“Again with that attitude?”

Yeoreum was about to retort when the click-clack of heels approached again.

Creak.

The emergency exit door suddenly opened. Yeoreum gasped, and Tae-seok nodded reassuringly after a brief glance at her panicked face.

They were almost embracing each other.

Kim Secretary diligently searched the stairwell and continuously called someone. Despite the recipient’s phone being off, she seemed determined not to give up.

“Why are you doing this, Seo Tae-seok?”

Frustrated, she eventually left through the emergency exit, and soon the elevator arrived. It seemed she was finally leaving for real.

“It’s over now…….”

Yeoreum whispered softly.

Tae-seok looked down at her. Her fists were clenched so tight that she seemed almost pale with tension.

A face that looked troubled, yet somehow endearing.

Her eyelashes fluttered twice, trembling slightly.

“Can I move now?”

Right. He could have moved, but Tae-seok wanted more, even trivial things. Like looking directly into her eyes under those lashes.

“Look at me when you speak.”

The request came out harshly.

Reluctantly, Yeoreum slowly lifted her head to meet his gaze.

“Move aside.”

A rush of blood to the core. Deep eyes. Red lips beneath them.

He knew the taste of those pouty lips. Knew her reaction when persistently teased. Even the small tantrums she always said she liked echoed in his ears.

He was on the brink of losing control.

“Alright. It’s enough now.”

So he stepped back.

He couldn’t just recklessly indulge without permission.

“Let’s go down.”

Tae-seok said tersely, restraining himself with almost superhuman effort.

Yeoreum unhesitatingly turned her back and followed Tae-seok, who was already heading down. How could he be so cruel, seemingly without spilling a drop of blood?

As the situation ended, he nonchalantly turned away, as if nothing had happened.

‘I’m trembling as if my legs will give way, but you. What about you…’

Seo Tae-seok’s revenge was inhumanly cruel.

Was it fun to shake someone?

Was it all a game to shake Choi Yeoreum with his gaze, voice, and actions? Did he hope she’d cling to him, only to be kicked away after?

Yeoreum bit her lip.

“This isn’t right.”

She’d been compliant enough. It was time to speak up.

“Really, this isn’t right.”

Muttering to herself, she slowly descended the stairs.

“I won’t tolerate it anymore.”

“I need to speak my mind.”

Tae-seok, sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed, frowned and opened his eyes. There was Choi Yeoreum, looking furious. Huffing and puffing, her cheeks flushed.

Going to battle or something? Why so solemn?

And why do her cheeks get so red? Tempting to devour.

“What is it?”

Seeing Tae-seok’s grim expression, Yeoreum thought negatively.

‘Doesn’t he like that I’m confronting him?’

But if she couldn’t even speak her mind and had to be docile, it would be better to have a doll instead. Having held back long enough, Yeoreum finally spoke, unwilling to back down.

“I
“Just like before! In such a space, together, too close, everything! Just all of those suffocating situations!”

Yeoreum’s voice trembled as she spoke. Tae-seok looked at her nonchalantly.

“You look like you’re about to cry.”

“Please promise. Make sure it never happens again. Or add it to the contract.”

Tae-seok’s lips curled into a smirk.

“Kim Secretary’s arrival was an unexpected variable. What could I do?”

You find this situation amusing.

“There was no need to handle it that way.”

Yeoreum’s ears reddened with humiliation.

“I couldn’t think of another way.”

“There must have been another way.”

Tae-seok stood up, shaking off whatever was on his mind. His imposing physique always took one’s breath away. With each step, he approached Yeoreum and said lazily,

“Another way. Like what?”

“…”

“Tell me, Author Choi Yeoreum.”

“That’s not for me to decide. But there must have been.”

Tae-seok slowly approached and stood in front of her.

“There wasn’t.”

“You could have just stayed there, uncomfortably, with Kim Secretary.”

“Why should I?”

Tae-seok took another step closer, causing Yeoreum to step back.

“Why should I let anyone disturb my time with you?”

Yeoreum was aghast.

“Don’t say it like that! No matter what, I’ll never be shaken by Seo Tae-seok again!”

“Never be shaken.”

“Absolutely not.”

“…”

“So, stop these ridiculous games. It’s disgusting.”

Yeoreum, having let it all out, slowly regretted her words as Tae-seok’s face darkened.

Ah, I should have held back.

She envisioned the numerous production supports tied to the drama, especially the crucial foreign cars and massage chairs, flying away. And all the other endorsements – finance, bags, coffee… too many to count on her fingers.

As she recalled the faces of the director and the CEO, her expression visibly darkened.

“So, what I mean is…”

“Never be shaken. Feel disgusted.”

“No, no, not that. Rather than that…”

“Can you stand by that statement?”

Tae-seok, now right in front of her, growled.

“Look me in the eye. Weren’t you shaken by me just now?”