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[Royalty] - [Enhypen]

The energy in the office shifted dramatically as soon as Iseul walked in. The once somber atmosphere lightened, turning radiant with warmth. Her colleagues greeted her with wide smiles, their voices filled with genuine happiness.

They had missed her, and it was clear from the way their eyes lit up at her return. Iseul returned the smiles, her own heart swelling with gratitude as she made her way to her desk.

As she settled into her chair, the familiar buzz of her phone interrupted the moment. It was Sunghoon. Her heart skipped a beat, a giddy smile instantly spreading across her face. She had to admit, no matter how much she tried to distance herself from him, he always managed to worm his way back into her thoughts.

Without hesitation, she answered the call, her voice light and warm. "Hello?"

"Iseul," Sunghoon's voice came through the phone, steady but with an underlying edge of amusement. "You're back at work, finally."

She grinned, her tone playful as she replied, "Of course. I can't leave all the work to you, can I?" She could practically picture the smirk on his face.

"Then, Come to my office."

Her smile widened as she hung up, excitement bubbling in her chest.

She stood from her desk, smoothing out her blouse as she made her way toward his office. The familiar path felt strangely comforting. Her footsteps echoed softly in the quiet office as she passed by the other employees.

When she reached his office door, she knocked lightly before entering, her heart racing just a little faster than usual.

Sunghoon looked up from his desk, his expression softening when he saw her. He motioned for her to come in. "I was wondering when you'd get here," he said, his voice almost teasing.

Iseul leaned over Sunghoon's desk, her eyes narrowing playfully as she locked her gaze with his. "See, sir," she teased, her tone laced with mock confidence. "I'm here to show you I'm not afraid."

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, but before he could respond, her expression shifted. Concern flickered across her features as her eyes landed on the faint bruise adorning his brow. Without thinking, she reached out and gently cupped his face, her fingers brushing against his skin.

"What happened?" she asked, her voice soft but tinged with worry.

Sunghoon, however, seemed entirely uninterested in answering. Instead, he was busy staring at her like she had hung the stars in the sky. His gaze was intense and unwavering, his usual sharpness replaced with something warmer—almost adoring.

"Are you worried about me, Miss Lee?" he finally said, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Yes, sir," she replied instantly, though her tone quickly turned sarcastic to mask her genuine concern. "Because if your brain is damaged, this company will go bankrupt."

He chuckled, his laugh low and rich, but then he stood abruptly, catching her off guard. Before she could step back, he moved closer, caging her between the desk and his towering frame. His arms rested on either side of her, and the air between them grew heavier.

"If you're worried about me," he murmured, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, "afraid to lose me... you can just say it."

Iseul's breath hitched, her bravado wavering as his words hung in the air. The intensity of his gaze, the nearness of his presence—it was all too much. She could feel her resolve crumbling, her heart betraying her as it raced in her chest.

But Iseul wasn't one to back down, not completely. Summoning whatever strength she had left, she managed to slip out from his hold, her movements quick and clumsy.

"Don't flatter yourself, sir," she muttered, her voice shaky as she bolted for the safety of her desk.

Once seated, she pressed her hand to her chest, willing her heart to calm down. She could still feel the heat of his proximity, the weight of his words echoing in her mind. Meanwhile, Sunghoon stood by his desk, watching her with a small, knowing smile.

He shook his head lightly, his expression a mix of amusement and exasperation, before grabbing his files. Without another word, he turned on his heel and made his way to the boardroom, leaving Iseul to grapple with the storm he'd left in his wake.

Iseul stood with her teammates near the coffee machine, chatting casually about weekend plans while waiting for their drinks. The atmosphere was lighthearted, and laughter bounced between them. As she reached for her cup, her eyes caught sight of Sungchan entering the office, dressed sharply in a tailored suit. His presence, typically laid-back, now carried an air of authority.

Iseul stifled a laugh, nudging one of her colleagues. "Is he trying to cosplay as a CEO today?" she whispered, earning a chuckle from her friends. But what puzzled her more was how Sungchan walked past them without a word. No cheeky remark, no sarcastic greeting—just a cold, silent stride.

Before she could dwell on it further, Sana came rushing toward their group, her face lit with excitement. "Guys!" she exclaimed, barely able to contain herself. "The tea is hot this time."

Iseul perked up instantly, her smile widening. She lived for office gossip, especially when it came with Sana's dramatic flair. "Spill," she urged, leaning in closer. "What is it?"

Sana glanced around to make sure no one else was eavesdropping and then whispered, "That intern Sungchan—well, Mr. Sungchan—isn't just some regular guy. He's the son of the co-founder of this company."

Iseul's jaw dropped, her hand flying to her mouth. "No way," she mumbled through her fingers, her mind racing. "That Sungchan? The one who spends half his day doodling on files?"

"Oh, it gets better," Sana continued, clearly enjoying her audience's shock. "He's also the twin brother of Miss Rena."

Iseul nearly choked on her coffee. Her mind reeled as the pieces clicked into place. Sungchan's sudden wardrobe upgrade, his cold demeanor that morning, and now this revelation—it all made sense. "I can't believe it," she said, half-laughing in disbelief.

Meanwhile, in the boardroom, the air was thick with tension, resembling a game of tug-of-war between Sunghoon and Sungchan. Rena sat at the table, glancing between them, struggling to understand the animosity brewing between the two men.

Sunghoon leaned back in his chair, his expression calm but sharp. "May I ask why you've decided to enlighten us with your presence today, Sungchan?" His tone was polite, but the challenge in his words was unmistakable.

Sungchan smirked, unbothered. "I'm taking my father's place, so I'll be joining every meeting from now on and voicing my opinions."

The room fell silent for a beat before the meeting resumed. One of the executives turned to Sunghoon, speaking cautiously. "Mr. Park, we understand you are against the app being paid, but as it stands, our profits will barely cover infrastructure costs."

"And what's the problem with reinvesting profits into the company's future?"

The executive hesitated before continuing, "The problem is our partners. They are concerned about the lack of dividends. If we don't address this, it may lead to friction."

Sunghoon's response was as cold as it was calculated. "If our partners are short-sighted enough to prioritize short-term dividends over long-term growth, then perhaps we need to reconsider who we're partnering with." His voice was even, but the weight of his words left no room for debate.

The room stilled. Executives exchanged glances, some nodding in agreement, others frowning in thought. Rena cleared her throat, breaking the tension. "Perhaps we can find a compromise," she suggested "Something that ensures profitability without alienating our partners."

Sungchan seized the moment, interjecting. "The app should absolutely be paid. A free model will only drain our resources. Besides, paying for premium services is standard practice."

Sunghoon arched a brow. "And your reasoning is?"

"It's... basic economics. Users pay, we profit. It's simple."

Sunghoon smirked, his composure unshaken. "If simplicity were the goal, we wouldn't be in this business. The future is in user acquisition and retention. A paid app discourages new users and stunts growth. By keeping it free, we secure market dominance and long-term revenue streams through alternative monetization strategies."

The executives murmured in agreement, nodding as Sunghoon's logic sank in. One by one, they sided with him, swayed by his confident delivery and well-founded reasoning.

Sungchan, visibly frustrated, scoffed. "Is this how meetings usually go? Mr. Park says something, and everyone claps like trained seals?"

Sunghoon's smile didn't reach his eyes as he turned to Sungchan, his voice steady but edged with authority. "This is how meetings go when professionalism is maintained, Mr. Jung. I suggest you try it."

Sungchan glared but bit back a retort, and the meeting concluded with an even vote on the app's pricing model. Sunghoon gathered his papers, shooting a brief, triumphant glance at Sungchan before walking out of the room. The tension lingered, leaving Rena to wonder if this was just the beginning of a much larger battle.

Iseul was immersed in her work, trying her best to focus and block out the whirlwind of tension surrounding Sungchan. The office buzzed around her, but she remained determined to ignore the gossip. That was until one of her colleagues approached her desk with a mischievous grin.

"Sungchan's demanding your presence," they said, their tone carrying a hint of teasing.

Iseul raised an eyebrow, setting her pen down. "Demanding, huh? Well, who am I to keep Mr. Sungchan waiting?"

She walked to his office, her heels clicking against the marble floor. After a brief knock, she stepped inside, meeting Sungchan's wide grin.

"Miss Iseul," he greeted, leaning back in his chair as if he'd been waiting all day. "Look who's gracing me with her presence."

Iseul crossed her arms, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "You too, but now as Mr. Sungchan. Quite the upgrade from intern, don't you think?"

His grin faltered slightly, guilt flickering across his face. "I should've told you," he admitted, his tone softer now.

She waved off his words with a light chuckle. "It's fine. We all have our secrets, don't we?"

Sungchan studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he gestured toward the chair opposite him. "Have a seat."

Iseul hesitated but sat down, folding her hands in her lap. His eyes locked on hers, and his voice grew quieter, almost intimate. "Look, Iseul, you can tell me anything. You know that, right?"

"Tell you what? I don't have anything to tell you."

Sungchan shook his head with a small, knowing smile. "You're stubborn, you know that?"

Iseul's lips pressed into a thin line, unsure of what he was getting at. Before she could respond, he leaned back in his chair, his teasing demeanor returning. "Fine, fine. If you don't want to spill your secrets, I'll let it go—for now." He smirked. "But, since you're here, I need you to grab the files for the Asher project and the financial breakdown from last quarter. Think you can handle that, Miss Lee?"

Iseul rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile that crept onto her face. "Consider it done, Mr. Sungchan."

As she walked out of his office, the playful exchange still lingering in her mind, she couldn't shake a single thought: why did it feel like Sungchan was prying for something deeper?

While searching through the dusty filing cabinet in the corner of the records room, Iseul's phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen and saw her mom's name flashing. Curious, she answered.

"Hi, Mom. What's up?" she asked, wedging the phone between her shoulder and ear as she flipped through folders.

"Iseul!!!" Her mother's voice was so excited it made her freeze mid-motion. "Your father! He wasn't cheating!"

"What? Mom, slow down. What are you talking about?"

"The blonde woman! She wasn't anything like I thought. Your father wasn't sneaking around with her—she's a fragrance specialist! He was working with her to design a custom perfume for me. Can you believe it? All this time, I thought—"

"See, Mom?" Iseul said, her voice warm as she let out a soft laugh. "I told you. Dad loves you too much to ever do something like that. He's head over heels for you. Always has been."

Her mom sighed on the other end, a mixture of happiness and embarrassment. "I feel so foolish for doubting him. But the perfume! He's been working on it for months! I feel like a teenager in love all over again."

"That's adorable," Iseul said, smiling. She leaned against the cabinet, the files momentarily forgotten.

Her mom laughed, then lowered her voice, suddenly conspiratorial. "How's work?"

Iseul smirked. "Oh, you wouldn't believe it. Remember that intern Sungchan? Turns out he's the son of the company's co-founder and the twin brother of one of our execs. Total plot twist, right?"

Her mom giggled, clearly entertained by the story. "I need updates on this—"

But Iseul glanced at the files in her hand and realized the time. "I'd love to keep gossiping, but I have to deliver these to Sungchan. We'll talk later, okay?"

"Alright, sweetheart. And I'll make sure to show off that perfume when it's done!"

After ending the call, Iseul straightened up, files in hand, when her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message. She opened it and saw Sunghoon's name pop up on the screen:

"Come to my office. Urgent."

With a sigh, she tucked the files under her arm and headed out, her thoughts racing between Sungchan's request and whatever awaited her in Sunghoon's office. The day was far from over, and it seemed the drama wasn't either.

Iseul's exhaustion was evident in every step she took as she entered Sunghoon's office, her shoulders slightly slumped and her eyes tired. She stopped just inside the doorway, folding her arms tightly across her chest. Her gaze fixed on him, firm and unyielding, the kind of look that could slice through excuses.

"Talk. Quickly," her posture said without words, and Sunghoon picked up on it immediately.

He straightened in his chair, his usual composed demeanor slightly cracked by a hint of nervous energy. He didn't bother with pleasantries. "Now that you know about Sungchan's identity, nothing's changed, right?" he asked, his voice brisk but tinged with something softer—worry, maybe even insecurity. "The way you view him? You don't see him differently or anything, do you?"

Iseul raised a brow, clearly taken aback. She stared at him like he had just spoken in riddles. "Why would I see him differently?" she asked, her tone slow, confused, and faintly exasperated.

For a moment, Sunghoon didn't respond. He looked at her, his eyes flickering with something she couldn't quite place, before glancing away. His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, betraying his inner tension.

Then it hit her like a bolt of lightning. Her expression shifted, her eyes widening as realization swept across her face.

"Wait a minute," she gasped, her voice filled with disbelief. "Since Sungchan and Rena are twins, and you're Rena's friend, that means..." She paused, leaning forward slightly as if daring him to confirm. "You've known this the whole time, haven't you?"

Sunghoon leaned back in his chair, his calm façade returning with a slight shrug. "Of course I did," he said with maddening nonchalance, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

Her jaw dropped, the disbelief quickly morphing into anger. "And you hid that from me? Are you serious, Sunghoon?" she snapped, taking a step closer to his desk.

"I was respecting his decision," he said simply, his voice steady but defensive.

Iseul's lips parted in stunned silence before her brows furrowed. The pieces were beginning to connect in her mind, and her expression shifted to one of incredulity.

"Wait... All this time, you've been jealous, haven't you?" She let out a humorless laugh, gesturing toward him. "That's it, isn't it? You were jealous of me and Sungchan! And isn't he your friend?"

Sunghoon's jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened. He stood up, his tall frame looming over the desk as he tried to counter. "That's not—"

"Unbelievable," Iseul interrupted, throwing her hands up in frustration. She took another step closer, her voice lowering but her words cutting like daggers. "Did you seriously call me here just to ask me this?" She shook her head, her tone dripping with disappointment. "You're a problematic friend, Sunghoon. Honestly, I'm done with this."

Her heels clicked sharply against the floor as she turned on her heel and stormed out, her figure disappearing behind the heavy office door.

Iseul delivered the files to Sungchan's office with a polite smile, mentally checking off the task on her list. She made her way back toward the door when she noticed Sunghoon from the corner of her eye, leaning against the doorframe of his office.

"Iseul," he called her name, his tone calm but commanding. She couldn't avoid the faint irritation rising in her chest. Was this what her day had come to—being pulled around between two men like this?

She hesitated for a moment, but turned towards Sunghoon, preparing herself for whatever task he had next. Halfway through the room, just as she was about to cross the threshold into Sunghoon's office, she heard Sungchan's voice ring out from his side.

"Iseul," he said, his voice a little more pointed now. He had a look of interest on his face as he watched her pause, clearly waiting for her attention.

Sungchan's voice carried an undertone of challenge, causing Iseul to feel torn between the two. She could feel the tension building as her eyes flicked from one man to the other—both of them vying for her time, pulling her in different directions.

Sunghoon's stare was hard to ignore, his gaze filled with the unspoken expectation that she'd stick with him. But before she could even respond, she heard Sungchan call to her again, this time a little more insistently, his voice still light but with a slight edge.

"Iseul," Sungchan said once more, and this time, his tone was different—a little warmer, yet firm. She couldn't resist the pull, so she reluctantly walked toward him.

As she entered Sungchan's office, the last thing she expected was to see him grinning widely at her, almost as though he'd won a game. He leaned back against his chair, folding his arms in a relaxed pose, but his eyes shone with something more serious now.

"I'll make this simple," he said, his voice smooth. "I need you as my secretary."

The words hit her like a sudden gust of wind. She blinked, processing what had just been said. The thought of being stuck in another power struggle was one thing, but this offer... this was something entirely unexpected.

Iseul stood frozen for a moment, the frustration and tension melting away to be replaced by something else entirely—surprise.

Sungchan watched her, not seeming to care about the momentary shock on her face. There was a sense of finality in his expression. Iseul opened her mouth, about to argue, but she stopped herself. She could see the seriousness behind his words.

Without a word, she slowly nodded, trying to mask the surprise she was feeling. This was not how she imagined her day going.

"I'm taking you to dinner tonight."

Iseul's eyes lit up when Sungchan mentioned dinner. Her excitement bubbled up like a fountain, and she clapped her hands together eagerly. "Dinner?" she asked, her voice filled with surprise and curiosity. Sungchan's grin deepened as he nodded.

"Yes, to celebrate your new role," he said, his tone casual but with a certain finality that made it clear he was serious.

Leaving Sungchan's office with a skip in her step, Iseul made her way down the hall, still replaying the surprise in her head. Just as she reached the door to Sunghoon's office, it wasn't Sunghoon who called for her this time. Instead, it was Rena, standing in the doorway of her own office with a warm smile.

"Iseul, I'm so glad you decided to come back," Rena said, her voice soft, yet filled with genuine happiness. It wasn't the kind of greeting Iseul had expected. Rena had always seemed so composed, but now there was a kind of vulnerability in her eyes that intrigued Iseul.

Iseul smiled, stepping inside Rena's office, her curiosity piqued.

"I need your help with something," Rena added, her tone hesitant. She motioned to the laptop on her desk, her fingers hovering over the keys as if unsure how to continue. "I've never had female friends to lean on, so I'm considering you my first."

Iseul blinked in surprise at the heartfelt admission. There was a gentleness in Rena's expression that made Iseul feel both honored and slightly nervous. But as Rena continued, Iseul realized it wasn't a huge request—it was something simple, but important.

"I want to buy a watch for a special someone," Rena explained, her eyes searching the screen. "But I don't know which one. Could you help me choose?"

Iseul smiled, trying to stifle a sigh—it could only be Sunghoon. But as she glanced at the options on the screen, her mind shifted into "problem-solving mode." After a moment, she pointed at a sleek, elegant watch. "This one," she said confidently. "It's classic, refined..."

Rena blinked in surprise, clearly impressed. "You have good taste," she remarked, studying the watch for a moment longer before nodding thoughtfully. "Thank you, Iseul. You really do know what you're talking about."

Iseul's smile grew wider at the compliment, and she nodded back. "Anytime," she said, feeling a sense of satisfaction in being able to help.

With that, she left Rena's office, feeling a mix of emotions. From being surprised by Sungchan's dinner invitation to the heartwarming moment with Rena, the day was turning out to be full of unexpected turns.

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