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[Bed Chem ] - [Sabrina Carpenter]

One thing about Iseul was undeniable: she never gave up. From the time she could walk, she'd been fiercely competitive—a firecracker in pigtails, determined to win every game.

The dinner with the CEO wasn't just a prize to her; it was her battleground. A chance to not only win but to take sweet revenge on Park Sunghoon.

And so, she'd sniffed out a deal—one of the biggest on the table, one she knew would catapult her ahead of everyone else.

Iseul was practically humming with excitement as she packed her bag, carefully slipping on her jacket in preparation for her the meeting.

Meanwhile, across the office, Sungchan was spinning lazily in his chair, pretending to scroll through his phone. The low buzz of gossip from the rest of the team pricked his ears.

"Is that girl insane? L'Opulence?" one of them snickered.

"Can't you see? Sana only approved it because she wants her gone. She probably got scolded for Iseul's last mistake," another chimed in, laughing cruelly.

"She's getting fired for sure. What a joke!"

Sungchan's chair stopped spinning abruptly, the laughter grating against his nerves. Without thinking, he stood up and marched straight toward the desk where Sana, their supervisor, was sitting.

"Miss Sana, I'm taking the assignment," he declared, his voice firm and loud enough for the gossipers to hear.

The room fell silent. All eyes turned toward him in disbelief.

Iseul, clutching her bag, froze mid-step. "No! I'm going to that dinner—I mean, restaurant!" she protested, her voice a mix of confusion and defiance.

Her wide eyes darted to Sungchan, who avoided her gaze, mumbling under his breath, "Just trust me."

Sana sighed loudly, clearly fed up with the chaos unfolding in front of her. She pinched the bridge of her nose and finally waved her hand dismissively. "You know what? Fine. Go together or whatever. Just don't embarrass the company," she snapped, her patience wearing thin.

Iseul turned to Sungchan, her mouth agape. "What are you doing?!" she whispered harshly.

Sungchan gave her a crooked grin, leaning in slightly. "Saving your butt, that's what."

Finally, they reached L'Opulence, the pinnacle of luxury dining. Iseul's jaw nearly dropped as she took in the grandeur, feeling entirely out of place.

Sungchan, on the other hand, appeared unfazed, his casual demeanor betraying no sign of awe. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, glancing around with a practiced ease.

He couldn't let Iseul know he was accustomed to places like this; he had to keep his identity a secret.

They were led to a corner table where the manager awaited them. A stiff, sharply dressed man with a permanent scowl, he looked at them like they were wasting his precious time. "Hurry up. I don't have all day," he barked, tapping his pen impatiently against his notepad.

Iseul, unfazed by his curt tone, leaned forward, eager to seize the opportunity. "Okay, no problem! I'll get straight to the point."

She launched into her pitch, her hands moving animatedly as she explained the benefits of their company's deal. Her enthusiasm was palpable—her voice carrying conviction, her eyes sparkling with determination. But the manager's expression remained unmoved. He cut her off mid-sentence, shaking his head.

"I'm not interested," he said bluntly, rising from his seat. "Your deal doesn't align with our brand's image. I have more important things to do than waste my time here."

And with that, he walked away, leaving them alone at the table.

Iseul sat back in her chair, deflated. Her shoulders slumped as disappointment washed over her. This was it—the deal was gone, and with it, her chances of winning the CEO dinner. Worse, Sana would definitely fire her for this failure.

Sungchan, who had been silently observing, picked up on her unease. Leaning back in his chair, he gave her a reassuring smile. "Hey, remember you owe me a meal? Let's get one here. Might as well make this shitty experience worthwhile."

Iseul chuckled despite herself, grateful for his attempt to lighten the mood. She grabbed the menu, her brows furrowing as she scanned it.

"Wait a second... is this gibberish?" she asked, holding it closer as if the words might rearrange themselves into something recognizable.

Sungchan smirked. "No, it's Foie Gras and Coq au Vin—you know, rich people food," he said nonchalantly.

"How do you even know that?"

He shrugged, feigning indifference. "I'm just cultured like that," he replied, desperately hoping she wouldn't press further. Keeping his background under wraps was proving harder than he thought.

Back at the office, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement. Cheers erupted from different corners as teams celebrated their closed deals. Iseul, however, sat in silence, the weight of her failure pressing heavily on her.

She tried to focus on her screen, but every laugh, every congratulatory high-five felt like a dagger to her pride. Her deal had slipped through her fingers, and now she was left with nothing but disappointment.

Sungchan noticed her quiet demeanor. Despite his usual playful nature, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for her. He wanted to say something, offer some kind of comfort, but the words wouldn't come. He simply sat across from her, fiddling with his pen, occasionally stealing glances her way.

As evening fell, the office began to empty out. One by one, the lights dimmed, and the chatter faded into silence. Iseul remained at her desk, stubbornly refusing to leave. Giving up wasn't an option—not for her. Determination flared in her chest as she picked up her phone, scrolling through her contacts.

She dialed number after number, calling every connection she could think of. Her voice grew hoarse from pleading, her frustration mounting with each rejection.

"I'm sorry, but we've already committed elsewhere."
"Not interested."
"Maybe next quarter."

The responses were all the same. One after another, they hung up on her, leaving her staring at her phone in frustration. She gritted her teeth, willing herself not to cry. This wasn't over—not yet.

She was so focused on her phone that she didn't notice the intense gaze fixed on her. It wasn't until the hairs on the back of her neck prickled that she looked up, her heart skipping a beat.

Standing at the edge of the room, leaning casually against the wall, was Sunghoon. His dark eyes locked onto hers, unreadable yet piercing. He said nothing, but the slight tilt of his head and the faint smirk tugging at his lips sent a shiver down her spine.

For a moment, neither of them moved, the tension in the air almost tangible. Iseul tightened her grip on her phone, her pride refusing to let her break eye contact first.

"What are you still doing here?" his voice finally broke the silence, low and calm.

"Trying to get a deal with L'Opulence,"

Upon hearing the name "Lopulence," Sunghoon let out a mocking chuckle, his lips curling in amusement. "That's beyond your power, Iseul. Just give up," he said, his voice dripping with condescension.

Iseul's eyes narrowed, unflinching. She wasn't going to back down now. "Why not? If I catch this deal, you're having dinner with me, Mr. CEO," she retorted, her tone sharp, filled with a confident edge that surprised even her.

At the mention of dinner, Sunghoon's composure faltered for just a second. His cheeks flushed, an imperceptible shift in his demeanor that didn't go unnoticed by Iseul. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his control.

"I love your confidence, but this isn't the right place," he said, his words a little more hurried now, as if uncomfortable with the direction the conversation had taken.

Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Iseul standing there, a mix of satisfaction and determination simmering inside her. The idea of getting under his skin had never felt so good, and now, more than ever, she was ready to prove him wrong.

Pissed off, Iseul stormed out to the balcony, hoping the cool air would calm her nerves. But as soon as she stepped outside, she froze. Rena was already there, leaning against the railing, her eyes focused on the city below.

Iseul felt like she had interrupted something, a private moment, and was about to turn around and leave when Rena's voice stopped her.

"It's fine, you can stay, Iseul," Rena said, her smile warm yet knowing. "This is usually our spot—me and Sunghoon's, but since you're here, we can talk."

Iseul hesitated but nodded. Rena seemed unbothered, and it didn't hurt to stay for a moment.

"Are you liking the job so far?" Rena asked, her voice light but with a hint of curiosity.

Iseul gave a small shrug, trying to keep the edge out of her tone. "It's actually fun. You can't expect what happens next," she replied, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Rena chuckled softly but then turned serious. "Yeah, sorry for accusing you of theft" she said, her gaze flickering to Iseul with a touch of remorse.

Iseul waved her hand dismissively, smiling lightly. "It's fine, I'm used to trouble."

At the mention of trouble, Rena sighed, a small frown tugging at the corners of her mouth. She sat down on the sofa, her posture slumping as if the weight of something heavy had settled on her shoulders.

Iseul, being as nosy as she was, couldn't resist asking, "You also seem to be in trouble. Personal or business?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. She bit her lip, a little embarrassed by her bluntness. She had been in so many awkward situations recently that she didn't even stop to think before speaking.

"It's just... things don't go as I expect them to," Rena said softly, her voice carrying the weight of frustration. "I try, but it feels like my efforts are in vain."

Iseul paused, the words hitting closer than she expected. For a moment, she felt an unspoken connection between them, as though their struggles were entwined in some way.

Little did Rena know, they were both thinking of the same person—Sunghoon.

Iseul took a breath, her chest tightening at the thought of him.

"What would you do in such a situation?" Rena asked, her gaze steady but searching.

Without hesitation, Iseul met her eyes. "I don't give up. I fight for what I want." Her words were unwavering, born of experience and determination.

Rena smiled, the corners of her mouth lifting just slightly, as though she admired Iseul's resolve. Without another word, Rena stood, giving Iseul a last glance before heading inside.

Afrer a while she made her way back to the office, her mind still racing from the events of the day. Her hands moved automatically, gathering her things, as she started packing her bag.

But just as she was about to zip up her purse, her phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number, but something about the timing made her hesitate before answering. She swiped her screen and put the phone to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Is this Ms. Iseul?" came the voice on the other end. It was the manager from the restaurant.

Her heart leapt, her stomach flipping with a mix of excitement and disbelief. Could this be it?

"Yes, this is Iseul," she said, trying to sound composed, though her voice betrayed a hint of anticipation.

"We've reviewed your proposal," the manager continued, his tone a little more formal than she remembered. "We've decided to accept your offer. The deal is yours."

She couldn't contain herself. Her excitement bubbled over, and without thinking, she turned to find Sungchan standing just a few feet away, having arrived earlier. Before she even realized what she was doing, she rushed over and threw her arms around him in a spontaneous hug.

Sungchan, caught off guard at first, blinked in surprise but couldn't help the grin spreading across his face as he wrapped his arms around her. "What's this for?" he asked, laughter in his voice, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"I did it! I actually got the deal!" Iseul said breathlessly, pulling back just enough to look at him, her face glowing with pride.

A round of applause broke through the air, making both of them turn. The team, having gathered near the doorway, stood clapping, grinning at Iseul's success. Sungchan chuckled, his smirk wide.

"You did it, didn't you?" he said, a knowing glint in his eyes.

"I couldn't have done it without you,"

Which was true because Sungchan managed to secure the deal by leveraging his family's influence. He called the manager at Lopulence and convinced him to sign the deal under the name of his father, the chairman of Haven.

As the applause faded and the rush of victory still buzzed in the air, Iseul couldn't help but bask in the moment just a little longer. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, interrupting her euphoria.

She checked the message: "Terrace now." The simple text was from Sunghoon, and something about it made her heart race.

She'd won the deal, she'd beaten the odds, and now she could practically feel his frustration through the screen. There was no way he'd call her to the terrace unless it was because he couldn't ignore the fact that she'd pulled it off.

With a swift motion, she tossed her phone into her bag and made her way toward the terrace, a bounce in her step. She spotted him almost immediately—Sunghoon pacing back and forth, his usual controlled demeanor cracked as he clearly tried to keep his cool.

Iseul couldn't help but smile. He's rattled, she thought. Good.

"Ah, so you heard the news," she said, leaning casually against the terrace railing, her voice light but carrying an edge of triumph.

Sunghoon stopped pacing at the sound of her voice, and for a moment, his eyes narrowed, sizing her up. "You," he muttered, as if he still couldn't quite process how she'd done it. "What did you do? Did you threaten him? Because that seems like something you would do."

Iseul tilted her head, feigning innocence with a glint of mockery in her eyes. "Oh my, sir, I didn't think you held me in such high regard," she said sweetly, taking a deliberate step closer.

She took another step forward, closing the space between them, her confidence filling the room like a tidal wave. "I won, sir . And now," she paused, savoring the moment as her voice dropped into something almost taunting, "I'm here to claim my prize."

She allowed the words to hang in the air for a moment before grinning, her eyes glinting mischievously. "So, where are we going for dinner?"

Sunghoon's eyes flickered with an unreadable expression, his gaze darkening for a second before he masked it. But the fact that he didn't answer her immediately told her everything. He was struggling to maintain that facade of indifference. He hated this. He hated that she was the one who won.

"Iseul, I'm not going to dinner with you. Got it?" Sunghoon's voice was cold, his words sharp as if he was trying to carve distance between them.

Iseul's eyes flashed with irritation, but she stood still for a moment, staring him down. The audacity. She'd won the deal, she'd earned this victory—and he was still trying to put her in her place.

A burst of frustration surged through her, and she muttered under her breath, not caring if he heard, "Then go and tell everyone in your office I'm your ex-wife, that's why you bailed on me."

She turned to walk away, the click of her heels echoing in the quiet of the terrace. Just as she was about to step out of his reach, she felt a sudden, firm grip on her wrist, pulling her back.

The movement was so abrupt that she stumbled slightly, but it wasn't enough to break free. Sunghoon's hold on her wrist was unyielding as he yanked her back into the space between them.

She looked up at him, their faces so close she could feel his breath against her skin, sharp and cold like the tension in the air. His gaze was intense, eyes darkened with frustration, and she could feel his heartbeat in the tension of his grip.

His voice was low but determined. "That won't happen. We made a deal. No one will know you're my ex-wife."

Iseul's pulse raced, but she didn't back down. With a swift motion, she wrenched her wrist from his grasp, her eyes burning with defiance. "Good," she said, her voice laced with bitterness. "I'm not very pleased with the fact that you're my ex-husband either."

Iseul paused just before stepping out, her back still to him. A smirk tugged at her lips, her voice cool but laced with mischief.

"Ah, by the way," she began, turning slightly to glance over her shoulder at him. "I'd like a Japanese restaurant." Her tone was casual, as if she were making a simple request, but there was an unmistakable edge to it, a subtle challenge in her words. She let the silence hang for a beat, knowing the power she had just wielded. "See you tonight, Sunghoon."

Then, as if to add one last touch to her statement, she lifted her hand, making a dismissive little wave. "I mean, Mr. Park Sunghoon, sir." Her mock politeness hung in the air, like a final jab.

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, her steps echoing in the empty space. Sunghoon stood there, frozen for a moment, his jaw clenched as he stared at her retreating figure.

But Iseul didn't look back. Tonight was hers, and she wasn't about to let him forget it.

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