SMBM 07

Chapter : 07 

You’re Going to Stay Uncomfortable

She had ended up making a completely absurd deal with him.
Back at her desk, Chaekyung slumped into her chair.

Her visit to the vice president’s office felt like a dream.

For days afterward, Chaekyung lived on edge, not knowing when or where Kang-woo would suddenly appear and demand she fulfill their agreement.

But all that worrying proved pointless—she didn’t even catch a glimpse of him.
He hadn’t shown up at the office for days. Sharing a space with the executive office meant she naturally learned his schedule.

Hyo-joo, the youngest on the Strategic Planning Team and an avid Kang-woo admirer, was gloomy.

“It’s impossible to see the VP these days.”

Her voice dripped with disappointment.

Rumor had it a fan club dedicated to Kang-woo had recently formed inside the company.
That was how much of a sensation the young vice president was.

“Ever since we formed the team, it’s been even harder to see him.”

“Everyone thinks we see him constantly because we’re in Strategic Planning, but look at this!”

While Chaekyung stayed tense day after day, Kang-woo’s absence felt like a blessing.

But among the three women on the team, two spent every break swooning over him—with Chaekyung sitting right there.

Sipping her coffee, she did everything she could to stay far away from him.

Late at night, the Mott building shone like it was still daytime.

Preparing for the preliminary presentation, Chaekyung was in the middle of back-to-back meetings.
Pressed for time, Jung-seok was helping her.
The exhaustion of endless overtime was settling in.

“Assistant Manager Chu, let’s take a short break,” Chaekyung said, rubbing her temples.

“You must be exhausted, Assistant Manager Min. Even I’m tired. Here, drink this and rest a little.”

“Thank you. I’m going to step out for a breath of fresh air.”

When Jung-seok returned midway with coffee, he handed her a cup.
Chaekyung smiled faintly at his worried gaze and headed toward the rooftop garden to clear her head.
She absentmindedly checked her watch.

“Looks like it’ll be 11 p.m. again.”

Crossing the empty rooftop garden, she nimbly climbed up onto the edge railing.
Whenever she worked late, she liked sitting there with her coffee—no people around, just wind.

Sitting dangerously high up shook her awake, clearing her head.
It was the best place to breathe.

Today, like always, she sat on the ledge and sipped her coffee.

She held a mouthful and looked down at the paper cup before swallowing.

Unexpectedly, it was her favorite—Einspänner.
That must be why Jung-seok insisted she drink it.
She was grateful for his thoughtfulness.

Up on the ledge, the wind felt stronger.
Autumn deepened, and the wind had turned cold.
She inhaled deeply, the chill filling her lungs—it felt cleansing.

She turned her head, staring indifferently at the glittering lights among the buildings.
Not beautiful, not ugly—just a dazzling night with no emotion attached.
Even at night, the city churned like it was suffocatingly bright.

She set her coffee down beside her and closed her eyes, leaning back as she held onto the railing.

Only the wind against her ears and skin existed now—it felt good.

“Fall and I take the loss.”

A familiar voice broke the solitude she believed she had.

Startled, Chaekyung, her head tilted back, lost her balance.

“Ah—!”
Her heart dropped as her body tipped back—
only for a large hand to seize her arm.

He steadied her easily.

Chaekyung’s eyes flew wide as she checked the owner of the voice.

“Still so much trouble.”

It was Kang-woo—nowhere to be seen for days, suddenly standing there, sleeves rolled up, brows knit, gripping her arm.

Her precarious perch was held only by his hand.

Chaekyung’s heart pounded—she didn’t know if it was the near fall or him.

The wind whistled sharply, whipping her long hair around his face.
His dark eyes flickered into view between strands of hair.

With those thick brows pulled tight, he tilted his head and stared right at her.

Chaekyung gaped at him, half-believing she was dreaming, the moment too surreal.

“You’re heavy.”

“…Ah.”

His blunt remark snapped her back into reality, and she struggled—only making herself wobble more.

Kang-woo gripped her harder and yanked her toward him.
Muscles along his forearm stood out with the strength in his pull.

She toppled forward into him—
cigarette smoke faintly mixed with a woody scent brushing her nose.

“If you fall, I take the hit.”

“….”

She blinked up at him, unable to understand.
He sighed and spelled it out like she was slow.

“You must not know—this building is under my name, and you’re one of my employees.”

“Why are you saying that now…?”

His expression gave away nothing.
His face—utterly beautiful up close—contradicted the harsh words dripping from his mouth.

“If Min Chaekyung falls here, I lose. If you’re going to fall, do it off someone else’s building.”

“….”

“And I still wouldn’t get my 7,800,000 won.”

He was someone who never forgot a single won.
His tone remained cool and business-like.

And Chaekyung realized—
Kang-woo wasn’t someone who would let that contract slip away just because he was busy.

He wasn’t Junheon.
He wasn’t gentle.

When she tried to pull back, Kang-woo only held her tighter, their gazes locking, burning.

“I don’t want to hear that one of my employees killed herself.”

“What suicide? Let go of me so I can get down.”

Instead of letting go, he wrapped one arm around her waist and lifted her down from the ledge.

She landed straight into his arms.

Chaekyung stared up in shock, swallowing dryly.

Instinct urged her to pull away, but the arm around her waist tightened first.

“Why were you up there?”

His face was so close she could feel his breath.

“Annoying.”

The single word, murmured with knit brows, lingered strangely in her mind.

Chaekyung shoved at his chest and wriggled free, glancing around reflexively.

Even this late, the office had eyes and ears.
Only after confirming no one was around did she relax.

“It’s my healing spot.”

Kang-woo didn’t let her go far.
He planted his arms on either side of her, trapping her against the railing.
Lowering his head, he aligned his gaze with hers.

Anyone walking by would think they were kissing—or worse.

“Heal twice there and you’ll be dead. Sitting on that edge is banned.”

Her expression stiffened. His tone grated.

“If you hadn’t popped up out of nowhere, I wouldn’t have been in danger.”

“You’re the one who popped up.”

“…”

“We need to add another clause. No dangerous behavior.”

Every move, every look of his was unwavering, focused solely on her.

The wind blew cold, but somehow the air felt hotter.

“How have you been?”

“…”

The unexpected gentleness sharpened her awareness.
Gentleness overlapped with Junheon—and confusion followed.

What began as an impulsive one-night escape from Junheon’s shadow now had become Kang-woo—a force threatening to swallow her whole.

“Are you planning not to answer?”

“Please step aside, Vice President.”

Instead of backing off, he closed the distance further.

Her fear became reality—
his lips lowered toward hers.

She tried backing away, but she was trapped between him and the railing.

But instead of kissing her, he stopped a hair’s breadth away.

His warm breath brushed her lips.

“What did you eat?”

“What…?”

“Did you put this on just for me?”

Then he lifted a hand, wiping her lips—
his fingers brushing, then slipping past them into his own mouth.

His eyes never left hers—
making it more suffocating.

She told herself not to react—but with him, that was impossible.

He consistently moved in directions she never anticipated.

She couldn’t look at him.
She couldn’t think about him.
She could not let her heart race because of him.

But every time, he kicked the door open and made his presence impossible to ignore.

“Vice President, what happened between us… is separate from work. This behavior at the company… makes me uncomfortable.”

“You’re uncomfortable because of me?”

“Yes.”

Kang-woo withdrew his hand and shoved both hands casually into his pockets.

“Good.”

Chaekyung’s head snapped up at the unexpected response.

“…Sorry?”

She couldn’t read him at all.
And she hated that she was the one wavering.

“That’s the point. You’re going to stay uncomfortable.”

Even the biting wind didn’t cool her flushed confusion.

While she stood stunned, he was already walking away.