By 8:47 p.m., the entire office floor was empty.
Silent.
Dark.
Only one corner still had lights on.
Ye-rin's desk.
And the CEO's office.
Her shoulders ached.
Her eyes burned from staring at spreadsheets all day.
She stretched slightly, wincing.
"…Why does he even have this many documents…" she muttered under her breath.
"Complaining already?"
She nearly jumped out of her chair.
Kang Jae-hyun stood behind her.
Soundless as always.
"When did you get there?!" she blurted.
His eyebrow lifted faintly.
"…Just now."
Liar. He definitely heard me complaining.
She quickly straightened. "S–sorry, sir."
He didn't scold her.
Just placed another file on her desk.
"Sort these by date. We're done after that."
Her soul almost left her body.
Another file?!
But…
Done after that.
"…Yes, sir," she said weakly.
Thirty minutes later, she finally placed the last document down.
"Finished."
"Good. Let's leave."
She blinked.
Leave… together?
The words sounded strangely intimate.
No, stop thinking nonsense.
It's just work.
Just work.
They walked to the elevator side by side.
Too close.
Too quiet.
The silence felt heavier than overtime itself.
Ding.
The doors opened.
The lobby lights were dimmed.
Most staff had gone home hours ago.
Outside—
Thunder cracked across the sky.
BOOM.
She flinched.
Rain poured down like the sky had split open.
Sheets of water hammered the ground violently.
The streets were already flooding.
"…Oh no," she whispered.
She forgot her umbrella.
Of course.
Perfect timing.
She reached for her phone.
No taxis available.
Every ride app: FULL.
Last bus: gone.
She swallowed.
How am I supposed to get home?
Min-joon…
Her chest tightened.
If she was late, he'd worry.
Jae-hyun watched her quietly.
"…No umbrella?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"…No ride either?"
"…Yes."
Two seconds of silence.
Then—
"I'll drive you."
Her head snapped up.
"…What?"
"I said I'll drive you."
"No no no, it's fine! I can wait—"
"You'll wait until morning."
"…."
"Get in."
No room for argument.
CEO mode.
Cold. Final.
She had no choice.
"…Thank you, sir."
The car smelled faintly of leather and his cologne.
Clean.
Warm.
Dangerous for her heart.
Rain battered the windshield violently.
The wipers moved back and forth in a steady rhythm.
Shh—shh—shh—
Too quiet inside.
Too close.
He drove calmly with one hand on the wheel.
Sleeves rolled up.
Veins visible.
Why am I noticing his hands right now?!
Stop it, Ye-rin!
"Your address," he said.
She gave it softly.
He paused.
"…That area is far."
"Yes."
"…You commute that distance every day?"
"For my son," she answered automatically.
Silence.
Then—
"How old is he?"
Her fingers stiffened.
"…Five."
"Mm."
She stared at her lap.
Please don't ask more.
Please.
But—
"You're raising him alone?"
"…Yes."
"No child's father?"
Her heart squeezed painfully.
"…No."
Not a lie.
Just not the full truth.
The rain grew heavier.
Lightning flashed across the sky.
For a moment, the car interior lit up bright white—
Then dark again.
Her voice came out softer than she expected.
"…It's okay though."
He glanced at her briefly.
"He's enough for me."
Something in her tone made his chest tighten.
Not self-pity.
Not weakness.
Just quiet determination.
Like she would fight the whole world for that child.
Strange.
"…You must love him reminded me of something," he said quietly.
"…Sir?"
"…Nothing."
But his grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.
Suddenly—
SCREEEECH!
A car cut into their lane.
Jae-hyun slammed the brakes.
Ye-rin gasped—
Her body flew forward—
And—
Thud.
She fell straight into his chest.
Time froze.
His arm wrapped around her waist instinctively.
Holding her.
Protecting her.
Too close.
Way too close.
Her face pressed against his shirt.
She could hear it.
His heartbeat.
Strong.
Steady.
Warm.
Her brain stopped working.
I'm going to die.
I'm actually going to die.
"…Are you hurt?" his voice came low above her head.
"…N–no…"
But neither of them moved.
Because—
He realized something.
Again.
No itch.
No rash.
No suffocating feeling.
No allergy.
Nothing.
Only warmth.
Comfort.
Like this was natural.
Like she belonged there.
His arm unconsciously tightened.
Why…?
Why am I only fine with her?
Of all women in this world…
Why only her?
"…Sir," she squeaked, face red, "I—I think the car stopped—"
He snapped back and released her quickly.
"…Sorry."
They both looked away.
Ears red.
He cleared his throat and drove again.
But the air inside the car had changed.
Softer.
Warmer.
Dangerously intimate.
When they reached her apartment building, the rain had slowed.
"…Thank you, sir," she said quickly, opening the door.
Before she escaped—
"…Seo Ye-rin."
She froze.
"…Yes?"
He stared at her.
Long.
Quiet.
Searching.
"…Why," he said slowly, "do I feel… comfortable around you?"
Her heart skipped.
"…Sir?"
"…Women usually make me sick."
Her breath caught.
"But you don't."
Silence.
Rain tapping lightly on the roof.
His eyes locked onto hers.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
Curious.
"…Have we really never met before?"
Her pulse exploded.
"…N–no, sir."
Lie.
He could tell.
He didn't know why.
But he could tell.
His gaze darkened slightly.
"…I see."
She bowed quickly and ran inside.
Didn't dare look back.
Didn't dare breathe.
Inside the car, Jae-hyun watched her disappear into the building.
His chest felt strangely empty.
His fingers touched the seat where she sat.
Still warm.
"…Seo Ye-rin…"
His voice was low.
Thoughtful.
"…What are you hiding from me?"
Lightning flashed again across the sky.
Somewhere upstairs—
A small boy waited for his mother.
With eyes exactly like his.