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Il-hyeon, who was about to take the elevator, paused blankly at the heart symbol captured in the message. Just in case, he immediately took a screenshot and saved it, and sure enough, it disappeared in an instant. Then only the text saying "I know" without the heart arrived again. Realizing that Lee Ja-kyeong hadn't sent it by mistake, a smile spread across his lips.
He called Tae-su who was standing next to him.
"Director Park."
"Yes."
"I'm leaving work right now. Clear all my afternoon schedule."
"Understood."
"Ah, and I'll be staying out tonight. Don't call me even if I'm late in the morning."
Tonight, with just the two of them together, he intended to bite and suck until it was completely worn away. Where should they go when they meet. What should they eat. Work was put on the back burner, and his mind was distracted thinking about the date when the elevator door opened and Director Park and Director Kim got on from the 5th floor but hesitated upon seeing Kang Il-hyeon.
Il-hyeon offered them a polite greeting.
"Hello, Directors."
They also returned the greeting, but facing the smiling Kang Il-hyeon, they felt somehow uneasy. What kind of scheme is he plotting to be smiling like that. While others are scary when angry, Kang Il-hyeon is an unfathomable guy, so him smiling is actually scarier.
As the air inside the elevator grew increasingly frigid, Director Park spoke to Il-hyeon first.
"How is the Chairman doing? Has he improved significantly?"
Il-hyeon chuckled. Chairman Kang had not left his house since the day Il-hyeon barged in and threatened him. His leg hurting was just an excuse; Il-hyeon knew he was being cautious. Why had someone who was cruel enough to be called a human butcher in his youth changed so much. Because he had so much to lose? Or simply because he aged?
Thanks to that, even the people Il-hyeon hired struggled to do their jobs properly. It would be better if he just stayed locked up at home and died. Then they wouldn't have to see his face anymore.
"If you're that worried, would you like to go see him together today? I'm curious too."
Director Park's expression stiffened. He awkwardly smiled and made an excuse that he couldn't because his schedule was busy today. Il-hyeon's gaze landed on the back of Director Kim's head, who was standing right in front of him. An old fox just like Chairman Kang. Even when trying to catch his weaknesses, he slips away like a loach here and there.
"I heard Director Kim's son returned from New Zealand. You must be happy."
He could feel Director Kim's neck and shoulders stiffening. He turned his head halfway, and smiled barely noticeably.
"I'm glad Representative Kang is interested in me."
"Of course. How much interest do I have in you Directors."
"Heh... was that so."
"Who you met yesterday evening, what you ate, what conversation you had with your wife in bed—I know almost everything."
Director Kim's expression hardened as he whipped around, and Il-hyeon smiled nonchalantly.
"I'm joking. Why are you making such a serious face."
Ding, the elevator door opened, and Il-hyeon stepped out, cutting between them. He put his hands in his pants pockets and tilted his head, greeting the two frozen men. Have a good day, then. The faces of Director Kim and Director Park, who reacted reluctantly, disappeared behind the elevator doors.
Il-hyeon turned around with a fierce glint in his eyes. Inside, there was still endless talk of holding a board meeting to decide on a successor. As long as Chairman Kang didn't change his mind, his close associates among the directors would likely take a hardline stance on that issue as well.
Tsk. Annoyed, he opened his phone and checked the messages he had just exchanged with Lee Ja-kyeong. His soiled mood eased. As he walked into the room smiling like a crazy person, the secretary who had stood up looked at him with puzzled eyes.
***
Ja-kyeong, sitting on the sunbed, sipped the watermelon juice Sang-ju's wife had made for her while gazing blankly at the swimming pool. She wanted to swim but couldn't because of her injured arm. Regretfully sucking only the juice, she checked her phone once more.
There had been no message from Kang Il-hyeon since then. Is he very busy?
He probably didn't see that. Since it was deleted instantly, he wouldn't have seen it. Trying to think positively, by the time she finished the juice, someone entered through the distant main gate. At first, she thought she saw wrong. The figure walking boldly across the yard with long strides was unmistakably Kang Il-hyeon.
Surprised, she looked at him as he came to stand in front of her. Thanks to that, a shadow was cast.
"What are you doing here? At this hour?"
He smiled brightly.
"I came for a date."
Ja-kyeong checked the time. Leaving work after only 4 hours—she was dumbfounded.
"Is the company a joke to you? You come and leave as you please?"
"It's okay today. Because it's a special day."
W-what do you mean? When she feigned ignorance, Il-hyeon took out his phone and showed her the saved screen. A red heart was clearly visible. As a bonus, he even played the file he had recorded before: "I like you, Representative! That was the most amazing sex of my life!" making Ja-kyeong turn pale.
She tried to snatch the phone to delete it, but he immediately put it in his pocket. She became embarrassed, her ears and nape turning red. Il-hyeon, who came closer, toyed with her earlobe.
"You keep pouring out surprise gifts, I can't get my bearings."
"I-I pressed it by mistake."
"Knowing you'd say that, I already instructed Tae-su to enlarge it greatly and make it into a framed picture."
Ja-kyeong looked at him in horror.
"That's a joke... right?"
"Should I hang it in the living room? Or in my bedroom?"
"......"
"Both?"
Seeing his expression, he was serious. Ja-kyeong's face rapidly darkened as she clenched her teeth.
"Don't do it. If you hang it, I won't tolerate it."
His hand left her ear and grabbed her hand. When he pulled, she sat and resisted. Then he said he understood, that he wouldn't tease her, quickly changing his attitude. Ja-kyeong's force diminished as she stood up from her seat.
"Stop fighting, let's go on a date."
At the word date, Ja-kyeong looked down at her clothes. She was wearing comfortable shorts and a shirt, which contrasted too much with the well-dressed Kang Il-hyeon.
"I'll go change my clothes."
"Wear something casual. I plan on having you naked all afternoon anyway."
At the blatantly stated purpose of the date, Ja-kyeong shook her head back and forth. Does he only think about rolling around naked? Grumbling, she went up to the second floor and put on the clothes she had prepared in advance.
When she came out after changing, Kang Il-hyeon, who had been sitting on the sofa in the living room downstairs, had a strange expression. Does it look bad? Worried for no reason, she lowered her head and examined her outfit. Hearing the sound, Sang-ju's wife came out from inside and smiled brightly upon seeing Ja-kyeong.
"My goodness. It suits you so well. Right, Representative?"
She was wearing beige slacks that revealed her ankles, which she didn't usually wear, and a white shirt. Her long, straight limbs made the look distinctly different from the sporty clothes she usually wore. Should one say it was pure yet sexy? Il-hyeon couldn't take his eyes off her, then smiled faintly.
"It does. You make me fall for you twice in one day."
Ja-kyeong scratched her neck in embarrassment. To that extent. When they went outside, Kang Il-hyeon opened the passenger door for her. Get in, princess. She laughed in disbelief and got into the seat. Before the car started, Il-hyeon reached over and fastened Ja-kyeong's seatbelt.
"I'm fine. I have hands too."
"Stay still. I'm trying to set the mood for a date."
After fastening the seatbelt, the car started immediately. The green summer scenery spread refreshingly around the house. When passing this road leading outside, she somewhat understood why Kang Il-hyeon had built his house here. It would probably feel different in winter. Having only seen it in summer, she couldn't quite imagine it.
As they approached the city center, traffic increased significantly even though it was daytime.
"Is there anywhere you want to go?"
Il-hyeon asked, and Ja-kyeong thought carefully. There wasn't really anywhere she particularly wanted to go or anything she wanted to try. She had just become accustomed to living a life focused only on work.
"Hmm..."
Seeing her hesitating, he reached out and opened the passenger dashboard, taking out some documents. Wondering what was inside, she opened it to find a list of date courses, good restaurants, and a paper written like a report selecting places in Seoul that couples could visit.
She burst out laughing looking at it.
"Who made this?"
"Tae-su."
"Oh my, has Director Park dated quite a bit then?"
"I don't know. I've never seen him date."
Ja-kyeong stared straight at Il-hyeon.
"What about you, Representative? Have you dated a lot?"
Il-hyeon smiled strangely.
"What do you think?"
Ja-kyeong answered without even a second of hesitation.
"A playboy."
"Wrong."
"Trash?"
"Honey. That's too harsh."
"Then a bastard?"
"Don't project your feelings."
Il-hyeon laughed in disbelief. From the time he entered university, he had learned company business while juggling academics, so he never had time for proper dating. Most relationships were short, and when he prioritized company work more, the women who were tired would leave first. He wasn't the type to have lingering regrets about breakups either.
When she heard that story, Ja-kyeong seemed unconvinced.
"Then later, if I ask you to let me go, you'll be cool about it too—"
Before she could even finish speaking, Il-hyeon cut her off sharply.
"Don't even dream about it. The moment you notify me of a breakup, you'll be in the afterlife."
Ja-kyeong frowned.
"You said you were cool!"
"No, not with you. I'll be extremely petty and hold grudges. So erase any thought of escaping from your head from the beginning."
Looking at him with a despairing expression, Il-hyeon smiled and added one more word emphatically.
"Did I mention? I revised my will through a lawyer."
Out of nowhere, why a will.
He looked at Ja-kyeong very affectionately. With love overflowing from his eyes.
"If I die first, I asked to have you buried alive with me."
Not understanding the word "buried alive," Ja-kyeong searched the internet later and all the color drained from her face.
That's a joke... right?
He only smiled.
When she snapped at him not to joke, he never answered until the end.