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chapter 15
After pressing the floor button, I stared straight ahead, only to catch sight of Kim Sung-soo’s reflection in the elevator door, sneaking glances at my back.
I barely restrained myself from ripping out those rotten fish eyes.
“Team Leader Seo, did you hear the news?”
It wasn’t even worth replying, but I reluctantly turned my head.
“Son Kyung-jin is getting married.”
At the sudden mention of my ex-fiancé’s name, my brows furrowed.
It had been three years since we broke off the engagement—why bring him up now? The intention was obvious, and it disgusted me.
When I stayed silent, perhaps assuming I didn’t know, Kim Sung-soo smirked and added,
“The bride’s an OB-GYN, apparently from a solid family.”
“I don’t care.”
Yunha replied curtly, uninterested in gossip she neither wanted to hear nor cared about.
Her indifference made him probe further.
“Not even jealous?”
“Why would I be?”
“If it were me, I’d feel a little sore, you know? A guy dumps me, then marries a woman who’s better than me in every way—that’d sting.”
“That’s only if you still have feelings left. I don’t care about Son Kyung-jin one bit. So please refrain from mentioning him in front of me.”
“Why so serious? I just made a comment.”
“I’m not being serious, I just—”
Yunha stopped herself. Any more and she’d be labeled overly sensitive.
“Anyway, I’d appreciate it.”
“Fine, fine.”
Though he answered grudgingly, it was clear he had no intention of shutting up.
“So, Team Leader Seo, aren’t you getting married?”
Yunha squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again. If she didn’t, she might shout, ‘Shut your mouth and mind your own business.’
“When the time comes, I will.”
“You must be seeing someone though, right?”
Barely keeping her rising anger in check, Yunha shot back quietly,
“Assistant Manager, you sure seem very interested in me.”
“I just feel bad for you, that’s all. It’s not like we’re strangers.”
His gaze deliberately slid down her body.
The way his eyes crawled over her made her skin crawl like snakes slithering over it.
This wasn’t the first time he’d looked at her that way.
It had started years ago, when Son Kyung-jin suddenly introduced her at a drinking party, saying he wanted her to meet his cousin.
The moment they exchanged greetings, Kim Sung-soo stared at her intently. He even followed her to the restroom just to strike up a conversation.
“Why do you like Kyung-jin?”
“I like everything about him.”
She kept it short, hoping to slip away, but he blocked the passage. His bulky frame—he used to be a judo athlete—stood like a wall.
“Specifically, what do you like about him?”
His eyes roamed over her face as though licking it. She felt sick.
“Why do I have to tell you that?”
“As his cousin, I’m curious. What’s so great about that bastard—no, that guy—that you’re dating him?”
He made it clear he wouldn’t move until she answered.
Answering would’ve been easy, but she knew that wouldn’t be the end. His murky stare said it all.
Yunha discreetly looked behind him. The hallway was deserted.
The bar was far off, so even if she screamed, no one would likely hear.
To make it worse, she had left her phone behind—she couldn’t even call for help.
She was desperately searching for a way out when, fortunately, Kyung-jin, worried because she hadn’t returned, came looking for her. Only then did she escape.
After that, she never went anywhere she might run into Kim Sung-soo.
When she broke off her engagement with Son Kyung-jin, she believed she’d never have to cross paths with him again.
But fate had other plans—she ran into him again at LS Fashion.
For a while, she even considered switching companies.
But contrary to her fears, he never crossed the line as he had before. Still, every encounter was peppered with irritating remarks like today.
“This year, isn’t Yul going into her first year of middle school?”
“Why bring up my daughter all of a sudden?”
At the unexpected mention of her daughter’s name, he looked puzzled.
“Be the kind of father Yul can be proud of.”
The elevator doors opened just then.
Kim Sung-soo looked ready to snap back, but with people waiting to board, he had no choice but to stay silent.
Clack, clack.
After parking in the officetel lot, Yunha headed toward the elevator but stopped short at a familiar back.
Sensing her, the man turned. When he saw her, the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
“Leaving work now?”
“What are you… doing here?”
Flustered by the unexpected encounter, Yunha asked instead of greeting him.
“As you can see, waiting for the elevator.”
“I mean, why are you here, Mr. Nam Do-hyun?”
Dodging her intent with evasive words, he feigned ignorance. Yunha cut straight to the point.
“Why do you think?”
“You didn’t happen to move into this officetel, did you?”
“I did. Moved in yesterday.”
His twenty-questions-style answers made her frown, until he finally dropped the teasing tone.
Her brows knitted in disbelief—she had secretly hoped her suspicion was wrong.
“You really moved here… by coincidence?”
“Why? Does it not seem like it?”
“Out of all the officetels, why this one?”
“The parking lot is spacious, the facilities are clean, and it’s close to the office. Out of all the places I saw, this was the best.”
For a moment, she wondered if he had moved here because of her. But then she remembered—those were the same reasons she herself had signed her lease.
Though the rent was high, the facilities were excellent and the security reliable.
“Should I move out again?”
“…What?”
“You don’t seem happy I’m here.”
It wasn’t that she disliked the place—she just wasn’t ready to have him so close.
The elevator doors opened with a cheerful ding at just that moment.
“After you.”
He held the button and stepped aside politely.
She thanked him, pressed 23, and waited for him to select his floor.
But he didn’t press anything—not until the doors closed.
“What floor are you on?”
“Same as you.”
Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked. His answer came without hesitation.
Her eyes widened.
“Don’t tell me… 2304?”
“How did you know?”
At his question, Yunha was left dumbfounded.
Only a week ago, the woman next door had raved about this officetel before suddenly moving out.
And now Nam Do-hyun had taken that exact unit? The timing was uncanny.
Coincidence was beginning to look suspicious.
“It’s not what you’re thinking, Team Leader.”
“And what exactly do you think I’m thinking?”
“You suspected I might be stalking you.”
He hit the nail on the head, and Yunha could only answer with silence.
“The realtor showed me this place. Of all the apartments I saw, this one was the best. That’s all.”
“You knew I already lived here.”
“Yes.”
The fact that he knew and still moved in made it even more absurd.
“Don’t you find it uncomfortable, living so close to a coworker?”
“Not at all. It’s not like we’re living together. What’s uncomfortable about that?”
He looked at her calmly, as though wondering why she was making it a problem.
But for her, it was different.
The thought of bumping into him bare-faced at the convenience store or while taking out the trash made her dizzy. Their departments were different, but their paths would inevitably cross.
And above all… he was a man who got under her skin.
If she admitted the truth, she’d be giving herself away. So Yunha changed tack.
“There’s no privacy.”
“What kind of privacy do you mean?”
“You know… little things. There are sides you don’t want coworkers to see.”
“Then I’ll just pretend I didn’t see.”
Whether he truly didn’t get what she meant or was just playing dumb, he shrugged it off easily.
Yunha considered spelling it out, but closed her mouth again. He didn’t seem like the type to give up the apartment anyway. More likely, she’d end up moving out.
Now, when exactly did her lease expire again…
While she calculated silently, the elevator arrived at the 23rd floor.
