CHAPTER 18

[Steve Java from Hydrocell sends his regards. Any plans for lunch today?]

[No].

[Then, how about having lunch in the Core? Jaehee is in New York right now. He asked if you can spare some time. He mentioned he had something to tell you. On our way, talk a bit about how things are going with Rose these days.]

[……Sure.]

[Ho-oh. What’s going on? I thought you were going to say no because it’s bothersome.]

[It’s been a while since I’ve seen Jaehee, and I have something to ask you.]

[Ask me something?]

Junhee’s brow furrowed in concern.

[Is something wrong with Rose?]

Taejun stood up and snatched his coat from the hanger. Mechanically slipping it over his arm and b*ttoning it, he gestured toward the door with his chin.

[Rose is doing well. We can talk about it on the way out.]

[Okay!]

Junhee playfully gave a raised hand salute and exited Taejun’s office.

Taejun reached the elevator first and pressed the b*tton, and Junhee, who had stopped by his office to grab his coat, came out, exchanging light greetings with the employees, and approached the elevator.

Taejun knows that he and Junhee are what TJH Capital employees refer to as “day and night” because of their seemingly polar opposite personalities and tendencies.

Junhee, with his quick-thinking brain and straightforward personality, was one of the few people Taejun could call a “friend.” Starting as office mates at their first job, their relationship evolved into business partners. Junhee was the first person to realize Taejun’s unique abilities outside of family, and beyond being business partners, he occasionally pulled Taejun out of his numerical cocoon to connect with the world.

Taejun, 192cm in height, wearing dark monochromatic clothes from head to toe, stood next to Junhee, 185cm in height, carrying a camel coat over a navy pinstripe suit. They filled the space by the entrance of the elevator

In the reflection of the elevator door, Junhee straightened his tie and b*ttoned up his coat. Both men stood in a similar posture, with broad shoulders and legs slightly apart.

Despite his casual demeanor and the fact that he never raised his voice, Taejun had an oddly intimidating aura about him. The scars across his forehead and eyebrows, the fl*id movement of his large frame and toned muscles, and his dark, unreadable eyes were enough to overwhelm his surroundings.

The men standing in front of Taejun seemed to shudder with a feeling as if they were facing a fierce beast with sharp claws tucked in. Once they learned the fact that Taejun was a veteran who had faced the brink of death several times on the Afghan battlefield, they nodded their heads in acknowledgment.

The women around Taejun couldn’t help but react instinctively to the way the males around him treated him, displaying a dangerous curiosity about the man who dominated other males.

In contrast, Junhee, standing confidently next to Taejun, was both similar and different from him.

With a face as perfect as a marble sculpture, he exuded innate superiority with arrogance and an unabashed display of his inherent nobility. The dominating attitude, characteristic of a ruler who had never descended from the top, intimidated people around him like a merciless sun.

People stole glances at Taejun with fear and awe, and Junhee, dazzling and attention-grabbing, captivated onlookers with astonishment.

However, both of them were indifferent to the gazes directed at them. One was indifferent due to a lack of interest in the surroundings, and the other was accustomed to such attention.

Despite the overwhelming presence of two males who seemed like they might burst into flesh and blood if they collided, there was a strange harmony between them that appeared ironic. Among the employees, whispers were speculating whether the two, who seemed to have no special women in their lives, might be in a romantic relationship.

[Whoa, testosterone overload…….]

The elevator doors opened, and as they stepped inside, the hushed whispers of passing female employees reached their ears.

Junhee pressed the open b*tton and gestured at the employees lingering outside the elevator, but no one stepped forward. Shrugging his shoulders, Junhee released the b*tton and took a step back as the elevator doors closed. As the doors sealed shut, Junhee muttered.

[Why don’t they want to take the elevator with us? It’s not like we’re going to devour them.]

Junhee glanced briefly at Taejun.

[TJ, have you been making faces behind my back?]

[No, why would I?]

Taejun raised an eyebrow as he spoke.

[You have three default facial expressions: expressionless, a frown, and a wide smile].

Junhee mimicked Taejun’s expressionless face, slightly furrowed brow, and sneering face with a slight upturn of the corners of his mouth. Seeing this, Taejun chuckled, and as his lips curled up, Junhee made an exaggerated expression of surprise.

[Just now, was that enough to make you laugh?]

While most people felt intimidated and uncomfortable in front of Taejun, Junhee, and Jaehee treated him casually, joked with him, and even teased him when they felt like it. They didn’t make Taejun uncomfortable, he felt at ease with them.

Taejun and Junhee got off the elevator and walked briskly south along Park Avenue, about a ten-minute walk from the building to their destination, the Core Club.

[So, what is it you want to ask?]

[….]

[Why the hesitation? What’s bothering you?]

Taejun pondered how to phrase his question, ultimately gave up on being subtle, and blurted out.

[What do you say to a woman you want to have s*x with?]

Junhee stopped dead in his tracks. Taejun also stopped and turned to look at him

[What?]

Taejun let out a small sigh of frustration. He repeated the question slowly, as if speaking to someone who couldn’t understand him.

[There’s a girl I want to have s*x with. What would you say to her to make her agree to have s*x without freaking out and running away?]

[What?! Who is this woman?]

[You don’t need to know that.]

Junhee’s face, which had been slightly puzzled and stammering, gradually changed. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he bared his white teeth in a strangely animalistic manner.

[Ha, TJ, this is the most interesting question you’ve thrown at me since I’ve known you.]

Narrowing his eyes, Taejun studied Junhee’s face for a moment before letting go with a slight frown and resuming his pace. Junhee caught up with him immediately.

[So, who is this woman? What is she like? Are you finally ending your monk life? How many years has it been? Six years? No, subjectively, it feels like a million years?]

[…….]

Without waiting for a response, Junhee continued speaking as Taejun briskly walked, paying no attention.

[But really, do you even need to ask such a thing? Usually, women show interest first—]

[What if the woman showed no interest?]

[….]

[You don’t know either?]

Taejun pursed his lips as if scoffing. Junhee grumbled defensively.

[You should just try. There’s no time to learn such skills when you’re already being seduced before the woman shows interest.]

[I knew you’d say that.]

[Think about it sensibly, partner. Why don’t you just do what everyone else does, huh? Go on a date, eat something nice, say you like her, and then naturally move on to s*x as the next step?]

[What if I want to skip that step and go straight to s*x?]

[…Are you looking for a s*x partner?]

[Something like that. I could do the dating part, but I don’t want a complicated relationship with emotions getting involved.]

[Then it’s actually easier. After work, today, just stand somewhere near any bar. You can easily find a s*x partner.]

[Sigh. Forget it.]

[What’s wrong? Does it have to be that specific woman?]

[….]

[But what if that woman isn’t interested in you?]

[Huh…]

Taejun sighed, furrowing his brow with a grim expression.

[It’s getting more interesting. Who is this woman that doesn’t show interest in Baek Taejun, shining as the third sexiest eligible bachelor according to Business Times?]

[Shut up.]

Junhee giggled and pushed open the door to the Core Club. The concierge recognized them, greeted them with a friendly smile, and led them to the restaurant.

Although from the outside, Core Club lacked any prominent signs indicating its nature, once inside, it boasted comprehensive facilities, including conference rooms, party rooms, guest rooms, a restaurant, a lounge, a gym, and a spa.

Known for its private social club status, with high-ranking individuals from the financial sector, CEOs of corporations, and famous celebrities joining through recommendation and paying hefty membership fees, both Taejun and Junhee were members of this exclusive establishment.

Having a meal without caring about the attention of others was better in Core Club, especially with Jaehee, a K-pop star known worldwide. 

[Even though you’re two ranks above me, who is this woman rejecting someone like you?]

[That damn article…….]

How bewildering it was to find his own photo pinned under the foolish title of ‘Wall Street’s Sexiest Bachelor’ in the Business Times that he flips through every morning.

They even went so far as to mention his military service prominently under the photo, in bold, labeling him as the “Wall Street’s Sexiest Warrior”

The picture, taken at some venture conference he attended, captured him focused on a presentation, with legs crossed and fist supporting his chin.

The scars across his forehead and eyebrows were clearly visible, and the suit’s sleeves and shoulders highlighted the tense muscles underneath.

The overly enthusiastic comments explaining why he was sexy were one of the pieces of information Taejun wanted to erase from his mind.