The following days felt like a blur for Seo Joo-won. Ever since his meeting with Kim Joon-ho, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was shifting between them. Kim's words echoed in his mind: "You need to prove your worth." There was no room for ambiguity in that statement—Kim wasn't just asking for hard work or dedication. There was an expectation of something deeper, something more personal.
Joo-won threw himself into his work with renewed determination. He stayed later at the office, eager to meet the high standards set by Kim. He no longer wanted to simply be an intern—he wanted to be indispensable. But no matter how hard he worked, no matter how many extra hours he put in, he couldn't escape the feeling that Kim was always watching, waiting for him to make a mistake, or worse—fail the unspoken test between them.
It was during one of those late-night sessions at the office that Joo-won's resolve was truly put to the test. He was alone, as usual, hunched over his desk, when the sound of the office door opening made him jump.
"Still here?" The voice was unmistakable—Kim Joon-ho. Joo-won looked up to find the CEO standing in the doorway, his sharp eyes taking in the sight of Joo-won at his desk.
"I'm finishing up the report for tomorrow's meeting," Joo-won said quickly, feeling the familiar rush of nerves. He had expected Kim's visit—after all, the CEO always seemed to appear at the most unexpected times.
"You really are dedicated," Kim commented, his gaze lingering on Joo-won's face. "But you're pushing yourself too hard. Don't you think?"
Joo-won swallowed, the words "I'm fine" on the tip of his tongue, but something about Kim's presence made him hesitate. It wasn't just the CEO's commanding aura—it was the way he seemed to understand exactly what Joo-won was feeling, even without speaking.
"I'm just trying to prove myself," Joo-won admitted quietly, not knowing why he'd said it. Perhaps it was the vulnerability in Kim's gaze, or the way he had been watching him so closely. Joo-won had always been good at hiding his emotions, but in this moment, he felt strangely exposed.
Kim stepped into the room, his movements deliberate, his eyes never leaving Joo-won's. There was something almost predatory in the way Kim approached him, an undercurrent of danger in his every step. Joo-won's pulse quickened as Kim came to stand beside him, so close that he could feel the heat radiating off his body.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Joo-won," Kim said, his voice low and steady. "Trying so hard to prove your worth. You're not just fighting for a job here. You're fighting for something more. Do you understand that?"
Joo-won's heart raced. Was Kim insinuating something? Was this some sort of challenge—another test to see how far Joo-won was willing to go? He wanted to ask, to demand answers, but the words stuck in his throat. Instead, he simply nodded, unsure of what else to say.
"You're not just another intern, Joo-won," Kim continued, his voice softening just slightly. "You have potential. But you need to learn the difference between ambition and obsession."
Joo-won opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Kim reached out, his hand brushing lightly against Joo-won's shoulder. The touch was casual, but it sent a jolt of electricity through Joo-won's body. He froze, his breath catching in his throat as Kim's hand lingered for just a moment too long.
"Do you want to impress me?" Kim asked, his voice barely a whisper now, his face inches away from Joo-won's. The intensity of Kim's gaze felt like it was pulling Joo-won in, trapping him in a web he didn't know how to escape.
Joo-won's heart pounded in his chest. He should pull away. He should push Kim out of his space and maintain the professional distance between them. But every fiber of his being screamed for something else—something dangerous, something that could tear apart the carefully constructed walls he had built around himself.
"I... I do," Joo-won admitted, his voice breathless, before he could stop himself.
Kim's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile, and he stepped back, releasing the tension between them, though Joo-won could still feel the heat of his presence lingering in the air.
"You'll need more than just words to impress me, Joo-won," Kim said, his tone almost playful now. "You'll need to show me. Actions speak louder than anything else."
With those words, Kim turned and walked toward the door. Joo-won stood frozen at his desk, his mind reeling. What had just happened? Was it a warning? A challenge? Or something more?
The moment Kim left, the room seemed to close in around Joo-won. His breath was shallow, his body trembling with the aftereffects of Kim's presence. Every part of him screamed to chase after Kim, to understand the true meaning behind his words, but he remained rooted to the spot.
What game was Kim playing? And how far was Joo-won willing to go to win?