Two hours later, Kim Jae Hyun returned, dressed in a soft wool sweater and tailored pants. He paused for a moment, struck by the sight of Se Ra dozing, her delicate face, her lips slightly parted. A shiver of desire ran down his spine, a warmth he dared admit only to himself.
He approached, leaning in slightly to observe her fine features. She stirred faintly, barely opening her eyes. Jae Hyun held himself back from crossing the invisible line of forbidden closeness.
— It's time for you to go home. I'll drive you back.
Se Ra straightened up, regaining her senses:
— Don't trouble yourself. I'll call a taxi.
He slipped his hands into his pockets, his gaze burning, and replied in a low but authoritative voice:
— My employees are under my responsibility and…
— A taxi is better. — provocative, her gaze challenging his.
Their eyes met, sparks of defiance and palpable tension, each testing the other.
— It's an order.
Se Ra cursed silently, feeling the weight of his authority and the confusing attraction rising within her.
In the vast underground parking, the elevator doors opened onto a sea of luxury cars. Kim Jae Hyun unlocked his SUV with calculated fluidity. Se Ra, slightly unsteady on her heels, couldn't hide her amazement at the vehicle's presence and the imposing figure of its owner.
— I didn't see Ahn Woo Jin all day. Did he take a day off? — her slightly trembling voice revealing a mix of admiration and concern.
— Unlike some of my employees, he knows how to remain discreet. — Jae Hyun turned around, a nearly cruel smile brushing his lips.
Se Ra stood for a moment in front of the door, clutching her bag. He rolled down the window, his dark, sharp gaze scanning her with a mix of control and desire he didn't even try to hide.
— Are you getting in or not? — sarcastic, challenging.
She snapped back to reality and opened the door. He didn't take his eyes off the road:
— The seatbelt.
A jolt ran through her body, and she obeyed almost mechanically.
— Yes, of course.
She fastened the belt, but in her mind, an electric tension lingered, a mix of fear, admiration, and attraction.
The car moved slowly through the half-empty traffic. Kim Jae Hyun, hands firmly gripping the wheel, kept his eyes fixed on the road, every muscle tense like a spring ready to snap. Beside him, Se Ra cast small furtive glances, her eyes shifting between curiosity and silent defiance. Every movement, even involuntary, stirred a tension within him he struggled to contain.
After a few moments, she lowered her gaze and murmured, in a soft but firm voice:
— Stop at the next intersection.
Without a word, he pulled over, letting the engine purr softly. His gaze slid toward her, cold and calculating, but an indefinable warmth burned beneath the surface.
— Are you going to walk the rest of the way?
Se Ra slung her bag over her shoulder with feigned ease, her defiant tone barely masking the excitement running through her.
— Yes.
Jae Hyun opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off, opening the door with confidence:
— Don't worry. It's not like you're in any position to care about someone.
And before he could react, she walked away, her hurried, slightly clumsy steps in heels sending vibrations through the air. Through the window, he followed her, fingers tightening on the wheel, a shiver of fury and desire mixing within him. Then, a faint smile brushed his lips as he drove off, a dark thrill at the thought that she was still slipping away from him.
***
Later that night, the silence of the apartment welcomed Se Ra and Hwang Mi Ra, sitting across from each other. A bowl of steaming soup sat in front of Se Ra, but she stared at it with disinterest, the taste of her thoughts far more intense than that of the food. Mi Ra watched her, curious, almost worried.
— So, are you going to tell me what's going on?
Se Ra shook her head slightly, focusing on the spoon she brought to her lips.
— That's the second time you've come home late in a row. Today, you even came back wearing heels when you never do! The little one waited for you again.
Se Ra looked away, a shiver running down her spine just thinking about Jae Hyun, about the way he had looked at her in the car.
— I'm doing this for her.
— Doing what? Do you have another job now?
— No… my boss is the problem.
Mi Ra straightened up, interested, a flicker of concern in her eyes:
— Boss? I thought it was a woman.
— It was, yes… until yesterday morning.
— What do you mean?
— It's hard to explain… He's making my life difficult as punishment for insulting him. I'm his assistant for six months.
Mi Ra, stunned, leaned in closer:
— Wait… Kim Jae Hyun? THE Kim Jae Hyun?
Se Ra raised her eyebrows, surprised by her friend's enthusiasm.
— Who doesn't know Kim Jae Hyun in Korea? A 35-year-old billionaire, the biggest banker, and… well, you know the rest.
Se Ra felt a trace of nervousness run through her at the mere thought of saying his name out loud.
— Tell me… what is he like in person? Is he as handsome as in his photos?
— Insufferable, you mean.
Mi Ra straightened up, intrigued:
— Se Ra… what's this story about six months?
Se Ra swallowed a spoonful of soup, tired, but her thoughts never left the image of Jae Hyun: his gaze, his hands on the wheel, the palpable tension between them.
— Yes… after six months, I'll have enough money to pay for Yoo Na Bi's treatment, and even more.
Mi Ra's expression turned serious, her eyes filled with concern.
— Speaking of Na Bi…
Se Ra lifted her head, suddenly tense.
— What? Is she okay?
— Yes, of course. I spoke with her school teacher today. And she asked to see you.
Se Ra frowned slightly, worry mixing with a strange tension as she thought about her situation with Jae Hyun.
— Why?
— I don't know… She refused to tell me. I think you should go as soon as possible. It might be serious.
— I'll try to free up an hour break…
— Eat. Don't make that scared face.
Meanwhile, in his silent bedroom, Jae Hyun had returned to his sanctuary. Tablet in his left hand, a cup of herbal tea in his right, he sat on the edge of the bed. His phone vibrated, a message from Ahn Woo Jin:
"Did the first day with your new assistant go well? Haha"
A faint smile curled his lips. He replied with the controlled coldness that defined him, but his thoughts remained fixed on Se Ra: the way she had challenged him, her confident movements, the spark in her eyes…
"I was actually looking for a reason to reduce your salary. Anyway, good night."
Placing the phone aside, he slipped under the covers, but his fingers kept tapping on the tablet, his eyes often drifting into the distance… thinking about her.