Chapter 20
‘I want to be in good graces with both Executive Director Tae Seungjo and Madam Hong Na-ae. Though, of course, I’m sure I already am.’
Haeju shook her head, trying to dismiss thoughts of Saerin. Then, noticing the scattered cufflinks on Seungjo’s desk, her hand instinctively reached out—a long-standing habit.
“It must’ve been a hectic morning.”
Seungjo, often out for business or meetings, frequently changed clothes in his office. There were even times when he barely slept three hours a day and took brief naps there.
Despite that exhausting schedule, there were days he would call Haeju over and have intense encounters with her. Feeling sorry for him, Haeju would surrender to his wishes, hoping to ease his fatigue just a little. But in truth, it was always Haeju who ended up drained, while Seungjo looked perfectly refreshed.
Haeju gathered the cufflinks, intending to place them in a small drawer, but her hand froze mid-action. Whenever Seungjo napped or stepped out for an urgent meeting, she would quietly tidy his desk—never once letting him see her do it.
“What are you doing right now?”
“…!”
Startled, Haeju’s eyes widened. Deep in thought, she hadn’t even noticed Seungjo entering the office.
“You told me to come to your office,” she said.
“So you figured you’d clean my desk while you waited?”
“I wasn’t cleaning… I just thought it might fall.”
Seungjo strode toward her and suddenly grabbed her wrist. The cufflinks clenched in her fist trembled slightly.
His scent swept over her with the unexpected contact. Haeju froze, and Seungjo’s gaze upon her grew dark and intense.
“So you do know how to touch someone else’s things.”
“…I’m sorry, Director.”
“You can’t even touch me properly in bed—always trembling like a leaf—and yet here you act so bold.”
“I made a mistake.”
Unable to withstand the weight of his gaze, Haeju lowered her head. She tried to return the cufflinks, but instead, Seungjo wrapped his hand around her clenched fist.
“Hngh…”
A soft whimper escaped Haeju’s lips. Her small hand was completely enveloped in his. His familiar touch was scorching hot.
“D-Don’t touch me like this!”
“I guess you didn’t notice that I am holding back.”
Seungjo’s voice was cold and detached, but his eyes were burning with heavy desire.
“We’re not in that kind of relationship anymore!”
“Right. That was what Sun Haeju declared yesterday, wasn’t it?”
“Please… let go.”
“But too bad for you. For the next month, your body still belongs to me.”
“What… did you just say?”
Haeju’s voice trembled as she stared up at him in disbelief. At that moment, a knock came from outside the office.
“Sir, Director Kang Saerin of Seongjin Group is here.”
“…!”
Haeju held her breath. Seungjo, staring at her increasingly pale neck, didn’t even glance toward the door as he replied to his secretary.
“Tell her to wait thirty minutes.”
“D-Director…”
Haeju’s voice shook. Seungjo lightly caressed the back of her hand before letting it go with a cold finality.
“Shame, really. Thirty minutes is still enough time.”
He walked past her and sat down at his desk, then began coldly unbuttoning Haeju’s blouse, who stood there, dazed and speechless.
* * *
“I’ll be going now.”
Seungjo silently watched Haeju as she left the office after saying goodbye.
It was deeply irritating. Even worse, the thirty minutes had felt far too short.
He felt strangely unsettled. Even the bed he had slept in alone for decades felt uncomfortable now.
“Executive Director! If you haven’t eaten yet, would you like to have lunch together?”
Saerin stepped into the room, having been watching Haeju leave, and spoke eagerly.
Seungjo’s frown deepened. The strong perfume now mixed with the lingering, subtle rose scent in the air, making the space feel suffocating.
Living under constant tension due to his great-uncle Tae Jae-woong and the board members who supported him, Seungjo found this new scent utterly exhausting.
“Seongjin Group must have a lot of free time these days. From Chairman Kang to Director Kang Saerin, you two come and go here like it’s your own home.”
“Oh no, I guess my father and I were thoughtless, visiting you when you’re so busy. But when I first heard the news of your engagement from my dad, I was overjoyed! Every day since has felt so thrilling, I can hardly sit still.”
“How many times have we even met?”
Seungjo pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his suit. His eyes, tightly drawn in irritation, looked arrogant and cold.
“I first saw you at a concert when I was twenty. I fell for you at first sight.”
“I heard that story from Chairman Kang.”
Seungjo stood and walked to the window, opened it halfway, and lit a cigarette, completely ignoring Saerin, who stood nearby hoping for his attention.
What filled his thoughts again was Haeju. The young Sun Haeju he had first seen at the concert, the grown-up woman who had joined Taehwa Group, and the woman who had cried and pleaded with him in bed as she panted in heat.
He bit down on the cigarette stub with his sharp teeth.
“That’s not all. Last year, when you were on a business trip to Paris, I was there too. I watched you working from afar. You looked amazing…”
Saerin blushed slightly. Seungjo’s confident, powerful presence was exactly the kind of man she had always wanted—regardless of nationality.
“I also saw you at the JR Group madam’s book launch two years ago. We even exchanged greetings then, though I guess you don’t remember.”
“There were a lot of people there.”
“Yes, and it was hard to even say a word to you.”
Saerin smiled shyly. She had worked so hard to catch his eye, trying every trick she could think of. But she’d only managed to exchange formal introductions—nothing more.
Now, standing in front of this devastatingly handsome man whose good looks had only refined over the years, Saerin found herself both thrilled and frustrated. Even while ignoring her and just smoking, Seungjo looked sexy—every movement of his fingers captivating.
He had it all—looks, power, business skills. If she could capture him, she’d throw everything else away without hesitation.
“I heard a little from my father last night. When he got back from his meeting, he mentioned that Chairman Tae Jae-woong seemed uneasy after hearing about your engagement with Seongjin Group.”
Saerin stepped closer to him with her most alluring smile.
“Everyone knows Chairman Tae favors his son, President Tae Sangyoon, as the successor. But since Sangyoon has no impressive results to show, he can’t officially name him and is keeping things quiet.”
“Kang Saerin, you didn’t come here just to say obvious things, did you?”
“From the start of the year up to the 50th anniversary of Taehwa Group, you’ve racked up outstanding achievements both internally and externally. Chairman Tae must be feeling quite anxious. My father heard that Tae’s already discreetly selling off some of his properties in Seoul. Probably to push back against you and support President Tae.”
Saerin carefully stepped forward, her toes tense with nerves. She knew Seungjo must have already understood her intentions, but his gaze remained unchanged. She couldn’t read anything in him. That emotionless look scared her, but she held her ground.
“You think I didn’t already know?”
“Of course not. My father even said he’s always admired how many steps ahead you are.”
Then, Saerin gently touched his arm, inhaling his intoxicating scent with greedy longing.
“My father owns many bonds from his younger years, and he’s passed down a lot of land to me. I want to be your strength.”
