CHAPTER 31………………………………………….
Holding her teacup, Seoyoung took a sip of herbal tea and glanced toward the door.
Juhee’s subtly stiffened expression—so different from her usual constant smile—nagged at her.
‘Could it…?’
No. That couldn’t be it. She must just be on edge and overreacting.
Seoyoung set down her cup and looked at Jin-ho.
“Is it possible that there’s a spy inside our company?”
“Nothing is certain, but we can’t ignore any possibility.”
After a brief moment of thought, Seoyoung shook her head.
“Let’s put employee investigations on hold for now. Instead, check if anyone has personal matters at home and assist them if needed.”
Seeing Juhee’s expression, Seoyoung recalled her difficult situation. Jin-ho seemed to have a guess as well, nodding slightly.
“Then, shall we go over what happened this past week?”
Seoyoung moved to the sofa, and Jin-ho sat opposite her. He placed the documents on the table and began reporting one by one.
As Jin-ho continued, Seoyoung’s frown deepened.
“Nothing has been officially confirmed, but the management team’s mood isn’t good either. Rumors of your plan being leaked from the director’s office have raised trust issues.”
“Sigh… things keep getting more difficult.”
Seoyoung let out a long sigh.
Though she had steeled herself before coming in, facing it now made her feel even more drained.
“It’s certain the leaks are coming from Vice President Jungmin’s side… but the real problem is figuring out who is doing it.”
“We’re still investigating. As you suggested, it might be good to leak a bait plan soon.”
“Understood. Let’s each think of suitable plans on our own.”
After sending Jin-ho off, Seoyoung sank deeply into the sofa.
‘Who could it be?’
She tapped her hands together and fell into thought.
The next plan would be discussed only with Jin-ho, but deciding on the right approach was crucial.
Her intuition was strong, but without evidence, they couldn’t confront the culprit.
“Should I ask Hyukjin for help after all?”
She had spent the entire weekend pretending to sleep first and avoiding him.
Even on the last night in Phuket, her memory was hazy, and today, entering her in-laws’ house, she had unwittingly exposed herself again.
The memory of his sculpted body upon waking made her face burn.
She shook her head to erase the recurring images.
“Why do these memories keep coming back? I’m not possessed or anything…”
Once their bodies had touched and they had kissed, thoughts like this kept surfacing.
Thinking about how to avoid him today, her head ached again.
“Is everything going well with the hotel work?”
After dinner, Hyukjin sat on the sofa, sipping coffee, looking across at Seoyoung.
He was curious why she, who had been avoiding him all weekend, was sitting on the sofa today.
Despite the casual question, Seoyoung sensed his concern.
‘Should I bring it up now?’
She hesitated, unsure if she should mention what had been on her mind all day.
Even after finalizing a two-year marriage contract and a business alliance, new issues had arisen.
Being married didn’t mean she could rely on him indefinitely.
Besides, she had spent the weekend avoiding him, dodging his gaze, yet now felt embarrassed at needing him.
Still, she had no other practical options.
Steeling herself, she slowly began to speak.
“Unfortunately, the situation keeps getting more complicated. Both the shareholders and the management team are applying more pressure.”
“I see.”
Hyukjin shook his head and clicked his tongue.
“So… I was thinking…”
Seoyoung hesitated, speaking cautiously.
With the shareholders’ meeting approaching, there was no time to delay.
“I’d like some help from you, Hyukjin.”
“Go ahead. I’ll help if I can.”
He set his coffee down and looked at her seriously.
“To catch the internal spy, I think we need to set a trap. I’m considering creating a fake plan, and I’ll need Hanho Group’s help too.”
As Seoyoung explained her carefully considered idea, Hyukjin occasionally nodded.
“Good. That’s not difficult. I’ll inform my secretary tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Hyukjin. I’m always relying on you.”
Seoyoung smiled sincerely.
“Then, how about you do me a favor too?”
“A favor?”
Leaning slightly forward, his gaze fixed on her, Seoyoung’s eyes widened.
She didn’t know what he would ask, yet her heart raced.
“Just one of two things. Will you do one?”
“…Yes?”
The unexpected request made her heart pound faster.
“Do you know your sleeping habits?”
“My sleeping habits?”
Her mouth fell open in surprise.
Hyukjin chuckled at her parrot-like repetition.
“You didn’t know?”
“No. I didn’t.”
“You act like you might catch a disease if you sleep next to me, yet you keep holding me in your sleep. I didn’t know how to take it.”
“Me? I—”
Seoyoung’s eyes widened at this revelation.
“It’s impossible. I…”
She tried to protest but found herself unable to speak.
Having slept alone for so long, she didn’t know her own sleeping habits.
Though she used to sleep hugging a body pillow…
‘Ah.’
She suddenly remembered something she had done unconsciously while living alone.
The thought that she might have hugged Hyukjin in place of her body pillow made her face flare red.
Imagining herself rolling across the king-size bed, clutching his waist and legs while trying to keep distance, embarrassed her immensely.
“I’m sorry. I guess it’s just a habit from sleeping with the body pillow…”
She apologized quickly, hoping to explain her behavior.
“I’ll be careful not to hold anyone like that again.”
Why the conversation had veered here from work, she couldn’t say. She kept her gaze lowered, biting her lips nervously.
“My request isn’t about that.”
Hyukjin’s raised eyebrows revealed a mischievous glint.
“Excuse me? Then what…?”
Seoyoung lifted her head, curious.
“Either sleep right next to me and hold me properly, or spend the night like a real wife, starting now.”
His gaze was serious, leaving no room for doubt.
Seoyoung was speechless.
Neither option was easy to accept.
There was no guarantee that nothing would happen if she hugged him, and spending her first night with him now reminded her of Minwoo.
‘Weren’t you supposed to like men? You’re with Minwoo, yet why are you talking about being a “real wife”?’
She wanted to shout that she knew their relationship, but she couldn’t.
If she did, he might get angry again, narrowing his eyes like last time.
Needing his help to secure the hotel, Seoyoung decided to pick the lesser of two difficult options.
“Then, I’ll choose the first one.”
“The first one? You mean sleeping right next to me, holding me tight?”
Hyukjin’s voice carried disbelief.
But Seoyoung was already set on her choice.
Using the words “next to” and “tight” made it feel like it was her decision, making her blush.
‘This man…’
His serious expression showed no trace of joking, though she suspected his twitching lips hinted at teasing.
‘He really wants to try this?’
Recalling all she had endured with him, a small smile began to form on Seoyoung’s lips.
Her lips, curved lightly at first, slowly parted.
“Yes. That’s correct. But I don’t want to be intimate until I give permission.”
Her firm tone made Hyukjin’s eyebrows rise in surprise.
