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Episode 9: 

The sound of the doorknob turning shattered the tension. Someone else was about to walk in.

Hyun-jin immediately stepped back, putting a careful distance between herself and Cha Joo-wan, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Her fingers still trembled from the intensity of his words, and she was terrified that whoever entered might have seen too much.

The door opened slowly, revealing a junior secretary holding a stack of documents. The young woman froze in place when she noticed the two of them standing much too close for comfort. Her eyes widened ever so slightly before she quickly lowered her gaze, pretending not to notice.

— “S-sir, these are the reports you requested,” the secretary stammered, bowing.

Joo-wan’s expression remained calm, but there was a sharp glint in his eyes as he accepted the files.

— “Leave them on the desk,” he ordered coolly.

The girl obeyed, practically fleeing the office after setting down the papers. The moment the door clicked shut again, silence returned—thicker and heavier than before.

Hyun-jin released a shaky breath, trying to regain her composure.

— “That was too close,” she whispered.

Joo-wan’s lips curved into a dangerous smile.

— “You’re worried someone might misunderstand?”

She shot him a glare. “It would be a misunderstanding.”

But he didn’t back down. Instead, he took a slow step toward her, closing the distance she had just created.

— “Really? Because from where I was standing, there was nothing to misunderstand.”

Her pulse raced. She hated how his words could disarm her so easily. Before she could reply, thunder rumbled outside, followed by the sudden roar of rain against the windows.

The storm had arrived.

Joo-wan walked to the window, hands in his pockets, watching the downpour. “It’s late. If you try to leave now, you’ll be drenched.” His gaze slid back to her, piercing. “Stay.”

Hyun-jin’s throat went dry. “That’s not appropriate, sir.”

— “Appropriate?” He chuckled darkly, turning to face her fully. “Tell me, Hyun-jin… when have I ever cared about what’s appropriate?”

🔥 The electricity between them crackled louder than the thunder outside.

Hyun-jin took a step back, but her heel hit the edge of the desk. She had nowhere else to go. Joo-wan closed the space between them, his hand braced against the wood near her hip.

— “You can keep pretending,” he murmured, his face dangerously close to hers. “But every time you breathe faster, every time you look away… I see the truth.”

Her heart pounded so loudly it almost drowned out the rain. The air felt suffocating, charged with an intimacy that terrified her.

Just as he leaned closer, their lips only inches apart—

Cliffhanger:

The intercom on his desk buzzed loudly, followed by the receptionist’s voice:

— “Sir, your fiancée has just arrived. She’s waiting downstairs.”

Hyun-jin’s eyes widened. Every drop of blood drained from her face.

And Joo-wan… only smirked.

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