Kyle tried to calm his quietly rising anger with a glass of whiskey.

But his mood wouldn’t settle down easily.

He was greatly annoyed by that man who had tried to push past him and enter Se Hee’s space without hesitation.

A chilly energy emanated from Kyle’s dark eyes.

The man, who was larger than average for an Asian, showed quite a friendly attitude towards Se Hee.

The image of the man looking at Se Hee with a gentle eye smile sharply stimulated Kyle.

“Annoying.”

He downed the whiskey with melted ice in one gulp, but couldn’t feel any coolness at all.

Something burning in his chest was far too hot.

The minute hand of his wristwatch was moving towards the promised time.

Only five minutes left now.

Even though five minutes wasn’t a long time, it felt like he couldn’t wait even that long.

Anxiously, Kyle couldn’t take his eyes off his wristwatch.

“The guest has arrived.”

Just then, there was a knock and the voice of the head butler was heard.

Kyle looked at the door with expectant eyes.

The door of the private room slowly opened.

“I kept the time accurately, right?”

Se Hee entered through that door with a bright expression.

The pure white dress she was wearing made Se Hee’s thin figure look even more innocent.

Just her entering his space like this.

Just facing her in front of him like this.

Kyle was surprisingly clearly aware that the energy that had been hotly troubling his chest until just now was slowly subsiding.

“Sit down.”

But Kyle spoke in a dry voice that didn’t reveal his emotions.

Se Hee, who slowly sat down across from Kyle, nervously watched his reactions.

“What is it?”

Kyle, who was uncomfortable with Se Hee’s demeanor, couldn’t help but ask first.

“…I was wondering if calling me to this place… was because I had caused some trouble that I should definitely remember.”

Se Hee asked carefully.

For a moment, Kyle’s eyebrows twitched.

Was that the reason she had been so restless?

Kyle let out a small snort.

“If you caused a disturbance, of course…”

Se Hee, who had been watching his reaction, trailed off.

“Of course?”

Kyle playfully asked back, as if finding it amusing.

“…I will… take responsibility.”

Se Hee answered firmly with a rather resolute expression.

“Take responsibility? How?”

Kyle’s expression changed meaningfully as he asked slowly.

Se Hee found it difficult to interpret what meaning his question held.

Financial compensation?

No, he didn’t seem like a man who needed anything like that at all.

Surely it couldn’t be something physical or that sort of thing?

That definitely wouldn’t be it either.

When they were trapped together, he had been wary of Se Hee instead.

What should she say?

Se Hee’s eyes grew wider as her mind became more confused.

“…Well. It could vary depending on what kind of trouble I caused. I’m really sorry, but to be honest, I don’t… remember much from yesterday.”

Se Hee said with a troubled expression.

She really couldn’t remember anything at all.

Only that everything went black after drinking two glasses of vodka.

“So… you’re going to pretend you don’t know?”

One corner of Kyle’s mouth lifted slightly.

Her only sin was falling asleep drunk.

But Kyle, finding amusement in teasing Se Hee’s reactions, didn’t want to easily reveal the truth.

For some reason, he didn’t dislike seeing her flustered like this, as if bound to him.

Surprisingly, all of his attention was focused on this white, small bird-like woman sitting in front of him.

“Ah, no. I’m not pretending I don’t know. I said I’ll take responsibility. I’m known for being diligent and responsible even at my company. So I will definitely take appropriate responsibility.”

Se Hee cried out as if feeling wronged.

“But… last night… is a blank… I can’t remember well… If I offended you in any way, I’m truly sorry.”

Se Hee bowed her head deeply.

Though she had no memory, if this man was acting like this, she must have done something quite serious.

There’s no way such a sensitive man would just let it go.

Se Hee was at a loss for words.

Just then, the head butler’s voice was heard and the door opened.

“Excuse me.”

After politely greeting them, he set up the food on the table.

All kinds of soups and stews were beautifully arranged.

Finally, a small bowl was placed closest to Se Hee.

It was white rice porridge.

The head butler left after bowing politely with a kind smile.

“Eat something first.”

These were foods Kyle had specially prepared for Se Hee.

As if blatantly revealing that he had paid particular attention, a variety of rare and exquisite soups and stews were showing off their finest appearance.

Kyle’s extremely arrogant gaze turned to Se Hee, who was looking at the food with a surprised expression.

Soon, words of admiration would flow from those enchantingly parted lips.

As he expected, Se Hee slowly looked up at Kyle with an expression full of something to say.

“…Mr. Graham.”

The soft voice of Se Hee calling his name sounded pleasant.

Kyle prepared to accept the praise with a haughty expression.

He was quite curious about what exactly would come out of that mouth, what she would say.

“I noticed that Mr. Graham is a VVIP customer on this cruise ship.”

Kyle’s arrogant expression slightly cracked at Se Hee’s words, which continued with a deep sigh.

“These foods don’t seem to be on the menu here… What exactly are you doing? Even if you’re a VVIP customer old enough to be a grandfather, this isn’t right.”

Se Hee frowned seriously, crossing her arms.

“This is what we call abuse of power. Abuse of power! Do you want to be branded as a problematic customer?”

Se Hee said as if scolding him.

As if struck by something, Kyle, who was considerably shocked, immediately held his forehead.

Biting his lip, he closed his eyes tightly.

He absolutely must not laugh.

Kyle barely held back the laughter that was about to burst out.

He was wrong again.

Lee Se Hee always properly missed his expectations.

Se Hee was flustered as she watched Kyle, who had his eyes closed seriously for quite a long time as if pondering.

What’s going on?

After a while, his face, as he lowered his hand, looked flushed as if heated.

Is he angry?

Unable to accurately gauge his state, Se Hee was confused.

Just then, there was another knock.

“Excuse me. Your secretary has arrived.”

The head butler, who slowly entered, politely relayed the message.

Only then did Kyle realize that he had been sitting here, postponing all the documents he needed to check.

It was truly an absurd mistake.

“I’ll be back shortly. Feel free to eat until then.”

Kyle stood up from his seat.

“Okay. I’ll give you ten minutes.”

Se Hee playfully said with a haughty expression, imitating him, towards Kyle’s back as he turned to leave.

Kyle let out a small sigh as he walked out the door, shaking his head as if he couldn’t help it.

* * *

Kyle, who had entered his office, immediately picked up the documents.

Then he grabbed his laptop as well and hurriedly turned around.

“Sir?”

Dave was bewildered by Kyle’s incomprehensible behavior.

“I’m learning in this way that ten minutes is a short time.”

“Pardon?”

Dave, who had been blankly watching Kyle utter incomprehensible words, was at a loss for words.

“Dave. Organize the rest of the documents for me.”

“Where are you going?”

“Quickly. Six minutes left.”

The truly fortunate thing was that the restaurant and his office were at a short distance.

Thanks to this, Dave, who had become busy as well, frantically gathered the documents.

“Preparations complete.”

Kyle, who received the remaining documents from Dave, quickly left the office.

* * *

After Kyle left, Se Hee stretched out her arms and legs that had been tensed up and curled in.

It seems she can now relax and eat a bit.

At a glance, they were foods of the highest quality that would make one’s eyes widen.

How many employees must have been troubled to prepare this?

Se Hee, who worked in the hotel business department, had dealt with quite a few troublesome customers called VIPs during her time in service duties.

It wasn’t just once or twice that she had to bow her head in front of customers who would shout for the manager to come out at the slightest thing.

Because of this, rather than Kyle’s intentions in preparing this for her, she empathized more with the position of the employees who must have been perplexed while preparing foods that weren’t even on the menu.

Thinking about it, she felt a bit sorry towards Kyle, who had tried to prepare this for her in his own way.

But looking at the appetizing foods, Se Hee was utterly delighted.

Forgetting that she had said she would give him ten minutes, Se Hee picked up a spoon with a happy expression.

Just as she was about to take a spoonful of soup, the door suddenly opened.

“W-What is it?”

Se Hee asked in surprise at Kyle’s sudden entrance.

“There’s still one minute left.”

“What?”

Se Hee watched Kyle, who was striding towards the auxiliary table in the back, with eyes like a startled rabbit.

He placed the laptop and document bag he had brought on the table.

“What is all this?”

“Keep doing what you were doing. I’m going to focus on work for exactly one hour from now. After that, I’ll ask about responsibility.”

Kyle said firmly, as if making some kind of declaration, as he sat down.

“You think you can do all this in ten minutes?”

Kyle retorted, waving the pile of documents he had brought.

Se Hee burst out laughing at his expression that seemed to be complaining.

She laughed so hard that tears glistening in the light could be seen forming at the corners of her eyes.

Kyle stared blankly at Se Hee like that, pretending to be indifferent.

Lee Se Hee.

She was a strange woman.

If someone else had laughed at him like this, they wouldn’t have been safe.

No, no one would have the courage to laugh like this in front of him.

That’s not it either.

There wouldn’t even have been a situation where he was urged for ten minutes like this.

Yet Se Hee’s face breaking into a broad smile wasn’t unpleasant.

Rather, it drew his gaze to the point where he wanted to keep looking at it.

For a moment, something stirred in Kyle’s heart.

Kyle was surprised as he vaguely guessed what that emotion was.

Kyle immediately fixed his gaze on the pile of documents.

He rebuked it as a useless emotion.

As if nothing was wrong, Kyle calmly gathered his emotions while turning on his laptop.

“It’s not so great when you’re on the receiving end, is it?”

But Se Hee’s voice, mixed with laughter, that soon reached his ears stimulated Kyle.

Kyle deliberately didn’t take his eyes off the documents.

“So from now on, don’t do that and be good.”

Se Hee, who had approached his side at some point, playfully patted Kyle’s shoulder and turned away.

For a moment, a thrill that struck his heart shook Kyle.

It was a close call.

He almost grabbed Se Hee as she turned away.

Carefully letting out a deep breath, Kyle forcibly suppressed his heated emotions.

* * *

Unaware of anything, Se Hee sat back down at the main table and glanced at Kyle while eating.

He really is an impressive man.

Who was it that said a man looks most handsome when immersed in his work?

That saying is the truth.

Se Hee was feeling that fact in her skin right now in this place.

The wrist and large hand visible below the slightly rolled-up sleeves of his blue shirt were boasting unusually white skin.

Moreover, the straight, thick veins revealed on the back of his white hand moved along with Kyle’s hand movements, stimulating Se Hee’s nerves.

Se Hee’s gaze was now moving along his straight veins.

It slowly moved upwards, passing over the white, large back of his hand.

The stimulated senses made Se Hee imagine that firm arm hidden inside Kyle’s blue shirt.

Even the image of veins stretching straight along the well-developed arm muscles.

A strange feeling enveloped Se Hee.

Se Hee unconsciously swallowed dry saliva.

Her gaze soon traveled up his shoulder and lingered on Kyle’s lips.

At that moment, she felt an intense gaze directly fixed on her.

Se Hee’s sensual gaze met directly with Kyle’s blue eyes, cold like the Arctic Ocean.