CHAPTER 27 – To an absurd extent (Part 2)

“CEO Hwang Dojun, please stay for a bit.”

When Dojun and Executive Kim Yeon-gil had finished reporting on the failed negotiations for the acquisition of the Busan Taerim Tourism Hotel, Chairman Hwang said. As Executive Kim politely excused himself from the meeting room, Chairman Hwang continued.

“Let’s go inside. Secretary Jang, bring me a cup of tea.”

The Chairman led the way into his office. Dojun followed suit. When they were seated, the secretary brought in the tea. They remained silent for a moment until the door closed, and then Dojun spoke up.

“Regarding the Taerim acquisition, I’ve been in contact with Vice President Choi Hyun-tae and…….”

Before Dojun could continue, Chairman Hwang interrupted, lifting his teacup.

“Enough about Busan. It’s about something else, Chairman  Kang Jeongwoo came to pay his respects and…”

Dojun knew the rest of the sentence without hearing it.

“That’s enough.”

“Why? Is it because you don’t like Chairman Kang Jeongwoo’s second child? He’s been reaching out to me now and then, and I thought it wouldn’t hurt to at least meet him.  Minjun is about to get married next month too. You should also start seeing someone new. You can’t stay alone forever. It’s a decent match.”

After bringing up the main matter, the chairman took a sip of his tea. The faint aroma of green tea lingered, reminding Dojun of the glimpse he had caught of Seoyeon through the sliding doors one day. Gazing at the teacup, Dojun turned his head to the chairman.

“I’m seeing someone.”

“Oh? You said you didn’t have anyone not long ago.”

Chairman Hwang responded with a smile.

“Then you should introduce her some time. I’d like to see what kind of person you’re dating.”

Dojun raised his hand to rub his chin. If it becomes known that they are seeing each other, Yoon Seoyeon would be the first to withdraw and run away.

“No, it’s not like that.”

“Isn’t she someone worthy of an introduction then?”

Dojun had been about to say they weren’t in a long-term relationship but instead nodded in response to the chairman’s words. The Yoon Seoyeon he knew was the kind of woman who would startle and run away even at the slightest breeze. It would have been better if his grandfather wasn’t interested in her from the start.

“I’ll handle it on my own.”

“Then what should I tell Chairman Kang?”

“Just say I’m busy. Thanks to you, I actually am.”

Dojun said as he lifted the teacup. Chairman Hwang chuckled. After taking a sip of the green tea, Dojun put down the cup and looked at the chairman.

“Don’t go putting people on me just because you’re curious about who it is.”

I already know everything anyway.

Seeing the look in Dojun’s eyes, the chairman chuckled. Sensing his reluctance, the chairman thought he must be quite fond of her, and replied.

“Let me know when you’re ready to introduce her. As for Chairman Kang, you’ll have to come up with something later.”

Chairman Hwang said, but Dojun didn’t answer, just picked up his teacup again.

***

[CEO, you can come down now if you want. I’ve left the back door open.]

Moving the dark red boxes aside, Seoyeon sent a message to Dojun. She cleared the tea and tidbits from the table, then hung up the clothes piled on the sofa one by one.

Ding.

The sound of an incoming message made her reflexively take out her phone, only to frown. It was Sehyun, not Dojun. Since blocking Sehyun on the messaging app, he had resorted to sending regular texts.

Where before he filled her chat with lengthy sentences, now he sent one photo a day. Today’s photos were emotional, with phrases like “Cheer up today, you are a precious person” and “Comfort for you, who are tired” written in calligraphy. Each message ended with the same line:

[From your Sehyun :)]

What does he want?

Seoyeon sighed and rubbed her temples. He seemed to be trying a lighter approach, considering the messages weren’t burdensome.

She couldn’t change her number or ignore the messages entirely since she had to manage the clients. 

Should I really just play the video and expose him?

But thinking of Haewon, that was also a problem. While she needed to get rid of Sehyun, she didn’t want to hurt Haewon in the process. If this came out, her father would surely cast Haewon aside. She couldn’t chase away Haewon just to get rid of Lee Sehyun. Moreover, she broke up with him and is seeing someone else.

Maybe I should just remove the part where Haewon and Sehyun are moaning each other’s names and let the families know.

But thinking about it, the aftermath was too obvious. Sehyun would insist that the voices were his own and Seoyeon’s. Then she’d have to reveal Haewon in the end… Seoyeon didn’t want that.

This is so complicated.

Seoyeon sighed, running her fingers through her hair. Suddenly, the back door opened with a clatter. Turning her head, she saw Dojun entering. When their eyes met, he smiled.

“It’s been a week.”

Seoyeon couldn’t help but smile back at the resonating voice in the space.

***

The store, dimly lit with only minimal lighting towards the display racks, was dark. Dojun, whom she hadn’t seen in a week, trudged through the darkness and into the room. He stopped in front of Seoyeon, who was standing at the entrance of the VIP room, and smiled, as if he was glad to finally see her.

Faced with his gentle smile, Seoyeon momentarily lost her words. Greetings like “How have you been?” “How was the business trip?” “It’s been a while” floated around her mind, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

She tried to say something, but her head felt blank and her throat felt blocked. As she stood silently looking up at him, Dojun lowered his head and spoke.

“Are you that glad to see me? Forgetting even to greet me?”

Before she could say anything, Dojun’s lips met hers. As their lips softly met, her heart fluttered greatly. It was too thrilling for just being happy to see him again. Seoyeon lowered her eyes, turning her head away with embarrassment. But soon, Dojun grabbed her chin and brought their lips together again. 

“It’s a store.”

Seoyeon whispered, and Dojun answered with a smirk. His tongue slid in, smooth and open, and Seoyeon’s lips tingled as he sucked them in, crushing them this way and that in his mouth.

At the sound of Seoyeon’s rising breath, Dojun pulled her closer. He buried his hands in the back of her hair and pulled her hard against his waist with his other arm. His tongue, once soft, became rough, swirling inside her.

Just as Seoyeon was struggling to stand on her tiptoes, she was lifted up. Dojun seated her on the low sofa headrest in the intimate VIP room, then leaned in, continuing the kiss. As her body arched back dangerously, she quickly clung to Dojun’s shoulders.

He would release her lips, then capture them again, only letting go when it seemed they might be in danger of going too far. Finally, he pulled her in for one last deep kiss before separating.

Seeing Seoyeon in disarray, Dojun looked at her face for a moment. Even the sight of her leaning against him and breathing only, or the vague, hazy gaze beyond reality, or the thick, lipstick-stained lips were incredibly beautiful, almost blindingly so.

“Have you been well?”

Dojun asked, wiping the coral-colored lipstick from Seoyeon’s lips with his thumb. Meeting her gaze, Seoyeon’s flushed face replied.

“Yes. But your greeting, it’s just… surprising.”

“I thought you’d say, ‘How have you been, CEO?’”

At Dojun’s teasing remark, Seoyeon sighed exasperatedly. Then looking up at him, she said,

“Because you’ve always said that.”

“When have I ever said….”

Seeing Seoyeon’s protest, Dojun laughed.

Here is the English translation, retaining the formatting as in the source text:

“Like a parrot.”

Hmm… 

Seoyeon thought about a new way to greet Dojun as she glared at him. Something other than the usual “How have you been, CEO?” Something Dojun might find amusing or unexpected to hear.

Dojun was looking at her, as if telling her to say whatever she wanted. Unable to come up with any particularly special lines, Seoyeon ultimately decided to just change the form of address. Thinking it would be a rather bland response, Seoyeon opened her mouth.

“How have you been, Mr. Hwang Dojun?”

She had expected him to laugh at her efforts, but Dojun didn’t. His expression grew strangely tense. His gaze, which had been fixed on her, was slowly sinking. Even so, he didn’t avert his eyes, making the air in the room feel thick with tension.

After staring at Seoyeon for a long time, Dojun twisted his lips into a smile and looked away. With an expression that seemed a bit perplexed and exasperated, he ran his hand through his hair, keeping his gaze not on Seoyeon, but somewhere in the distance.

When Dojun finally looked at her again, a crooked smile was on his lips.

“Unbelievably…”

Seoyeon watched as Dojun spoke those words after a long pause. Their eyes meeting, Dojun said,

“You’re breathtakingly beautiful.”

Rather than kiss her, he made this embarrassingly direct confession. Seoyeon’s heart overflowed with a burning heat as she held Dojun’s gaze. After a moment of hesitation, biting her lip, she softly said,

“Take me home.”

Dojun’s darkened eyes smiled at Seoyeon. Feeling sheepish, Seoyeon rested her forehead on Dojun’s shoulder.

“Okay then.”

Dojun said, grabbing Seoyeon’s cheeks like he was going to pinch them. Tilting her head up, he lowered his lips again. 

Seoyeon’s world began to sway once more.