Chapter 15

Leeyeon did not deny it.  

Because it was true.  

“I’m genuinely curious, so I’m asking—what kind of rumors are going around about me?”  

“Huh?” 

Dokyeom asked as he closed the distance between them.  

His hot, sticky gaze poured directly onto Leeyeon’s face.  

Even though the sofa was wide enough for her to move back and create some distance, she couldn’t budge, as if caught in his trap.  

“I’m curious. What kind of rumors are circulating? Don’t I have the right to know as the person involved?”  

She hesitated, wondering if she should say it.  

It wasn’t exactly a pleasant topic, and the thought that Dokyeom might feel offended upon hearing it crossed her mind belatedly.  

“Come on, tell me.”

Avoiding his gaze, Leeyeon lowered her head deeply.  

“I’m sorry.”  

“You’re not the one who made up and spread those rumors, so why are you apologizing? I’m not looking for an apology—I’m curious about the rumors that are being treated as if they’re true.”  

Though it sounded like he was pressing her, his voice didn’t seem displeased.  

It was closer to him genuinely wanting to hear the words that would spill from Leeyeon’s mouth.  

“I’m curious, so answer me. Quickly.”  

Reluctantly, Leeyeon spoke in a barely audible voice.  

“Because you’re so outstanding in appearance, everyone assumes you must constantly face endless temptations.”  

This was the most refined way she could put it.  

Whether Dokyeom picked up on that or not, a short laugh scattered into the air.  

“Is that so? What else?”  

“So, everyone seems to assume that you must have a lot of women. That’s really all.”  

She couldn’t bring herself to mention the more vulgar rumors.  

Suddenly, Dokyeom reached out and gently grabbed Leeyeon’s chin, lifting it up.  

In an instant, their gazes locked tightly in midair.  

Startled, Leeyeon’s brown eyes darted around, unable to find focus.  

As he closed the distance further, he asked,  

“Looks like you haven’t heard the most important rumor, Han Leeyeon.”  

Without taking his eyes off her trembling brown eyes, Dokyeom curved his lips into a seductive smile.  

“Didn’t you hear the one about how the skills I show in bed are so insanely attractive that women can’t resist me?”  

“…….”  

“The rumor that once you sleep with me, it’s so amazing that you can’t forget it and end up clinging to me?”  

Of course, she had heard it all.  

The rumor that he’s so skilled in bed that the women lying beneath him can’t forget the experience and even kneel, begging for another round.  

Unintentionally recalling that rumor, Leeyeon’s gaze briefly shifted downward, and Dokyeom didn’t miss that moment as he asked.  

Rather than being displeased, it seemed like Dokyeom was enjoying this situation.  

“You’ve heard it too, haven’t you, Han Leeyeon?”  

The loosely curved corners of his lips were irresistibly seductive.  

“No! I’ve never heard such a thing before!”  

Leeyeon, vehemently denying it while moving away from him, looked like a helpless rabbit cornered in front of a predator.  

“And honestly, I’m not even your real girlfriend, so even if you do have such a private life, it’s not my place to interfere.”  

Dokyeom leisurely observed Leeyeon, as if encouraging her to say more.  

“So feel free to enjoy yourself as much as you want. We’re not a real couple anyway.”  

She expected him to say something like ‘Thanks for understanding,’ but what came out was entirely unexpected.  

“I don’t like that.”  

“Pardon?”  

“Unlike the rumors, I only focus on one woman.”  

“…….”  

Not understanding why he was specifically telling her this, Leeyeon slowly rolled her eyes.  

“So, I hope you’ll make an effort, Han Leeyeon.”  

Effort for what?  

Before he could provide a detailed explanation, the doorbell rang, perfectly timed.  

“I’m not going to bother correcting the rumors about my real self either, so find out for yourself whether I’m truly a bastard like the rumors say.”  

Right after, the sound of the door lock being released echoed, and Secretary Choi appeared. In his hands were a shopping bag and a lunchbox.  

“I’ve prepared the clothes you requested.”  

“Good work.”  

“Director, there’s not much time left before your meeting, so you’ll need to leave soon.”  

“I’ll head out. But first, I need to make a call.”  

Dokyeom strode toward the hallway and suddenly stopped.  

“Han Leeyeon, change into the clothes and head out. You probably haven’t eaten, so make sure to take the lunchbox with you.”  

Having nothing more to say, Dokyeom turned away without hesitation.  

Before leaving, he disappeared to the end of the long hallway, perhaps to make a phone call.  

Secretary Choi gave Leeyeon a kind smile.  

“I’ll step out so you can change comfortably and leave.”  

“No! I think I should head straight to the gallery.”  

Her mind was in a mess.  

Especially because of the strange words Dokyeom had casually thrown out earlier.  

Leeyeon glanced down at her clothes, damp and soaked with water, and moved on without hesitation.  

The shopping bag Secretary Choi had brought remained untouched where she had been sitting.

***  

After stopping by a nearby clothing store to buy and change into a blouse, Leeyeon barely arrived at the gallery when Cha Heeyoung’s call came in.  

• Secretary Han, get to my office right now!  

It was an urgent voice.  

She was undoubtedly restless, dying to know what Leeyeon and Dokyeom had talked about.  

Taking a step forward, Leeyeon thought.  

Do you know what it feels like to lose the most precious thing in your life overnight?

Taking another step, she thought again.  

Do you know the feeling of being hit by a stone out of nowhere and dying without even knowing why?

Maybe you’ll start to understand soon enough.  

Because Leeyeon intended to make sure Cha Heeyoung willingly stepped into that hell.  

Before she realized it, she was standing in front of the director’s office where Cha Heeyoung was.  

With a composed smile, Leeyeon lightly knocked—knock, knock.  

“Secretary Han, get in here immediately!”  

When she opened the door, Cha Heeyoung, glaring fiercely at her, came into view.  

Cha Heeyoung stood up abruptly upon seeing Leeyeon.  

“Because of you, I couldn’t get anything done today.”  

Noticing Leeyeon’s changed outfit since she had left, Heeyoung narrowed her eyes.  

“So, how long have you and Dokyeom been like this?”  

Since she hadn’t coordinated with Dokyeom beforehand, she had no idea how to respond to this.  

“Hey! Are you trying to kill me by making me hold my breath? I’m asking you—how long has it been?”  

“Not very long.”  

“Ugh. They say the quietest cats climb onto the stove first! That saying fits you perfectly!”

Cha Heeyoung pounded her chest with her fists, venting her anger.  

“Are you really going to keep dating Dokyeom?”  

Cha Heeyoung thought that the only way to separate the two was to persuade Leeyeon, as Dokyeom was someone who never reversed his decisions once made.  

“So, is this why you’ve been holding out no matter what I said? Were you trying to seduce Dokyeom and make a fortune for yourself?”  

Cha Heeyoung looked at Leeyeon, who still stood firmly in front of her without wavering.  

No matter what she said or how much humiliation she inflicted, Leeyeon stayed steadfastly in her secretary position, as if nothing could affect her.  

That’s why she didn’t like her, but that’s also why she liked her.  

Heeyoung realized it was truly a contradictory feeling.  

When you deliberately try to torment someone, it’s only fun if there’s a reaction.  

Talking to a wall would’ve been more entertaining than talking to that woman.  

At least Cha Heeyoung had to admit that Leeyeon’s perseverance in her role as a personal secretary was commendable.  

“Ugh, you really are sly like a fox. There’s always been something off about you, and now I know why!”  

Cha Heeyoung, in her simplistic thinking, didn’t even consider that Leeyeon might have endured for reasons other than having ulterior motives.  

“That’s not true.”

Heeyoung let out a short, deep sigh.  

“If you have any conscience, you’d feel it too. Surely, you don’t think someone like you matches with Dokyeom, right?”  

Leeyeon never looked at trees she couldn’t climb.  

She had never truly liked Dokyeom as a man, and she never would.  

Their current relationship was merely contractual, pretending to date for the time being.  

“Relationships between men and women can burn like fire and then disappear, leaving only ash. What I’m saying is, you could be abandoned as early as tomorrow.”