Chapter 17
“No, please don’t do this, Executive Director.”
“You bastard! The Executive Director is giving a gift, so why are you making a fuss?!”
Hae-joo snatched the catalog out of Man-chul’s hand. The moment Man-chul stood up and raised his hand, he locked eyes with Seung-jo’s chilling gaze and quickly lowered his arm.
“Would that car be okay?”
“It’s an incredibly expensive car… If you’re giving it to me, thank you!”
“My secretary will contact you sometime tomorrow afternoon.”
“Th-Thank you so much, Executive Director!”
Man-chul bent at the waist, bowing deeply. He even went so far as to prostrate himself on the living room floor, bowing repeatedly.
Looking down on his shabby back, Seung-jo’s arrogant gaze narrowed.
“Fix that filthy habit of yours.”
“Pardon?”
“You shouldn’t be yelling in front of Seon Hae-joo.”
“O-Of course not! If it’s your order, I’ll follow it no matter what!”
“I believe you understand what I mean.”
Watching this, Hae-joo’s lips turned pale. She couldn’t raise her head.
“I will never talk about money in front of Hae-joo again! Our Hae-joo is so pretty—I always knew she’d be loved by someone outstanding like you!”
Kneeling before Seung-jo’s polished shoes, Man-chul looked like a dog wagging its tail, fawning for affection. He turned his head and smiled sweetly at Hae-joo.
“Uncle’s really sorry about today, Hae-joo! From now on, serve the Executive Director well!”
“No, Executive Director. Even aside from the fact that this is an unreasonable gift—it’s something my uncle can’t possibly repay.”
After Man-chul left, Hae-joo spoke with a trembling voice. But Seung-jo had already made the call and given instructions to the Taehwa Motors representative.
“There’s no such thing as an unbearable gift. If it makes you happy, that’s what makes it a gift.”
By now, Seung-jo had gotten up from the sofa and picked up a cigarette pack. Hae-joo rushed over and grabbed his hand.
“Please, Executive Director…”
His masculine hand was cool and firm. Holding the hand she secretly adored, Hae-joo pleaded sincerely.
“You must’ve felt it too—my uncle is a shallow man. He loves money and is obsessed with luxury.”
“So what?”
“Executive Director!”
“You’re Seon Hae-joo, who won’t even use the credit card I gave you and keeps rejecting my gifts. So, gifting your uncle instead—it’s like putting it to good use, don’t you think?”
“You must be tired, Director. My uncle will never be able to repay that money… I’ll repay it somehow, even if it’s a car. So please… let’s stop here.”
Seung-jo gazed down at her intently, making her voice tremble even more.
Hae-joo still wasn’t used to receiving help from him. He had once gifted her a luxury car, which left her extremely uncomfortable.
Designer clothes, shoes, and jewelry—all absurdly expensive. He’d given her many gifts worth thousands, but Hae-joo always felt like a compensated escort, and refused them every time.
She had managed to persuade him to take back many of them.
Though he always looked displeased, all Hae-joo really wanted was to spend time with him.
Even gifts for herself were overwhelming—now she had to worry about her greedy uncle too…
She felt like she owed a huge debt. More than anything, hadn’t she resolved on her way to work this morning to end things with Seung-jo?
“How exactly are you planning to pay it back on your salary?”
Seung-jo’s cold gaze pierced her. Still, he didn’t pull his hand away from hers.
“It’ll take time, but I can do it.”
“You always avoid the easy path and choose the hardest one.”
Seung-jo let out a short laugh. He reached out with the hand holding the cigarette butt and cupped her flushed cheek.
“Just keep seeing me, like now.”
“Executive Director… you don’t even love me. So why are you doing all this?”
“There’s no woman who satisfies me like you do.”
“…!”
“It’s still fun. So why would I stop?”
Hae-joo’s eyelids trembled. She felt like she was being consumed by him. He lowered his head and kissed the cheek Man-chul had slapped.
“Ngh…”
After work, Seung-jo held Hae-joo in his arms and kissed her deeply. Despite the intensity of the kiss, his steps were unwavering and firm as he walked into the residence. The lights inside flickered on one after another.
“I-I’ll go shower first, Executive Director.”
The veins stood out in Seung-jo’s arm as he firmly gripped her soft thigh.
Even after sleeping together for over a year, she still blushed at the sight of a bed.
Watching her lips, Seung-jo smirked.
“You want to do it in the shower?”
“Ahh…”
“You sobbing while clinging to the tub is quite the sight.”
“Ah…”
Hae-joo’s lips burned hotter. Seung-jo’s gaze grew darker.
He reached the bedroom, laid her on the bed, and pinned her slender wrists down with one hand.
“But right now, I’m craving the scent of your skin more.”
Still locked on her flushed face, Seung-jo ran his hand up her inner thigh. His possessive touch made it hard to breathe.
It had only been a day. Just one day since she said they were done.
And yet Seung-jo’s day had been a mess. He was like a perfectly dressed man with only a tie pin that didn’t match.
During meetings, he kept wanting to pull her into his arms. He imagined her in his office dozens of times, inhaling that faint rose scent lingering on her.
“Ngh…”
His eyes grew darker, no longer needing to suppress his thirst. Seeing Hae-joo unravel like she wanted him just as much made the tension in his lower stomach even tighter.
“You said we should stop, but I think you’ve built up a lot too.”
“T-That’s not it.”
“I told you—once you’ve had me, no one else will ever satisfy you.”
“Ah… no…”
Please, let me shower first… this isn’t what I want…
She was ashamed of how she acted around Seung-jo. Even as she accepted his kisses and touches, she avoided his gaze.
Her uncle—the kind of man who’d jump out of bed for money—had just shown his true colors in front of Seung-jo.
And now, his niece was lying here with her skirt rolled up and legs spread.
Biting her lip, overwhelmed by Seung-jo’s scent, Hae-joo hated herself. But she couldn’t deny her body was reacting to him.
“Executive Director, no matter what… this isn’t right. About the car, I’ll—”
“Don’t repeat a conversation that’s already over. Call it a favor, if you want. I care about Seon Hae-joo, niece of Kwak Man-chul.”
Seung-jo arrogantly lowered his head and captured her lips, ending her hesitation. Another passionate kiss.
Even though his actions were overpowering, Hae-joo knew that if she firmly pushed him away, he would stop.
But she couldn’t.
Her heart pounded wildly with the scent of him. It stopped her from resisting.
“Just for today… Executive Director… I hate this…”
“You hate it?”
A tense, irritated look flashed in Seung-jo’s proud eyes.
Hae-joo tried to close her thighs and trembled as she moved. Gasping, she wanted to tell him she hated being seen like this today—but he misunderstood, thinking she didn’t want to sleep with him at all.
“I still remember when you clung to me and said you liked me.”
“Nngh…”
Seung-jo frowned slightly, suppressing his breath. Though his voice remained cold, his touch was gentle and skilled.
He loosened his tie and threw it to the floor. Then, gripping her delicate ankle, he leaned in.
“Ahh… Executive Director…”
Her voice trembled. As his warm breath touched her skin, her back arched, and her lower stomach tingled.
His firm muscles strained beneath his shirt, and every touch of his lips sent heat through her. Hae-joo clenched her eyes shut and held her breath.
The wet sounds he made stirred something deep in her, and she struggled to contain the fire building inside.
It was a hidden and wild passion, as if their bodies were pressed together with no escape.
