Chapter 7 – You’ll Have to Stay Uncomfortable
She had ended up signing an utterly absurd contract with him. Back at her desk, Chaekyung collapsed into her chair.
The interview in the vice president’s office felt like a dream.
Not knowing when or where Kangwoo might contact her to enforce the contract, Chaekyung spent her days on edge.
Contrary to all her worries, she could barely even catch a glimpse of him. He hadn’t shown up in the office for days. Since the strategy planning team shared space with the executive secretariat, she naturally learned his schedule.
Hyoju, the youngest member of the strategy planning team and an open admirer of Kangwoo, looked dejected.
“It’s so hard to see the vice president these days.”
Disappointment dripped from her voice.
Recently, rumors had spread that a fan club for Kangwoo had formed inside the company. That was how much buzz the young vice president’s arrival had created.
“Ever since the team was formed, it feels like he’s even harder to see.”
“Everyone envies us for being in the strategy planning team and seeing him often, but look at this.”
Chaekyung, who had been constantly tense, felt relieved instead by Kangwoo’s absence.
Still, two of the three female employees on the team openly pined for him right in front of her.
As Chaekyung sipped her coffee, she focused only on figuring out how to stay as far away from him as possible.
Late at night, the Mott headquarters was lit up as brightly as daytime.
Chaekyung was in the middle of back-to-back meetings in a conference room, preparing a preliminary planning proposal presentation. Due to the tight schedule, Jeongseok was helping her out. Fatigue weighed heavily on her after the endless overtime.
“Assistant Manager Choo, let’s rest a bit before continuing,” Chaekyung said, pressing her temples.
“Yes, Assistant Manager Min. You must be exhausted. Even I’m wiped out. Have this and take a short break.”
“Thank you. I’ll go get some fresh air.”
Jeongseok handed her the coffee he’d bought after stepping out mid-meeting. Chaekyung gave him a faint smile and headed for the rooftop garden to clear her head. She glanced casually at her watch.
“Looks like I won’t be leaving until eleven again today.”
Crossing the empty garden late at night, she climbed up onto the railing at the edge with practiced ease. On nights she worked late, she often sat alone on the deserted rooftop railing, drinking coffee. It was the perfect spot to feel the wind.
Sitting at such a dizzying height and drinking coffee sharpened her senses and cleared her mind. It was the best way to cool off her stifling thoughts. As usual, Chaekyung perched on the railing and took a sip.
She held the coffee in her mouth for a moment, stared at the paper cup, then swallowed.
To her surprise, it was Einspänner—her favorite. Perhaps that was why Jeongseok had encouraged her to drink it today. She felt grateful for his thoughtfulness.
Sitting on the railing, the wind felt even stronger. Autumn had deepened, and the air was noticeably cold. The chill rushed into her lungs as she exhaled deeply. It felt refreshing, almost liberating.
She turned her head and gazed blankly at the dazzling lights of the city’s buildings. Neither good nor bad—just a flashy night view. In that emotionless scenery, the night continued suffocatingly, no different from day. She set the coffee down carelessly beside her, braced herself on the railing with both hands, closed her eyes, and leaned her head back.
Feeling only the sound of the wind brushing past her ears and the sensation against her skin made the breeze feel even clearer, and it put her in a good mood.
“If you fall, that’ll be my loss.”
A familiar voice intruded into the space she thought she was alone in.
Startled, Chaekyung tilted backward and flailed.
“Ah—!”
Her balance slipped, her body tipping back, and her heart dropped.
At that moment, a large hand grabbed her arm firmly.
Her tilting body steadied. Wide-eyed, Chaekyung looked to see who the voice belonged to.
“You’re still a handful.”
It was Kangwoo—the man she hadn’t seen hide nor hair of for days. Sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up to his forearms, Kangwoo frowned deeply as he held onto her arm.
Her dangerously perched body was supported by his grip.
Chaekyung’s heart pounded violently. She couldn’t tell whether it was from nearly falling off the building or from seeing him.
Whoooosh.
The wind howled, whipping past her cheeks and tangling her long hair. Strands fluttered, alternately hiding and revealing his dark eyes.
Kangwoo frowned, clearly displeased, his thick black brows drawn together as he stared intently at her.
Chaekyung stared back at him, mouth half-open. She was shocked, yet the situation felt unreal, like a dream that wouldn’t end.
“You’re heavy.”
“Ah.”
Snapped back to reality by his words, Chaekyung panicked and struggled. The more she moved, the more dangerous her unstable perch became.
Kangwoo tightened his grip and yanked her sharply toward him. Veins bulged in his well-trained arm as he exerted force. Her upper body tipped into his chest. A faint scent of tobacco mixed with his woody cologne brushed her nose.
“If you fall, I lose.”
“……”
Not understanding the implication, she looked up at him with wide eyes. Kangwoo, apparently annoyed that she didn’t get it, explained.
“You might not know this, but this building is under my name. And you’re my company’s employee.”
“Why are you saying that now—”
Maintaining a suffocatingly close distance, Kangwoo looked at her calmly, his expression unreadable. His face was breathtakingly beautiful up close, but the words coming out of his mouth were cruel.
“If Min Chaekyung falls, I lose. If you’re going to fall, go fall off another building.”
“……”
“And I wouldn’t even get the remaining 7.8 million won.”
He was meticulous about money. Kangwoo spoke to her matter-of-factly, his expression unchanged.
Chaekyung realized then—Kangwoo wasn’t the type to casually brush aside the contract they’d made just because he was busy.
He wasn’t Junheon. And he wasn’t kind.
When she tried to pull her body away from him, Kangwoo tightened his hold instead. Their locked gazes felt searing.
“I don’t want to hear that my employee committed suicide.”
“Suicide? You have to let go so I can get down from here.”
Instead of releasing her, Kangwoo wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her down from the railing.
Her body ended up pressed straight into his.
Startled, Chaekyung looked up at him and swallowed hard.
Instinctively, she tried to pull away, but Kangwoo’s hand around her waist was faster.
“Why were you up on the railing?”
His face was so close she could feel his breath.
“It’s annoying.”
The words he spoke with a frown lingered with her.
Chaekyung pushed hard against his chest and escaped his hold. Without realizing it, she scanned her surroundings.
Even late at night, there were plenty of eyes and ears in the company. Only after confirming no one was around did she relax.
“It’s my healing spot.”
Kangwoo caged her in with his arms. Chaekyung found herself trapped between his arms braced on the railing. He lowered his head to meet her eye level.
It was a position where kissing her wouldn’t have been strange at all—one that would easily be misunderstood by anyone watching.
“If you ‘heal’ twice, you’ll die. Sitting on that railing is forbidden.”
Chaekyung’s expression hardened. His words irritated her as well.
“If you hadn’t suddenly appeared, Vice President, it wouldn’t have been dangerous.”
“You’re the one who suddenly appeared.”
“……”
“We should add another clause to the contract. No dangerous behavior.”
Kangwoo watched her without a single shift in posture or gaze.
The wind continued to blow, yet the air around them felt hot, as if summer had returned.
“Have you been well?”
“……”
The sudden gentleness of the question caught Chaekyung’s attention as she avoided his eyes.
When he softened like that, Junheon overlapped in her mind, throwing her into confusion.
The impulsive one-night stand she’d chosen to escape Junheon’s shadow had now become a tangible presence—Kangwoo—who threatened to swallow her whole.
“Did you decide not to answer?”
“Please move, Vice President.”
He looked at her impassively, then stepped even closer instead.
Her vague fear became reality.
His lips were so close they were nearly touching hers. When she tried to retreat in surprise, the railing blocked her escape.
Chaekyung expected him to kiss her—but she was wrong.
At that breathless distance, his warm breath brushed her skin.
“What did you eat?”
“What…?”
“Is this why you smeared it on?”
He lifted a hand and rubbed her lips with his thumb, then brought his finger to his own mouth.
His gaze never left her, making it hard to breathe.
Even if she tried not to be conscious of him, it was impossible. His mere presence set her nerves on edge.
And the way he constantly acted beyond her expectations only fueled her anxiety.
Don’t be aware of him.
Don’t look at him.
Don’t let your heart race because of him.
She knew all that—but every time, he threw the door wide open and asserted his presence.
“Vice President. What happened between you and me back then… has nothing to do with the company. Doing this at work is… uncomfortable.”
“I make you uncomfortable?”
“Yes.”
Kangwoo withdrew his hand and shoved it into his pants pocket. He spoke casually.
“That’s a relief.”
Surprised by the unexpected answer, Chaekyung lifted her bowed head.
“Pardon?”
She couldn’t read his intentions. And she felt foolish for being so weak to his face.
“That’s the point. You’ll have to stay uncomfortable.”
Even as a cold wind swept fiercely past, it didn’t feel refreshing.
While Chaekyung stood there in confusion, he had already turned around and walked away.
