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Chapter 2
Of course she knew.
Taehui knew very well that just because she was a friend’s little sister, Do Mugeon was not the kind of generous “nice oppa” who would go easy on her.
Right now, she first had to read the meaning behind the sharp, dangerous look in his eyes.
She quickly lowered her gaze and stared blankly at the pens she hadn’t finished picking up.
Kneeling barefoot on the dark marble floor, she didn’t even notice her knees turning red as she desperately tried to think.
This situation was something she had never imagined.
She didn’t know where to start explaining.
And even though she had honestly said she was picking up pens, he still demanded a “proper explanation.”
Unable to grasp his point, Taehui felt like a dry winter branch—shrinking, stiff, helpless.
Why was Do Mugeon even here?
He had never cared about department stores.
And when it came to Do Lee-young, he had sworn he wouldn’t even step on the same path as her.
He openly hated and rejected his half-sister.
That was who Do Mugeon was.
Bracing her palms on the floor, Taehui lifted her head.
“Oppa, this is a misunderstanding!”
A weak protest.
Mugeon immediately grabbed her wrist.
Her lips shut tight.
He glanced at her empty palm, scoffing, “A misunderstanding?”
Then his gaze shifted to her pale face.
“Looks like Lee-young didn’t bother writing you a script for this situation.”
“…!”
“You probably didn’t expect the owner of this office to walk in at this hour.”
The owner of this office…?
That meant—
Do Mugeon was the new Executive Director of Strategic Planning?
It felt like ice-cold water was poured over her head.
Stunned, Taehui straightened her body and twisted her wrist free.
Surprisingly, he let go easily.
Still—
Why would he come to a place where the woman he hated ruled freely?
And why was he looking at her with such open contempt?
Sure, it might be shocking that his friend’s sister worked under Lee-young.
But this kind of personal hostility wasn’t like him.
She needed someone to explain this madness.
“Taehui. I can hear your brain working from here.”
He called her name coldly.
“I told you to clean things up. No lingering feelings.”
That line made her lift her head.
Two years ago—
the exact words he had used to crush her confession.
“So did those ‘lingering feelings’ make you change jobs?”
“…!”
“Or were you planning to act like Lee-young’s little spy and grab my leash?”
Only then did her thoughts snap back into place.
Does he think I joined this company because of him?
Despite the murderous look in his eyes, his grip had been calm.
“That’s not it.”
“……”
“I didn’t know you were coming here as executive director.”
She pouted slightly, feeling wronged.
“I came because my boss asked me to. This.”
She reached up and handed him the report she had placed on the desk earlier.
She had every reason to raise her voice—but no courage to do so.
Mugeon didn’t take it.
He simply read the title with indifferent eyes.
— Product Development Promotion Plan —
Was this enough?
Nervously, Taehui continued.
“I came to drop this off, and I knocked over the pen holder while doing that.”
“……”
“Our director said she had already informed the secretary here, and that I just needed to leave it and go.”
The more she explained, the tighter her throat felt.
Meanwhile, Mugeon silently scanned her dark eyes.
“…Anyway. That’s what happened.”
As she finished, Taehui found herself staring into his gray-tinted eyes.
She knew them well—
sharp yet hiding lazy calmness and soft curves.
When those eyes relaxed even slightly, women usually melted.
Most of the time, though, they looked bored with the world.
Even that felt dangerous.
Like art.
His hair gleamed strand by strand.
His lips looked like they might smell of roses.
He was unrealistically beautiful—and that made him feel poisonous.
Deadly poison.
Anyone who crossed his boundary got stung.
That was his nature.
“Alright.”
His dry voice snapped her back.
“You picked a decent answer.”
With one corner of his lips lifted, he looked down at her ID card again.
Still kneeling, Taehui flinched as the card dropped onto her chest.
He had let go.
Maybe… I can escape too.
She reached down to grab the remaining pens.
Behind her, Mugeon took out his phone.
“Manager Jo. Bring a bug detector to my office.”
A bug detector.
Just hearing it made her shiver.
Crawling to grab a pen farther away, Taehui froze.
This is too much. Just because he hates his sister—
It was clear now.
He thought she had planted a listening device under the desk.
While she was tilting her head in confusion—
“You’re going to stay like that.”
She looked up. He was watching her.
“Huh?”
“Are you planning to keep crawling?”
Swallowing hard, she forced a smile.
He didn’t even glance at it.
“If you mess with my space before I officially start work—”
“…!”
“I’ll bulldoze Lee-young’s precious flower garden.”
His words were violent.
His lips were still beautiful.
“Go tell your master clearly.”
Unsure whether to respond, Taehui hesitated.
He urged her with his eyes.
“Yes… I understand.”
With a small voice, she picked up the last pen and stood.
“Oof…”
Her legs cramped from kneeling too long.
Pain shot up from her ankles, and she grabbed the desk to steady herself.
Mugeon glanced at her like she was pathetic, then turned away.
“Oppa.”
She called softly.
He didn’t answer—just turned his head slightly.
“Are you really… the Strategic Planning executive director?”
No answer.
Tick. Tick.
The office was silent except for the clock.
Taehui kept staring at his back, shamelessly.
It’s been two years.
She never thought she’d see him again.
He was still handsome.
Still cold.
Her eyes darkened with thoughts.
“It’s been a while… oppa.”
Without realizing it, she said what she felt.
Then—
“Lee Taehui.”
She loved it most when he called her name in that closed, low voice.
Her heart shook.
“Even so.”
“…?”
“I’m glad to see you.”
Cold words snapped her awake.
“Impressive. In many ways.”
She bit her lip.
At that moment, Manager Jo arrived.
“Executive Director.”
Taehui stiffened.
In his hand was a real bug detector.
Mugeon gestured slightly.
Manager Jo stepped beside Taehui.
“Oh…!”
As the device was brought near her—
Beep—beep—beep!
“…?”
The detector flashed red and screamed.
Her body went cold.
And Mugeon’s icy gaze pierced straight through her.
“I—I didn’t do it!”
