When The Phone Rings Temp 1

Chapter 25

/Contains suggestive words/

In this situation, working with Sa-eon would be no different from stepping into a pit of vipers by will.

“This position requires a recommendation letter to get through the initial screening. I can only write one from our center. If you’re not interested, my recommendation will go to someone else.”
“…!”

Heeju’s gaze lingered on the job announcement, betraying a spark of ambition mingled with a stubborn refusal to acknowledge it.

“You wrote down how much you wanted this, and now you’re acting all stiff and prideful for no reason…”

The center director suddenly paused mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing meaningfully at Heeju.

“Wait… don’t tell me. Is it because of ‘that’?”
‘Because of what?’
“When I was dating, my girlfriends used to make expressions like you whenever they were trying to score tickets to a fan meeting or concert of their favorite idol. The nervousness and excitement made their legs tremble.”
“…!”
“Why did you flinch? That makes it even more suspicious!”

The grinning director flared his nostrils in exaggerated amusement.

“Are you really going to throw away your chance to become a successful fangirl?”

‘It’s not like that!’
“Sweetheart, if Baek Sa-eon is already married, you can at least comfort yourself with a successful career.”

Seeing Heeju fume, the director laughed. It felt good to tease her mercilessly.

“I guess I can’t understand a maiden’s heart.”
‘I’m turning 30 soon!’
“Didn’t realize you were this serious about it, Heeju.”
‘That’s not what I meant!’
“But Baek Sa-eon’s supposed to come from some powerful family, right? His wife must be equally impressive. A guy like him won’t marry someone random.”
“…”

Heeju’s expression twisted slightly.

She had never once surpassed, equaled, or even come close to catching up with Baek Sa-eon in life.

As someone always regarded as the lesser, the so-called “wife,” she couldn’t let this slide.

‘Write me the recommendation.’
“What?”
‘I’m going to apply for the position.’

Heeju’s face hardened with determination, as she couldn’t suppress her impulse.

Just once, even if only once— she wanted to stand in the same time and space as him.

If she were a sign language interpreter and he the presidential spokesperson, it could be the only opportunity to appear remotely equal on the surface. Rather than being pitied as a political pawn for her father-in-law’s campaign, she resolved to make the most of this chance.

She hoped this sickening arranged marriage would at least leave something worthwhile in its wake.

 

***

 

Blunders, profanities, insults… these words spiraled endlessly in her mind.

How was she supposed to extract such remarks from him? This was the first time she had struggled to concentrate so much during a phone call.

Sitting by her vanity mirror, Heeju glanced distractedly at her reflection as the speakerphone carried his voice.

― “There will be much to discuss between us today.”
“Well… I wouldn’t count on that,” she muttered, pressing her fingers to her temple in frustration.
― “First, send me all the photos you have of Heeju. Every single one, originals included.”
“What?”
― “All of them.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

But I don’t have any! What photos?

― “Do you think I would let my wife’s name get dragged down by a few grainy leg shots? What kind of amateur do you take me for?”

Heeju looked at her phone, disturbed by his cold tone.

― “Are there any other pictures? Something that shows her face, perhaps? That girl supposedly has a mole on her eyebrow.”
“…!”

His words left her with an eerie feeling.

Leaning closer to the mirror, she examined her reflection. She brushed her eyebrow in the opposite direction, revealing a small, hidden mole.

How can Baek Sa-eon know about this?

It was a detail she herself hadn’t noticed until she started wearing makeup as a teenager.

― “Wh-Why would I give those to you?” she stammered.

His voice turned firm and decisive. “Because I don’t want another creep like 406 pulling stunts with them.”

“…!”
―“So, if you’re planning to leak those, give it to me.”
“…!”
― “I’ll compensate you generously. Let’s make it a proper deal.”

Heeju’s eyes couldn’t focus due to the shock.

Again… she was being strung along by him again…

― “Why would someone like you, someone who could end this sham of a marriage at once, keep letting yourself get blackmailed over this? As a fellow man, I really don’t get it.”

Why is he holding onto someone as insignificant as me so tightly?

‘I won’t let it slide this time!’

Heeju’s expression turned resolute.

She had realized during their last exchange that Baek Sa-eon had an unusual sensitivity when it came to the concept of a wife.

Targeting his reputation wasn’t nearly as effective as poking that specific nerve.

Once again, she made herself the sacrifice. By now she was aware that ‘wife’ was a sore point of his.

“I’ll send you something else, but not photos.”
― “…What is it this time?”

Heeju squeezed her eyes shut and steeled her willpower

“Haa… haa…”
― “…!”
“Hnnng…”
― “…What the.. what are you..”

For the first time, the presidential spokesperson was rendered speechless.

Heeju was burning with shame, but she couldn’t stop. Her only goal was to make Sa-eon curse out loud.

― “Nggh…!”

The distorted groans, sounding almost digitally altered, echoed grotesquely through the line. She pressed on with stubborn determination.

“Something like this~”

Baek Sa-eon seemed too stunned to respond.

“I’m just relaying exactly what I heard,” she added nonchalantly.
― “…”
“Better than photos, don’t you think?”
― “Haa… d*mn it…”

As Sa-eon’s defeated sigh came through Heeju’s eyes lit up like a lightbulb.

“Want me to do it again?”
― “…”
“Hmm, hngh… like this?”

The sound of uneven breathing came from the other end of the line, sharp and erratic.

― “You… son of a b&%#h.”

The curse slipped out as Sa-eon couldn’t hold it back any longer.

Heeju was elated, realizing she had managed to shake “Baek Sa-eon”— the Baek Sa-eon. A strange, unexplainable thrill coursed through her resembling a guilty satisfaction.

― “Knowing I’m her husband, and you still choose to degrade her in front of me? Is that how people today ask for d*ath these days?”

He lashed out word by word.

― “I’m going to fill your mouth with water, keep pouring it in until your lungs, throat, and vocal cords are all bloated and torn. I’ll see if you can still talk by then.”

Was… Was he threatening to torture me?

Even if Heeju was taken aback, she swiftly checked if the recording was still running.

“Wow! Keep going…”

Would this suffice as vulgar words? Her hands trembled slightly, but she forced a weak grin.

― “Drowned bodies fall apart at the slightest touch. If 406 has parents, I’ll throw his corpse at their feet. If not, you’ll just be dog food.”

He spoke these vicious words without hesitation. This wasn’t just profanity anymore; this was practically a murder threat.

With just a single nudge from her, Sa-eon had completely lost control.

― “It’s people like 406 who make society so vile. Someone has to clean up that filth.”
“…”
― “I’ll start by rinsing the throat with bleach. When butchering a pig, you scrub out its guts with detergent. Why should 406 be treated any differently?”
“So waterboarding¹, huh? And what?”

The cold, cutting tone came to an abrupt halt.

― “From the very beginning, something is off with you…”
“?”
―“Talking to you makes me nauseous.”
“What?”
― “Stop swallowing your saliva so loudly. I can hear it all.”
“…!”
― “Your preferences are ‘disgusting’.”
“P- Preferences?”
― “Did you teach Heeju that too.. F*ck!”

Startled, Heeju pulled the phone slightly away from her ear.

The device felt hot, though she couldn’t tell if it was from mechanical overheating or Baek Sa-eon’s seething rage. Either way, she felt like she might choke, despite having eaten nothing.

―”Watch what you say. Especially since Heeju has no idea, you’re spreading this nonsense about the two of you.”

His voice grew darker.

― “Don’t taint her memories. She doesn’t need to deal with things she shouldn’t.”
“…!”

Her heart sank as if it had dropped into a bottomless pit.

Baek Sa-eon wasn’t straightforward.

― “No matter how despicable you act, it’s your character that will fall to ruin, not Heeju’s. Keep that in mind.”

Every time she spoke with Sa-eon, Heeju was painfully reminded of one thing: On the surface, he dismissed her like a cold, indifferent husband. But deep down, he cared for and worried about his young wife more than anyone.

“…Since when have you been so considerate…”

Acknowledging that truth wasn’t easy. Something that had been building inside her finally burst out like a sneeze.

“What’s the point of telling me all this instead of her?”
― “If I have to thank 406 for one thing…”

Her raised voice was cut short by his interruption.

― “It’s for breaking me out of my complacency.”

His words didn’t immediately make sense, but they sent a strange chill through her shoulders.

― “Congratulations, you’ve riled me up completely.”
“…!”
― “If you knew what I’ve done because of Heeju…”

He whispered the next part as if sharing a dangerous secret.

― “You wouldn’t dare pull this kind of lowly stunt on me.”

His voice, laced with mockery, sank into something heavy and oppressive.

For some reason, Heeju couldn’t respond.

‘What did he mean?’

A sudden suspicion crept into Heeju’s mind.

It felt like he was hiding something from her… something very significant.

---

 

TL/N:
[1] Waterboarding- an interrogation technique usually regarded as a form of torture in which water is forced into a detainee’s mouth and nose so as to induce the sensation of drowning.