The air in the Queens Group legal department was electric. It had started subtly, with a low hum of whispers that quickly escalated into a full-blown sensation. Baek Hyun-woo had walked into his office that morning and, with a casual grace that was as devastating as it was effortless, proceeded to dismantle his corporate armor. He shed his suit jacket, folded the sleeves of his black shirt up to reveal his forearms, and then, with a final, decisive tug, unknotted his tie and undid the top two buttons of his shirt.
The effect was immediate. The meticulous, polite director was gone, replaced by a picture of rugged, focused charm. A junior lawyer, discreetly snapping a photo, captured the moment perfectly: Hyun-woo leaning forward, his forearms flexed as he gripped the edge of his desk, his expression a mix of serious concentration and an almost primal magnetism. The picture, a testament to his new persona, quickly circulated through the company's internal networks.
The rumor mill was in full swing, and it didn't take long for the photo and its accompanying gossip to reach the top floor. Secretary Na, her professional demeanor barely masking her amusement, showed the picture to Hong Hae-in.
Hae-in's eyes narrowed as she looked at the image. The sight of him, so confident, so undeniably attractive, was a direct assault on her pride. He was broadcasting his charm, deliberately baiting her. The comments she scrolled through—"He's so hot," "I can't believe this is the same man," "I'd like to see more of him"—sent a cold, possessive rage coursing through her. He was making a statement. He was playing with fire. Her lip curled into a cold, dangerous smirk.
"So that's how you want to play, my dear husband," she murmured, a chilling edge to her voice. "Fine. You want to show me how much you've changed? I'll show you how little I have." The game had escalated, and the gloves were coming off. She stood up, her movements precise and full of purpose. She had a message to deliver, and it wouldn't be in a text.
Hyun-woo's office, with its large glass walls, was a fishbowl, and he was the main attraction. He was leaning against his desk, a legal document in hand, a slight, knowing smile on his face. The view was perfect for the many female employees who were trying to steal a glimpse of him. Their faces, pressed against the glass, were a clear sign that his plan was working. He felt a thrill of victory. He was getting under her skin. He was making her jealous.
Suddenly, a cold presence made its way into his office. He looked up and saw Hae-in standing there, a chillingly calm expression on her face. Her eyes, however, held a look of pure, unadulterated fury. She shot a cold glare at the women gawking through the glass, a glare so menacing they scattered immediately.
He straightened, a playful grin forming on his lips. "Well, to what do I owe the pleasure, Director Hong?" he asked, his voice low and teasing. "Come to scold me about my unprofessional dress code?"
Hae-in didn't answer. She just walked towards him, her movements slow and deliberate, like a hunter stalking her prey. When she reached him, she grabbed the collar of his shirt with a firm, possessive grip. Her action was so unexpected that Hyun-woo was caught completely off guard. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, she pulled him in, her lips crashing against his.
The kiss was fierce and demanding. It was not a kiss of love, but a kiss of claim, a raw declaration of ownership. Hyun-woo was stunned, frozen in place. Her lips were soft yet unyielding, her kiss a storm of unspoken emotions—jealousy, anger, desire, and a love so profound it left him breathless. He felt his mind go blank, all his carefully laid plans disintegrating in the wake of her assault. He closed his eyes, his hands coming up to grip her wrists, not to push her away, but to hold on.
When she finally pulled away, he was left breathless and rooted to the spot, his mind still reeling. She looked at him, her eyes still burning with a dangerous fire, and slowly, gently, she reached up and began to button his shirt. Her fingers, usually so precise and controlled, were now trembling slightly as she fastened each button.
"You are never to forget, Baek Hyun-woo," she said, her voice a low, dangerous whisper, "that you belong to me. To me and me alone."
A triumphant smile finally broke through Hyun-woo's daze. He had wanted to provoke a reaction, but this was more than he could have ever hoped for. He grabbed her wrist and, with a quick, effortless move, pulled her flush against him. Her eyes widened, her body pressed against his, the unspoken desire between them a palpable thing.
He leaned in, his lips brushing her ear, his voice a husky, intimate murmur that was meant for her alone. "Sweetheart," he whispered, a slow, sexy smile on his lips. "I always have, and always will, be yours."
Then, he kissed her again, this time with a deep, passionate intensity that was a world away from her earlier declaration. It was a kiss of shared understanding, a kiss of two players who had finally found their rhythm in a game of seduction and love. And as he held her close, he knew, with a certainty that settled deep in his soul, that he had won.