Chapter 19: Truth, Lies, and the Tyranny of Lukas
Clara stood before the massive entrance to Min-ho's penthouse on the 40th floor. The last time she was here, the air had been thick with the smell of Lukas's cooking, too much Prosecco, and the terrifying fear that Lukas would blurt out her secret.
Her heart hammered against her ribs. She raised her hand to the doorbell, but stopped mid-air. Her conscience felt like a lead weight in her chest.
What am I doing? she scolded herself. I should tell him the truth. The lies are piling up so high I can't see the exit anymore. He'll never forgive me. If someone lied to me like this, I'd leave them too. She bit her lip, her reflection in the polished wood of the door looking back at her with judging eyes. But god, the man kisses so well... and I want more. No! Bad Clara. Stop talking to yourself or they'll commit you to a ward.
She practiced her "escape line" under her breath. "I'll just say I have an appointment. I'm just stopping by to... to finish our discussion for five minutes. No, that's stupid. To be polite? Even worse."
Suddenly, the door swung open.
Min-ho stood there, looking devastatingly relaxed. He wore dark trousers and a simple black shirt, the top buttons undone to reveal just a hint of his collarbone.
"Ji-soo. You're finally here," he said, his voice a low vibration. "I thought I heard someone muttering outside my door. What's wrong? Are you afraid to ring the bell?"
Clara swallowed hard, feeling like a deer caught in headlights. "Me? Afraid? Certainly not," she lied, her cheeks flushing a guilty pink.
"Good. Come in. I'll get you a drink."
As Clara stepped into the apartment, her eyes wandered to a bookshelf she hadn't noticed before. Her breath hitched. There, neatly lined up, were her own books. Not just the recent bestsellers, but the first edition for which she had won her very first newcomer prize three years ago—the same night she had been trapped in that elevator with Min-ho.
"I see you have... Ariadne's books," Clara said, her voice trembling slightly. "Are you a fan?"
Min-ho returned, handing her a glass of deep red wine. "I am. Her first work was... special. It got me through a very dark time. I actually hoped to meet her the night she won the award, but instead," he stepped closer, his eyes softening, "I met you."
Clara felt the irony like a physical blow. "Are you disappointed? That you didn't meet the famous Ariadne?"
"Not at all," Min-ho replied, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that made the wine in her glass tremble. "For you, Ji-soo, I would leave every Ariadne in the world behind. If you didn't know that by now... let me remind you."
He set his glass down and pulled her into his arms. The heat of his body erased every rehearsed excuse in her mind. As his hands slid down her back, pressing her closer, Clara's internal monologue screamed: Wait! Tell him! Truth first!
But then his lips touched hers, and the world went silent. Screw it, she thought, melting into him. The truth can wait. This kiss is the only truth I need right now.
He guided her toward the sofa, his movements urgent yet careful. He pinned her wrists gently above her head, his weight pressing her into the cushions. He began to kiss a trail of fire down her neck, and Clara let out a shaky breath—
RING! BUZZ!
The silence was shattered by the aggressive blaring of two phones at once. Clara jumped, her heart nearly leaping out of her throat. Min-ho groaned against her skin, a sound of pure, unadulterated frustration.
Lukas was calling. Clara glanced at the screen: "EMERGENCY! KIM'S BIRTHDAY BASH!"
Min-ho checked his own phone. A message from Lukas had popped up, written in all caps with far too many emojis: "SURPRISE PARTY FOR MR. KIM! ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY. NO EXCUSES. ABSENCE WILL BE PUNISHED BY FASHION EXILE! BE THERE IN 20 MINS!"
Min-ho threw his head back against the sofa cushions, his eyes closed as he massaged his temples. He looked like a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
"It seems," he muttered, his voice thick with frustration that made Clara want to giggle despite herself, "that our discussion is doomed to be interrupted again."
He looked at her, his dark eyes promising something dangerous. "But next time, Ji-soo... I promise you, nothing will get in our way."