When The Phone Rings

Chapter 31

The other interviewers showed little concern for whether Hong Heeju could speak, Baek Sa-eon was the one who kept nitpicking.

Essentially, all she had to do was silence Baek Sa-eon, right?

Hong Heeju’s eyes shifted slightly before she signed with a bright expression, ‘If you hire me, I’ll research even more passionately!’

Baek Sa-eon rested his chin on his hand, covering the lower half of his face with his palm.

Does he think I’m being too arrogant? She wondered, noticing the subtle crease between his brows. But when he sat upright again, his expression reverted to its usual aloofness.

“…Let’s do it this way. I’ll prepare a script you’ve never seen before and read it aloud. Can you interpret it on the spot?”
‘Yes…!’
“Well, your confidence is impressive.”

A subtle smirk played on his lips.

Heeju slowly unclasped her tense hands and focused her gaze on him. She pushed aside all thoughts— her husband, the threats— everything. Only her goal existed.

Her life might have been one of constant submission, but if there was one thing she could take pride in, it was her detailed observation of Baek Sa-eon.

Sa-eon’s voice, his expressions… Even the smallest gestures were enough for Heeju to know his mind state. Unable to approach him directly, she had gathered and hoarded every tiny piece of him she could find.

Through constant imitation and practice, she could even decipher the difference in his breathing. Coincidentally, the same dedication saved her from crumbling apart.

Her deep, shining eyes were locked firmly on the man before her.

“…”
“…”

Their gazes intertwined like sparks.

“Then, let’s begin.”

The moment his voice— so close yet forever out of reach— marked the start, Heeju forgot that this was for recruitment.

This interview simply turned into… the validation of her endurance and perseverance.

Soon Sa-eon’s steady and precise enunciation filled the room.

“Couples’ Day is a legal holiday established to remind people of the importance of marital relationships and to encourage building harmonious families.”

Baek Sa-eon, still making direct eye contact with Heeju, carried on speaking spontaneously. And without taking her eyes off his face, Heeju’s hands danced fluidly in response.

“Here is a married couple.”
‘Here is a married couple.’

As his words flowed, Heeju’s hands followed immediately.

“This couple has been together for a long time but harbors untold secrets.”

Sa-eon’s sharp gaze narrowed slightly as he continued.

“They decided to revise their ‘Ten Commandments for Couples’ together to celebrate the holiday.”

Heeju proficiently conveyed the words with ease. Her heart kept racing as she desired to express it even more beautifully.

Her eyes grew increasingly ambitious.

She wanted to emulate this resilient man and wanted to reach his level. Weakness, after all, instinctively seeks firm roots to hold on to.

But then—

“One, complained incessantly about work.”

…Wh- What?

Her hands faltered for a moment but quickly regained their rhythm.

“Two, shouting while speaking.”
“…”
“Three, comparing your partner to others while speaking.”
“…”
“Four, being stubborn while speaking.”

Heeju’s expression became progressively more peculiar.

“Five, whining while speaking.”
“…”
“Six, throwing tantrums while spe—”

Baek Sa-eon’s voice abruptly cut off.

With Heeju’s hand still hovering in the air, her eyes met his.

Perhaps it was due to her deep focus, but for a moment, they locked gazes as though challenging each other.

Baek Sa-eon clenched his jaw upon realization. In the end, it was he who conceded first.

“…Alright, that will be enough.”

Baek Sa-eon, appearing parched, briefly adjusted his tie before concluding the test.

 

***

 

With a loud bang, the door to the interview room was flung open and slammed shut. Baek Sa-eon strode down the empty hallway with heavy, hurried steps, almost like escaping.

“Sir, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?”

Park Do-jae chased after him, calling out anxiously. But until his subordinate grabbed his arm, Baek Sa-eon seemed oblivious to everything.

Only when he saw Assistant Park’s flushed, panting face did he vaguely snap out of his daze.

“S- Sir, did something happen?”
“What is it?”

Baek’s curt tone made Assitant Park scratch the back of his head awkwardly.

Even though Park Do-jae had been running, it was Sa-eon whose chest heaved heavily. His breathing was uneven.

Assistant Park was concerned about his superior’s mood but decided to address the matter at hand first.

“It’s about some strange posts appearing online.”

Baek Sa-eon’s expression urged him to continue.

“It’s… about a rumor involving you, sir.”

Park hesitated, carefully choosing his words, “Fortunately, the post was deleted before we intervened. We’re still tracking down any copies or reuploads. But the content was…”
“Did it accuse me of toying with sisters?”

Baek Sa-eon asked flatly.

“What?! No, of course not! We would never believe that…!” Park stammered. “The posts were absurd to begin with. And those were deleted soon after. Someone is purposefully trying to damage your reputation…”
“It’s a warning.”
“A warning?”
“It was a reminder for me. 406 turned out to be quite the jester.”

Baek Sa-eon’s lips curled into a faint smirk as if he found the situation amusing.

“…”
“…why did she choose a garish man like him..,” he murmured with a tone that mixed mockery and intrigue.

Baek Sa-eon had spent the night combing through the event attendee list but had found nothing unusual.

He had dug into every possible connection with Hong In-ah and Heeju, school alumni, family acquaintances, even extending to the point of their illegitimate children, but nothing came up.

The person behind this was as elusive as a ghost.

“It seems we lack sufficient data. We need more information on the blackmailer.”
“He seems a born thief and sc*undrel, apparently.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
“If it’s not school or work, then where in the world would she have met someone like that?”

He clicked his tongue in distaste.

“Oh! Actually, we’ve started cross-checking dating app users with records of being offenders.”
“Begin with individuals facing minor charges or fines. They may not have a complete record..”
“Yes, sir. But… have you considered asking Madam directly?”

The aide, who had already reviewed the recorded files, broached the subject hesitantly.

A sharp refusal came immediately.

“She must never find out.”

Park Do-jae gave him a puzzled look, clearly not understanding. But the cold, sharp tension emanating from Baek’s profile silenced him.

“Of course, given the sensitive nature, it might be awkward to discuss such things between spouses… but asking Madam could resolve this quickly—”
“It doesn’t matter how long it takes.”

Baek Sa-eon’s reply was icy and final.

“Even if more of my offices burn down, or if my father gets hurt. Frankly, I don’t care. I have no attachment to it.”
“..!”
“As long as Heeju isn’t harmed—”

The unexpected emotion in his voice widened Park’s eyes in surprise.

“I’ll take a hundred more phone calls if I have to.”

Baek Sa-eon let out a sigh, loosening his tie.

The whole time at the interview, it felt like something was strangling him.

Heeju’s hands had moved like a graceful dance from across the room, so what on earth had been choking him?

“I’ll leave her alone for now,” he muttered.

His gaze, fixed on the overcast sky outside, grew dark and pensive.

“I can’t let her feel cornered enough to run.”

 

***

 

The interview was finally over. Heeju had dinner with the director before coming home. And collapsed onto the bed immediately.

When she woke up, it was nearly 10 PM.

“Haah…”

Although she had managed the absurd questions with finesse, the blackmailer still hadn’t reached out to her.

Just then, the door lock beeped, and the sound of it unlocking echoed through the apartment.

“…!”

There were still ten minutes to start the phone call! Why is he home so early today?!

The individual who wasn’t supposed to be home had come back. The man who ought to have been at the office to receive the blackmailer’s call had unexpectedly shown up.

Wait a minute…! Can I even make the threat under the same roof? Won’t he hear me? How good is the soundproofing in the rooms?

A wave of panic coursed through her.

With a pallid expression, Heeju hurried to her room, hastily grabbing the timer, the burner phone for negotiations, and the haphazardly scribbled notes on her desk and shoving them into her bag. She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and walked out with a calm facade.

“It’s so late.. where are you going?”
“…!”

Her eyes met Baek Sa-eon’s as he walked toward her with a briefcase in hand. He glanced at her outfit and raised an eyebrow in query.

Busted.

Heeju quickly glanced away, pointing vaguely toward the front door and mouthing, ‘Supermarket.’

With a slight bow, she began walking briskly.

But before she could escape—

“…!”

Sa-eon caught her by the bag strap. The leather strap slipped off her shoulder, and the hastily packed items spilled out.

Clicking his tongue in irritation, Sa-eon crouched to pick up the fallen items. During this hassle, the timer got accidentally activated.

“…Hong Heeju, what is this?”

Sa-eon stopped in his tracks, his gaze turning cold as he inspected the disarray. His voice carried a chilling tone, making Heeju freeze in turn.

Did he recognize the timer?!

In a state of panic, she swiftly disabled the beeping timer and stuffed the burner phone back into her bag.

Am I doomed?

She shut her eyes tightly. And then, his low voice broke the silence.

“Your honor, I’m a fr*ak b*tch, handcuffs, leashes…”
“…!”

Sa-eon’s gaze lingered on a slip of paper. It contained the lyrics sheet of Kariba given to her by Han Joon, the center director.