Chapter 249 - Department Store 3
Lee Hyeon-seo leaned forward slightly as she spoke.
"I'm sorry if I startled you."
Her voice was smooth and melodic.
She sounded genuinely apologetic, like someone who had accidentally spooked a kitten, but her eyes were still dancing with interest.
Then, she looked me dead in the eye and got straight to the point.
"Actually... I really like your look. That's why I came over to ask for your number."
She hesitated for just a second before continuing.
"If it's not too much trouble, could I have it?"
My eyes widened instantly.
My heart sank, and for a moment, my mind went completely blank.
What the hell is going on?
Did she really just come over here for my number?
She's not trying to kidnap me or approach me with some dark ulterior motive?
A flash of panic crossed my face, but I quickly pulled myself together and tried to handle it calmly.
I forced a soft, polite smile and spoke firmly.
"Ah, I'm sorry... but I'm seeing someone right now."
As the words left my mouth, I felt a sharp pang of guilt.
The fact that I wasn't just seeing one or two people flashed through my mind, and a wave of unnecessary anxiety washed over me.
It wasn't exactly a lie, but it was a long way from the whole truth.
Between Suhyeon and the other Executives... my life was already a tangled mess of complicated relationships. It felt like they were constantly dragging me down.
But despite my polite rejection, Hyeonseo didn't look like she had any intention of backing off.
She tilted her head, arching an eyebrow.
"Was that woman with you earlier your girlfriend?"
Her voice was laced with playful curiosity.
Then, she pushed even further.
"I'm confident I can treat you better than she does... Can't you just give me your number?"
She was bold and radiating confidence, like a leopard eyeing its prey. I blinked, completely taken aback by her sheer momentum.
Her gaze remained locked on mine. She was persistent, making me feel like a fly caught in a sundew plant with no intention of letting go.
'What the...? Is she serious?'
I frowned, muttering to myself.
I couldn't help but think she was a total weirdo. Usually, when someone says they're taken, the other person takes the hint and leaves or laughs it off awkwardly. But Lee Hyeon-seo didn't budge.
Her resolve seemed as unyielding as solid steel.
If anything, she was treating my rejection like a game and digging even deeper.
At this point, I realized I had to be more aggressive. I had to shut her down hard if I wanted her to go away.
I let out a heavy sigh and looked her straight in the eye.
I spoke with such finality that even my breath carried a hint of irritation.
"I have no intention of dating you."
Hyeonseo's face stiffened slightly at that.
Her bright eyes widened for a split second, a look of genuine surprise flashing through them.
She looked shaken, like a branch swaying in a sudden, violent gust of wind.
A heavy silence settled over the table.
I waited for her to leave, thinking,
That should do it,
but my expectations were quickly shattered.
Hyeonseo finally spoke.
"Actually... I never imagined I'd be rejected so bluntly."
Her voice trembled slightly, sounding surprisingly sincere.
Then, she tilted her head and continued.
"I have the kind of face that usually gets me whatever I want, so this is a first for me."
I was so dumbfounded by her arrogance that the corners of my mouth actually twitched.
Is she seriously bragging right now? What is wrong with her?
But instead of leaving, she did something even more bizarre.
"But strangely enough, I'm starting to find you even more interesting."
As she said that, she pulled a scrap of paper from her bag, clicked a ballpoint pen, and began scribbling down numbers.
I just stared at her, blank-faced.
What the hell is this?
The phone number, written in neat, elegant handwriting, caught my eye as she held the paper out.
While my mind was still reeling in confusion, Hyeonseo stared at me intensely and said,
"Call me whenever you change your mind."
With those final words, she stood up and walked away with a leisurely grace, like an actress exiting a stage.
I couldn't hide my bewilderment as I looked down at the paper in my hand.
Obviously, it's not like I'd ever actually call her...
Ah. Holy shit.
My entire body froze solid.
There was only one reason.
I saw Suhyeon walking toward me from across the floor.
Her face was a mask of pure annoyance and rage, like dark clouds gathering before a storm.
The moment I saw that expression, I swallowed hard.
I focused every sense on her, holding my breath.
Why? Because I could vividly imagine exactly what happened when Suhyeon got angry.
I knew all too well that while her touch could be soft, it turned into a jagged whip the moment she lost her temper.
Suhyeon approached with long, quick strides and stopped dead in front of me.
Her gaze was like a razor-sharp blade, ready to cut right through me.
"Why was that woman sitting at our table?"
Her voice was an accusation, her tone as cold as shards of flying ice.
Then, her eyes dropped to the paper in my hand.
The second she saw that little scrap of paper with the number on it, Suhyeon gave a slight nod, as if she'd already pieced together exactly what had happened.
The corners of her mouth pulled down, and a chilling expression settled over her face.
Suddenly, Suhyeon spun around and started walking in the direction Hyeonseo had gone.
Panicked, I lunged forward and grabbed her arm.
"Suhyeon, wait! Did you forget we're Mafia? There's no point in drawing attention to ourselves for no reason... right?"
My voice was urgent, but I did my best to keep my composure.
Calming her down was the only priority right now.
Suhyeon hesitated for a moment at my words, then let out a long, heavy sigh.
She snatched the paper from my hand and tore it into tiny shreds.
As the scraps of paper fluttered onto the table like snowflakes, she looked me straight in the eye.
"I trust that you'll behave yourself, Oppa."
Her voice rang out coldly, each word articulated with terrifying force.
It wasn't a request. It was a warning.
Faced with that murderous intent, I had no choice but to swallow hard and nod.
*
The Department Store date continued, but I was distracted the entire time, walking on eggshells around Suhyeon.
I could feel it in my bones—she was still fuming over what happened earlier.
Her expression was as cold and fragile as a thin sheet of ice; one wrong word and she'd shatter into a million jagged pieces.
So, I was as careful as humanly possible, doing everything I could to cater to her every whim.
Time flowed by like a rushing river, and before I knew it, the Department Store had started to empty out.
As the sound of footsteps faded, the building was submerged in a heavy silence.
We stepped into a clothing store.
The place was vast and hollow, with only the racks of clothes standing like silent sentinels to greet us.
Suhyeon flipped through the racks before suddenly asking,
"Do you have anything to wear as pajamas?"
I gave an awkward laugh and shook my head.
"Not really..."
At my answer, Suhyeon looked at me with a blank face and held out a pair of khaki pants.
"How about these? Let's go to the Fitting Room."
Her voice was calm, but the underlying command made me move instantly.
I had no choice but to follow her like a loyal puppy.
We headed to the Fitting Room on the second floor.
The area was completely deserted—no staff, no customers, nothing.
Suhyeon led me to a Fitting Room tucked away in the furthest corner.
The space, hidden under dim, recessed lighting, felt like the mouth of a secret cave.
I took the pants and said,
"I'll go try them on."
The moment I opened the door and stepped inside, Suhyeon smirked.
It was a sharp, predatory smile, like a fox that had finally cornered its prey.
Before I could even react, she followed me inside and pulled the door shut.
And then—
clack
—she locked it.
'Uh...?'
My heart did a heavy thud in my chest.
In the cramped space, her breath brushed against my ear. I stood there, frozen.
I knew this routine. I'd seen this play out many times before.
The atmosphere was all too familiar.
I looked at her with trembling eyes. Suhyeon stared back and said,
"Take them off. I want to see if they suit you."
Her voice sounded soft, but the command behind it was a blade hidden in silk.
My hands shook slightly as I began to unbutton my pants.
This should have just been about trying on some khaki pants, but I knew deep down that it wasn't going to end there.
I could see it in her grey eyes—they were shimmering with a dark, growing excitement.
Her gaze was as sharp and hungry as a wolf eyeing a kill.
As I stepped out of my pants, my thin white underwear was exposed.
The moment the air hit my bare legs, the corners of Suhyeon's mouth curled into a deep, satisfied smile.
She looked intensely aroused, like someone who had just taken a long sip of strong, hot wine.
I tried to avoid her gaze, reaching out to quickly pull on the khaki pants.
But Suhyeon's voice cut through the air, cold and firm.
"Stay still."