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Chapter 10 ….
Sunlight seeped through the gap in the curtains, pressing into the area beneath her eyes. Doa curled up with her face buried in the blanket.
“Ugh… my head…”
Her skull rang as if it were being hammered. Just as she thought she should find some medicine and pushed herself up, an unfamiliar interior came into view.
A high ceiling, luxurious-looking furniture, and a long standing lamp emitting a soft glow.
“…This place… isn’t my house, is it?”
Instead of her familiar studio apartment ceiling, a smooth hotel-style molding and chandelier filled her vision.
Her heart began to pound rapidly. Who did I come here with? How did I even get here?
What was even more shocking was what she was wearing.
Instead of her usual cotton pajamas, soft champagne-colored silk pajamas wrapped smoothly around her body.
“What the hell. I don’t remember changing clothes…”
Doa grabbed the collar of her outfit, trying to calm herself.
“Calm down, calm down. Let’s think back step by step about what happened yesterday.”
Yesterday, Doa had become an outcast at work overnight. The atmosphere in her department, where everyone avoided her, had become unbearable.
In a fit of anger, she had gone all the way to headquarters—but upon hearing talk of warnings and lawsuits, she couldn’t bring herself to go inside and instead headed to a nearby bar.
“That part I remember… but how did I end up in a hotel?!”
Doa scanned the room thoroughly. Fortunately, there were no signs of anyone else.
Just as she began to feel relieved, thinking she might have come alone—
Ding-dong—
The doorbell rang.
…An employee? Right, I probably came alone. If not an employee, then who else? No way.
Ding-dong, ding-dong.
After a moment’s hesitation, the bell rang again insistently. Doa cautiously approached the door and, after hesitating, pressed the intercom.
“…Hello? Who is it?”
When there was no answer for a few seconds, her anxiety deepened. Then a low, dry voice came through.
“This is Executive Director Yoon Cha Kyung of Hyunsin Department Store.”
“…Pardon? Who?”
“I am Yoon Cha Kyung of Hyunsin Department Store, currently preparing a 220 billion won lawsuit against your side. Does that help you remember?”
Doa’s mind went blank. For a moment, she wondered if she was dreaming.
If not, why on earth was that man here?
A short while later
The two sat facing each other at a table inside the room.
Doa clasped her hands tightly and looked at Cha Kyung with distrust.
“So you’re the one who brought me to the hotel, Executive Director? It’s funny how out of all the bars, you just happened to be at the one I went to, haha.”
At her words, the corner of Cha Kyung’s lips curled coldly upward.
“Well. I find it stranger that Ms. Seong Doa was drinking alone at a bar near Hyunsin Department Store headquarters, even though it’s not your company.”
Ah, right. I did go drinking near there. No, but still, that doesn’t mean you had to bring me to a hotel…
“Even so, you didn’t need to bring me all the way to a hotel. A taxi would’ve been enough…”
“I don’t even know where your home is. How am I supposed to put you in a taxi? Or did you expect the taxi to magically figure it out on its own?”
Doa’s face flushed red.
The more she argued, the more pathetic she felt. Still, there was one thing she couldn’t not ask.
“But… why did you change my clothes? This definitely isn’t what I wore yesterday…”
Cha Kyung’s gaze lingered on her for a long moment. There was blatant disdain in his eyes.
“You couldn’t possibly enter a hotel room wearing clothes stained with vomit. Fortunately, the hotel arranged an external service, and with someone’s help, it was handled.”
Vomit? I threw up?
She didn’t want to believe it. She vaguely remembered vomiting in a drunken haze—but that was real?
While Doa was still in shock, Cha Kyung added mockingly.
“I can guess what you’re imagining, but I have preferences too. I have no interest in doing anything with a woman who vomited in my car.”
Complete defeat. She had no defense left.
Doa wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear right now.
“Anything else you’d like to ask?”
She shook her head quickly.
“No, no. I’m really sorry. I’ll pay you back for the hotel, cleaning, and the clothes—everything.”
“There’s no need. I simply didn’t leave you on the street out of basic decency.”
“Still, I feel really sorry…”
As Doa internally screamed in misery, Cha Kyung suddenly placed a document on the table. She flinched.
It reminded her of the compensation claim he had once given her.
“220 billion…”
“Hic.”
As soon as the amount from the claim was mentioned, Doa began hiccuping out of fear.
“I-I’m sorry…”
Ignoring her repeated apologies and hiccups, Cha Kyung continued.
“This is a contract stating that, in order to settle the 220 billion won lawsuit, you will enter a contractual dating relationship with me. I included the conditions you proposed yesterday as well, though I assume you don’t remember.”
She truly didn’t remember a single thing.
Past me… what on earth did you do again? In such a short time, what kind of disaster did you cause?
With trembling hands, Doa picked up the contract and began reading.
[Contract]
1. Seong Doa shall act as Yoon Cha Kyung’s girlfriend for 6 months.
‧ Accompany Yoon Cha Kyung to family gatherings and official events.
‧ Perform the role of his girlfriend properly in external situations.
2. If Seong Doa faithfully fulfills this contract, Yoon Cha Kyung shall not pursue the 220 billion won damages claim arising from the Hyunsin Department Store lobby incident.
3. If the contract is violated, Yoon Cha Kyung may immediately file a lawsuit.
Up to this point, it was no different from what Cha Kyung had previously proposed.
But the last clause made her question her own eyes.
4. Special Clause
‧ During the contract period, Yoon Cha Kyung shall date Kang Na Hee and then publicly announce a breakup.
Why is something like this even in here?
Doa asked blankly.
“Dating Kang Na Hee and breaking up… what is this?”
Cha Kyung raised an eyebrow slightly.
“That last clause is exactly what you requested yesterday, Ms. Seong Doa.”
“W-What? I told you, while drunk, to date Kang Na Hee?”
A flash of memory struck her mind like lightning—her drunken self clinging to Cha Kyung inside the car.
“Please seduce Kang Na Hee. Kang Na Hee gets dumped by you, and Woo Kyungjun gets dumped by Kang Na Hee. Do it exactly like what happened to me…”
Doa squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head violently.
‘From now on, I am not a human if I drink.’
As she mentally berated herself—hitting her own head and stomping her feet—Cha Kyung, who had been watching quietly, finally spoke.
“I thought about your absurd proposal. If you’re going to perform the role of my girlfriend properly, it might be better if there’s some kind of motivation for you. So I’ll accept that proposal.”
“W-What? You’re actually going to do it?!”
“Well, isn’t that what you wanted? If you don’t want it anymore, I can remove it.”
Doa quickly calculated in her head.
Well… if I’m acting as his girlfriend, getting something out of it isn’t bad.
Besides, Na Hee would definitely fall for Cha Kyung if he tried even a little.
Kyungjun had also gained Na Hee’s attention only after entering a major company.
And Cha Kyung was an executive director—there was no reason she wouldn’t be drawn to him.
If Cha Kyung even slightly showed interest, Na Hee would definitely go after him regardless of who his girlfriend was.
If anything, calling me his girlfriend would make her even more desperate to take him away.
There was no better option than this.
Doa slowly nodded.
“…I’ll do it. Contract dating.”
The moment Cha Kyung nodded, a mix of anxiety and revenge surged up violently from deep inside Doa’s chest.
