt snapping into place brought Yoonseol back to her senses. Before she knew it, she had gotten into his car.
Maybe I should have just canceled the appointment.
As the car smoothly crossed Seoul, Yoonseol regretted it belatedly.
She had actually hesitated right up until the moment she left to meet Dogeon. She wasn’t sure whether spending time with him under these circumstances was the right thing to do.
She had finally found a meaningful clue concerning her father after three months. Even the time she had was barely enough to focus on that alone.
On top of that, after agonizing over it for a long time, she had sent Lee Jungwoo a message asking to meet. When he didn’t reply, she had spent a restless night unable to sleep properly.
However, Hyewon’s earnest request that she make sure to deliver the rent to “the Lord” and come back had made it difficult for her to simply cancel her appointment with Dogeon.
Besides, there was nothing good to be gained by getting on the wrong side of a gangster.
I’ll give him the rent as soon as I get the chance, then leave.
While busily making plans, the car drove along the foot of Namsan before entering a driveway marked HS Hotel.
Wait. A hotel?
As the glass exterior of the historic six-star hotel drew closer, Yoonseol’s pupils shook wildly.
This isn’t right.
He had said he didn’t want a relationship that was only about satisfying physical desire.
Yoonseol abruptly turned her head toward the driver’s seat and demanded,
“Why are we at a hotel? A-Are we, by any chance, going to the hotel?”
At that moment, the car stopped in front of the main entrance. Before she could even hear his answer, employees came rushing out and opened the car doors, leaving her no choice but to get out.
“Welcome, Executive Director.”
“Thank you for visiting our hotel.”
Even as she exchanged bows with the employees, who were bending at a perfect ninety-degree angle, Yoonseol was utterly dumbfounded.
She hurried around the car and grabbed Dogeon’s lapel.
“I-I can’t go to a hotel. I don’t want to go.”
Then she fumbled through her handbag and tried to open the buckle. She intended to take out the envelope containing the rent, hand it to him, and leave.
But because she wasn’t accustomed to carrying the handbag, she kept fumbling with it.
She regretted bringing the handbag, which she had chosen despite how inconvenient it was, simply because she’d wanted to make an effort for this occasion.
“What are you doing?”
Dogeon watched Yoonseol struggle with the handbag, his hands tucked into his pockets.
“Go upstairs and do it.”
“W-Wait! I’ll give you the rent, and then I’ll be going.”
“Why?”
“…I don’t want this kind of relationship.”
This kind of relationship?
Dogeon slowly repeated her words in his mind before suddenly bursting into laughter. It wasn’t a mocking or cynical laugh. He was genuinely amused.
What’s so funny?
The skin beneath Yoonseol’s eyes gradually tightened.
“How far ahead are you planning to jump?”
He looked down at Yoonseol as if she had just said something utterly ridiculous. The corners of his eyes curved elegantly, still carrying traces of laughter.
Then, with his large hand, he abruptly caught the hand she was using to open her handbag.
When she struggled to pull her hand free, he intertwined his fingers with hers, one knuckle after another.
“Please… let go.”
“Even if I’m completely crazy, do you think I’d show my true colors on the very first date?”
He gave a quiet chuckle and bent down, closing the distance between them. His pitch-black eyes had grown even darker, as though he was thoroughly enjoying himself.
“We should do what everyone else does and get to know each other. Hmm?”
“What exactly does that—”
“Let’s just eat. Today.”
“Ah.”
Only then did Yoonseol’s jaw fall slightly open as she realized what he meant.
Hotels had plenty of high-end restaurants besides guest rooms.
“But, Seol. I think you’ve developed a bad habit of just throwing money at me and running away.”
The amusement suddenly disappeared from the man’s eyes. A chilling cold spread down Yoonseol’s spine.
“Fix it. While I’m still pointing it out with a smile.”
“…!”
She had momentarily forgotten.
Just how frightening a man he was.
Yoonseol stiffened and hesitated, and he gently tugged on the hand he was holding.
And so, Yoonseol entered the hotel lobby with him, their hands clasped tightly together.
Without ever managing to take out the envelope.
Dogeon took Yoonseol to an Italian restaurant boasting three Michelin stars.
His idea of a “date” had gotten off to a slightly rocky start, but everything afterward proceeded smoothly.
“Wow, Namsan looks beautiful even in winter.”
Namsan in winter, viewed through the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows halfway up the hill, had a unique charm.
Yoonseol kept marveling at the view from the private room while sipping an aperitif containing orange slices.
She was happy to see the sweet-and-bitter spritz she had enjoyed in Italy.
“This burrata cheese is authentic Italian style, too. It’s so delicious.”
When she cut into the ball of cheese finished with olive oil, salt, and pepper, soft cream spilled out.
As though she had found a taste of home, Yoonseol savored the fresh, nutty flavor of the cheese.
She had expected it to be awkward being alone with Dogeon, but it wasn’t as uncomfortable as she had imagined.
The restaurant had a pleasant atmosphere, and strangely enough, after seeing him several times, she had grown accustomed to being around this man.
This isn’t the time to be leisurely reminiscing about Italy.
Just as she began suffering from mixed feelings—enjoying herself despite the heavy stone weighing on one corner of her heart—the main course arrived.
“How’s the lawyer work? Is it manageable?”
Dogeon spoke as he expertly sliced his steak.
“Yes. It’s interesting.”
“When you’re done protesting at Hyunsin Construction, where will you protest next?”
“I haven’t received any requests like that yet. I’m doing some paperwork here and there, like notarization work and drafting complaints.”
“Don’t you intend to get a job?”
He added as he picked up a piece of finely cut meat with his fork and held it out to her,
“At a corporation or a law firm.”
“No. I like what I’m doing now.”
Without thinking, Yoonseol accepted the piece of meat from his fork and shook her head.
“I suppose. There isn’t a job that’s easy all the time. And there’s no such thing as a high or low occupation. Work hard.”
He transferred the pieces of meat he had cut onto Yoonseol’s plate and offered her a casual word of encouragement.
Someone said they were embarrassed of me just because I’m my father’s daughter…
Ah. What the hell am I doing, comparing him to that bastard?
Feeling awkward all by herself, Yoonseol took a bite of meat and chewed diligently. Perhaps because of the aperitif, a slight warmth had risen to her face.
“But aren’t you curious about anything about me?”
Dogeon set down his knife and fork and picked up his wineglass.
“Huh? Ah…”
“I’m not interrogating a criminal. I’ve been the only one asking questions this whole time, so it’s getting less and less interesting.”
He slowly swirled his wineglass before fixing his gaze on Yoonseol and swallowing the red liquid.
His prominent Adam’s apple moved slowly, making her feel as though she herself were being swallowed.
The warmth in her cheeks suddenly flared up. Pretending to drink water, Yoonseol hid her flushed face.
“Um, but, Executive Director.”
The relaxed atmosphere gave her a little courage. Yoonseol cleared her throat and opened her lips.
This was her chance to ask what she had been most curious about all along.
What exactly do you do, Executive Director? Are you, perhaps… really, truly involved in an organization?
Just as she was about to give voice to the instinctive desire to know a little more about him—
Bzzz.
Her phone screen lit up with a vibration.
It was a reply from Lee Jungwoo.
“…!”
What should I do?
After checking the message, Yoonseol instinctively looked at Dogeon.
She had to meet Lee Jungwoo right now.
As she looked at the refined man staring straight at her, feelings of guilt and disappointment washed over her.
But her father’s matter came first.
“Executive Director.”
“…”
“I’m really sorry, but something urgent has come up.”
So—
He looked at her questioningly and set his wineglass down with a sharp clink. His sharp eyes turned cold.
Yoonseol squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again, her lips trembling slightly.
“I think… I need to leave now. I’m sorry.”
