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[HOT TO GO ] - [Chappell roan]

A large board dominated the room, covered in scribbled notes, sketches, and a single, crude caricature of Sunghoon's face drawn with a bold, angry hand.

"Girl, what is this?" Chaeryoung asked, stifling her laughter as she gestured at the chaotic mess in front of her.

Iseul smirked devilishly, pointing her sharpie at Sunghoon's defaced sketch. Above it, written in bold letters, were the words Operation Melt Ice.

"This, my best friend, is the blueprint for my revenge," Iseul declared, her voice laced with determination. "If he's ice, then I'm fire. If he's quiet, then I'm the storm. I won't ever back down."

Chaeryoung clutched her stomach, struggling to keep her laughter under control. "So, what's the first step in this master plan of yours?"

"Reputation,"

And indeed, as Sunghoon walked into the company that morning, he couldn't help but notice the unusual energy in the air. Employees who usually scurried past him with bowed heads were now exchanging quick glances, their lips twitching as they tried to stifle laughter. A few dared to look him up and down, their gazes lingering on him in a way that made his brow furrow.

Sunghoon glanced down at himself, straightening his tie and smoothing his blazer, trying to find what was so amusing.

Turning a corner, his eyes landed on Iseul, who stood casually by the water cooler, sipping her coffee with a sly smirk. The moment she spotted him, her expression shifted to mock innocence. She took a deliberate step closer, tilting her head as if in concern.

"Good morning, CEO Park..." she greeted, her tone dripping with false sweetness. She gave him a slow, deliberate once-over, her lips curving into a mischievous smile before she turned on her heel.

As she walked away, her laughter rang out, loud and unrestrained, echoing down the hall like a victory bell. Sunghoon's jaw tightened, his gaze narrowing on her retreating figure. Something was definitely up, and he had a strong suspicion who was behind it.

The office was unusually lively that morning, but not with the usual murmurs or the clicking of keyboards.

Instead, a loud, unmistakable singing voice reverberated through the computers. It was clumsy, off-pitch, and full of voice cracks.

"Is that... Mr. Park?" one employee whispered, trying to suppress a snort.

The video looped again, filling the office with the awkwardly heartfelt performance. It showed Sunghoon, hair messily down, glasses perched low on his nose, singing his heart out into a microphone.

Changbin entered the room, curious about the sudden commotion, only to see a crowd gathered around a computer. As he got closer and saw the video playing, his jaw dropped in disbelief.

Without a moment's hesitation, he rushed to Sunghoon's office.

Inside, Sunghoon was reviewing a report when Changbin burst in, his face flushed from stifling laughter.

"Hoon," Changbin said, his voice strained, "you... you need to see this."

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow but motioned for him to proceed. Changbin placed his phone on the desk and hit play.

The video began, and Sunghoon's face immediately darkened. On the screen was him—well, a version of his past.

Changbin's face turned redder as the video progressed, his shoulders shaking as he tried to keep his composure.

The CEO slammed his phone on the desk, his jaw tightening as he glared at the screen like it had betrayed him. "This time, she's gone too far. Ah, Iseul... I'll show you."

Changbin, trying to stifle his amusement, leaned back against the desk. "Well... can you really blame her? She's upset after everything you said to her. Maybe it's payback?"

Sunghoon shot him a glare sharp enough to cut through steel, but instead of replying, he grabbed his phone and dialed Iseul's number. It rang twice before she picked up, her voice light and unbothered.

"Mr. Sunghoon sir, what a surprise," she said sweetly.

"What did you do?" Sunghoon demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

"Do what, sir?" she replied, feigning innocence.

"Don't play coy with me, Iseul," he hissed. "You're the only one who has that video."

"Video?" Her confusion sounded almost genuine, and it only fueled his frustration. "I really don't understand what you're talking about, sir."

"Iseul, you made me look like an idiot in front of my entire company!"

"Did I?" she mused, her tone light but edged with amusement. "I'm not responsible for what others think of you, Sir . That's between you and your... image."

"Just so you know," he said casually, "I'm not ashamed of my past. "

Sunghoon turned to Changbin, who gave him a thumbs-up and mouthed, Yeah, own it.

"That's good," Iseul said brightly. "Self-confidence is important."

And with that, she hung up.

Sunghoon stared at the phone in his hand, his knuckles whitening as he gripped it tightly. The nerve—the audacity—of her. He inhaled sharply, trying to calm the storm building within him, but it was no use. His frustration boiled over, and he stood abruptly, storming over to the office phone.

Punching in her extension, he waited as the line rang, his jaw clenched tighter with each passing second. Finally, she picked up.

"Mr. Sunghoon sir, how can I help you this time?"

"Go to the terrace. Right now,"

"Can't," she replied nonchalantly. "I'm busy."

"I said now, Iseul," he barked, his voice brimming with authority.

There was a beat of silence before her voice returned, calm and cutting. "Sir, you really need to control these anger outbursts of yours. It's very unprofessional to shout at trainees."

And before he could get a word in edgewise, she hung up again.

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Sunghoon had other things in store for him because Iseul's second step of the revenge was just beginning. The first step had been a calculated move, but this one—this was going to hit him where it hurt, and it was going to be painful for him .

She walked down the hall, her steps light but deliberate, carrying a large bouquet of vibrant tulips.

As she neared the elevator, she saw him. The perfect moment to strike.

"Hello, Mr. Sunghoon, sir," she said with a teasing sweetness, stepping in front of him just as he reached the elevator. "I was walking, and I found these beautiful tulips. Aren't they just lovely?"

Before he could respond, she shoved the entire bouquet right into his face, almost smothering him with the flowers. His expression shifted instantly from confusion to annoyance.

"Take them away, Iseul,"

But she wasn't backing down. She tilted her head, letting the innocent smile never leave her lips as she pressed the bouquet even closer. "Oh, but Mr. Park, I thought you'd appreciate such beautiful flowers. I mean, who could resist such a lovely gift?" Her voice was pure sweetness, but the undertone—sharp, calculated—was unmistakable.

The elevator doors opened, and they stepped inside. The few people already inside glanced nervously between the two, sensing the tension.

Sunghoon, always composed, tried to dismiss the awkwardness. "I have a severe flower allergy," he said, his tone colder now, trying to clear up the misunderstanding with practiced indifference.

Iseul, playing the part of the naive, innocent trainee, blinked in mock surprise. "Oh, really? I had no idea," she said, her voice dripping with feigned innocence. She leaned in even closer, pressing the bouquet into his face again. "If I'd known, I wouldn't have come so close, sir. How embarrassing for me..."

Sunghoon's nostrils flared, and his breath hitched as his eyes started to water. The sneezes came almost instantly—loud, forceful bursts that echoed through the elevator.

Iseul couldn't help the small, satisfied smile that tugged at the corner of her lips.

He sneezed again. And again.

As he stormed out of the elevator, sneezing uncontrollably, Iseul stood in the hallway, watching him go with a satisfied smirk on her face. She walked into the office, her heels clicking against the polished floors as she made her way to the conference room.

The bouquet of tulips she had so graciously gifted Sunghoon was now neatly arranged in a vase on her desk. The smell of the flowers filled the air, but it was the sweet scent of revenge she basked in.

Inside the meeting room, the atmosphere was tense. Sana, the lead presenter, was talking with poise, but all Sunghoon could do was fight off the sneezing fits. His face was flushed, eyes watering, and each sneeze was louder than the last.

"God bless you, sir," one of the employees said, trying to be polite as Sunghoon's third sneeze rattled through the room.

"I apologize," Sunghoon muttered, his voice hoarse. He wiped his nose quickly, clearly trying to regain some semblance of control. "Please, continue."

Sana nodded awkwardly, pressing on with her presentation, but every time she said something important, Sunghoon would erupt into another fit of sneezing. By now, the entire room was giving him side-eye, but no one dared to say anything.

Iseul, who was sitting in the back with a smug look on her face, leaned forward. "Sir, are you feeling alright? You should eat oranges, you know. Vitamin C and all that," she said sweetly, as if genuinely concerned.

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, and all eyes turned to Sunghoon, who was clearly seething beneath the surface, his jaw clenched tight. He shot Iseul a deadly glare, but she just smiled innocently, not backing down an inch.

Through the meeting, Sunghoon had barely made it, his mind consumed by the burning irritation that seemed to be spreading across his body, courtesy of Iseul's little "allergy prank." He canceled everything on his schedule, needing to clear his head—and perhaps get away from the incessant sneezing. He sent her a simple message: Meet me on the terrace.

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the things id let this man do to me