ARHS 06

Chapter 06

“Get out.”

His brief command as he opened the car door snapped Somin out of her wandering thoughts. She shook her head lightly, trying to clear it—she had to stay sharp. If she wasn’t careful, she wouldn’t make it out of the tiger’s den unharmed.

As she stepped out of the car, Kris extended his hand toward her. She forced herself to react naturally to the sudden physical contact.

“Phew.”

Somin took a deep breath and grasped his hand.

“You look stiff.”

His voice was tender, the kind of tone a real boyfriend would use. He immediately noticed her tension.

“I thought this was just a normal party.”

“It is. Just a party. A celebration for a 30th wedding anniversary.”

He guided her hand to rest on his arm. Now they stood side by side in a natural, couple-like posture.

“I know parties held here aren’t open to just anyone.”

His eyebrow lifted slightly.

Her face went pale. If she hadn’t known what this place really was, she might have been able to enjoy the party. But she did know—it was a tiger’s den.

It was surprising.

From the reports his assistant had given him, her background didn’t seem like the kind that would grant access to high-society secrets.

Yet she kept defying his expectations.

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of running away now.”

“Would you allow it? That feels like the only thing I can do well right now—run away.”

“You must have some nerve to joke.”

How was that a joke? With that expression and that tone, it was definitely serious.

“Stay close to me. As long as you do, nothing will happen.”

He patted the hand wrapped around his arm in a surprisingly gentle gesture. They walked slowly toward the entrance.

When Somin wobbled in her high heels—unaccustomed to them—a firm arm slipped around her waist.

“W-wait a second.”

“Kris.”

“Fine, Kris.”

She tried to pull away in embarrassment, but his arm only tightened.

She froze, unable to move an inch.

“There are a lot of eyes on us. It’s better to show them clearly from the start.”

His low voice near her ear made her flinch.

“…What about just holding hands?”

“If that makes you more comfortable.”

His arm disappeared from her waist, and only then did she exhale the breath she had been holding. But it lasted only a moment.

He took her hand and laced their fingers together.

She had suggested holding hands—not this interlocked grip.

“Um…”

“Kris.”

“Yes, Kris. This isn’t really how you hold hands.”

The warmth of his skin seeped through the spaces between her fingers. It made her cheeks burn uncomfortably, as if the heat itself were causing embarrassment.

“You were the one who asked to hold hands.”

“I meant… in a normal way. This is…”

Such intimate contact was something only real couples did.

She had never encountered someone so difficult to communicate with. She sighed quietly, trying not to make it obvious.

No matter how she looked at it, she couldn’t walk into the party with their fingers intertwined.

“Let’s just link arms instead.”

She slipped her arm through his. They were even closer than before, but it felt less awkward.

“Complicated.”

Kris spoke in a muttered tone, a faint smile playing at his lips so only she could hear.

He had helped her so she wouldn’t fall, yet she had stiffened as if rejecting him. He had taken her hand when she asked, and she had reacted with even greater alarm.

“I didn’t expect you to be this picky when you said you’d do anything.”

“This isn’t being picky. And you—haven’t you attended plenty of events with partners? You should know how to escort one.”

She had finally begun to push back.

It pricked at him faintly, like a bit of skin near a fingernail. Ignoring it was difficult—like a small irritation that caught his attention whenever he moved—but tearing it off would only draw blood and risk infection. It was that kind of annoyance.

“Isn’t linking arms like this the most couple-like way to appear at an event?”

“Is it? I’ve seen it, but I’ve never done it myself.”

“What?”

“I already said I hate troublesome relationships.”

If it hadn’t been for the exhibition that had gone so disastrously wrong, he wouldn’t have attended this party at all.

“Then how did you go to partner events before?”

“I went alone.”

“You could have hired someone—a role-playing partner.”

“Every woman I hired broke the contract.”

Broke the contract?

“You said you wouldn’t like me.”

If only she had told him she found his face appealing—or that he was her type.

It was too late to correct herself. Her actions up to now had made it painfully clear she disliked him.

“I’d rather go alone than hire someone who clings and causes trouble.”

A surge of hot resentment welled up inside her.

“Then you should have come alone today.”

It felt unbearably unfair.

This was an event where going solo was perfectly acceptable, yet he had dressed her up and dragged her here.

She looked up at him with sharp eyes.

His lips curved slowly.

“What reason would I have to do that?”

“What—!”

“You were the one who said you’d do anything.”

The cruel smile on his face held no mercy.

The playful tone that had lingered in his voice vanished.

The atmosphere shifted in an instant.

He could switch between a gentle façade and his true nature without hesitation.

Somin reminded herself once more not to be fooled by his good looks.

“Don’t forget. You still owe for what you did.”

The words he spoke sounded harsh, but the slight upward curve of his mouth looked even more ruthless.

She shouldn’t get involved with this man. But in order to retrieve the AD card he had taken—and for the sake of her teammate—she had to endure it. If the investment deal fell through, that was one thing, but she at least wanted to get her colleague’s name back.

If she survived tonight, she would never have to deal with him again.

“So… if I manage to fool everyone perfectly today and act like your girlfriend… you’ll return the AD card you took?”

“Go ahead and fool them completely. Then I’ll do as you wish.”

“Don’t change your word later.”

“I may be ruthless, but I’m not dishonest. Unlike someone who uses cheap tricks.”

He really held a grudge.

He kept bringing up what happened yesterday, as if reminding her not to forget it.

‘Yesterday’s me… what was I thinking?’

Somin bit the inside of her cheek.

At least it was a relief that Kris wasn’t the type to go back on his word. A perfectionist who demanded flawless results might lack warmth, but they usually kept promises. He had spoken about himself honestly, so she believed he would honor the agreement.

“Yes, please keep your promise.”

She curved her lips into a soft smile.

But the predator before her was unmoved. He narrowed his brow and regarded her with suspicion.

“What is that scary smile supposed to mean?”

“It isn’t scary. It’s a loving smile for my boyfriend.”

His brow furrowed even more.

“You seem to misunderstand the meaning of ‘loving.’”

A faint, mocking line formed at his mouth, but Somin refused to back down.

“Let’s go, Kris. The people over there have been waiting for us.”

“Haah. This party is going to be exhausting.”

He sighed and shook his head at her polite tone.

“I was already exhausted from the moment we arrived at your estate.”

No—he had been exhausted since the moment he met her at the exhibition yesterday.

And she wanted nothing more than to escape the accumulated exhaustion once tonight was over.

Just standing still, surrounded by an overwhelming presence, made Somin realize how uncomfortable the evening truly was.

Naturally, all eyes were drawn to Kris, a man whose appearance alone commanded attention, especially since it was the first time he had brought a partner.

She didn’t expect admiration. But the blatant wariness in people’s gazes made her shrink inwardly.

“You must have quite a few enemies.”

She looked up at him, noticing how relaxed he seemed in contrast.

“Does anyone in the world have no enemies?”

It was true.

“No matter how well you do, there will always be people who dislike you.”

From Somin’s perspective, most of the attendees here viewed him with suspicion. A few looked at him with admiration, but the moment he approached, their expressions tightened.

The only one bothered by those stares was Somin. Kris paid no attention to anyone’s gaze.

“See that short man by the window?”

He handed her a glass of champagne as he spoke.

“Yes, I see him. He keeps… glaring.”

She took the glass and answered.

“He helped our company win a ten-billion-dollar contract through consulting.”

His ability was impressive.

A business partner bound by strict contractual obligations. Helping them secure such a huge deal should have earned gratitude. Yet the man’s sharp, hostile gaze suggested the opposite, leaving Somin puzzled.

“If that’s the case, shouldn’t he like you?”

“That guy’s contract required him to step down from management.”