☡Alert : cringe and long chapter ahead

The road to office

The sound of music wafted from the speakers, filling the car with a lively melody. A person was softly humming along, enjoying the drive as their hand deftly navigated the winding road.

"My lady, why do you look so upset?" Ji-hoon asked, his eyes focused on the road ahead.

The question pulled Hana from her thoughts, where she had been silently glaring at the passing scenery.

"You know exactly why I'm upset, Ji-hoon. First, this honeymoon trip, and now my car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. What kind of luck is that?" she replied, her irritation bubbling to the surface. "Ugh, fuck my life ! "

"Well, Hana, sometimes life really does throw you a curveball," Ji-hoon snorted, a hint of humor in his voice. " This is what life is ! Full of ups and down ".

"This is what life is?" Hana mocked, her voice full of sarcasm . " for someone who hate this , you look happy to go to this trip aren't you ".

"To answer your question, no, my lady, I'm just as frustrated as you are. But unlike you, I'm a mere mortal who can't win against my mom's plans," Ji-hoon replied nonchalantly.

Hana rolled her eyes, still gazing out the window as the vibrant shops blurred by, the sun casting a warm glow over everything. Her mood, however, was far from sunny.

""Well, Eomma should have consulted us before making a decision like this," Hana said, her frustration evident.

"I couldn't agree more, my lady," Ji-hoon replied, nodding in agreement with a playful grin.

Hana groaned, rolling her eyes. "Stop calling me that!"

"Oh, you're upset now because I call you 'my lady'?" Ji-hoon feigned shock, placing a hand over his heart dramatically. "Should I start calling you 'darling' or 'love' instead?"

"Shut up, you idiot! Don't call me those names!" Hana shot back, her cheeks flushing slightly as she tried to maintain her composure.

To be honest, every time Ji-hoon called her "my lady," Hana felt a strange flutter in her stomach. Perhaps it was because she was unaccustomed to such endearing names, but it left her feeling both flustered and confused.

"Don't tell me, Hana, your heart flutters when I call you those names?" Ji-hoon teased, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Shut up with your nonsense and focus on driving!" Hana shot back, glaring at him. But her flushed cheeks betrayed her; she was definitely more embarrassed than angry.

Ji-hoon noticed that but shrugged thinking it must be due to anger . So not to mess with her further he simple replied "yes princess"

Hana sighed becoming more red while Ji-hoon just laughed it up.

After a few minutes of driving, Hana decided it was time to freshen up a bit. While she wasn't particularly fond of makeup, she figured a little touch-up wouldn't hurt. After all, looking presentable was important.

She didn't care about the opinions of those who believed makeup was solely for girls trying to appear more beautiful or "fake." To her, it was simply a way to express herself and boost her confidence, regardless of what anyone else thought.

Ji-hoon, noticing Hana's focus on her makeup, slowed the car slightly to avoid any bumps that might disturb her. He would occasionally glance over at her, taking in the way she concentrated on her reflection in the mirror.

Each time he caught a glimpse of her, he couldn't help but admire how the light caught her features, enhancing her natural beauty. She was so engrossed in her task that she didn't notice his lingering gaze. Ji-hoon found himself smiling, appreciating the little moments that made their friendship better.

Suddenly, the car came to a stop, causing Hana to jerk forward in her seat. She instinctively closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impact against the dashboard. But instead of the expected pain, she felt a firm yet gentle palm stopping her .

When she opened her eyes, she found Ji-hoon's removed his hand from her , his expression a mix of concern and focus.

"Are you okay?" Ji-hoon asked, his voice low and steady, scanning her face for any signs of distress.

" Yes I'm fine " She said in relief . " But why did you stopped suddenly idiot "

Ji-hoon looked at her with a bored expression and spoke looking ahead "My princess if you see ahead we are stuck in a traffic ".

Hana looked infront and rolled her eyes in irritation . Today was again a worst day . She was already pissed about the honeymoon and then for her car and now stuck in traffic with her idiotic boss or we can say her husband . She sighed and adjusted her seatbelt properly.

As she turned to glance at Ji-hoon, her breath caught in her throat. His expression was anything but relaxed; he was staring at her with an intensity that made her heart race. His gaze was sharp and serious, an intimidating look that sent a shiver down her spine.

"What?" she asked, her voice a mix of confusion and annoyance.

Ji-hoon didn't respond immediately, his eyes still locked onto hers. Instead, he raised a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet with a soft "shh." The weight of his intense gaze felt like it was piercing through her, and for a moment, Hana was taken aback, her heart racing.

Ji-hoon started to lean closer, inching toward her with an intensity that left Hana both shocked and bewildered. Her mind raced as she tried to process what was happening. The space between them seemed to shrink, and her heart began to race erratically at the sudden closeness. She felt frozen in her seat, caught was in confusion.

As he drew nearer, Hana instinctively closed her eyes, her breath hitching in her throat. She silently prayed for clarity, for understanding, as she felt the warmth of his breath brushing against her skin. It was a sensation that sent shivers down her spine, igniting a flurry of emotions she hadn't anticipated.

And just then ,
.

.

.

Sound of subtle page turning and taps on keyboaard can be heard . The room was silent except the timely sound of air condition .

Hana was so immersed in work that she forgot about the clock that reminds eveyone that world keeps moving forward with accordance of time .

She was currently finishing the new project outline and other work as per to take leave for next five days . It was currently very hectic.

But her peace of mind and room both were disturbed by the shrill call of phone that pierced through the silence .

Hana void of any emotion looked at the callers name and gritted her teeth . The phone continuosly rung annoying her to core.

"what happened ? " why did you called me
Hana pissedly asked to the person on call.

" Oh my dear , why so pissed hun ? " The person spoke chuckling in amusement . "Even I'm not too interested to calling you ".

" Stop wasting my time and tell what do you need ?" She asked rubbing her temple.

" Aww !I love you , you know me too well " the person replied , " ok its money that i want ".

" Ok I'm sending " Hana replied while heaving a sigh but , anger was still simmering under the surface . ' Shameless ' She cursed under her breath.

After sometime a knock was heard on the door . Hana spoke a 'come in ' still immersed in work .

" well Hana-shi , Jihoon sir is calling you to come with the file for our new project " Suzi, assistant of Hana spoke .

" why suddenly ? " Hana asked while raising her eyebrows in confusion because it was not needed now .

" Well the kang company's some client have come to visit us and they have asked for it " she replied politly.

" ok suzi thanks " Hana said smilingly " Handle the rest of work ".

Then she proceed to grab the important files and started to move towards the company's top most floor.

She entered into the floor through lift . The corridor was much silent and calm than the other floors on downstairs . Only the click of her heels on polished surface can be heard .

With a knock on door and without waiting for an answer she entered inside. She glanced at the table where two people were sitting and disscusing something serious .

Ji-hoon glanced at her without any expression but Hana ignored it , continued to walk elegantly to her seat beside the person .

" Hello Mrs ? " The person greeted, stepping forward and extending his hand for a shake.

"Mrs. Lee," Ji-hoon spoke calmly, leaning slightly back in his chair, his hands resting on the table. "She is Mrs. Lee Hana, our company's leading designer."

Hana returned Jaehyun's handshake, her grip firm . "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kang," she replied, her voice steady and composed. She had always prided herself on her professionalism, and this meeting was no exception.

" And Hana, this is Min Jaehyun, a senior manager of Kang Company," Ji-hoon continued, gesturing between them. " He has come to gather the information about upcoming project we're collaborating on."

Jaehyun nodded, his gaze shifting to Hana . "I've heard great things about your work, Mrs. Lee. Your designs have really set a new standard in the industry."

" ok enough of introduction , let's get to the work " Ji-hoon spoke in a serious tone .

The atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically as the conversation took a turn . While Hana and Ji-hoon were discussing the project details, Jaehyun's gaze lingered on Hana longer than it should have. There was an intensity in his stare that made her uncomfortable, and she could feel the weight of his attention pressing down on her.

Hana tried to focus on the discussion, but Jaehyun's behavior was hard to ignore. He licked his lips occasionally, a gesture that felt more predatory than casual. It was disgusting, and she felt a surge of anger rising within her. (Wait, I will teach you a lesson 😏)

Across the table, Ji-hoon, a raven-haired man with a keen sense of observation, had been watching Jaehyun closely. His expression darkened as he noticed the way Jaehyun's hand brushed against Hana's thigh, a blatant act of disrespect that crossed a line. Ji-hoon's knuckles turned white as he gripped the edge of the table, his patience wearing thin.

"Enough," Ji-hoon said, his voice low and stern, cutting through the tension in the room. "You can leave. It's enough now."

Hana, startled by Ji-hoon's sudden command, stood up from her seat

" Not you "

His gaze fixed on Jaehyun, who seemed momentarily taken aback by the sudden shift in authority.

"Mr. Min, I think it's enough for today. You should take leave and ask Mr. Kang to send someone else next time," Ji-hoon continued, his voice deep and unwavering. He locked eyes with Jaehyun, his glare sharp enough to cut through the tension.

"But-" Jaehyun started, but Ji-hoon interrupted him.

"No buts. I don't want to talk with someone who disrespects women," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Or better yet, if you can't control yourself, let's cut the deal."

The air in the room was thick with tension as Jaehyun's expression shifted from surprise to anger. He opened his mouth to protest, but the look in Ji-hoon's eyes made it clear that there would be no further discussion.

"Fine," Jaehyun spat, his voice laced with fear. "I'll just leave."

With that, he quickly gathered his things and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed in the silence that followed, leaving Hana and Ji-hoon alone in the aftermath of the confrontation.

She looked at at Ji-hoon, "Thanks," she said in a small voice, her gratitude genuine but tinged with lingering embarrassment.

"No need to thank me," Ji-hoon replied, a small smile playing on his lips. "I was just protecting what's mine."

" What-t? " Hana tried not to shuttered . Her cheeks flushed , when she tried to proceed the words.

" Nothing " Ji-hoon just shrugged it up .
" I think we should leave "

Hana simply nodded and began to pack her things.

Soon, they proceeded to walk down the corridor.

"Don't you think Tae-ho is more excited than we are for this trip?" Ji-hoon asked, glancing at Hana.

"Yes, I think he and my best friend are definitely more excited," Hana replied, avoiding his gaze.She found it difficult to look him in the eyes today, especially after the driving incident that morning. The memory of that moment made her feel a little embarrassed, and she couldn't shake the feeling as she recalled the way her heart had raced.

_Flashback ends_

As he drew nearer, Hana instinctively closed her eyes, her breath hitching in her throat. She silently prayed for clarity, for understanding, as she felt the warmth of his breath brushing against her skin. It was a sensation that sent shivers down her spine, igniting a flurry of emotions she hadn't anticipated.

Just then , Hana opened her eyes in surprise when she felt something soft brush against her lips. She looked at Ji-hoon, who was now crumpling a napkin and tossing it outside.

"What just happened?" Hana asked, her heart racing as she processed the unexpected moment. "Did you just wipe my mouth?"

"Yeah, you had a little lipstick smudged on your lips," Ji-hoon replied, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I couldn't let you go on like that."

" Yes but you could have just informed me about that " Hana spoke while squinting her eyes .

Ji-hoon chuckled slightly in nervousness and said , " oh never thought of that ".

Hana just shook her head completely done with him and murmured a little " idiot " under her breathe .

_Flashback end _

Hana sighed, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her. She glanced ahead at Ji-hoon, who was walking a few steps in front of her, his confident stride making her heart race. The sudden heat that had crept into her cheeks during their morning interaction lingered, and she couldn't ignore the rapid thumping of her heart whenever he was near.

What is this strange fluttering in my chest? she wondered, her mind swirling with confusion. It was a sensation she had never experienced before, leaving her both intrigued and unsettled.
For now, there was no one to provide answers to her swirling thoughts. She felt a mix of anticipation and uncertainty, knowing that time would eventually reveal the truth behind her feelings.

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