As they stood in front of the elevator after passing through the curved corridor, he stepped in front of Ha Jun and Yeon A before Yi Hyun.

“It’s been a while, Ha Jun. You’ve become so pretty I almost didn’t recognize you. You moved, changed your phone number, I wondered where you’d been hiding… Wow~ I never dreamed we’d run into each other in a place like this. Where are you working now that brings you here?”

“……”

“Why aren’t you answering? Hm? Ah, you don’t want to tell me? Ha Jun. You think I won’t be able to find out?”

“……I moved to headquarters.”

“Headquarters? Sung Jin Group? Wow~ I was really in the dark about this?”

“……”

“We haven’t seen each other in so long, aren’t you going to greet me? Ah, I’m so hurt. I cared for you so much, Ha Jun, I’m really hurt.”

“Hello, Team Leader……”

Ha Jun reluctantly greeted him.

Until then, Yeon A, who had been watching their conversation with a frozen expression, quickly wedged herself between Se Ho and Ha Jun.

“Hello. I’m Heo Yeon A, working with Ha Jun at headquarters.”

“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you. Ha Jun, can we talk for a moment?”

Se Ho ignored Yeon A and stared persistently at Ha Jun standing behind her. Yeon A moved her body this way and that, trying her best to block Se Ho’s line of sight.

“No. I’m sorry, but we have work to do. We need to go quickly.”

Yeon A said in a stiff voice as she continued to block Ha Jun. Se Ho’s eyebrows twitched menacingly.

“I asked Ha Jun. We’re quite close, aren’t we Ha Jun?”

A chillingly murky desire glinted in Se Ho’s eyes as he grinned at Ha Jun, who had turned pale behind Yeon A.

Though trembling, Ha Jun firmly shook her head.

“No. We are not.”

“Ha……! This is really maddening. I just want to talk quietly? Ha Jun, you’re making me look like the bad guy here, aren’t you?”

As Se Ho, with a deeply furrowed brow, took a step forward, Yeon A spread her arms wide to block Ha Jun.

However, Yeon A was also trembling, unable to hide her fear of Se Ho’s menacing aura.

At that moment, an irritated voice came from behind.

“What’s with this thug?”

“Director!”

Seeing Yi Hyun, Yeon A cried out happily with teary eyes. Se Ho, his irritation rising, turned around with a fierce expression.

“Who are you? Oh…?”

The man leaning against the wall like a painting was a face Se Ho knew well. But Yi Hyun’s expression was terribly fierce.

“Well, who do we have here? Choi Se Ho?”

“Oh, oh… Yi Hyun. Long time no see.”

“Yi Hyun? You’re being too familiar? Are we friends or something? We’re not that close.”

Despite the authoritative and crooked tone as if addressing a subordinate, Se Ho cowered like a puppy trembling before a tiger, unable to meet his eyes and floundering.

“Ah… That, I’m… sorry. Director Kim Yi Hyun.”

Seeing Se Ho apologize with a bright red face and stammering, both Ha Jun and Yeon A had confused expressions.

Yi Hyun snorted and looked down haughtily at Se Ho, who was a head shorter than him.

“They say old habits die hard, still causing trouble I see? If you can’t control yourself, take some medication. Did you know these ladies are my sister-in-law’s direct secretaries? The thing my sister-in-law hates most is exactly the kind of ill-mannered behavior from someone like you. Ah~ I hear Sung Jin Distribution’s Chairman Choi wants to retire now thanks to his son?”

Yi Hyun’s icy gaze and razor-sharp voice, filled with contempt and mockery, bore down on Se Ho.

Faced with Yi Hyun’s relaxed but overwhelming and lofty presence that he couldn’t possibly stand up to, Se Ho immediately tucked his tail.

“Ah, no! I’ll be going now!”

Yi Hyun let out a cold sneer as he watched Se Ho’s retreating back.

“Waaah~ Thank you, Director!”

Yeon A burst into tears. In contrast, Ha Jun still seemed expressionless, but not only her face but even her earlobes had turned red and her eyes were moist.

Ha Jun slowly bowed her head.

“Thank you for helping us…… Director……”

Ha Jun’s pale gaze was directed at the floor, not at Yi Hyun.

“……Are you both alright?”

“Yes, thanks to you, Director. Ah~ the way that person glared was so scary.”

“If anything happens in the future, tell Executive Oh right away. She absolutely detests that type of person and will handle it well regardless of status.”

“Yes. I will. Ah, just a moment.”

Yeon A quickly answered her vibrating phone that she took out of her bag.

“Yes, Manager. Now? Understood.”

“The Manager is looking for you?”

“Yes. But I think I can go alone. Ha Jun, go home and rest. I’ll explain to her.”

“It’s fine……”

“I’m not fine! I’ve never seen Ha Jun with this expression before. I just need to find one document, so don’t worry and go. Okay?”

“Yeon A…… Thank you so much.”

“Rest well tomorrow and I’ll see you on Monday. Director, I’ll be going now. Thank you again.”

Yeon A bowed and hurried back the way she came. Left alone, Yi Hyun’s large hand wrapped around Ha Jun’s waist and pulled her to him.

“Let go. Someone might see.”

“Do you know you’re trembling right now?”

“……?”

Ha Jun looked down at her hands. It was as Yi Hyun said.

Ha Jun clasped her finely trembling hands together tightly and looked up at Yi Hyun standing beside her.

Yi Hyun’s heart sank at her precarious appearance, as if she might collapse at any moment.

He immediately pulled Ha Jun close and held her with one arm.

“Are you stupid? Don’t you feel like you’re about to faint?”

His outstretched hand pressed the elevator button, and as if it had been waiting, the doors opened quickly.

“Let’s go.”

Holding Ha Jun in his arms, Yi Hyun entered the empty elevator and pressed the top floor button instead of the first floor or underground parking.

“Where… are we going?”

“My room.”

At Yi Hyun’s words, Ha Jun’s startled gaze turned to him.

He got a room? Is he crazy?

Reading Ha Jun’s expression, Yi Hyun chuckled.

“This is Hotel Jae In. Not just me, but my mother and brother each have their own rooms. For resting, meetings, and such.”

“Ah……”

“I didn’t plan on bringing you up at this hour today.”

“Should I… go? If rumors start and cause you trouble……”

“Who would dare open their mouth, and who would be troubled?”

Seeing Yi Hyun’s arrogant and relaxed demeanor, Ha Jun quietly lowered her eyes. She could see Yi Hyun’s broad chest subtly undulating before her.

The heartbeat she felt through their touching bodies was slightly fast but steady, and warm. In Yi Hyun’s embrace, Ha Jun gradually began to find stability.

Once again, she had received Yi Hyun’s help. Again…….

The cold and painful love that slashed at Ha Jun’s heart always reached out a warm hand just before she fell, offering an embrace to lean on and rest.

Kim Yi Hyun’s kind sympathy was unfailingly displayed at the right time today as well, saving Lee Ha Jun and making her grateful and sorrowful.

Still looking down, Ha Jun’s small lips parted.

“Thank you.”

Seeing her neatly lowered eyelashes tremble slightly, Yi Hyun unconsciously reached out to caress Ha Jun’s face.

But just then, with a ding− sound, the elevator doors opened. Returning his outstretched hand to its place, Yi Hyun stepped into the hallway with Ha Jun in his arms.

Feeling Ha Jun’s arm still trembling, Yi Hyun quickly took out the suite room key card from his wallet and opened the door.

Only after laying Ha Jun on the bed and covering her with a blanket did he sit down beside her and ask what he was most curious about.

“How do you know Choi Se Ho? That bastard hit on you, right?”

“……I used to work in the president’s office at Sung Jin Distribution.”

“Ha, don’t tell me you moved to headquarters because of Choi Se Ho? Because that bastard was making moves on you at work?”

Ha Jun nodded slightly.

At the sound of grinding teeth, Ha Jun was startled and looked at Yi Hyun.

“That horny bastard hasn’t changed a bit……”

“How do you know him, Director?”

“College classmate. He was famous even then. There was a girl known for being pretty at school, and that bastard Choi Se Ho somehow tried to sleep with her once, got caught, and fled abroad to study. Turns out that girl’s grandfather was a former Chief Justice.”

“……”

“It was such a prominent family that money couldn’t smooth things over. He’s known for being dirty in this field too. That’s why I never treated him like a person. But he hasn’t changed from then to now.”

“I see.”

“At least being the son of Sung Jin Distribution’s president kept him out of jail. The nerve of a guy about to get married to look at someone else like that. Ha, it’s irritating just thinking about it.”

“……”

“That damn bastard dared to look at what’s mine with those eyes. Ha……”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”

When Yi Hyun discovered Ha Jun pale and trembling earlier, he almost lost his mind and was about to charge at Se Ho.

It was only because Yeon A protected Ha Jun in between that Yi Hyun barely maintained his reason and was able to put Se Ho in his place.

If not for Yeon A, they might be in the emergency room or police station now instead of a hotel room.

It felt like his reason flew away in an instant… This feeling was a first in his life. Did she know that?

“Lee Ha Jun. You’re mine. Not just Choi Se Ho, but if any other man sets his sights on you, I won’t stand for it. So don’t even look at other men. Got it?”

“……”

“No answer?”

Seeing the eyes brimming with terrible possessiveness, Ha Jun was at a loss for words. Right now, in Ha Jun’s ears, the story of Yi Hyun’s engagement that Jae In Group employees were gossiping about just hours ago was echoing chaotically.

“Answer me.”

As the voice urging her again struck her ears, Ha Jun suddenly felt choked up.

This man really is treating me like his possession, his doll, until the end.

“How long exactly am I yours? Until I pay off my debt? Or until you get tired of me?”

“What?”

“When will I be able to fall in love with another man, date, and get married? When can I properly live my own life?”