Chapter 13

Since they were dating, it meant not to so much as touch a finger on Leeyeon, and not to push someone unworthy as a fiancée.  

Knowing that all too well, Heeyoung could only let out heavy sighs.  

“Well then, I’ll be heading out now.”  

At those words, a glint appeared in Cha Heeyoung’s eyes.  

She had planned to call Leeyeon over and give her a stern talking-to once Dokyeom left.  

However, Dokyeom was not an easy opponent.  

“Hasn’t Han Leeyeon been unable to have proper meals during lunch because she’s been busy picking up your lunchbox for you, Mother?”  

Dokyeom then intertwined his fingers with Leeyeon’s hand, smiling brightly at her for all to see.  

“Today, I’ll take her out and buy her a nice lunch at a great place.”  

“……”  

“That’s alright, isn’t it?”  

Though his tone was phrased as a question, it was practically a declaration.  

“Since Han Leeyeon’s clothes are so wet and must be very uncomfortable, we should hurry. Let’s go.”  

Even though he himself had food spilled all over him, the way he prioritized Leeyeon made Cha Heeyoung feel like she was going crazy.  

It was the first time she had seen Dokyeom care for someone else more than himself.  

And that someone happened to be Leeyeon.  

Dokyeom quickly turned toward the door.  

Since Cha Heeyoung could only fume silently without any response, Leeyeon cautiously spoke up.  

“Director, I’ll be back.”  

After all, it was lunchtime, and they were free to go wherever they wanted for an hour.  

Moments after the two left, a roar akin to a beast’s growl erupted from inside.  

Leeyeon’s lips curled into a faint smile at the sound of the booming voice echoing down the hallway.  

This was just the beginning.  

It was the prelude to a war where she would return everything she had received.  

***

Thinking about Cha Heeyoung, Leeyeon didn’t even realize that Dokyeom was still holding her hand as they walked out of the director’s office.

Dokyeom only let go of her hand when they arrived at the parking lot.  

It was only then that Leeyeon’s cheeks belatedly flushed red, and she stepped back in surprise.  

Since it was unintentional physical contact, Leeyeon was very conscious of it, but Dokyeom seemed completely unaffected.  

Dokyeom even showed the courtesy of opening the passenger door for Leeyeon to get in more easily.  

“Thank you.”  

After confirming that Leeyeon had gotten into the passenger seat, Dokyeom glanced somewhere briefly.  

Then, with the car door still open, he bent down and leaned toward Leeyeon.  

Because Dokyeom’s face approached her without warning, Leeyeon held her breath and flinched in surprise.  

“W-why are you doing this?”  

Dokyeom fastened her seatbelt for her and whispered softly into her ear.  

“This neighborhood spreads rumors quickly.”  

“Pardon?”  

“Over there, can you see it?”  

Leeyeon’s gaze followed the direction Dokyeom gestured with his chin.  

Standing there was Junho, glaring at Dokyeom’s car with clenched fists.  

It was a relief that the car windows were heavily tinted, so no one could see inside.  

“There’s a spectator. So, enjoy this moment a little more.”  

As if to justify his actions, Dokyeom personally fastened Leeyeon’s seatbelt.  

A strong woody scent emanated from Dokyeom as he leaned closer.  

It was a scent that unsettled the heart.  

Startled by the sudden closeness, Leeyeon froze, holding her breath.  

While slowly fastening the seat belt, Dokyeom gazed at Leeyeon from up close.  

Everywhere Dokyeom’s eyes landed felt like it was burning, as though being touched by his gaze.  

‘They can’t see what’s happening inside anyway, can they?’

As if he had read her thoughts, Dokyeom whispered softly from close by.  

“If we were a normal couple, this would be the moment to use the excuse of fastening the seat belt to share a kiss.”  

“Pardon?”

Startled, Leeyeon’s eyes grew noticeably larger, and Dokyeom let out a small chuckle.  

“Why are you so surprised again?”  

“Well, we’re not exactly a normal couple, so isn’t it unnecessary to go that far?”  

“Are you saying I should only put my heart and soul into pretending to be a couple when someone’s watching?”  

He was referring to how she had been in his arms without resistance earlier in the director’s office.

“Right. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be unnecessary?”

“Unnecessary, huh.”  

As soon as those words left her mouth, there was a click sound as the seatbelt locked into place.  

When Dokyeom moved away, Leeyeon let out a deep sigh.  

She thought it was fortunate that nothing more had happened, yet she also felt strangely disappointed for a moment.  

‘What kind of weird thoughts are you having? Get a grip, Han Leeyeon.’  

To shake off the sudden thoughts that crept into her mind, Leeyeon quickly shook her head.  

While Dokyeom retrieved a spare jacket from the back seat and moved to the driver’s seat, Leeyeon’s heart started pounding out of nowhere.  

It was all because Dokyeom had leaned his face in without warning.  

Feeling as though her face was unnecessarily heating up, she pressed her cheeks firmly with the back of her hand.  

At that moment, he got into the car.  

Watching him start the engine, Leeyeon asked,  

“Director, are you okay? Earlier, some food splattered on you.”  

“It only got on the jacket a little, so it’s fine.”  

Dokyeom had left the food-stained suit jacket behind in the director’s office as if discarding it.  

Just as she thought he would put on the spare jacket he had in the car, he handed it to Leeyeon instead.  

As Leeyeon stared at the suit jacket suddenly thrust in front of her, Dokyeom spoke in a low voice.  

“This time, it’s better to wear it. Don’t refuse.”  

Then Dokyeom glanced briefly at Leeyeon’s chest with a nod of his chin before turning his head away.

Leeyeon belatedly lowered her gaze and saw her appearance, soaked and revealing her bare skin.  

“Ah……”  

Hurriedly, she took the suit Dokyeom handed over and covered her upper body. Dokyeom gently started the car.  

***  

The car, which had been driving for some time, entered a high-end villa with tight security.  

After parking the car, Dokyeom spoke.  

“Shall we go up for a moment?”  

Dokyeom was the first to step out of the car.  

“Secretary Choi will bring clothes and a lunchbox.”  

Judging by the elegant exterior, it seemed to be Dokyeom’s residence.  

“Let’s go over Director Cha Heeyoung’s schedule while having lunch. I also have some questions.”

It was a secret conversation that needed to take place where no one could hear or see.  

“Yes, understood.”  

While waiting for the elevator, Dokyeom spoke.  

“I’ll apologize for today on behalf of Cha Heeyoung.”  

“It’s not something you need to apologize for, Director.”  

Receiving an empty apology wouldn’t make any difference.  

After all, she wasn’t enduring Cha Heeyoung’s presence just to receive apologies like this.  

Ding—  

The elevator arrived just in time, and Dokyeom stepped in first, followed by Leeyeon.  

Pressing the button for the top floor, Dokyeom pressed his temple with his index finger, as if his head was starting to hurt.  

“Does this kind of thing happen often?”  

“No. Not really.”  

Of course, verbal abuse was hurled at her almost every other day.  

But she didn’t feel the need to report such trivial matters to Dokyeom, so she answered as she did.  

“Really?”  

When she turned her head, her vision was filled with his cold, piercing eyes that seemed to freeze her on the spot.  

“Yes. Sometimes… she just loses control of her anger, but today, she was upset because she thought I had made advances toward you first, Director.”  

“Unbelievable.” 

Dokyeom muttered quietly, rubbing his eyebrow with his index finger.  

“You could have avoided it. Why didn’t you?”  

“Well, that’s……”  

“More importantly, couldn’t you have just told the truth?”  

“The truth?”

“Just saying you’re dating me would’ve explained everything.”

It was a foolish statement.  

Leeyeon calmly continued to explain why she couldn’t do that.  

“I wasn’t sure if I could talk about our relationship on my own, so I didn’t say anything. And of course, I could have avoided the water.”  

Dokyeom’s eyes seemed to ask why she foolishly endured it all.  

“Because if I did, Director Cha Heeyoung would get twice as angry.”  

It meant that it wasn’t because she didn’t know better that she didn’t avoid it.  

Dokyeom muttered quietly, 

“This is ridiculous.”

Just then, the elevator came to a stop, and the two stepped out simultaneously.  

Unlocking the door lock, Dokyeom was the first to step into the house.  

Leeyeon also stepped into the entrance but found it hard to take another step forward.