Samuel strode back to his office, the earlier incident still eating at the edges of his thoughts. He pushed open the door to find Taeung waiting for him, a thick folder in hand. 

"Hyung, here’s the list of all the employees with their photos," Taeung said, laying the folder open on Samuel’s desk.

Taeung was Samuel’s dedicated and meticulous secretary, known for his sharp intellect and unwavering professionalism. At twenty-six, he was slightly younger than Samuel, but possessed a maturity and work ethic that commanded respect. His appearance was polished and neat, featuring brown hair and slightly tanned skin that complimented him overall.

“And, we need to talk,” Taeung added. “You’ve really gotten yourself into a bind this time.”

Samuel barely glanced up, his tone dismissive. “What’s the issue now?”

Taeung’s eyes narrowed. “You told me you were caught in a compromising situation with a subordinate. This can affect the company.

“I don’t even know what I can say to help you if grandpa gets on your ass about this.”

Samuel shrugged nonchalantly. “So, someone saw. It’s not the end of the world. We can deal with it.”

Taeung’s frustration was evident. “It’s not just about dealing with it. It’s about managing a potential disaster. I’m stressed enough as it is, Samuel.”

Samuel waved a hand dismissively. “It’s not like it’s gone public yet. Just handle it like you always do.”

Taeung’s patience wore thin. “It’s the fact that you keep putting me in these situations. You act like everything’s handed to you on a silver platter, while I’m left to clean up your messes.”

Samuel’s face remained impassive as he flipped through the folder.

Taeung’s voice grew more intense. “It’s about your lack of responsibility.”

Samuel sighed, clearly uninterested. “Look, I’m dealing with it. I’ve got things under control. For now, just focus on your work and what I asked of you.”

Taeung’s frustration reached its peak. “You still need to respond to a sponsorship!”

The brunet’s gaze remained cold, his voice grew whiny, intending to drive Taeung further over the edge. “I don’t like that company!”

Then, he saw it.

Hajoon’s picture stared back at him, the same rectangular glasses perched on his nose. Samuel’s eyes narrowed as a slow, satisfied smile spread across his face. He had found the person who might have witnessed his indiscretion.

"So, Moon Hajoon," Samuel muttered under his breath, his smile deepening. The thrill of the hunt coursed through him. He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he contemplated his next move. There was a certain pleasure in the chase, and now that he had a specific target, Samuel felt a renewed sense of control and determination.

"Thank you, Taeung," Samuel said, dismissing his secretary with a nod. Taeung saw what Samuel was insinuating and squinted. 

“You better not be jerking off to the thought of that man, you nasty…” Taeung didn’t finish his sentence, leaving the office in haste with a bitter taste in the back of his throat.

“Don’t think too low of me now.” Samuel scoffed playfully, a smile still etched wide on his face.

“Also, the old man is coming to visit this Monday.” As Taeung left the office, Samuel’s mind raced with his anxiety returning, for a completely different reason this time. It was Friday today. 

Not only did he need to handle this carefully, ensuring that Hajoon’s evidence didn’t see the light of day, but also to balance his old man on the other hand. First, he would need to confirm just how much Hajoon knew—and then decide the best way to neutralize whatever the two men had going on. And then… avoid his grandpa at all cost.

The young man pondered about how and why Hajoon would use what he saw against him. Money? Personal grudge? Or perhaps for a porno material? 

The fact was, Samuel was rather blind when it came to himself. The real question was, who would hate him? He couldn’t think of a single person.

“Guess our business trip will happen, stat.” 

Samuel put his thumb over Hajoon’s face in the image, his mind wandering back to the man. An old interest in Hajoon resurfaced, mingling with his current situation. He found himself lingering on Hajoon’s features—neat black hair that always seemed easy on the eyes, striking black orbs that held an intensity Samuel couldn’t ignore, and handsome, well-defined features that gave him a distinguished, almost regal appearance.

Ordinarily, Samuel wasn’t one to be swayed by physical looks alone. He had no particular attraction to hunks or overt displays of masculinity. But with Hajoon, there was something different. The situation had become more complex, but also more intriguing. Possibly not for the better. 

“He’s got the looks,” Samuel murmured to himself, a smile playing on his lips still. “This will be interesting.”

As he leaned back in his chair, Samuel’s mind began to craft a plan, balancing the need to protect his position with the undeniable draw he felt towards Hajoon. The blend of danger and attraction made the stakes higher, but Samuel thrived on such challenges. This was a game he intended to win, on his terms.

Hours later, Hajoon sat at his desk, staring blankly at his computer screen. His mind was a whirl of indecision. Should he come clean about what he’d witnessed, risking his position and potentially facing repercussions? Or should he leverage the situation, using his knowledge to blackmail Samuel and gain some advantage?

The ringing of his phone broke his train of thought. He glanced at the screen and saw a message sent to him via email. 

“Please come to Mr. Choi’s office for a private meeting.”

A cold shiver gave Hajoon goosebumps all over his skin. His heart began to race as he stood up, trying to mask his worry. He smoothed out his clothes and made his way to Samuel’s office, each step feeling heavier than the last. The unknown nature of the meeting made every moment seem like an eternity. 

As he approached the door to Samuel’s office, Hajoon took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The door opened, and he was greeted by Samuel’s sharp but curious gaze. Hajoon stepped inside, the door closing behind him with a soft click. 

Hajoon’s heart sank as his eyes fell on the corner of the desk. There, unmistakably, was his broken pair of glasses, lying almost triumphantly amidst the clutter.It was a silent, yet glaring reminder that Samuel knew he had been snooping.

“So, this is Senior Moon, in the flesh.” The brunet’s pretentious smile sent chills down Hajoon’s spine. He stood stiffly, his face growing more and more intense. “He looks almost unrecognizable without his glasses.

“I will get straight to the point.”

Hajoon was motioned to take a seat in front of Samuel’s desk. As he settled into the chair, his body was tense. The cold leather against him didn’t make it any better, further edging Hajoon. Samuel’s gaze remained steady and calculating, adding to the unspoken tension between them. At this point, both were prisoners of their own minds as their imaginations took roots, waiting for each other to make their first moves.

With a hint of mischief in his eyes, Samuel continued. “You’ve been promoted to my personal research team. We leave at dawn on Sunday.”

Before Hajoon could fully process the news, Samuel took out a mini confetti cannon from under his desk and fired it right at the ravenet. A burst of colorful confetti erupted, showering Hajoon in a surprise display of celebration.

Hajoon sat there, dumbstruck, his eyes wide as the confetti rained down. The difference between the gravity of his situation and Samuel’s seemingly unserious gesture left him momentarily stunned. Hajoon didn’t know whether to reciprocate this news with a smile or continue to dwell in his own anxious thoughts. 

Hajoon forced a smile. “Thank you… boss. I appreciate the offer, but—” He hesitated, his thoughts drifting to Iseul and the potential complications.

Samuel interrupted, his tone almost casually triumphant. “Oh, and by the way, I’ve already promoted Iseul to the same team. I was hoping to have both of you working together on this.” 

Samuel was clearly lying through his teeth about wanting Iseul and Hajoon together. In fact, he’ll have Hajoon be cucked for the rest of the trip.

Hajoon’s eyes widened. The mention of Iseul shifted his thoughts entirely. He stammered, trying to gather his thoughts. “I see. I didn’t realize…”

Samuel leaned forward, his expression unreadable. “So, you have until Sunday to decide. Think about it.”

He’s not that bad… a moment of the scene that the man had witnessed earlier in the day struck him, and he woke up from Samuel’s charm. 

Damn, he’s good. And Hajoon could surmise in the way those eyes were looking at him, they were peeling off his clothes and staring deep right at what makes him so weak in this moment. 

He couldn’t seem that desirable to Samuel, that was for sure. A homosexual chaebol would have a better taste in men than this. Hajoon knew Samuel would have other ways to get back at him. But for now, this offer seemed too good to be an attack.

Hajoon’s hand briefly slipped into his pocket, his fingers brushing against the reassuring outline of his phone. The familiar shape brought him a momentary sense of relief, and he relaxed slightly. This quick gesture did not go unnoticed by Samuel, who couldn’t help but infer that the footage was likely stored on that very device.

“If there’s nothing else, have a good day.” The older man stood up swiftly and let himself out in no time, leaving Samuel no more chance to look him up and down. 

“This asshole…” Hajoon cussed under his breath.

Saturday soon came, bringing with it a brief respite from the weekday grind. Yet, as always, the morning light eventually dimmed, making way for the encroaching night. The bustling city seemed to quiet, the streets less crowded as people settled into their weekend routines.

Just like any other, after finishing their work for the day, Samuel and Taeung were heading home after a long day at the office. Samuel’s eyes caught sight of a bustling BBQ restaurant his employees would frequently congregate at. The warm glow of the interior and the laughter emanating from inside contrasted sharply with the cool night outside. His gaze landed on a familiar group seated at a table: Hajoon, Yumi, Iseul, Sun-hi, and Yunhee, enjoying a lively dinner.

Intrigued, Samuel decided to join them. Taeung, sensing his brother’s intention, sighed but followed. As Samuel pushed open the door and stepped inside, the relaxed atmosphere at the table shifted noticeably.

He felt a mix of awkward curiosity, and was unfamiliar with the casual, communal atmosphere. The servers moved efficiently, bringing plates of raw meat, bowls of banchan, and jugs of iced tea to the tables. Samuel found himself both fascinated and slightly overwhelmed by the flurry of activity, realizing just how different this experience was from his usual solitary dinners. It was a vibrant, lively scene, and despite his initial discomfort, he couldn’t help but be intrigued by the sense of “companionship” that permeated the place. Especially from Hajoon’s table.

Before Samuel’s arrival, the conversation at the table took a more casual and teasing tone as Iseul, Yunhee, Sun-hi, and Yumi noticed Hajoon’s missing glasses.

Iseul was the first to comment, a playful smirk on her face. “Hajoon, did you lose your glasses, or are you trying out a new look?”

Yunhee joined in with a grin, “Yeah, you look kind of… different without them. Trying to be cool?”

Sun-hi, leaning in with a mischievous glint in her eyes, added, “Did you break them again? How many times is that now?”

Yumi, stifling a laugh, said, “If you keep this up, you might need to carry a few backup pairs.”

Hajoon kept his lips in a straight line, scratching the back of his head. “Ah well, this morning—”

“Good evening, everyone,” Samuel greeted, cutting off Hajoon, his voice carrying an undercurrent of authority.

Iseul looked up and smiled warmly. “Samuel, what a surprise! Come, join us.”

The rest of the group exchanged uneasy glances. Hajoon stiffened slightly, while Sun-hi and Yunhee’s chatter died down. Yumi managed a polite nod, her discomfort evident.

Samuel took a seat next to Hajoon. Seeing that, Iseul immediately started including him in the conversation. “We were just talking about our latest project. It’s going well, right, Hajoon?”

Having said that, Samuel let his own arm slip around the ravenet’s broad shoulders, as if they have been well acquainted for years. 

Hajoon, caught off guard, nodded. “Yes, it is. Very productive.”

Samuel’s presence brought a new tension to the table, a stark contrast to the easy camaraderie that had filled the air moments before. Despite Iseul’s efforts to maintain the light mood, everyone else seemed on edge, their previous laughter replaced by cautious responses.

Taeung, sitting slightly apart, watched the interactions with a bemused expression. He was used to Samuel’s ability to unsettle people, but seeing it play out in a social setting was different.

“So, what are we celebrating?” Samuel asked, casually reaching for a piece of grilled meat.

“Oh, just a team dinner,” Iseul replied. “We thought it would be nice to unwind together after a long week.”

Samuel nodded, chewing thoughtfully. “It’s good to see everyone getting along. Team bonding is important.”

The conversation continued, but the easy flow was gone. Samuel’s presence was a constant reminder of the office dynamics, and the informal setting couldn’t fully mask the underlying power structure.