Chapter Four – A Night Out of Her League
By the time Han Seo-jin finished reorganizing Mr. Seo Jun-ho's schedule for the third time, she thought the day was finally over. Her back ached, her brain was fried, and she was already dreaming of instant noodles and sleep.
That's when Jun-ho appeared at her desk.
"Change of plans," he said smoothly. "You're coming with me tonight."
Seo-jin blinked. "Coming… with you? Where?"
He was already striding away. "A dinner meeting. Black dress. Fifteen minutes."
Her jaw dropped. "What—wait! Black dress?! I don't—" But he was gone, leaving her sputtering in the middle of the office.
Fifteen minutes later, Seo-jin stood awkwardly in the lobby, wearing the only black dress she owned — a simple, knee-length thing she'd bought on sale for her cousin's wedding. Compared to the women sweeping past in designer gowns and glittering jewelry, she felt like a child sneaking into an adults-only party.
When Jun-ho arrived, heads turned immediately. He was devastating in a tailored suit, his aura commanding the entire room. For a moment, Seo-jin forgot how to breathe.
He gave her a single assessing glance. "Passable."
"Passable?!" she hissed, trotting after him as he led her toward the waiting car. "This is my best dress!"
"Exactly."
Her teeth ground together. One day, Seo Jun-ho. One day.
The restaurant was the kind that didn't display prices on the menu because anyone who had to ask couldn't afford it. Crystal chandeliers bathed the room in golden light, and the air buzzed with polite laughter and the clinking of wine glasses.
As Jun-ho entered, several executives and their partners turned to greet him, their smiles wide and voices overly sweet.
And then their eyes fell on Seo-jin.
"Ah," one man said, raising his brows. "Mr. Seo, you didn't tell us you were bringing someone."
A woman's whisper carried across the table: Is that his girlfriend?
Seo-jin nearly choked on air. She opened her mouth to correct them, but Jun-ho spoke first, his tone calm, almost deliberate:
"She's with me."
Seo-jin's heart skipped. She wanted to protest, but under the weight of so many curious gazes, the words stuck in her throat.
Dinner was torture. Seo-jin had no idea which fork to use, when to sip the wine, or how to pronounce the French dishes. At one point, she almost dipped her bread in the centerpiece candle.
The executives' wives exchanged subtle smirks, clearly amused by her blunders. Seo-jin wanted to disappear under the table.
But then, without a word, Jun-ho shifted closer. His hand brushed hers as he quietly switched her cutlery to the correct ones. When she fumbled again, he leaned in, murmuring instructions so softly only she could hear.
"Left fork. Small sips. Don't eat the garnish."
His breath tickled her ear, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.
She risked a glance at him — and for the briefest moment, his eyes softened.
Later, as she excused herself to the restroom, she overheard two women whispering near the hallway.
"Did you see her dress? So plain.""She's clearly not from our circle. I can't believe Mr. Seo brought someone like her."
Seo-jin's throat tightened. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, cheeks hot. They're right. I don't belong here.
When she returned to the table, she forced a smile, but Jun-ho noticed instantly. His gaze swept over her, sharp and unreadable.
And then, as if to prove a point, he placed his hand lightly on the back of her chair — a subtle, possessive gesture, but enough to silence the whispers.
Seo-jin's heart thudded. What is he doing?
The dinner ended in a blur. As they walked back to the car, she finally burst out:
"You didn't have to do that! Letting them think I'm your—your girlfriend or whatever!"
Jun-ho opened the car door for her, his expression unreadable.
"They would've eaten you alive otherwise," he said simply. "Consider it… damage control."
Seo-jin's cheeks burned. She slid into the car, crossing her arms. "You're impossible."
But as the city lights streamed past the window, her mind replayed the feel of his hand brushing hers, his quiet voice guiding her, the warmth in his eyes when he looked at her.
And despite herself… she smiled.