Chapter 03
For now, she had no choice but to follow along, but she was worried about what would happen next.
That man is a gangster.
Don’t you know how gangsters treat hostages in movies?
Like the hostages she had seen in some films, she wondered if they would lock her in a room, and if that wasn’t enough, whether even worse things might happen at night.
The horrifying thoughts made her vision darken with despair.
Unaware of Heeyeon’s distress, Yerim looked around the car for a while before soon falling asleep. As if she had been waiting for that moment, Heeyeon finally asked:
“Are you going to lock me up?”
“As if. The door will always be wide open.”
Heeyeon let out a sigh of relief.
“But what comes after is the problem.”
“…!”
It was a subtle threat.
Even if she wasn’t locked up, it sounded like she would never be able to escape his watchful eyes. Whether she had freedom of movement or not, the fact remained that she was a hostage in his grasp.
It was obvious he would monitor her every move.
Oppa…
Seriously… how could you…
Even if not for me, didn’t you think about your own daughter Yerim at all?
She resented Pilmo for causing this situation. Restless with anxiety, Heeyeon stared out the car window, completely unaware of the man’s gaze fixed on her.
She forced her eyes wide open, trying to memorize the route. She needed to know where they were taking her.
The car entered a quiet alley in Seongbuk District.
Soon, a grand gate opened, revealing a massive mansion. Heeyeon felt her breath catch.
The wall, over two meters high, looked like it would make not only intrusion from the outside difficult, but escape as well.
She swallowed nervously but tried to remain composed as she got out of the car, carefully holding the sleeping Yerim.
A neatly dressed woman in a suit greeted the man.
“Welcome back, sir. But… who is this?”
“My newly hired personal keeper.”
For a moment, Heeyeon was confused.
Keeper? It was an unfamiliar title.
She had been kidnapped, yet she was being called a keeper? Employed by him?
Why go that far?
They could have just assigned someone to watch her.
More than that, she couldn’t understand why he wasn’t simply saying she was a hostage.
“Oh, that’s good. The personal keeper position has been vacant, and I was worried about who would take care of you, sir.”
“If you need extra hands, take her with you. She seems to be a decent cook too.”
The man turned away, leaving the mother and daughter behind.
After forcibly bringing her here, was he now at ease because they were within his territory? Of course, she couldn’t escape from what looked like a giant prison of a mansion anyway.
The woman cleared her throat and spoke.
“Follow me.”
“Ah… yes.”
The place she was led to was a room converted from a basement. It seemed to be where the household staff stayed.
Heeyeon carefully laid the sleeping Yerim on the bed so she wouldn’t wake up.
“You’ll have to start working right away. Keep your child under control and be mindful.”
“Understood.”
After the woman left, a sigh escaped her lips.
They had even taken her child hostage.
She was afraid of what would happen from now on.
Her phone suddenly vibrated. It was her aunt calling.
—Heeyeon, are you okay? Where are you? What happened?
“Well…”
—I’m sorry. I tried to take Yerim home, but those people stopped me…
“It’s okay. I was the one who asked you to pick her up. And you don’t need to worry. I’ll just be working here as a keeper.”
—A keeper? After being dragged away like that? This is because of Pilmo, isn’t it? You got caught up in something bad, didn’t you?
“…No. I’m sorry for making you worry because of us…”
—Am I a stranger to you? Don’t say that.
Heeyeon was only worried that Youngsook might suffer because of Pilmo.
“Thank you, Aunt. And if… if my brother contacts you, please call me.”
—Okay. Don’t worry.
After hanging up, Heeyeon sighed deeply.
Anxiety made her bite her nails.
If my brother brings that woman back here… will they forgive him?
No. They definitely won’t. Then he really could die.
A deep sigh escaped her.
Even though he was only a year older, her brother was immature.
“Please… Heeyeon… Pilmo may be lacking… but please take good care of him…”
Even at the very end, their mother had worried about her son.
They were the only two left in the world, bound by blood. Even though she hadn’t heard from him for five years, he had been sending child support for his daughter, so she thought he had finally come to his senses.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
“The boss is calling for you.”
Heeyeon kissed Yerim’s forehead as she slept. Understanding the situation and protecting Yerim was the most important thing.
“Mom will protect you…”
She immediately went upstairs. A man waiting there guided her to the second floor.
This was probably his room.
Steadying her trembling heart, she knocked.
“This is So Heeyeon.”
“Come in.”
She forced herself to calm down before opening the door. As soon as she closed it behind her, she straightened her back and looked directly at him.
“You introduced me as a keeper. Explain what exactly is going on.”
“As you heard, in front of others you must act as my hired keeper.”
“Why?”
“Because no one must ever find out that you’re a hostage. Several lives depend on it.”
“…Lives…”
“The first head to roll would be your brother’s.”
His dark gaze sent chills down her spine. It felt as if an invisible hand was tightening around her throat, and she swallowed dryly.
“If you find my brother… will you kill him?”
“Who knows.”
“How can you talk so easily about someone’s life… Yes, what he did was wrong, taking someone important to you, but still…”
He let out a short, mocking laugh. It clearly held ridicule, yet to her eyes it almost looked like a real smile.
After that brief smile, his cold expression fixed on her again.
“Are you reckless, or do you happen to have two lives?”
“You… you won’t be able to do anything to me. If my survival isn’t confirmed, my family will report me missing.”
“With that terrified face? That’s almost funny.”
Heeyeon flinched, her shoulders shrinking.
Every warning she tried to make felt meaningless before this man.
Her fingertips trembled, but her gaze did not waver.
“I’m not scared. R-right. I just have to do the keeper job, right?”
“That’s right.”
When he nodded, she finally looked around the room.
What caught her eye was a pair of women’s stockings carelessly left in one corner. The bed also clearly showed traces of intimacy.
Don’t tell me… keeper doesn’t mean housekeeper…
It’s not… something like that… right?
Suddenly feeling a piercing gaze, she turned her head. The man was slowly looking her up and down.
Even her loose T-shirt couldn’t hide her voluptuous figure.
She was used to receiving suggestive looks, but it felt different with him.
An inexplicable shiver ran from the top of her head to her toes.
“Don’t tell me you want something else from me…”
“Fortunately for you, you’re not my type.”
For a moment, Heeyeon felt relieved.
“You think that’s fortunate?”
“Yes. Even if I’ve become a hostage, I still have to protect myself.”
“Interesting.”
He stared at her intently.
What’s interesting?
Did he think that with this face and body I’d just try to seduce anyone?
“I have my own preferences too.”
Annoyed, she spoke without thinking.
So Heeyeon, are you crazy right now?
You should be trying to stay on his good side. Why would you say that?
It was too late for regret. But the man didn’t react much.
“Start by cleaning the bed. I rolled around a lot last night, so it’s a mess.”
“…Understood.”
“But first, attend to me.”
He slipped a finger under his tie and loosened it. The slow motion of him removing it felt strangely sensual.
Cold sweat trickled down her back.
He pulled off the tie and held it out in the air.
“……”
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to take it?”
She raised her hand and took the tie. Zap. Their fingers brushed briefly, and it felt like a static shock ran through her.
Judging by his slight frown, he must have felt it too.
It’s just because it’s dry… the weather…
Without realizing it, they found themselves staring at each other.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Her heart pounded wildly from the tension. As his gaze deepened, she didn’t know where to look.
But looking away also felt wrong.
It felt like she absolutely couldn’t lose to him here.
What should I say?
The feeling that she must not back down grew stronger and stronger.
