SMBM 11

Chapter : 11 

You Started It, But I’ll End It

Chaekyung slipped away from Kang-woo and returned to her teammates. They were wrapping up the first round and getting ready to move to the second location.

“Where were you? We were about to go look for you. I was going to text.”

“I took a little walk to sober up.”

“Let’s go. Vice President Ji doesn’t seem in a good mood today.”

“…Right.”

Her lips burned at the thought of their kiss. She snatched up her bag to chase the memory away. It had started as a normal team dinner, but the moment Kang-woo appeared, nothing was normal anymore.
When they moved to the second round, the awkward team members sat stiffly in silence.

Kang-woo had rented out the entire luxurious lounge. He lounged on a sofa, lazily sipping whiskey.

Manager Jang, quick-witted and smooth, jumped in as the mood maker.

“Thanks to you, sir, we get to enjoy a company dinner at a place like this. Thank you.”

“Think nothing of it. I haven’t taken time with the team in a while. Manager Yang chose the venue well, so enjoy yourselves without worrying about me.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

Yang ducked his head at the neutral remark, neither praise nor criticism.

Just then, Kang-woo’s phone rang and he stepped out.

Only then did the team relax a little, gathering in small clusters, admiring the expensive liquor and décor.
But Chaekyung felt restless. This was the very bar where she had first met him.

She was torn between thinking it impressive he had cleared the place without reservation and wanting to flee the space entirely.

Ignorant of Chaekyung’s turmoil, the female teammates gushed about Kang-woo.

“He just up and rents out a whole hotel bar like this?”

“Of course. Our VP is on another level. Right?”

“I’d love to date a man like that for even one day. Even when he looked annoyed earlier, he was sexy. That cold, thrilling vibe, you know?”

“Oh stop, Hyo-joo. …Honestly though, my heart fluttered a little too.”

“…”

Chaekyung sighed. How uncomfortable did she need to look before the man stopped his games?

She drank wine glass after glass.

“Careful, Min. You’ll get drunk at that pace.”

Even Woogyeong, who loved a drink, knew Chaekyung normally avoided alcohol and nightlife.

“I just want to drink tonight,” Chaekyung said.

“Something happen? You’re acting different.”

“I’m allowed a night, aren’t I?”

Chaekyung smiled at Woogyeong’s worried stare, though she didn’t feel anything close to fine.

“Yeah, drink. Everyone deserves to cut loose sometimes.”

She’d thought the same thing that day.
She never imagined that one moment of rebellion would blow up like this. Her head throbbed at the thought of how to untangle things with Kang-woo.

The awkwardness evaporated as the team soaked in the glamor of the night and finally loosened up.

At some point, Kang-woo had returned and was watching Chaekyung over the rim of his whiskey.

His gaze was blatant. The moment he glanced toward the cluster of women, Hyo-joo and Woogyeong stiffened, waiting for attention.

“Vice President! This place is amazing.”

“Never been here before?”

“No. First time!”

“Same here!”

Kang-woo twirled his whiskey glass, responding more gently than usual.
Then his voice shifted direction.

“What about Assistant Manager Min Chaekyung?”

The question landed like a dart.

If she said not the first time, he’d ask how.
If she said first time, he’d pry anyway.

Just imagining it infuriated her.
So she went shameless.

“It’s my first time.”

“First? I see.”

The savoring tone in his voice stopped her cold.

He drank, eyes never leaving her.
Heat crawled up her face. Eventually she met his stare. The corner of his whiskey-wet mouth lifted. When their eyes locked, he slowly dragged his red tongue across his lips.

Chaekyung shot to her feet.

“Excuse me.”

She hurried away, nowhere in particular to go.
In the restroom, she splashed her face again and again.

What wrong had she done to be toyed with like this?

“The bastard you talked about that night was you.”

That day, Kang-woo had spoken like he despised people obsessed with one-night stands.
Yet he had chosen exactly that.
So what made him any different?

Wiping the water trickling down her reflection, Chaekyung steeled herself.

I won’t let him shake me again…

She stepped out—and a hand seized her wrist, yanking her sideways.

Click.

Before she could gasp, she was pulled into a private room and the door shut.

Kang-woo loomed inches above her, so tall she had to crane her neck.

“Min Chaekyung. You lie very well. Didn’t even blink.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Am I not allowed to lie? Or should I have said, ‘Vice President, this is where you turned into a bastard’ right there?”

Kang-woo braced one hand on the wall and lowered himself to eye level.

He smirked, voice low, eyes gleaming like he’d cornered prey.

“This is more fun than you being obedient.”

“Don’t play with me.”

He looked down at her like she was being ridiculous.

“A bastard once isn’t hard. It’s the second time that counts.”

Her eyes trembled.

“What?”

His smile faded. His gaze pinned her.

In those black eyes, Chaekyung saw her shifting expressions reflected.
She knew then she stood no chance against him.

His resemblance to Junheon played a part, but more than that—he could read her.

She bit her lip—habit without thinking—

—and Kang-woo’s teeth closed on her lip and tugged.

“Mm—!”

“You’re the type that keeps needing a hand on you.
Or just now—needed a mouth on you.”

Her lips swelled red, raw from the rough kiss earlier and this fresh sting.

Breath ragged, she remembered the contract. A life raft.

“That’s a violation. You said you wouldn’t make unreasonable demands—”

Kang-woo cut her off, calm, reciting.

“Read what you wrote. Pay me back with time. No unreasonable demands during that time. Nothing about other requests. And this isn’t sex.”

“…”

“Try a better argument.”

“…”

His smooth logic nearly swept her away.

“Actions I don’t consent to count as outside the time I provide.”

“You do consent.”

His eyes demanded an answer.

She couldn’t give one.
She had never truly been able to refuse him.

At first she told herself it was because of Junheon—but the threads had tangled beyond that.

“Min Chaekyung.”

His voice chased her answer—when outside voices grew louder.

Someone approached.
Manager Jang and another coworker, chattering.

“I can give proper dating advice! What’s the issue?”

“No, seriously, I’m fine—”

“I can see it on your face. Come on, here’s a free room. I’ll counsel you.”

Panic shot through Chaekyung. They’d find them.

Kang-woo, unbothered, didn’t budge.
If nothing else, she envied his iron nerves.

Just as Jang reached for the handle, Chaekyung dug her fingers into Kang-woo’s arm.

Kang-woo rose and yanked the door open first. Chaekyung flinched and squeezed her eyes shut.

“V-Vice President!”

“What?”

“We were, uh, going to talk—”

“I’m in the middle of a contract matter.”

The two froze, startled he opened the door himself.

Finding Chaekyung fun to watch, Kang-woo gripped her wrist and opened the door wider.

Chaekyung flattened herself against the wall.

“O-of course, sir! Sorry!”

“It’s confidential. You understand me, yes?”

“Yes! Absolutely! We’ll head down!”

Jang snapped to attention, bowed deeply, and bolted.

Silence fell.
Chaekyung heard nothing—and opened her eyes.

Kang-woo was inches away, his expression changed.

“Back to business.”

“What business?”

“You wanting me.”

“I never wanted—”

He swept her up onto his lap on the sofa.

“Ah—!”

She squirmed, but his hands held her firm.

“Put me down.”

He covered her mouth with his.

“Mmph—!”

She shoved at his chest, useless. He didn’t give her space—fire pressed too close.

His heat seeped into her, weakening her.
The harder she struggled, the tighter he held.

Strength drained from her limbs. Her hands slipped to rest on his chest.

Only then did he release her lips.

Chaekyung gasped weakly, unable to sit upright.

“You started it, Min Chaekyung.
But I’ll be the one who ends it.”

His voice dripped as he looked down at her.

Damp. Sinister.