Chapter 1
“Just once.”
The rain that had begun to patter showed no sign of stopping by nightfall.
“I’ll make sure things work out with Kang Tae-su.”
“No.”
“You won’t find a shortcut better than me.”
Despite Eunseol’s increasingly mechanical refusals, the coaxing continued relentlessly.
“You’ll regret this later.”
“I said I won’t.”
Eunseol answered irritably, rummaging through her bag for the elusive key. She’d downed a shot at the company dinner earlier to keep up appearances, and now her head throbbed. She’d definitely attached the keychain—why was there so much junk in here?
Finally, a jingle sounded from a tangled clump of lint. She bit her lip as she twisted the key in the old rooftop door’s lock—only for it to stick again, one-third of the way in.
“Ugh.”
Pathetic.
With a sigh, she gripped the keychain tighter.
She didn’t need to turn around to know who’d come looking for her here. Only one person knew where she lived.
Kwon Hee-do.
She’d never intended to befriend him. Making friends—male or female—wasn’t her style, and someone like Hee-do? Especially repulsive. The way female coworkers squealed when he passed by was baffling. Regardless, he was far from her type.
She’d never planned to share her address or grow close.
To be precise, Eunseol had a different goal entirely.
‘Did you hear? The chairman secretly planted his own bloodline in the company.’
‘That’s Team Leader Kang Tae-su, right? No wonder he stood out from the start.’
Even before joining Saegang Corp., Eunseol had one objective. After multiple rejections, she’d finally clawed her way into this company for him.
**Kang Tae-su—**the untouchable, the unclimbable tree.
She’d poured years into carefully closing the distance. And now, of all people, this bastard had discovered her one-sided love.
Wiping rainwater from her face, she exhaled sharply.
It started three months ago.
She’d been catching her breath in the 26th-floor hallway, clutching a lukewarm coffee, when—
‘That’s not how you flirt.’
The low voice behind her nearly made her drop the cup.
‘Your method’s outdated.’
She turned to see a man leaning against the wall, a slanting smirk on his lips. Shirt unbuttoned haphazardly, tie loosely tucked into his pocket—the very picture of delinquency.
‘You should stop. That outfit’s expensive.’
‘…What?’
‘If you’re not drinking that, give it here.’
Without waiting, he plucked the cup from her hand, brushed her shoulder, and sauntered off. Eunseol stared dumbly at his retreating back.
By the time she snapped out of it, Kang Tae-su had already passed by without so much as a glance.
“Give it here. I’ll do it.”
Snapped back to the present, Eunseol tightened her grip on the slippery key.
Of all people, Kwon Hee-do—that unlucky charm—had to be the new hire on her team.
“I’ve got—”
Before she could finish, the key was plucked from her fingers.
Frowning, she turned to see Hee-do’s spotless face, the ridiculous chick-shaped keychain dangling from his index finger. Despite the downpour, he looked unruffled. If anything, the raindrops tracing his sharp jawline and high nose only accentuated his sculpted features.
“Stop messing around and give it—”
“Why take the long way?”
Hee-do easily kept the key out of reach, stepping closer until his chest nearly brushed her shoulder.
“I’m helping you.”
His cologne, intensified by the rain, enveloped her.
After their first encounter, they’d struck an unspoken deal: his silence in exchange for her servitude. Printing documents, cleaning, snack runs—she took on every chore. When she learned he lived with Kang Tae-su, her tasks expanded to setting tables, pouring drinks, even replacing flowers daily.
It wasn’t bad staying on his good side. Everything seemed smooth.
Until Hee-do started making unreasonable demands.
“I’ll give you Kang Tae-su.”
“…”
“But first, do it with me.”
His lips curled, slick with mischief.
“Think of it as practice. We both win.”
Normally, she’d scoff. But tonight, whether it was the alcohol or the rain, her reactions were sluggish.
“Want to know Kang Tae-su’s type?”
“What, you’ve slept with him?”
“Can’t say no. We share more than just a house.”
Bastard.
Her derisive laugh caught in her throat as Hee-do gripped her chin.
“Well?”
His black eyes locked onto hers. The irregular rhythm of the rain thickened the humid air, weaving something dangerous between them.
It wasn’t that he was unattractive—that was the problem.
Compared to Kang Tae-su, Hee-do was his polar opposite. A slacker who coasted on looks, flirting his way through the office. Women flocked to him despite his empty résumé and revolving door of scandals. The worst marriage material imaginable.
“How could you possibly—”
Her question drowned as Hee-do’s lips swallowed hers.
Eunseol froze. Once, twice—his tongue swiped her lower lip before sliding in with practiced ease.
“Ah.”
He tilted her chin, deepening the angle. The pressure was just right—teasing her teeth, soothing then scraping sensitive flesh. The longer their breaths tangled, the warmer her rain-chilled lips grew.
His hand cradled the back of her head, fingers threading through her hair as he devoured her. Lightning might as well have struck her paralyzed.
Meanwhile, his other hand slid the key into the lock.
The slow, deliberate turn sounded obscene. Each tiny creak sent shocks through her. It felt like she was the one being unlocked.
“Hah.”
A hot exhale escaped her. Unswallowed saliva trailed down her chin.
Click.
The mechanism gave way.
“Haah.”
Eunseol shoved him back, gasping, nails digging into his arm. But Hee-do gave her no time to recover, reclaiming her lips with a hunger that left her dizzy.
“Ngh.”
The contrast was maddening—his mouth ruthless, his thumb tenderly wiping her smudged lipstick.
Her stomach twisted.
No wonder women lost their minds over him. His absurd provocations kept clouding her judgment.
She scrambled for logic.
Colleagues joked that virgins past thirty became wizards. Maybe Kang Tae-su wouldn’t want someone like that.
“It’s open.”
Hee-do pulled away, wiping her mouth with a subject-less murmur. Her exhale came out shaky, summer air laced with an unseasonable chill.
Her pulse raced; her face burned.
This capricious weather was an omen. Like the ever-shifting sky, it tempted her into reckless choices.
“Want to?”
His voice was honeyed temptation.
“I’m good at more than just turning keys.”
Even the cheesy line couldn’t loosen her grip on his shirt.
She’d only had one drink. So why did Hee-do look so unfairly handsome tonight?
“I won’t tell Kang Tae-su.”
“…”
“Promise.”
His coaxing was too smooth.
It’s the rain, she told herself. The delayed buzz.
Hee-do wouldn’t give up. He’d pester her until she yielded.
“Once…”
Her traitorous lips moved.
“…Just… once.”
Slick.
Hee-do’s smirk widened like a predator eyeing trapped prey. Then he seized the nape of her neck and crashed into her again.
