The timing was disastrous.

Just as a note fell in front of Hee Won, the sound of the door opening was heard.

“What’s going on?”

Startled by Hee Won’s shout, Kang Woo, who had been waiting outside, came in.

Hee Won was flustered but managed to cover the strange thing Joo Ah had given her with her whole body.

“What? Oh, it’s nothing. I, I thought it was a bug, but I, I, I was mistaken.”

Though she stammered, fortunately she managed to think of an excuse on the spot.

Hee Won looked up at Kang Woo with a pounding heart, breathing heavily.

“I thought something serious had happened.”

Whether he believed her words or not, Kang Woo’s stiff expression softened.

“I’m, I’m sorry.”

“Maybe we should check if there are any more bugs.”

As Kang Woo tried to enter the room, Hee Won jumped up to block him.

“What? Oh, no. It, it was my mistake. So you can just leave.”

Kang Woo’s eyes narrowed at Hee Won’s overly sensitive reaction.

It wasn’t difficult for the quick-witted Kang Woo to notice that something was off about Hee Won.

Kang Woo quickly scanned the room.

And his eyes caught sight of a black mesh fabric strewn carelessly on the floor.

It was even more visible against the white carpet right in front of the bed where it had fallen.

“Hee Won.”

“…Yes?”

“Behind you.”

As Kang Woo pointed with his hand, Hee Won’s head turned simultaneously.

“Ah!”

Hee Won’s face flushed red as she realized what his finger was pointing at was ‘that thing she wanted to hide’.

Hee Won quickly walked over and hid the garment that could hardly be called clothes behind her back.

Kang Woo approached Hee Won with the corners of his mouth lifted.

Hee Won rolled up what would more accurately be called mesh.

Even at a glance, it was clear what it was.

It was a slip with fluttery shirred lace, see-through enough to reveal skin.

‘If you were going to do this, you might as well have told me to take it off!’

Hee Won had never resented Joo Ah as much as she did in this moment.

Absolutely not.

Its existence had already been discovered, but she couldn’t let its shape be revealed!

Hee Won desperately tried to hide it.

“Is that your taste?”

“…N-no! This is my friend’s.”

“Ah.”

Kang Woo didn’t believe Hee Won’s words.

“It, it’s true!”

For some reason, Kang Woo looked amused to Hee Won.

“It’s my taste though.”

“…Pardon?”

As the surprised Hee Won opened her eyes wide, Kang Woo whispered in her ear.

“I mean you’re my taste, not that outfit.”

“…”

Hee Won’s body stiffened at the hot breath tickling her ear.

Her face was flushed red, about to burst.

I, I thought this was just a contract, so why…

Hee Won couldn’t do anything.

She could do nothing but stare at Kang Woo.

As Hee Won stared blankly, Kang Woo tucked her hair behind her ear and said,

“I’m joking. Don’t be nervous. I told you, I’m not the kind of brute who forces himself on someone who doesn’t want it.”

“…”

Kang Woo stepped back half a step.

He smiled and said,

“You must be hungry, let’s go eat first.”

Clearly, just moments ago she had been tense and nervous as Kang Woo approached,

But as he moved away, she felt a sense of disappointment.

‘You’re crazy! Seong Hee Won.’

Hee Won shook her head.

Kang Woo watched her and chuckled.

Despite her efforts, her face flushed even redder.

“P-please leave. I’ll get ready.”

Hee Won forcibly pushed Kang Woo out of the room.

“Haa.”

Hee Won let out a small sigh. She put her hand to her ear. The spot where his breath had touched was still hot.

Her heartbeat was loud.

Hee Won’s eyes fell on Joo Ah’s letter that had fallen along with the lingerie earlier.

Written in a lively handwriting that matched her personality, the sentence read,

– For a hot night!

Hee Won threw the note Joo Ah had written onto the floor.

“That enemy!”

[This is the timeline separator]

Hee Won came to the restaurant with Kang Woo.

The interior was closer to a pub atmosphere than a restaurant.

“It’s nice. The interior is pretty.”

It was a free and lively place.

“I’m glad.”

Kang Woo replied briefly to Hee Won’s words.

Hee Won was actually surprised inside.

She had a prejudice that Kang Woo wouldn’t go to such a popular pub-style restaurant. She thought he would only go to hotel restaurants or expensive places since he was a chaebol.

“This place doesn’t seem to be in guidebooks, how did you know about it?”

“It’s a place I used to come to often in the past.”

“Do you remember Director Kang? I came here at least three times a week with that friend.”

“Were you two acquainted in America?”

To Hee Won’s question, Kang Woo fiddled with his water glass and replied.

“Yes. We met when I was 15 and have been together until now.”

“Wow, that’s a long time.”

Although they seemed close, she didn’t know they were personally close friends.

As Hee Won marveled, Kang Woo chuckled and said,

“We’ve seen everything there is to see of each other. He’s my most trusted friend and colleague.”

“I see.”

“Yes.”

Hee Won enjoyed hearing Kang Woo talk about him.

“Do you prefer seafood? Or meat?”

“Pardon?”

Kang Woo asked Hee Won while looking at the menu.

Even at this simple question about the menu, Hee Won hesitated.

She had been forced to diet 365 days a year. Seong Chairman didn’t let Hee Won eat anything as she pleased.

Hee Won felt a surge of emotion, even though it was just choosing what to eat, something ordinary that everyone does.

Hee Won’s family was on the meat side.

Even when dining out, it was always a meat restaurant, and salad was all that was allowed for Hee Won.

I like seafood.

I actually don’t like meat. Rather, I dislike it.

And I don’t like vegetables.

I dislike eating them without sauce even more.

These were words that always lingered only in her mouth.

Because they were words that defied Seong Chairman, she couldn’t dare to utter them.

“…I prefer seafood.”

But she could say it to Kang Woo.

This unremarkable statement made Hee Won’s heart warm.

“I prefer seafood too. Seems like we have similar tastes.”

“…”

Kang Woo said after finishing the order familiarly.

Hee Won’s eyes welled up for no reason and she shifted her gaze to the panoramic window.

A brief silence fell.

After a while, a staff member came with a bottle of wine.

“I asked for a light and sweet wine. I ordered white wine since we ordered seafood, is that okay?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

For Hee Won, having a meal face-to-face with someone was something ordinary but unattainable.

She no longer had to eat while checking the time, nor did she have to send pictures of what she was eating.

“Eat.”

A plate with shrimp peeled by Kang Woo and well-prepared razor clams was placed in front of Hee Won.

“We’ve washed our hands, so don’t worry and eat.”

As Kang Woo joked, her heart fluttered.

‘What if I like him more and more? Will I be able to hide it?’

Hee Won could feel it.

With every passing minute and second, her feelings for Kang Woo were growing like a snowball.

[This is the timeline separator]

After dining, strolling in the park, and returning to the hotel, it became evening.

As soon as they returned to the hotel, Kang Woo changed his clothes.

“Are you going out somewhere?”

As Hee Won approached, Kang Woo turned around.

“I have an evening schedule. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to eat dinner alone later.”

“Oh, that’s okay.”

Hee Won smiled, pretending it was fine.

In fact, contrary to her outward words, she felt disappointment in her heart.

But unable to show it, Hee Won smiled and spoke, causing Kang Woo’s expression to darken.

“You can use this card.”

Kang Woo handed Hee Won a black card with no limit, said to be given only to the top people in the world.

“Ah, I’ll use it well.”

Hee Won had no money from Chairman Seong.

He didn’t give a penny to his daughter who said she was going on her honeymoon.

[What money does she need when her husband is a chaebol, she’ll probably prepare gifts for her in-laws tactfully while she’s at it.]

Useless thoughts came to mind.

Hee Won shook her head vigorously to shake off the distracting thoughts.

“What bad thoughts did you have?”

“What? No.”

“Secretary Ha will be with you during the time I’m gone.”

“Secretary Ha?”

Hee Won recalled the face of Secretary Ha who had helped her throughout the wedding preparations.

“You can refuse if you’re uncomfortable.”

Secretary Ha had taken care of Hee Won like an elder sister.

She touched Hee Won by taking care of things she hadn’t even thought of.

Despite not being the type to easily open up to others, Hee Won became comfortable with Secretary Ha in a short time.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“No. It’s not that I’m uncomfortable…”

“You can speak comfortably.”

Hee Won hesitated before opening her mouth.

“Actually, I was wondering if I really need a personal secretary.”

Kang Woo looked at Hee Won after fastening his cufflinks.

“It doesn’t make sense for the mistress of LS Group to go around without even one personal secretary. You might have to attend official events without me in the future. I’ll try to prevent it as much as possible, but situations may arise where you need to maintain relationships. It might be uncomfortable, but I hope you understand.”

Hee Won was reflected in his black eyes that seemed to draw her in.

Her face was slightly flushed.

“It’s okay. I’d be even happier if Secretary Ha is by my side. Thank you for considering me. I mean it.”

“I’ll probably be back late, so you can go to bed first. It looks like we won’t be able to see each other for 2-3 days.”

“Don’t worry, Secretary Ha is here.”

It wasn’t an American trip, just accompanying Kang Woo on his business trip to America.

But it was okay.

She was happy to be by Kang Woo’s side like this, and above all, it was her first overseas trip.

So, Hee Won didn’t want Kang Woo to feel sorry for her.

“Then I’ll see you later.”

There was something Hee Won wanted to say to Kang Woo.

It was something a wife would naturally do, but not a role that applied to her in their contract relationship.

But she wanted to do it.

His consideration was genuinely appreciated by her, and Hee Won wanted Kang Woo to know her feelings.

“Ah, um. Mr. Cha Kang Woo.”

Hee Won gathered her courage and called out to Kang Woo.

Kang Woo turned around and looked at Hee Won.

“Can I see you off to the first floor?”

Hee Won asked in a trembling voice.

“Of course you don’t need it, but I… want to see you off.”