Seo-Yeon's office had become occupied territory.
Not by hostile investors.
Not by legal threats.
By Min-Hyuk.
He was sprawled across the sofa like luxury had personally chosen him, jacket off, tie loosened, one arm behind his head, the other holding her stress ball as if it were his by inheritance.
Seo-Yeon stood behind her desk with the patience of a saint nearing retirement.
"You are the CEO."
"Yes."
"You have your own office."
"Yes."
"You should be in it."
"No."
She inhaled slowly.
"Min-Hyuk."
He sat up immediately.
"Yes, noona?"
She closed her eyes.
"Do not weaponize that tone."
"I don't know what you mean."
"You absolutely do."
He stood and walked toward her desk with shameless confidence.
"I miss you."
"You saw me at breakfast."
"That was public."
"This is work."
"That's worse."
He rounded the desk before she could stop him and leaned against it.
Too close.
Too comfortable.
"You've been ignoring me all morning."
"I have been working."
"Same thing."
Seo-Yeon pointed toward the door.
"Go."
He looked at the door, then back at her.
"No."
"Why."
"Because I like it here."
"You are blocking productivity."
"I am productivity."
"You are leaning."
He considered that.
"…Elegant productivity."
She tried to step past him.
He moved first and wrapped his arms around her waist dramatically.
"Denied."
Seo-Yeon froze.
"Min-Hyuk."
He rested his chin lightly on her shoulder.
"Mm?"
"Release me."
"No."
"Why."
"You'll send me away."
"Yes."
"Exactly."
She stared at the ceiling for guidance.
"If anyone walks in…"
"I'll greet them."
"That is not the problem."
"It could become one."
He smiled against her shoulder.
She hated that it almost worked.
"People already talk."
"Good," he said. "Let them improve their accuracy."
She turned in his arms enough to glare at him.
"You are impossible."
"You say that lovingly."
"I say it medically."
He pouted instantly.
An actual pout.
Full lower lip nonsense.
Seo-Yeon looked offended.
"You are too old for that expression."
"I'm younger than you."
"That is unrelated."
"It matters deeply to me."
He tightened his hold slightly.
"You always act like I'm troublesome."
"You are troublesome."
"But charming."
"No."
"But rich."
"That's worse."
"But devoted."
She paused.
He noticed immediately.
"Aha."
"There was no aha."
"There was."
He grinned.
Seo-Yeon pushed lightly at his chest.
"Go back to your office."
"No."
"You have meetings."
"I canceled two."
"You what?"
"They sounded boring."
"You cannot cancel executive meetings because you're clingy."
"I can. I'm the CEO."
She stared at him in disbelief.
"That is a terrible use of power."
He nodded proudly.
"I'm learning from the best."
"I am not like this."
He looked around her office.
"You kidnapped me emotionally months ago."
"That sentence is false."
"It feels true."
She tried to walk away again.
He followed immediately and hugged her from behind this time.
"Min-Hyuk."
"Yes?"
"You are acting like a child."
"No."
"You are literally following me around the room."
"That is loyalty."
"That is haunting."
He laughed softly.
Then his voice changed, gentler.
"I just wanted to stay near you today."
Seo-Yeon stopped moving.
The sincerity always arrived dressed in foolishness.
It was unfair.
She turned to face him properly.
"…Why didn't you say that first."
"Because then you'd win."
"I already win."
"Arrogant."
"Accurate."
He smiled.
She reached up and fixed his hair where it had fallen messily over his forehead.
Then straightened his collar.
Then adjusted the tie he'd ruined on purpose.
His eyes softened watching her do it.
"You always do that," he said quietly.
"What."
"Take care of me while pretending to be annoyed."
She smoothed the tie knot once more.
"I am annoyed."
"But you're still fixing me."
She clicked her tongue.
"You look untidy."
"I can become untidy again."
"Try it and I'll exile you."
He beamed.
"That sounded intimate."
"It was a threat."
"Same family."
She almost smiled.
Almost.
Then pointed to the door again.
"Now go."
He sighed dramatically enough for theatre awards.
"You wound me."
"Walk."
He took two steps, then turned back and held out his arms.
"One more hug."
"No."
"I'm weak."
"No."
"I may collapse in the hallway."
"Do it quietly."
He clutched his chest.
"You're cruel."
She walked over herself, grabbed his wrist, dragged him to the door, and opened it.
He looked delighted.
"You touched me voluntarily."
"Leave."
He leaned in quickly and kissed her forehead before she could calculate revenge.
Then he stepped back.
Ran three steps away.
Turned and pointed.
"You're too simple, noona. You hide softness badly."
Seo-Yeon stared in stunned silence.
Then grabbed the nearest file and threw it at him.
He laughed all the way down the corridor.
She shut the door hard.
Then stood there alone.
Touched her forehead once.
And muttered:
"…Ridiculous man."
----
Ha-Joon's message came earlier than anyone expected.
No warning. No softness.
"Seo-Jun. Ji-Ah. My office. Now."
Seo-Jun stared at his phone like it had personally ended his career.
"…I swear I just finished surviving the last meeting."
Ji-Ah didn't even look up from her screen.
"Then congratulations. You've been promoted to suffering again."
They walked in together.
Ha-Joon's office was already arranged like a verdict waiting to be delivered.
He didn't greet them.
Just slid two folders across the desk.
Seo-Jun took one look and sighed deeply.
"This is how I know I'm alive again."
Ji-Ah sat immediately, flipping hers open.
"…You called us for this?"
"Yes."
"This could've been an email."
"I wanted confirmation."
"Of what?"
"That you're still complaining."
Seo-Jun muttered:
"He enjoys this part."
Ji-Ah replied instantly:
"He lives for it."
Ha-Joon leaned back slightly in his chair, watching her instead of his own file.
That alone was already annoying.
Ji-Ah felt it immediately.
"…Why are you looking at me like that."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm thinking."
"About me again."
Seo-Jun quietly opened his mouth—
closed it—
then decided silence was safer.
Ha-Joon finally looked away.
"Focus."
"I am focused."
"No, you're reacting."
"To you staring at me."
"That's not staring."
"That is absolutely staring."
Seo-Jun whispered:
"This is a full-time sport."
The door opened.
And Min-Ji entered.
And the room shifted immediately.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
Like someone had adjusted the pressure in the air.
She was dressed carefully today.
A cream silk blouse with soft pearl buttons, tailored white trousers that moved like they were ironed into confidence, and a light beige coat draped perfectly over her shoulders even though she hadn't taken it off yet.
Hair styled neatly, makeup subtle but intentional.
She looked like she belonged in rooms before she even entered them.
Her eyes landed on Ha-Joon first.
Softened instantly.
"Ha-Joon," she said gently, voice like it was rehearsed to sound natural.
Then she saw Ji-Ah.
A fraction of pause.
Then the same polite smile returned.
"And you're here too."
Ji-Ah didn't look up immediately.
When she did, she smiled faintly.
"I have that effect."
Seo-Jun quietly slid his chair a little backward again.
Min-Ji stepped in fully now.
"I thought I'd find you alone," she said to Ha-Joon, ignoring the others as much as possible.
"I'm working."
"You always are."
"That hasn't changed."
She walked closer to the desk, standing just slightly to his side now.
Her perfume reached the room before her words finished.
"I wanted to talk about tomorrow," she said softly. "The engagement details."
Ji-Ah closed her folder a little louder than necessary.
Seo-Jun pretended to suddenly be extremely invested in paper alignment.
Min-Ji continued, gaze still on Ha-Joon.
"I think we should have dinner tonight. Just us. Before everything becomes official."
Ji-Ah muttered under her breath:
"That word is doing too much work."
Min-Ji's eyes flicked to her.
Brief.
Sharp.
Then away again.
Ha-Joon finally spoke.
"No."
Min-Ji blinked.
"…No?"
"I have work."
"This is important."
"So is work."
She stepped closer again, softer now.
"You've been distant."
Ji-Ah added without looking up:
"That's called boundaries."
Min-Ji ignored her completely this time.
Her voice tightened slightly.
"I just want time with you."
Ha-Joon's expression didn't change.
"You will get time at the ceremony."
"That's not the same."
"It is sufficient."
Min-Ji exhaled slowly.
Composure still intact, but now thinner at the edges.
Ji-Ah leaned back in her chair, watching like this was slightly entertaining and slightly exhausting.
Seo-Jun whispered:
"I think I need vacation from emotions."
Min-Ji turned slightly, and her attention landed on Ji-Ah again.
"You seem comfortable speaking in every direction."
Ji-Ah nodded.
"I'm multi-functional."
Min-Ji smiled politely.
"Be careful. Comfort doesn't always last."
Ji-Ah replied instantly:
"Neither does patience."
That made Seo-Jun physically flinch.
Ha-Joon stood slightly.
Not aggressive.
Just enough to change the room again.
"Enough," he said calmly.
Min-Ji paused.
Then straightened.
Her smile returned, but now it was more controlled.
"I understand."
But just as she turned slightly—
the door opened again behind her.
Madam stepped in.
Perfect posture.
Controlled expression.
But her eyes were sharp immediately on Ha-Joon.
"Ha-Joon," she said sharply, "why are you still here?"
The room went quiet.
Even Min-Ji stopped moving.
Madam's gaze shifted briefly to Ji-Ah and Seo-Jun, then back to her son.
"We need you early today," she continued. "Preparations are already behind schedule."
Ha-Joon frowned slightly.
"I'm working."
Madam didn't blink.
"You will adjust."
A pause.
Then she glanced at Min-Ji.
"And you," she said, tone slightly approving, "you should take him soon. The family expects cooperation."
Min-Ji straightened instantly, sensing advantage.
"Yes, Madam."
Ji-Ah looked between them slowly.
Seo-Jun whispered:
"…this is getting worse."
Ha-Joon's jaw tightened slightly.
"Mother."
Madam cut him off immediately.
"No arguments."
Silence dropped like a curtain.
Min-Ji's smile returned fully now, more confident.
Ha-Joon looked briefly at Ji-Ah again.
She met his gaze without flinching.
Annoyed.
Controlled.
Still there.
Then he exhaled once.
"…We are done here."
Ji-Ah closed her folder.
Seo-Jun stood immediately like survival instinct kicked in.
Min-Ji smiled softly as if she had already won something that hadn't officially ended.
And Madam turned slightly as if the decision had already been made long before anyone spoke.
But Ha-Joon didn't move toward Min-Ji.
He didn't move toward anyone.
Just looked once more at Ji-Ah.
And that was the only part of the room that didn't feel settled at all.