AUTHOR'S NOTE:3380
Hey, everyone! ✨
First off, thank you so much for your love and support! Your comments, theories, and reactions mean the world to me. 💖
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Now, about this chapter—Layla is hanging on by a thread, Minjoon is enjoying the chaos, Andrea is just DONE, and Eunwoo? Well, he's still the ice king. 😂 I loved writing their banter, and I hope you all enjoyed it too!
Drop your thoughts in the comments, and I'll see you in the next update! 💕
YOUR AUTHOR PENOLA.S~
💕(^///^)
The black SUV pulled up in front of the sleek, glass-walled mansion, its tinted windows reflecting the dim glow of the streetlights. The low hum of the engine faded as the doors unlocked with a soft click.
Andrea was the first to step out, her movements smooth but purposeful. The night air was thick with humidity, the faint scent of rain lingering from the earlier storm. Her high ponytail swayed as she rolled her shoulders, a dull ache settling into her muscles after the fight. The adrenaline had long faded, but her heartbeat was still steady, controlled.
She should be exhausted. Any normal person would be.
But she wasn't.
Eunwoo stepped out next, his posture rigid, calculated. His black dress shirt clung to him, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, exposing faint bruises along his skin. If he felt any pain, he didn't show it. His gaze was sharp, unreadable, dark eyes scanning the perimeter with the same meticulous focus he always carried.
Minjoon groaned as he dragged himself out last, one hand pressed to his ribs. "I swear, I'm retiring after this. You two are insane."
Andrea smirked, tugging at the hem of her leather jacket as she adjusted the fit. "You say that every time."
Minjoon shot her a glare, wincing. "Yeah, well, one day I'll actually mean it."
Eunwoo remained silent, pressing his earpiece.
A familiar voice crackled through. "You all made it. No injuries?"
Minjoon let out a breathless laugh. "Physically? Maybe. Mentally? I'm completely traumatized."
Dimitri chuckled. "Good. Now get some rest. We move at dawn."
Andrea exhaled as they entered the mansion, the automatic doors sliding shut behind them with a soft hiss.
The moment they stepped inside, a team of house staff moved in swiftly—one handed Andrea a fresh towel, another brought cold glasses of water. The faint scent of fresh linen and expensive cologne filled the air, blending with the distant aroma of dinner being prepared.
Andrea wiped the sweat from her neck, lifting the glass to her lips and taking a slow sip. Cool water rushed down her throat, refreshing but doing little to ease the unspoken tension crackling in the air.
Eunwoo stood a few feet away, fingers curled around the rim of his glass but not drinking. His expression was blank, cold.
Too cold.
Andrea arched a brow. "Thinking about something, boss?"
Eunwoo barely glanced at her. "Always."
Minjoon groaned, slumping onto the nearest couch. "I'm thinking about food. And sleep. Preferably in that order."
Andrea smirked, tossing her towel onto the side table. "Dinner ready?"
One of the servants bowed slightly. "Yes, ma'am. It has been served in the dining hall."
She nodded, glancing at the men. "Good. We need to eat before packing."
Eunwoo finally took a slow sip of his drink before setting it down with a soft clink against the glass table. His voice was low, firm. "Minjoon, clear the footage."
Minjoon groaned but waved a dismissive hand. "Already did it. I know my job."
Andrea's lips twitched. "For once."
Minjoon shot her a look before dragging himself up. "Let's eat before you two make me lose my appetite."
The dining hall was a vast, elegant space bathed in warm golden light. The long mahogany table was set with an array of plated dishes—steamed rice, grilled meats, and an assortment of traditional side dishes. Everything was untouched, perfectly arranged.
Andrea sat first, grabbing her chopsticks and immediately going for the sizzling beef, the rich aroma hitting her senses the moment it touched her tongue.
Minjoon, however, barely lifted his utensils before glancing at Eunwoo with a smirk. "So… the undercover mission. You two are going as a couple, right?"
Andrea choked on her food. "Excuse me?"
Minjoon leaned back, grinning. "It makes sense. A powerful businessman traveling with his fiancée? No one would question it."
Eunwoo didn't react immediately. He placed his chopsticks down neatly, dark eyes lifting to meet Andrea's. His gaze was calm, steady—but there was something behind it. Something unreadable.
Andrea narrowed her eyes. "I am not playing the doting girlfriend."
Minjoon shrugged. "Why not? You'd be so convincing."
Andrea shot him a deadly look. "Do you want me to stab you?"
Minjoon laughed. "Come on, just think about it. The perfect power couple."
Andrea scoffed, arms crossing. "I'd rather go in as an assassin."
Eunwoo finally spoke, voice smooth and controlled. "We'll discuss that later."
Andrea's head snapped toward him. "Excuse me?"
Eunwoo took a slow sip of his drink before standing. "Eat. Pack. We leave at dawn."
Andrea glared at his retreating figure. "You didn't say no."
Minjoon smirked. "He didn't, did he?"
Andrea threw a piece of meat at him.
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Andrea exhaled, stabbing a piece of meat aggressively with her chopsticks before shoving it into her mouth. Minjoon chuckled at her frustration, but Eunwoo remained silent, eating at his usual unhurried pace. His posture was as composed as ever, exuding an air of complete indifference despite the conversation that had just taken place.
The silence stretched between them, punctuated only by the quiet clinking of utensils against porcelain. Andrea wasn't sure why she was annoyed. Maybe it was the way Eunwoo had dismissed her objections without a second thought. Or maybe it was the fact that he hadn't outright denied Minjoon's ridiculous plan.
She finally huffed, leaning back in her chair. "You're awfully quiet, boss."
Eunwoo barely glanced at her. "No need to waste words."
Minjoon smirked. "Translation: He agrees but won't admit it."
Andrea shot him a glare before turning back to Eunwoo. "You know this undercover thing? It's not happening unless I agree to it."
Eunwoo finally set his chopsticks down, his gaze locking onto hers. His dark eyes held that same unreadable depth, something cool and controlled yet piercing in its intensity. "Are you saying you won't agree?"
Andrea hesitated for a split second—just a breath—but that was enough. The corner of Eunwoo's lips twitched, almost imperceptibly. He had caught it.
Damn it.
Minjoon burst into laughter. "Ohhh, she's thinking about it now."
Andrea groaned, rubbing her temples. "You two are impossible."
Eunwoo, unbothered as always, returned to his meal. If he found her frustration amusing, he didn't show it.
Andrea sighed, deciding to shift the topic. "Anyway, about that last fight…" She trailed off, eyeing him carefully. "You were reckless."
Eunwoo continued eating, unbothered. "It was necessary."
Andrea scoffed. "Oh, so taking on three guys alone when backup was literally ten seconds away was necessary?"
Minjoon raised a brow. "Wait, three? I thought it was two."
Andrea turned to him. "Yeah, well, genius over here decided to take on an extra one for fun."
Minjoon whistled. "Damn, boss. You trying to give us all heart attacks?"
Eunwoo finally looked up, his expression as blank as ever. "They were in the way."
Andrea clenched her jaw. "That's not an excuse. If I hadn't covered you when that fourth guy—" She stopped herself, shaking her head. "You need to stop acting like you're invincible."
Eunwoo's lips pressed into a thin line. "Noted."
Andrea narrowed her eyes. "Don't just say noted and then go do the exact same thing next time."
Eunwoo didn't respond.
Typical.
Before Andrea could push the argument further, the sound of heels clicking against the marble floors echoed from the hallway. The scent of expensive perfume followed—subtle yet distinct.
Layla.
Andrea's brows furrowed as she glanced toward the entrance just as Layla stepped into the dining hall. Dressed in a fitted navy dress and sleek black heels, she exuded the effortless elegance of someone used to commanding attention. Her perfectly styled hair framed her delicate features, and her sharp gaze landed directly on Eunwoo.
"Eunwoo," she greeted smoothly, not even sparing a glance at Andrea or Minjoon. "I have your schedule for tomorrow."
Andrea's grip tightened on her chopsticks.
Eunwoo leaned back slightly, his expression as impassive as ever. "Go on."
Layla stepped closer, placing a sleek black folder on the table beside him. "You have a board meeting at ten, followed by a conference call with the Singapore branch. Then, at four, you're scheduled for a private dinner with—" She hesitated, glancing at Andrea briefly before continuing. "—an important business associate."
Andrea arched a brow. "Wow. No name? Sounds mysterious."
Layla ignored her, focusing on Eunwoo. "It would be best if you arrived early."
Eunwoo simply nodded, flipping open the folder. "Understood."
Layla hesitated, her lips pressing together. "There's also been a slight issue with the security team. We need to go over it before you leave tomorrow."
Eunwoo nodded again. "Later."
Layla pursed her lips, but before she could respond, Minjoon—ever the instigator—smirked. "You know, Eunwoo might be a little busy."
Layla's gaze flickered toward him. "Excuse me?"
Andrea sighed, already knowing where this was going.
Minjoon leaned forward, his smirk widening. "He has to prepare for his undercover mission with Andrea."
Layla blinked. Then her expression shifted—just a fraction. It was subtle, but Andrea saw it. A flicker of something in her otherwise unreadable eyes.
Jealousy? Annoyance?
Whatever it was, it vanished almost instantly.
Layla straightened, her tone smooth. "I see. That must be quite… an adjustment."
Andrea smirked. "Yeah. Apparently, we're supposed to be a couple."
Layla's grip on her tablet tightened slightly. "Interesting."
Eunwoo, as usual, said nothing.
Layla exhaled, composing herself. "In that case, I'll leave you to your… preparations."
Andrea didn't miss the way her eyes lingered on Eunwoo for a second longer than necessary before she turned and walked away, heels clicking against the floor as she disappeared down the hall.
Minjoon let out a low whistle. "Well. That was fun."
Andrea rolled her eyes. "You're enjoying this way too much."
Minjoon grinned. "Of course I am. This is better than TV."
Eunwoo remained silent, eyes still on the folder.
Andrea studied him for a moment before sighing. "Fine. Let's talk about this so-called mission. But I swear, if I have to act like a lovesick idiot, I'm killing both of you."
Minjoon laughed. "Oh, sweetheart, you won't have to act at all."
Andrea threw her chopsticks at him.
Eunwoo finally looked up, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. Just for a second. Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
"Let's go," he said simply.
And just like that, the mission had begun.
📑φ(*￣0￣)📑φ(*￣0￣)📑φ(*￣0￣)📑φ(*￣0￣)📑
Unspoken Truths & Turkish Insults
The dining hall was still buzzing with the faint hum of conversation when Eunwoo finally spoke again.
"Minjoon, any updates on the surveillance?"
Minjoon, still chewing on his food, groaned. "Can't we talk about something not work-related for once?"
Eunwoo's gaze didn't waver. "No."
Andrea rolled her eyes, stabbing a piece of grilled meat with unnecessary force. Of course he had to ruin dinner with work.
Minjoon sighed dramatically. "Fine. Yes, I scrubbed the footage, and no, there's nothing suspicious. But you know what is suspicious?" He leaned forward, smirking. "The fact that our dear Andrea hasn't given her thoughts on playing the role of Eunwoo's fiancée."
Andrea's chopsticks froze mid-air. "Are you serious?"
Minjoon grinned. "Dead serious. I mean, it makes sense, doesn't it? Power couple, rich businessman, stunning fiancée—"
Andrea scoffed. "If you think I'm playing some lovestruck woman at his beck and call, you've lost your damn mind."
Minjoon smirked. "But you'd look so cute together."
Andrea let out a low, irritated mutter under her breath. "Buz gibi adam..."
Layla, sitting across from her, almost choked on her drink. She coughed, eyes widening, but quickly looked down, trying to compose herself. Oh, she understood that. She understood every single word.
Minjoon, oblivious, just kept going. "Come on, it wouldn't be that bad."
Andrea muttered again. "Duygusuz odun. Patronluk taslayan robot..." / ("Emotionless wood. The bossy robot...")
Layla pressed her lips together so hard they turned white. Nope. She couldn't react. She couldn't.
Minjoon leaned back. "Look at them. Imagine the drama, the tension—"
Andrea turned to him sharply. "Tension? You want tension?" She pointed at Eunwoo, who was calmly eating as if they weren't talking about him. "This man is as exciting as a tax audit. He's the human equivalent of an overpriced suit. I'd rather be thrown into an active volcano."
Layla almost snorted, but she quickly disguised it with a cough. God, Andrea had no idea she could understand her insults.
Minjoon looked way too entertained. "I'm just saying, if the mission calls for it, wouldn't it be easier if—"
Andrea shot up a finger. "Minjoon, I swear to—"
"Excuse me."
Everyone turned as Layla entered the conversation, her voice softer, careful. She glanced at Eunwoo, then back at Andrea. "Sir, I have your meeting details for tomorrow."
Andrea groaned. "Of course he has meetings. Even the mafia probably thinks this guy is boring."
Layla struggled—actually struggled—not to burst out laughing. Instead, she nodded politely at Eunwoo and placed the file on the table.
Minjoon, however, saw the opportunity. "Layla, as a neutral party, don't you think Andrea and Eunwoo would make a convincing couple?"
Layla hesitated. She knew Andrea was about to explode.
Andrea didn't disappoint. She shot Minjoon a glare and muttered under her breath again. "Allahım, bu adamı sabırla sınamak mı istiyorsun?" /"My God, do you want to test this man patiently?"
Layla bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. If she wasn't careful, Andrea would definitely figure out she knew Turkish.
Minjoon smirked. "What was that?"
Andrea smiled sweetly. "Just a prayer for patience."
Eunwoo finally looked up from his food, his expression unreadable. "If you're done wasting time, eat. We leave at dawn."
Andrea scoffed. "You didn't even say no to the fiancée thing."
Eunwoo calmly took another bite, unfazed. "We'll discuss it later."
Andrea turned to Minjoon. "See? This is exactly why I don't work under him. Taş kafalı, ama en azından yakışıklı." /Stone-headed, but at least handsome.
Layla lost it. A tiny, choked laugh escaped before she could stop it.
Andrea turned sharply to her. "What's so funny?"
Layla immediately sat up straight, clearing her throat. "N-Nothing, just… uh… something in my head."
Minjoon narrowed his eyes. "Layla, you sure about that?"
Layla nodded quickly. "Absolutely. Just… a random thought."
Andrea squinted, then shrugged, going back to her food.
Layla exhaled silently. Crisis averted.
Minjoon leaned toward her, whispering. "You understood that, didn't you?"
Layla gave him a look. "You say anything, I'm throwing you under the bus."
Minjoon grinned. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."
Andrea rolled her eyes. "You're all annoying."
Eunwoo stood up, effectively ending the conversation. "Enough talking. Prepare your things."
Minjoon sighed. "Yes, boss."
Andrea muttered one last insult in Turkish under her breath, just for good measure. "Kendi dünyasında yaşayan kibirli biri." /"He's arrogant in his own world."
Layla really needed to get out of this room before she exploded.
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Layla followed Andrea out of the dining hall, trying so hard not to laugh. She couldn't let anyone know she understood Turkish. If Andrea found out, Layla had no doubt she'd be dead by sunrise.
Behind them, Eunwoo walked ahead with his usual, unreadable expression. Minjoon lingered at Layla's side, nudging her playfully.
"You definitely understood what she was saying," Minjoon whispered in Korean, grinning.
Layla stiffened. "Shut up."
Minjoon smirked. "Then why do you keep looking like you're about to explode?"
Layla shot him a warning glare. "Because I have self-control."
Andrea, oblivious to their exchange, sighed dramatically. "This is so stupid."
Layla almost pitied her. Almost.
Andrea continued her Turkish rant, muttering under her breath. "Cehennemde bile daha iyi patronlar vardır." (Even in hell, there are better bosses.)
Layla pressed her lips together. Oh my God.
Minjoon glanced at Andrea. "What'd she say?"
Layla quickly lied. "Something about… uh, the weather."
Andrea snorted. "Minjoon, stop trying to understand me. I don't speak Korean, and I'm not planning to learn."
Eunwoo suddenly glanced over his shoulder, speaking in perfect Korean. "That's your problem, not ours."
Andrea groaned. "See?! This is why I hate working under him."
Layla knew what was coming. The insults were about to drop.
And sure enough, Andrea mumbled, "Buz kutusu. Sadece robot modunda çalışıyor." (Ice box. He only works in robot mode.)
Layla immediately looked away, pretending to check her phone. If she made eye contact with Andrea, she was going to burst out laughing.
Minjoon noticed her struggling and smirked. "You sure you don't understand?" he teased in Korean.
Layla gritted her teeth. "I don't."
Andrea sighed and folded her arms. "Minjoon, tell me—how does it feel working for a man who probably doesn't even blink?"
Minjoon chuckled. "It pays well."
Eunwoo, still walking ahead, remained unfazed. "I heard that."
Andrea huffed. "Of course you did."
Then, Minjoon got that mischievous look in his eyes. "Okay, but real question, Andrea—" He smirked. "If you had to be someone's fiancée, would you prefer me or Eunwoo?"
Andrea froze.
Layla bit the inside of her cheek. Oh, this is gonna be good.
Andrea turned to Minjoon with an exasperated expression. "You are actually the most annoying person alive."
Then she muttered, "Öküz gibisin." (You're like an ox.)
Layla almost lost it.
Minjoon blinked. "Was that an insult?"
Andrea smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Layla, still keeping her secret, coughed into her hand to stifle her laughter.
Eunwoo finally stopped walking, turning to face them. His gaze landed on Andrea. "Are you done?"
Andrea crossed her arms. "Depends. Are you done ruining my life?"
Eunwoo didn't even blink. "No."
Andrea groaned and threw her hands up. "See?! He admits it!"
Minjoon was having way too much fun with this. "So, back to my question—who would you rather be fake engaged to? Me or him?"
Andrea turned to him, muttering under her breath, "Biri beynimi yemiş gibi hissediyorum." (I feel like someone has eaten my brain.)
Layla covered her mouth with her hand, pretending to yawn.
Minjoon raised an eyebrow. "What'd she say?"
Layla quickly lied again. "She, uh… she said she loves this team."
Andrea whipped her head toward Layla. "I what?"
Layla kept a straight face. "That's what you said, right?"
Andrea narrowed her eyes. "Are you messing with me?"
Layla blinked innocently. "I don't know Turkish, remember?"
Andrea huffed. "Ugh, whatever."
Minjoon smirked. "So? The answer?"
Andrea exhaled slowly. "If I had to choose…" She paused dramatically. "I'd rather jump off a cliff."
Layla lost it. She actually burst out laughing, doubling over.
Andrea stared. "What's so funny?!"
Layla shook her head. "N-Nothing! Just… the mental image."
Andrea rolled her eyes. "You guys are the worst."
Eunwoo, still unimpressed, sighed. "Enough. We leave at dawn."
Minjoon patted Andrea's shoulder. "Don't worry, fiancée—I'll be there to make sure you don't run away."
Andrea muttered, "Bu adamın başına bir şey gelirse üzülmem." (I wouldn't be sad if something happened to this guy.)
Layla wheezed.
Minjoon frowned. "Why do I feel like I should be concerned?"
Layla quickly composed herself. "No reason."
Andrea side-eyed her suspiciously but let it go.
Eunwoo turned to Minjoon and Layla. "Stop talking. If you're late tomorrow, I won't wait."
Minjoon muttered, "Yes, boss."
Andrea, just to be petty, whispered one final insult. "Kendi kafasında yaşayan buz kralı." (The ice king who lives in his own head.)
Layla barely held it together.
As they walked back, Minjoon whispered to Layla, "You definitely understand her."
Layla smirked. "And you definitely won't tell anyone."
Minjoon chuckled. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."
Andrea, still completely unaware, groaned. "I hate all of you."
And Layla, for the first time, realized—this whole ridiculous, chaotic team?
She loved it.