"Meet me, and I will," came his response, almost immediate, as if he'd been waiting for her reply. She could picture him leaning back in his chair, that infuriatingly confident look on his face, knowing he had her right where he wanted her.
Just as she said, it's easier to read others than to read oneself. The labyrinth of the heart and the desires of the body were impossible to navigate, and she was still lost within its twists and turns.
For her entire life, she believed she knew herself. But crossing paths with him shattered that illusion. The sexual tension, the inexplicable arousal, and the relentless pounding of her heart—all of it left her in turmoil. She felt like a stranger to her own emotions, grappling with feelings she couldn't understand.
Deep down, she sensed there was something different about herself, something she couldn't quite articulate. Her desires were unconventional, and that scared her. Admitting it was a step she wasn't ready to take, leaving her in a constant battle between what she felt and what she could accept.
She needed to know what he saw in her, what he understood that she couldn't. It was infuriating, this sense that he held a piece of her puzzle that she couldn't find.
"I don't have time for your games, Hyun-Jin. Either tell me now or leave me alone," she shot back, hoping her words carried the bite she intended.
"Getting impatient, huh? Then I must say, just jump on my gun. You and I both know what you want is me."
His words hit her like a physical blow, laced with a double meaning that sent a shiver down her spine. Her breath caught in her throat, heat spreading across her cheeks.
A wave of conflicting emotions crashed over her. The way he could twist simple words into something so charged, so intimate, left her off-balance.
Her body betrayed her, a familiar ache settling low in her abdomen. It was maddening, this pull he had over her, like he had unlocked a part of her she didn't even know existed. A part that craved his dominance, his audacious confidence.
Her phone dinged again. "And if it means I had to destroy Ilhwa Entertainment for you to be happy, I would be more than willing to do so," came his reply.
Why was he bringing Ilhwa Entertainment into this? He was veering off course, dragging in things that made no sense in the context of their conversation.
"...." She sent back, not understanding the context.
"You want investors for Rising Star Entertainment, right? Is it not what your heart desires? Is it something else, Little Storm? Don't you want to give me a hint?" he taunted.
That's when she understood he was toying with her, feeding off her reactions. Anger surged through her.
He had flipped her world upside down in no time, unlocking parts of her she was scared to face, yet he seemed unaffected, which only added to her frustration.
"If you want to waste my time with your games, you might as well find someone else," she typed, her frustration bleeding through her words.
A moment of silence. Then, "Oh, but my games are what you crave, aren't they, Little Storm? You can deny it all you want, but we both know the truth."
She clenched her jaw, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. He was right, and that infuriated her even more. There was a pull between them, a dark, electric current neither could resist.
"You're insufferable," she typed, but there was no real anger in her words, just a begrudging acknowledgment of the truth he spoke.
"And you're captivating," he replied. "Now, are you going to meet me, or do I have to keep playing this game alone?"
She bit her lip, her mind racing. "Fine," she typed, feeling a thrill of anticipation mix with her frustration. "But this better be worth my time."
"Trust me, Little Storm. It will be," he replied, the confidence in his words palpable even through the screen.
She closed the chat, her heart still pounding. Hyun-Jin always had this effect on her, making her feel like she was standing on the edge of a precipice, ready to fall. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
The hours slipped by, but her mind kept drifting back to him, to the way he made her feel. She hated how easily he could get under her skin, but she also craved it, that intensity, that fire.
As the day turned into evening, her phone buzzed with a message. It was him.
"Platinum Enclave. 8 PM. Don't be late."
She stared at the message, her pulse quickening. The Platinum Enclave was one of the private estates owned by the Wangs. His invitation there indicated he wasn't staying at the family mansion.
Arriving a few minutes early, her nerves buzzed with a blend of excitement and apprehension. The security quickly let her in after she gave her name at the gates.
The Platinum Enclave, though luxurious, gave off a gothic vibe. Tall iron gates led to a long driveway that wound through meticulously landscaped gardens. The mansion's exterior, a blend of modern design and dark stone, was softened by the glow of the moonlight, making it look both beautiful and haunting.
Inside the mansion, a maid greeted her and led her through a grand living room filled with expensive artwork and fancy furniture. As she walked, chandeliers cast dim light, their shadows playing tricks on her mind. The hallways were lined with portraits that seemed to watch her every step. She was then taken to a quiet room at the back, where the soft lighting and plush seats created an atmosphere of elegance and secrecy. Heavy drapes covered the windows, and the velvet seats seemed to absorb every sound, wrapping her in an unsettling silence.
Hyun-Jin wasn't there yet, but she expected that since she had arrived early. The quiet surroundings heightened her anticipation as she waited for him to appear, the blend of luxury and gothic eeriness enveloping her in a sense of timeless mystery.
"Came early? Then why waste time waiting here?" His voice dripped with playful mischief as he entered the room, Woo-Jin at his side. "If you're in the mood to explore, why not start with my bedroom? I promise it's full of surprises." His eyes gleamed with that familiar mix of playfulness and desire, making his suggestion unmistakably clear.
She met his gaze, her heart pounding harder. "And here I thought you'd have something more... substantial to offer," she replied, her voice steady despite the nerves fluttering in her chest. "But perhaps I underestimated your hospitality." She smiled, matching his wit with her own, feeling the charged tension between them intensify.
He walked toward her, his movements smooth and deliberate. "Always so eager, Little Storm. But good things come to those who wait," he murmured, his voice a tantalizing blend of amusement and command.
With a casual flick of his wrist, he handed her a sleek folder. "Read this and sign," he ordered, his eyes never leaving hers. He knew she wouldn't back out now.
After all, this was what she had promised him—a favor for helping her out.