It was a bit funny.

Seo Yeo Eun sitting face to face with Chairman Cha Ji Seop.

The toy he most wanted to break was placed in the space he most wanted to destroy.

At times like this, one should quickly take it out and clean the contaminated parts before locking it in the display case.

Do Ha’s eyes slowly scanned Yeo Eun’s face.

Brilliant lights in the night-fallen garden. Beneath them, Yeo Eun’s eyes sparkled with a deeper color.

That woman tends to have brighter eyes when her tension is at its peak.

She seems to believe in the old saying that if you keep your wits about you, you can survive even in a tiger’s den, but that’s a bit foolish.

While Do Ha’s gaze swept over Yeo Eun, Chairman Cha Ji Seop observed Do Ha.

He seemed puzzled by Do Ha’s appearance at such a place without being called.

Do Ha gave a faint smile to his grandfather and sat down heavily next to Yeo Eun, skipping any greetings.

“From now on, let’s only talk about me when I’m present.”

Sitting crookedly with legs crossed, Do Ha leaned sideways and looked at Yeo Eun.

Yeo Eun’s gaze also fell on Do Ha.

Her dark brown eyes, meeting his gaze, wavered like water droplets in the wind.

For some reason, a dull heat choked his throat.

He told him not to wear a tie, was it to gift this heat?

Do Ha chuckled and lowered his gaze.

His eyes left Yeo Eun’s, traveled down her nose bridge, and stopped at her lips.

The small, soft lips moistened and quivered.

Then, the sensation of roughly sucking them in the elevator vividly stimulated his mouth.

Perhaps feeling his gaze, the woman firmly tensed the corners of her lips as Do Ha continued speaking.

“Don’t think about saying sweet nothings just because we’re in front of the chairman.”

As he admonished her, Yeo Eun bowed her head slightly.

“I’m sorry. The chairman asked.”

It was an utterly businesslike attitude with a calm voice.

Her eyes were clearly trying to remain composed.

So now, she’s drawing a line in their relationship in front of her employer.

She doesn’t want anyone to find out about their kiss or whatever happened between them.

But the one who set up this situation was the chairman.

Do Ha shifted his cold gaze to Chairman Cha, who was shamelessly observing Yeo Eun and him from his seat.

“Chairman, please stop asking such things.”

With an expression clearly different from when looking at Yeo Eun, Do Ha spoke in a low voice.

“Thanks to the trainer you sent, I’m here like this, so that’s enough.”

Chairman Cha Ji Seop’s eyebrows curved crookedly at the words thrown with a sardonic smile.

After staring at Do Ha for a while, Chairman Cha Ji Seop shifted his gaze to Yeo Eun.

“What do you think? Can you fix this too?”

It was a somewhat difficult question.

“A grandson being disrespectful to his grandfather.”

Depending on the answer, it could gauge whose side she was on.

In the end, Chairman Cha Ji Seop was asking Yeo Eun whose side she would take.

Childishly.

But without blinking, Yeo Eun looked straight at Chairman Cha Ji Seop and answered mechanically.

“I will try.”

Yeo Eun ultimately took Chairman Cha Ji Seop’s side.

Chairman Cha Ji Seop’s lips curved with a sardonic smile.

“Good. If you can fix this disrespectful attitude of his, I’ll give you four times the current incentive.”

As Chairman Cha Ji Seop raised his finger, Director Gong, who was standing behind, came forward with an envelope and held it out to Yeo Eun.

As surprised Yeo Eun opened her eyes wide, Chairman Cha Ji Seop explained in a leisurely voice.

“It’s today’s incentive.”

Matching Chairman Cha Ji Seop’s words, Director Gong lightly shook the envelope, urging her to take it.

After hesitating for a moment, Yeo Eun received the envelope with both hands.

“Thank you.”

Satisfied, Chairman Cha Ji Seop pointed to the study door.

“You may go now.”

As soon as he said she could leave, Yeo Eun stood up.

Judging by her slightly trembling fingertips holding the envelope, the incentive seemed unexpected.

“Then I’ll take my leave first.”

Do Ha also rose as he watched Yeo Eun politely bow.

He felt relieved that he could now pull his toy out of the muck.

“I’ll get up too.”

But Chairman Cha Ji Seop didn’t easily allow it.

“You stay.”

“Why?”

“ST Group’s Chairman Jin has been waiting to see you. His wife seems desperate to meet you. So greet them properly.”

Without waiting for Do Ha’s answer, Chairman Cha Ji Seop ordered Director Gong to bring in Chairman Jin.

“I already had the blind date, what more…”

“Just show your face. There are things to discuss too.”

Things to discuss, it’s obvious.

He’ll want to set up a formal meeting of the families since they had the blind date.

To finalize this damned marriage.

That’s not what he wants.

“Ms. Seo Yeo Eun.”

Do Ha called out to Yeo Eun as she was leaving the study with Director Gong.

Yeo Eun, who was just about to exit, turned around.

Her flushed face showed a hint of perplexity.

Her brown eyes discreetly glanced at Chairman Cha Ji Seop.

It was a bit annoying.

“Don’t go, wait outside.”

The corners of Yeo Eun’s lips visibly tightened.

She reluctantly nodded and left the study.

As soon as the study door closed, Chairman Cha Ji Seop sneered.

“You said you didn’t like her because she’s just pretty, docile without any sex appeal, but it seems you’ve taken a liking to her.”

Do Ha’s lips also twisted sardonically at Chairman Cha Ji Seop’s words.

“I’m great at that area like a rogue anyway. I can create sex appeal even if there isn’t any.”

As he threw out the words in a vulgar tone, Chairman Cha Ji Seop immediately flared up.

“You insolent brat.”

Tapping the sofa armrest with his hand, Chairman Cha Ji Seop continued with a displeased face.

“If you like her, get rid of Kim Hae Ri. The same goes for other women.”

That was a bit amusing.

Kim Hae Ri is fake. The other women don’t even need to be dealt with.

How much is there to get rid of?

“The way you say it, it sounds like I have quite a lot of women.”

“Don’t you?”

Do Ha didn’t bother to add a detailed explanation to Chairman Cha, who seemed to already know the answer.

“Let’s say I do.”

After briefly answering, Do Ha focused on the one who might actually need to be dealt with someday.

“But I’ll get rid of them… after I see how that woman does.”

Do Ha pointed towards the tightly closed study door.

“I need to play with the toy you gave me first to see if it works properly or not.”

If there’s anyone he needs to deal with, it would only be Seo Yeo Eun.

Because she’s someone he feels oddly attached to, rather than just using and throwing away.

At that moment, Director Gong entered the study with Chairman Jin of ST Group and his wife.

While still picturing Seo Yeo Eun’s lips in his mind, he grasped the hand of Chairman Jin approaching him.

* * *

The study door opened briefly, and Chairman Jin and his wife could be seen entering.

His future father-in-law and mother-in-law.

What expression would Cha Do Ha have as he greeted those two?

Would it be cold and sharp like when facing his grandfather? Or would he greet them warmly out of respect for his wife?

“He should greet them warmly.”

Trying not to forget her position, Yeo Eun organized her thoughts.

The same went for the white envelope in her hand.

She never dreamed she’d receive an incentive in front of Cha Do Ha, but after receiving it, she felt rather relieved.

Now Cha Do Ha would surely know what kind of person she was to him.

Someone who could throw away her pride for money.

Someone who could sell both body and soul for money alone.

Because that’s who she was.

Yeo Eun soothed her bitter mouth with sweet Hawaiian Punch and put the envelope in her handbag.

Softly sighing, Yeo Eun turned her head to look around the house.

This place, perfectly fitting the word mansion, was structured with several huge buildings connected by corridors.

The building with the study was in the center, and the connecting parts of the corridors were retractable glass doors, so on days like this when they were wide open, the interior and garden became one.

A fairly large party space was created, blending with the courtyard where the garden party was being held.

A large, splendid, and overwhelming space.

Just like Cha Do Ha.

Something she could never have, even if she died and came back to life.

“It’s a bit pathetic.”

If Chairman Cha Ji Seop’s purpose in calling her here was to show her reality, it was quite successful.

Wasn’t it telling her to know her place and behave properly?

The smile that crept onto her lips was somewhat bitter.

At that moment, a small toy car touched her toes.

It was an RC car controlled remotely.

The car, making a whirring sound as its wheels spun in vain, bumped her toes a few times before swerving aside.

“Who’s doing that?”

A children’s toy at a party like this? Yeo Eun looked around with a fleeting thought.

Then her eyes met a familiar face.

Cha In Woo?

“I’m sorry.”

Cha In Woo, spotting her, apologized with a smile.

She saw a small child standing next to Cha In Woo, chasing after the car along the corridor.

“That child…”

Cha Do Ha’s half-brother.

Yeo Eun’s gaze following the child was a bit painful.

Because it momentarily reminded her of her father.

Cha In Woo approached her.

“You’re Seo Yeo Eun, right?”

Yeo Eun smiled faintly at Cha In Woo, who remembered her, and bowed her head.

“Nice to see you again, CEO.”

A smile also appeared on Cha In Woo’s face.

As expected, it was a soft and warm smile like her first impression.

But somehow, it felt artificial and awkward.

It’s the smile of someone who has a lot to hide.

Compared to that, Cha Do Ha knows how to smile quite rawly…

Yeo Eun bit her lower lip, slightly amused at herself for thinking of Cha Do Ha while looking at Cha In Woo.

“I wanted to meet you actually, and here we are. Seo Yeo Eun.”

“Me?”

It was unexpected. That Cha In Woo wanted to meet her.

What reason could he have to meet Cha Do Ha’s image trainer, given their competitive relationship?

“I have something to discuss about Do Ha, could you spare some time?”

“Now?”

Yeo Eun’s gaze touched the study door and fell away.

Cha In Woo’s eye corners curved gently.

“Yes, now.”