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Episode 10: 

The office had emptied hours ago, leaving Seo Hyun-jin alone with the soft hum of the air conditioning and the faint tapping of her keyboard. The city lights outside the floor-to-ceiling windows cast a warm, golden glow, reflecting off the polished marble and chrome accents of the sleek corner office. Normally, she would have welcomed the solitude—peace, quiet, a chance to focus—but tonight, it only made the tension in the air more palpable.

Hyun-jin’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, her mind racing. The reports Joo-wan had assigned were meticulous, complicated, and necessary, but she couldn’t focus. Her thoughts kept drifting back to his smirk from earlier, the glint in his eyes that made her blood heat in a way she both hated and couldn’t resist.

The intercom buzzed loudly, cutting through the quiet like a sudden jolt. Hyun-jin jumped, her heart skipping a beat. The receptionist’s voice came through, polite but firm:

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

Her eyes widened. Every drop of blood seemed to drain from her face. She felt as if someone had pulled the air out of the room, leaving her chest tight, her breaths shallow. Her mind spun: his fiancée… here? And now, when she was alone with him in this intimate, late-night office?

Joo-wan didn’t immediately react. He was leaning against his desk, arms crossed, his gaze distant as if savoring her sudden unease. Then, slowly, he turned toward her, a slow, deliberate smirk curving his lips.

— “Ah,” he said, voice low and teasing, “so the unexpected visitor has arrived.”

Hyun-jin’s stomach twisted. Every instinct screamed to run, to retreat to safety, yet another part of her—a part she didn’t want to acknowledge—felt a strange thrill. She was trapped in a game she didn’t understand, and Joo-wan was clearly enjoying every second of it.

— “Sir…” she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. “What… what do you want me to do?”

He stepped closer, his polished shoes clicking softly on the marble floor. The subtle scent of his cologne drifted toward her, intoxicating and dangerous. Every step he took made her heart pound faster, her thoughts scatter.

— “Do?” he echoed, raising an eyebrow. “Nothing. Just… observe. Learn how to handle situations you’re not prepared for.”

Hyun-jin swallowed hard, her throat dry. She could feel the tension building between them—not just the professional pressure of working under the CEO, but something deeper, more personal. Every glance, every subtle movement of his hand, every low hum of his voice seemed to tease and taunt her simultaneously.

Her mind flashed to moments from the past—the hotel encounter in the rain, the way his eyes had held hers, the dangerous magnetism that had drawn her in despite the pain he had caused. And now, in this private office, the same energy was suffocating her in the best and worst ways.

Joo-wan circled the desk slowly, letting his presence dominate the space. Hyun-jin felt trapped between professionalism and desire, her body responding in ways she scolded herself for. She felt a subtle warmth rise to her cheeks, her heartbeat hammering in her chest. Every subtle brush of his hand as he adjusted a document, every slight lean over her desk, was enough to make her aware of the suppressed tension between them.

— “You’re trembling,” he murmured, his voice low, almost a whisper meant only for her. “From nerves… or something else?”

Hyun-jin forced her gaze down, gripping the edge of her chair. “I… I’m fine, sir,” she said, though her body betrayed her words, betraying every racing thought and heat that surged through her.

Minutes passed with a torturous slowness. The intercom buzzed again, but Joo-wan ignored it, savoring the moment. He leaned casually against the desk, arms crossed, eyes locking onto hers with that familiar intensity, the smirk never leaving his face.

— “Seo Hyun,” he said, voice smooth and controlled, “I hope you know… situations like this are tests. And sometimes… tests are meant to be failed.”

Her chest tightened at his words. Every syllable felt loaded, carrying both threat and promise. She tried to focus on her work, but her mind was flooded with memories, desires, and the unpredictable pull of attraction she couldn’t escape.

The intercom buzzed again—louder this time—and the receptionist’s voice was unmistakable:

— “Sir, your fiancée is still waiting downstairs. She insists on seeing you now.”

Hyun-jin froze. The polished surface of the desk suddenly felt like a wall between her and safety. Her thoughts were a whirlwind: confront the fiancée? Hide? Step out? But Joo-wan remained perfectly composed, his smirk widening as if he were savoring her internal struggle.

— “Ah,” he said softly, almost teasingly, “so the game begins in earnest.”

Hyun-jin’s hands trembled slightly as she gathered her courage. The air was thick, charged with electricity. She could feel her pulse in her ears, her heart racing like a drum. Every inch of her body was aware of Joo-wan, his proximity, his gaze, the faint scent of him lingering in the room.

She forced herself to take a deep breath, trying to regain composure. But it was impossible. The tension was suffocating, and every instinct screamed that this was far from over.

Finally, Joo-wan turned to the window, the city skyline reflecting in his dark eyes. He didn’t rush. He let the moment stretch, letting her anxiety simmer, letting her realize that she couldn’t control this.

— “Go on, Hyun-jin,” he said, voice low and deliberate. “Let’s see how well you handle… unexpected challenges.”

Outside, the city lights shimmered against the night sky. Downstairs, the fiancée waited, smiling politely yet with the air of someone who believed the world belonged to her. Hyun-jin’s breath caught. She was trapped in a triangle she hadn’t asked for, and yet, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the man who had caused all this chaos—Cha Joo-wan.

She felt the tension coil in her stomach, a mix of fear, anticipation, and the undeniable pull she had felt from the start. Her carefully maintained walls were crumbling, her professional resolve faltering under the weight of desire, rivalry, and dangerous curiosity.

And as Joo-wan’s eyes met hers again, dark and mischievous, she realized something terrifyingly clear: she had no escape. Not from him, not from the storm he brought into her life, and certainly not from the attraction that refused to be denied.

Cliffhanger: Hyun-jin took a shaky breath, knowing she couldn’t avoid the confrontation with the fiancée—and that Joo-wan was enjoying every second of her unease.

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