Chapter 6.1 – Anniversary Celebration Party

15 minutes ago.

Though he lacked a knife or a gun, Jeong-hyeok was no different from a soldier preparing for battle.

With the acquisition and merger of Shinhwa Construction gaining momentum, there were hundreds of documents to review and countless people to meet.

From those directly involved in the acquisition to government officials, and even meetings with a specialized legal team for legal advice—he had to check and decide on everything personally to feel at ease.

As grueling as the work was, his yearning to hold Eun-sol in his arms was just as intense. If only he could tightly embrace her small, delicate body and move passionately…

He couldn’t even count how many times today he had suppressed the urge to run home.

However, this acquisition was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to propel Sowon Construction to the top of the industry.

From executives to new employees, everyone was giving their all, and as the CEO, he couldn’t afford to leave even the slightest gap.

Still, he couldn’t stop his gaze from drifting to his phone time and time again, as if bewitched.

‘Not a single message.’

For several days now, he had barely been home, yet Eun-sol hadn’t reached out even once.

The silent, brick-like phone left him feeling both bitter and strangely fixated, checking it constantly out of a mix of obsession and stubbornness.

‘Come to think of it, Kim Eun-sol never contacted me first, even before her memory loss.’

And yet, he kept waiting. It was because he couldn’t help but hope that as much as she had changed, her behavior might change too.

Finally, his phone made its presence known. The message icon blinked.

The sender was Housekeeper Woo. He wasn’t particularly disappointed; he hadn’t expected much anyway.

However, the moment he read the message, his previously stoic gaze wavered deeply.

[Madam has prepared a lunchbox and entered the company. I thought pretending not to notice would help her surprise succeed. But somehow, I felt I should let you know.]

A lunchbox? Eun-sol?

Unable to believe it, he immediately opened the company’s security program to check.

The elevator CCTV indeed captured Eun-sol’s figure. Holding a heavy three-tier lunchbox in one hand, she was muttering something under her breath.

The elevator CCTV supported audio, so he turned on the speaker, and Eun-sol’s voice flowed out.

– I was worried about whether you were eating properly.

She furrowed her brows slightly before continuing.

– Housekeeper Woo pushed me into doing this.

She shook her head lightly, seemingly trying to decide what to say when she appeared.

– There was leftover food, and I didn’t want it to go to waste…

He almost burst out laughing. The first two excuses were passable, but the last one? What was that even supposed to mean?

As much as he wanted to watch her one-woman show a little longer…

“Ugh, should I just go back home?!”

Her final muttering made him jump to his feet.

His heated body moved instinctively, following her path, and that’s how he found her standing in front of the elevator.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“…Ah…!”

Eun-sol was caught off guard, unsure whether she should feel surprised or relieved.

“Get in. Unless you want to be kissed in front of other people.”

From behind, the sound of someone rushing toward the open elevator could be heard.

His hand suddenly shot out, grabbing her and pulling her inside. Apologizing silently to the person running toward the elevator, he pressed the close button.

“Mm…!”

Before the elevator doors had fully shut, his lips were already on hers. A breathless gasp escaped. His tongue invaded her mouth roughly, like a torrential downpour.

A muffled moan broke apart inside their mouths. The wild, unrestrained movements of his tongue were almost welcome. That raw intensity seemed to tell her that he, too, had been waiting for her.

Ding-dong, Basement Level 3.

It was only after the elevator doors opened wide that their lips finally parted.

Eun-sol pushed against his chest with a thud. Though their lips were no longer touching, the top of her head felt even hotter.

His dark, stormy eyes revealed dangerous intentions, laid bare for her to see.

“You’re truly strange, Jeong-hyeok.”

She muttered under her breath, her flushed lashes lowered.

“What is?”

“I’m glad I didn’t waste a trip and actually got to meet you.”

“You’re glad, but?”

“But meeting you makes me feel like running away.”

Snatching the lunchbox from her hands, he replied.

“Then we must be soulmates.”

“Why?”

“Because every time I see you, I just want to hold onto you.”

* * *

She almost fell for it.

‘How does that make us soulmates?!’

The world would call this kind of relationship “natural enemies” or perhaps label it as “predator and prey.”

“Ugh.”

The man’s movements were even fiercer than that day.

There wasn’t even a sliver of air to escape. He greedily filled every gap, even the nonexistent spaces, as his tongue messily sucked and explored.

Her body shook relentlessly. The cityscape outside the hotel window blurred, bouncing here and there in disarray.

She was laid on her side, then flipped onto her stomach. Finally, with her hips held firmly, her face was buried into the bed sheets while her hips were raised high. In that humiliating position, she cried out as he thrust into her.

Everything about it felt unnervingly natural. Like a doll robbed of its will, she was tossed around in a frenzy of mindless pleasure.

She had thought their lovemaking a few days ago was too rough, but she realized now—she was wrong.

Back then, it was only because it had been a while since their last time. He had been gentlemanly, even considerate. She only came to understand this now.

“You’re too rough!”

Her sobs spilled out at his merciless movements.

“This is your punishment.”

“Pu-punishment for what?!”

Her face was half-buried in the sheets, but she mumbled her protest. She hadn’t done anything he disliked, and though she had almost gone back home, she still packed him a lunch and came to his office.

So what did I do wrong?

“For turning me into a pathetic owner who does this during working hours.”

“No, I just came to give you a lunchbo—ah!”

Eun-sol’s indignant protest was lost, swallowed by a moan she couldn’t suppress. Every time he thrust, his bouncing t*sticles slapped against the cleft of her b*ttocks.

The sensations that shook her to the core in waves—first, second, and third—left her entire body trembling. Only after he filled her insides with his seed was she finally released from his embrace.

She had come to his office just to deliver his lunch. But she hadn’t even eaten lunch herself, and now it was already 4 p.m.

“So why did you come to the office? So recklessly.”

“How is this my fault?”

She no longer had the energy to argue.

“It is.”

Jeong-hyeok answered firmly. He meant it.

What was she supposed to do with him like this? What was he supposed to do with himself, losing control even more?

The woman, who only became more adorable with time, left him utterly helpless.

* * *

After visiting his office, Eun-sol began to fully grasp how busy he was and how it was no surprise at all.

But while that understanding might have soothed her feelings of disappointment, it did nothing to ease her loneliness.

At just the right time, Yu-rim suggested they go on a trip together. A simple one-night, two-day trip to Chuncheon.

Staying out overnight? That was highly unlikely, so she indirectly declined the suggestion. In response, another proposal came up—attending a pottery workshop.

“My cousin opened a studio, and they’re only accepting four female students in their 20s and 30s.”

It was a tempting suggestion, especially since she had been wanting to learn something new and expand her social circle.

‘He probably wouldn’t like it if I joined on my own. I should ask for his opinion, right?’

Just then, she heard the news that he was coming home.

Eun-sol sprang up from the sofa.