Ra Jin’s face turned red.

“You’ve been like this even before we signed the contract.”

She thought he was angry, but why was he looking at her with those affectionate eyes, saying embarrassing things?

Unable to follow Jae Heon’s sudden change of mood, she took a deep breath.

“I want to open the door. I really don’t feel like doing it, but I’ll endure.”

When Jae Heon looked at his watch, a startled Ra Jin quickly climbed into the passenger seat.

It was because she didn’t want to waste any more time here and risk unnecessary misunderstandings, or rather, she didn’t want to show her blushing face to others.
Tak. Then, as Jae Heon got into the car and closed the door, there were only two of them in the space.

“Sorry.”

“What?”

Facing him head-on, Ra Jin turned her head to look at him as he suddenly apologized.

“What made the atmosphere in the car strange this morning.”

“Ah…”

“I apologize.”

Quietly, like snow falling, his voice piled up silently on Ra Jin’s heart.

“Sa-Secretary Ma is right. It’s best to just follow as it is.”

“Didn’t Chairman Lee’s third condition state, ‘Will absolutely prevent the contract from leaking outside’? I distinctly remember it that way.”
“I’m doing my best to adhere to the contract terms and conditions. But it seems Chairman Lee is on the opposite side.”

“Perhaps he’s being cautious because if the contract were to leak, it could jeopardize his position?”

“Even though he knows that well, it still made him angry.”

Why, why am I doing this? Jae Heon continued to question himself.

It’s funny. The answer is already there.

“Why are you angry?”

“Secretary Ma… No, I got upset because Ra Jin was trying to hide our relationship from you.”

And even that was something he couldn’t bring himself to add.

He didn’t want to let Ra Jin know that he was conscious of Sunwoo.
That’s because it’s evidence of insecurity.

He could never admit to feeling the insecurity that weak and foolish males might feel about losing their woman to someone else.

Furthermore, if he were to say this to Ra Jin, it seemed like she would think of Sunwoo every time she looked at him.

“It’s not like we’re committing adultery or breaking the law, so why act like it?”

Ah, that’s right. Only now did Ra Jin realize why Jae Heon’s mood had sunk so much.

Jae Heon had been a man who had occupied the top of the food chain since birth.

It was only natural for him to have an aversion to hiding something or telling lies.
And not for an important business reason, but to hide his vulnerability, which was his insomnia.

His pride had surely been wounded.

“Director.”

“Yes?”

“You and I are on the same team on this ship. It might be uncomfortable, but please trust me. I promise, I will never do anything that harms you.”

“I understand. So you only confided in Secretary Sa.”

Finally, Ra Jin’s tense expression softened.

“You did well. If anything bothers you in the future, please speak up just like you did now. Got it?”

“…I will.”
Watching Jae Heon respond so respectfully, like a large and docile guard dog to someone else but gentle and pleading to his owner, brought a smile to her face.

Jae Heon, looking at her, reached out and cupped her fair and soft cheek.

“So, are we reconciled now?”

Tingling. His thumb lightly brushed her reddened lips, and his touch felt oddly secretive and enticing.

“Um, yes, that’s right.”

“They say lovers don’t reconcile with words.”

Jae Heon’s eyes, tilted inquisitively, darkened significantly.

“What do you think?”

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Under his intense gaze fixated on her lips, Ra Jin felt like her heart was about to burst.
It was a look as if he was forcibly restraining the desire to rush forward.

“Ra Jin.”

The sound of Jae Heon calling her name held a clear and eager desire.

“I really want us to reconcile properly.”

“…….”

“Can we?”

In his eyes, seeking an answer, Ra Jin’s body was ignited with a young, burning longing.

As Jae Heon leaned towards her.

Rrrrrrrr[Dash]

Suddenly, the ringing of the phone snapped Ra Jin back to reality, and she pushed his shoulder away.

“I, I should go back to the office now. Lunchtime will be over soon.”

Without paying any attention to his response, Ra Jin hurriedly took out her phone and pressed the call button.

“Hel-hello?”
[Dash] Director? Where are you?

“Ah, Ms. Yoon.”

[Dash] Mr. Sung Soo left because he said he had to go somewhere. I entered the office building, and Assistant Manager Sun is here. I asked, and he said he came in first because he had an urgent matter. Did Assistant Manager Sun come here and leave you alone, Director?

[Dash] In a series of questions from Yoon Hee, Ra Jin cleared her throat and replied softly.

“I have some business to attend to. I received a call from the CEO.”

[Dash] The CEO?

“He’s right here. He’s on his way into the office.”

[Dash] The CEO is coming right now? Oh my god, why is he coming so quickly? I’ll clean up quickly then!
Thud. The call ended. Ra Jin put her phone down.

“Was it Assistant Jung?”

“Yes, it was from the company.”

“I thought you were having lunch together today.”