"No way!" Soo-ji exclaimed, her eyes darting around the lavish penthouse as she stood frozen in the middle of the hall.
"Intrigued?" Mr. Jun asked, a smug smile playing on his lips.
"More like shocked at how wasteful someone can be," Soo-ji replied, still gasping. "Living alone in a place like this? It's borderline obscene."
"Ms. Kim, it's not wastefulness—it's called luxury," Mr. Jun said, his tone amused. "Besides, Mr. Tae-hyun funds seven orphanages and sponsors five more. Does that sound like someone wasteful to you?"
"Generous, sure," Soo-ji countered sharply, her gaze still scanning the grandeur. "But let's not pretend the world has run out of people in need. No amount of orphanages can solve that."
"So, by your logic, no one should ever indulge in their own wealth?" Mr. Jun quipped, a hint of sarcasm lacing his voice.
Soo-ji hesitated before letting out a reluctant "Did he pay you to reign praises about him everywhere?".
"Come along," Mr. Jun said, gesturing toward a corridor fully ignoring Soo-ji's question. "Let me introduce you to your personal staff."
"Personal staff?" Soo-ji thought, her steps faltering as she followed him. What am I now—some kind of royalty?
They stopped at a large, pristine room, where two people stood rigidly, dressed in formal attire that screamed professionalism. Mr. Jun turned to Soo-ji with an unsettlingly cheerful smile.
"Ms. Kim, meet Mr. Seo-jun, your personal butler. He will handle your security and all personal matters," Mr. Jun began, his tone brisk but cordial. "And this is Ms. Gu-won, your maid. She'll dress you, curate your wardrobe, and attend to your meals and anything else you require."
"Is all this really necessary?" Soo-ji muttered under her breath, her discomfort evident.
"Mr. Tae-hyun insists you lack for nothing," Mr. Jun whispered back.
Soo-ji exhaled, frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior. "The only thing I need is access to my freedom."
Mr. Jun straightened, his expression unreadable. "I understand it feels overwhelming, but my role is to ensure your comfort. If you need anything, call Seo-jun or Ms. Gu-won. Now, I'll leave you to settle in."
Without waiting for her reply, he bowed and left, the door clicking shut behind him.
Soo-ji let out a bitter laugh as she paced the room. "Is this a suite or an apartment?" Then she paused "a mini kitchen too? How quaint," she muttered sarcastically. Stopping in her tracks, reality hit her like a punch to the gut. "Focus, Soo-ji. You're not here to admire the decor."
Reaching for her phone, she dialed Seo-jun's number with trembling fingers.
"Hello?" Seo-jun's calm voice came from the other end.
"I did something," Soo-ji confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Worse than aligning with your all so wonderous enemy that doesn't even see you as a good enough enemy? Surely, it's not that bad," Seo-jun said dryly.
"Which enemy?" Soo-ji asked, though she already knew the answer.
"Mr. Hee Tae-hyun, obviously."
Her silence was deafening.
"Soo-ji…" Seo-jun's tone shifted, a mixture of disbelief and panic. "Are you insane? What were you thinking?"
"It's not my fault!" she shot back defensively, though her voice wavered.
"Not your fault? Did someone hold a gun to your head? Or were you drunk?"
"Stop overreacting!" Soo-ji snapped, her frustration bubbling over. "You said yourself he's not entirely bad—working for him could be—"
"Working for him?" Seo-jun cut her off, incredulous. "You gave me a laundry list of reasons why you shouldn't. Why the sudden change of heart? Were you threatened?"
"No," Soo-ji admitted, her voice quieter now. "I chose this myself."
Seo-jun sighed deeply, the sound heavy with disappointment and concern. "Soo-ji, you're one of the most logical people I know. You don't make decisions without a reason. What is it?"
"I can't explain over the phone," she replied, her voice strained. "Meet me tomorrow at the shopping mall."
"I can't leave the hospital until after 4 p.m.," Seo-jun said cautiously.
"That's fine. Just come as soon as you can," she urged.
"Okay. See you then," he said before hanging up.
Soo-ji collapsed onto the plush bed, staring at the ornate ceiling. "What have I done?" she whispered to herself, her voice breaking. "What if this decision destroys me?"
Her fingers curled into fists, and for a moment, she closed her eyes, her mind racing with thoughts of betrayal, loyalty, and survival.