“You really don’t remember?”

Jae Kyung smiled, gently creasing the corners of his eyes.

“Surely… not, right?”

“First, get up. The floor is cold.”

When Jae Kyung extended his hand, Bo Mi unconsciously reached out but then flinched. Jae Kyung didn’t miss it and wrapped his hand around Bo Mi’s, applying pressure.

The warm and strong sensation of his hand even evoked a longed-for feeling that had been lost long ago.

“Are you changing the subject?”

As Bo Mi raised her head and grumbled accusingly, Jae Kyung pulled her in. Bo Mi lost her balance and fell into Jae Kyung’s arms. When his bare skin touched her cheek, a flush of heat rose, turning her bright red.

“What… what is this!”

Startled, she pressed against the man’s chest, trying her best to regain balance. Jae Kyung wrapped his arm around Bo Mi’s waist as if he had no intention of letting go.

“Director!”

“Is this an answer to your earlier question?”

Bo Mi’s pulse was no longer normal. She wasn’t sure if she was breathing properly. She didn’t know whether to get angry or cry. The man’s deep scent permeated to the depths of her heart, replaying last night’s kiss in her mind.

The gentle kiss that didn’t suit the warm and soft Do Jae Kyung.

That’s why she could only mistake it for paradise.

“Really…”

Bo Mi swallowed hard and looked up at Jae Kyung.

“Did we sleep together?”

She truly couldn’t remember. Considering Bo Mi’s drinking habits, it wasn’t uncommon for her to black out.

Every time Jae Kyung laughed, the vibration transferred to Bo Mi. Jae Kyung tapped his forehead against Bo Mi’s. The closeness almost made Bo Mi stop breathing.

“Not yet.”

“Not yet…?”

“Nothing happened.”

“…”

See? It wasn’t for nothing that she had no memory. Bo Mi let out a sigh of relief.

“Are you disappointed?”

This man is teasing me.

Jae Kyung relaxed his grip and let Bo Mi go. Bo Mi stepped back and covered her mouth with her arm.

“Me? Absolutely not. I won’t make such mistakes in the future.”

“What mistakes?”

The man’s lazy smile and brazen question were irritating.

“Making personal mistakes like this between you and me, Director…”

“Bo Mi.”

“Just call me CEO Han Bo Mi…”

“If you made a mistake, you should accept this much penalty.”

“Isn’t that too unfair for me?”

“Then I can call you by name too, right?”

“Director!”

Bo Mi felt like she would be swept away by Jae Kyung at this rate.

“You said nothing happened last night.”

“While nothing happened, there were many moments I want to remember.”

“Director… what exactly.”

“You seduced me first, didn’t you?”

“That’s a lie…”

Bo Mi refuted in disbelief.

‘I don’t mind going crazy. This time, be captivated by me… Come at me.’

“You told me to come at you… mmph.”

Bo Mi covered Jae Kyung’s mouth with her bright red face. Jae Kyung pulled Bo Mi’s hand and kissed her palm.

“Director!”

A soft, hot breath landed on her palm and disappeared. Bo Mi curled her fingers and folded her palm in surprise.

Bo Mi was flustered and didn’t know what to do as Jae Kyung closed the distance like someone with broken brakes.

Did he notice that I’m feeling flutter because of that face?

“I held back a lot… Don’t I deserve praise?”

“Ha… what exactly…”

“I could have gone all the way.”

“But you didn’t.”

“Don’t you remember me saying I’m very interested in you?”

“…”

‘I think I’m very interested in CEO Han Bo Mi.’

Bo Mi’s eyes wavered as she stepped back.

“I’m quite serious, so I didn’t want to do that with a woman who calls another man’s name.”

‘Won Il.’

She called his name after a deep, captivating kiss.

“I’m sorry.”

“Who is… that person?”

Bo Mi avoided Jae Kyung’s gaze and moistened the corner of her lips at his question.

“The person called Won Il.”

Bo Mi couldn’t find an answer. How could she explain to Jae Kyung about that man, Nakwon, whom she had loved?

“Does he resemble me a lot?”

“I’m sorry.”

Bo Mi hung her head.

“Director. Yesterday was really…”

Her heart ached. She had done the worst thing, seeking the shadow of a dead person in this man just because he resembled her loved one.

“That’s not an answer to my question.”

“Thank you for yesterday.”

She should be grateful that Jae Kyung didn’t abandon Bo Mi on the street when she forcibly kissed him while drunk.

“Bo Mi.”

“Director… I made a mistake while drunk.”

It was she who first embraced him. She kissed him first and then fell asleep. He had no choice but to bring her home.

When she took off her clothes saying it was hot, the scene of Jae Kyung chasing after her with a flustered expression to pick them up flashed through her mind like a movie reel.

You’re crazy! Crazy!

Han Bo Mi, you’re not human when you drink.

“It won’t happen again… ever.”

“Bo Mi. I won’t let you drink in front of another man ever again.”

“What? Why would you…”

“Because you’re my lover, you said.”

‘You’re my lover.’

Why did I say such a thing!

“That was a misunderstanding…”

Was it really said to Nakwon?

She must never waver for Jae Kyung again and must not get entangled with him.

As long as her mother was involved in the death of his father, Do Won Il, she could never get close to Jae Kyung.

“Do you dislike me, Bo Mi?”

Jae Kyung’s fingertips lightly brushed Bo Mi’s fluttering hair.

“It’s not that I dislike…”

How could I dislike this man?

“We’re not doing anything wrong… Can’t I be your lover?”

“No. It is wrong.”

Bo Mi bit her lip and refuted.

“You have a fiancée, Director. You shouldn’t be doing this with me.”

“I’ve never been engaged.”

Jae Kyung pressed on as if determined to corner Bo Mi.

“If necessary, I can do bad things with you.”

“You shouldn’t. We are in a collaborative relationship. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Why are you trying to deceive yourself?”

“You’ve misjudged, Director. I have no feelings.”

Bo Mi’s gaze when looking at Jae Kyung was always sorrowful, desiring yet rejecting him. Was it because of that man?

“You kissed me and still say that?”

“You know. It was just a misunderstanding with someone else.”

Bo Mi cut off Jae Kyung with a firm tone.

To prevent Jae Kyung from noticing her wavering.

Regret for Won Il and guilt towards Jae Kyung swirled inside Bo Mi. If he didn’t look exactly like Nakwon, could she have rejected Do Jae Kyung?

Bo Mi was only confused because the languages spoken by her heart and reason were so different.

“Just work colleagues? I can’t do that as you say.”

“…”

“Until recently, I couldn’t decide, but yesterday I knew for sure.”

“Director…”

Bo Mi’s heart sank with a thud.

“To me, you appear as a woman.”

‘Even if I go back, I would see you as a woman.’

Was it because of the dream this morning? Why did those words come to mind?

“I’m sorry. I’ve never seen you that way, Director.”

Bo Mi’s slender shoulders trembled finely as she couldn’t meet his gaze.

“I understand. Still, have breakfast before you go.”

“No. My family is waiting at home. Thank you.”

Bo Mi bowed her head slightly and turned around.

“Bo Mi.”

She hesitated for a moment at Jae Kyung’s voice calling her.

“See you at the company.”

Jae Kyung, who had suddenly approached from behind, kindly opened the door and pressed the private elevator button.

This is it. There won’t be any more entanglement now.

She should feel relieved, but on the other hand, a feeling of disappointment crept up. Bo Mi deeply loathed her own fickleness as she entered the elevator that seemed to descend endlessly.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Sigh. Not a single thing done properly. How do they expect to get paid like this.”

Ga Young grumbled, clicking the mouse irritably. Even after making a fuss at Narae Creative in the morning, her anger hadn’t subsided.

Burying herself deep in the chair, she chewed on her fingernails in annoyance.

How can I teach that bewitching girl her place?

The plan she had with Ga Jin a few days ago had come to nothing.

Yeon Ga Jin. This fool couldn’t even take advantage of a perfectly set table and let Han Bo Mi slip away.

That lucky girl.

The reason for Ga Young’s anger wasn’t just because the plan failed.

Do Jae Kyung was quite famous among chaebol friends. There were quite a few girls aiming for Jae Kyung. That’s why Ga Young had already boasted about getting engaged to a chaebol here and there.

[Didn’t Do Jae Kyung say he’s living in Do Won Palace?] [Our Jae Kyung oppa? He lives in the penthouse there.] [Oh my. That’s right! You’ll be shocked if you know what I saw!]

The message in the group chat was truly shocking.

The photo of Han Bo Mi getting off the direct elevator to the penthouse at dawn on the company dinner night was enough to make Ga Young grab the back of her neck.

When did they become close enough to visit each other’s homes?

She couldn’t forgive Han Bo Mi, who always coveted what belonged to Ga Young.

Ga Young was trembling, gripping her phone tightly when suddenly.

“Ah! You scared me.”

She almost dropped her phone, startled by the vibration.

[What are you doing? Want oppa to buy you a meal? Is Han Bo Mi at her desk?]

Poor Yeon Ga Jin, who had become like a dog chasing chickens. Yet he still couldn’t let go of his lingering feelings for Han Bo Mi. Years ago, when he snuck into Bo Mi’s bedroom, if only he had pounced on her then… Like an idiot, he just stared and got caught by his uncle, only to be scolded and sent abroad.

Bo Mi used that incident as an opportunity to leave home and become independent. Ga Young was the one who became happy when she completely disappeared.

[I don’t want to see her face.] [How can you talk to oppa like that?] [You can’t even do anything right!] [Hey… I have something to ask you…]

Ga Young was about to put down her phone but listlessly typed a message.

[Did you know Han Bo Mi has a child?]

Ga Young’s pupils dilated.

Oh my! What is this?

She has a child? A married woman?

So a woman with a family is meeting with Do Jae Kyung too!

Do Jae Kyung probably doesn’t know this fact at all.

[Oppa! Tell me more about that story. I’ll come. Where are you?]

What kind of face would Do Jae Kyung make when he finds out that Han Bo Mi has a child?

Ga Young suddenly felt energized.

“I’m going out, so take care of work on your own. If you have any questions, ask Team Leader Kang Sun Young.”

Ga Young said, looking around the office as she picked up her bag.

“Oh, and CEO Han Bo Mi.”

“Yes?”

Bo Mi, who had been focused on work and hadn’t heard Ga Young say she was going out, answered in surprise.

“Go home early.”

“Ah… yes.”

Then don’t nitpick… Bo Mi didn’t like the way Ga Young’s words sounded, but she couldn’t show it, so she smiled brightly.

“Thank you for your concern.”

Bo Mi wondered why Ga Young would say such a thing, but didn’t ask.

Ga Young felt annoyed when Bo Mi smiled and greeted her.

Just wait and see. Let’s see if you can still smile in front of Jae Kyung oppa…

How dare you set your eyes on another’s man when you have a family!

“By the way, how old is CEO Han Bo Mi’s child?”

Bo Mi’s expression stiffened at Ga Young’s sudden question.