Tension at Work

Another normal day begins at the office, but there’s a palpable tension in the air. Seo-yeon sits at her desk, absent-mindedly flipping through papers, though her mind clearly lingers elsewhere. She’s lost in thought, her gaze distant, unaware of the quiet figure watching her from across the room.

Seok-ho stands just outside her office, a concerned expression on his face. Without saying a word, he steps forward, approaching her with gentle steps.

“What’s on your mind?” His voice is soft, carrying a hint of worry.

Seo-yeon’s eyes flicker up to meet his, but her gaze quickly drifts away. Her lips press together in frustration. “Why didn’t you come home last night?” she asks, her voice wavering. “Where were you? I… I got scared. You didn’t answer my calls.”

The words cut through the room, and Seo-yeon’s face contorts with a mix of anger and sadness. "The first time I saw you this morning, I wanted to punch you in the face," she adds, the weight of her hurt evident in every syllable.

Seok-ho’s chest tightens at her words. He steps forward, regret flashing in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Seo-yeon. There’s nothing to worry about. I went to meet some friends last night, and I left my phone in my car. I didn’t mean to upset you. I promise.”

As he speaks, he reaches for her hand, hoping his touch will offer some comfort. For a brief moment, they stand together in silence, the unspoken bond between them becoming more tangible. Her anger softens, and she doesn’t pull away. But the tension remains.

From the window, the secretary watches the exchange, her eyes narrowing. She’s no fool—what she sees is a connection deeper than professional. And now, her suspicions are confirmed. There’s something more between Seo-yeon and Seok-ho.

A Father's Wrath

Elsewhere, in the executive office, Seo-yeon’s father is seething. His trusted secretary has just filled him in on the growing closeness between his daughter and her bodyguard, Seok-ho. To say he’s livid is an understatement. The thought of a man with no status, no lineage, being so close to his daughter… it’s unthinkable.

His fists clench at his sides. “A bodyguard… him?” His voice trembles with barely contained fury. “I won’t stand for this.”

His orders are swift and decisive. He demands a background check on Seok-ho. The results are even worse than he imagined, further igniting his fury. No longer able to control his rising anger, he makes a grim decision.

“I’ll take care of this,” he mutters, darkly. “I won’t allow a man like him to ruin everything I’ve built for Seo-yeon.”

Without hesitation, he hires thugs to deal with Seok-ho. Whatever it takes, Seok-ho will be out of his daughter's life.

The secretary, though reluctant, knows she must obey. She moves quickly, setting a plan into motion to separate the two, ensuring that Seo-yeon and Seok-ho cannot communicate.

A Divide

The day passes with a sense of unease. The secretary, knowing she has Seo-yeon’s trust, approaches Seok-ho with a well-practiced look of concern.

“Seo-yeon sent me to tell you,” she says, her voice smooth and convincing. “There’s an urgent matter at the site. She needs you to go right away.”

Seok-ho, already on edge, gives her a wary look. Something feels off. But the mention of Seo-yeon softens his skepticism, and after a moment’s hesitation, he nods. “Alright… I’ll go.”

He walks away, but his mind races, a feeling of unease settling in his gut. Meanwhile, in Seo-yeon’s office, she grows more confused by the minute. Where is Seok-ho? Why hasn’t he contacted her?

She tries calling him, but the secretary intercepts, swiftly turning off her phone and hiding it from Seo-yeon. When Seo-yeon asks where he went, the secretary’s voice is cold, dismissive. “He left to visit friends,” she lies smoothly. “He’ll be back soon.”

Seo-yeon, still unsettled, tries to shake off the growing sense of dread. But her heart tells her something is wrong. Something isn’t right.

Kidnapped

Seok-ho’s heart skips a beat as his phone rings, the number unknown. When he answers, a cold, unfamiliar voice sends a chill down his spine.

“We’ve got Seo-yeon,” the voice sneers. “If you want her back, you’ll come alone. No police, no tricks.”

The blood drains from Seok-ho’s face. The world tilts, and for a moment, he’s frozen. “What…?” His voice is barely a whisper.

The voice on the other end doesn’t wait for him to catch up. “We’ll give you one hour. If you’re not here by then, she dies.”

Panic surges through Seok-ho, but it’s quickly replaced by a torrent of guilt. This is his fault. Because of him, Seo-yeon is in danger. His every instinct screams at him to get to her, but he knows that time is slipping away.

Frantically, he tries calling her, but his attempts are met with silence. His heart pounds in his chest as the seconds tick by. His worst fears are coming true.

A Desperate Decision

There’s no time to waste.

Seok-ho knows what he must do. There’s only one choice. With a grim determination, he swerves his car into a sharp U-turn, the tires screeching in protest. His eyes are fixed ahead, focused only on one thing: Seo-yeon’s safety.

Without hesitation, he drives toward the unknown, prepared to face whatever danger lies ahead. Nothing matters but her.

As the screen fades to black, Seok-ho’s heart races, and his resolve hardens. He will save her—no matter the cost.