The Devil Wears Desire
The Second First Impression
Rain. Cold, freezing rain. 🌧️❄️
That was the last thing I felt.
And the blinding lights of a truck coming right at me. 🚛💥
Min-ho
I’m sorry, Yeo-rin.
Min-ho
It was either you or me. Someone has to take the fall for the embezzlement.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to curse the man I loved. 💔😡
Yeo-rin
(Gasps violently) 😮💨
I sat up, my chest heaving. Sweat dripped down my forehead.
I looked around. This wasn't a hospital. It was my old one-room apartment.
Yeo-rin
My hands... they aren't bleeding. ✋
I grabbed my phone. The screen lit up the dark room. 📱
Yeo-rin
(Laughs bitterly) 😔
I went back five years.
April 14th. I remember this day.
This was the day I failed my interview at MJ Group.
The day I started down the path that led to my death. ⚰️
Yeo-rin
Being a "good girl" got me killed.
I walked to the mirror. The naive girl from the past was gone. 🪞
Yeo-rin
(Touching her reflection)
Choi Min-ho. You think you can use me again?
Yeo-rin
This time, I’m not the prey. I’m the hunter. 🐺
MJ Group Headquarters – 09:00 AM
The lobby was crowded. I walked in, the sound of my heels echoing on the marble. 👠
No beige suit this time.
I wore a crimson silk blouse and a pencil skirt that hugged every curve. 🔥
I sat in the waiting area. I knew who was coming.
Seo-jun
Where are the files for Hyesung Construction?
The temperature in the room dropped.
Park Seo-jun had arrived. ❄️
Assistant Kim
Sir, I... I thought I left them on your desk... 😰
Seo-jun
I don't pay you to think. I pay you to work. You're fired.
Assistant Kim
(Trembling)
Mr. Park, please!
Seo-jun
Get out of my sight.
The hallway went deadly silent.
The other applicants were shaking in fear. 😨
But I smiled.
This was my chance. 😌
I stood up and stepped directly into his path.
Seo-jun
(Stops walking)
Move.
Yeo-rin
The Hyesung analysis.
Plus the three hidden debt clauses your legal team missed.
He looked at the folder.
Then he looked at me.
His eyes were dark, like a bottomless ocean.
For the first time, he actually saw me. 🌊
Seo-jun
(Reading the file)
How did you know about the debt clauses?
Yeo-rin
(Steps closer)
Does it matter?
Yeo-rin
I just saved you three million dollars. 💰
He snapped the folder shut.
A flicker of interest crossed his face. 👀
Seo-jun
You're an applicant?
Yeo-rin
I was.
But I don't want an interview anymore.
Seo-jun
(Raising an eyebrow)
Then what do you want?
I leaned in close.
Close enough for him to smell my vanilla perfume. 🍦
Yeo-rin
Take me into that meeting.
If I'm useless, fire me.
Yeo-rin
But if I'm right...
you give me everything I ask for.
The air crackled with tension. ⚡
He looked at my lips, then back to my eyes.
Yeo-rin
I'm competent.
There's a difference.
He smirked.
It was barely there, but I saw it. 😏
Seo-jun
(Turning around)
Keep up, Han Yeo-rin.
Seo-jun
If you stumble in those heels, I'm leaving you behind.
Yeo-rin
(Smiling) 😌
I wouldn't dream of it, Sir.
I watched his broad back as he walked away.
Yeo-rin
(Thinking)
Got you. 🎯
The Boardroom Wolf
The boardroom was a battlefield disguised as a luxury suite. ⚔️
Twelve old men in expensive suits sat around a mahogany table. They were the executives of MJ Group. 💼
And they were all waiting for Park Seo-jun to fail. 👀
Director Choi
(Sneering) 😏
CEO Park, you’re late. And... who is this?
Director Choi pointed a fat finger at me. In my past life, he was the one who authorized the embezzlement I was framed for. 💀
I felt a surge of hatred,😠 but I forced a polite smile. 🙂
Seo-jun
(Sitting at the head of the table)
She is my eyes for today. Proceed.
Director Choi
(Scoffs)
Fine. As you know, the acquisition of Hyesung Construction is vital. We must sign the deal by noon. ⏰
Director Choi
Their stock is rising. If we wait, we lose money. 📈
The other directors nodded like bobbleheads. They were walking right into a trap. 🪤
Seo-jun stayed silent, tapping his pen on the table. He looked bored, but I saw the tension in his jaw. 🧊
I leaned down, bringing my lips inches from Seo-jun's ear. 💋
The room went silent. Secretaries didn't whisper to CEOs. But I didn't care.
Yeo-rin
(Whispering)
Ask him about the shell company in Vietnam. 🇻🇳
Yeo-rin
(Whispering lower)
Hyesung is shifting their debt to a paper company called “Blue Sky.”
If you sign, you inherit a 50 billion won debt. 💣💰
I pulled back slowly, letting my breath linger against his neck for a second too long. ⚡
Seo-jun turned his head. His eyes were dark, dilated.
He wasn't looking at the papers. He was looking at my mouth. 🔥
Seo-jun turned back to the directors.
The boredom was gone.
The predator was awake. 🐺
Director Choi
Yes? Are you ready to sign?
Seo-jun
Tell me about “Blue Sky Corporation” in Vietnam.
Director Choi turned pale. He dropped his pen. 😨
Director Choi
I... I don't know what you're talking about.
Yeo-rin
(Slamming the file shut) 💥
The deal is off.
And Audit will be visiting your office in ten minutes, Director.
Director Choi
CEO Park! You can't do this!
Security dragged the shouting Director out. The room was deathly quiet.
Seo-jun stood up.
He didn't look at the other terrified executives.
He looked at me. 👁️
The moment the heavy doors closed, the atmosphere changed. 🔒
He cornered me against his desk.
His large hand slammed onto the wood beside my hip, trapping me. ⚠️
Seo-jun
Information like that doesn't just appear.
Are you a spy? 🕵️♀️
Yeo-rin
(Looking up calmly)
If I were a spy, I would have let you sign that deal.
You would have lost billions
He leaned closer.
His cologne filled my senses—cool mint and expensive tobacco. 🌿
He was intimidating, powerful.
But I saw the hunger in his eyes.
He was intrigued. 🔥
Yeo-rin
(Reaching out to straighten his tie)
Because, Mr. Park... I want to be on the winning side.
Yeo-rin
And you are the winner. 👑
My fingers brushed against his chest.
I felt his heart beating hard against his ribs. 💓
Seo-jun
(Catching her wrist) ✋
Don't play games with me, Han Yeo-rin
Yeo-rin
It's not a game.
It's an application.
Yeo-rin
Did I get the job?
He stared at me for a long moment,
his grip on my wrist tight, possessive. ⛓️
Seo-jun
Your desk is outside.
Seo-jun
(Turning away)
Don't make me regret this
Yeo-rin
(Smirking) 😏
You won't.
I walked out of the office, my legs shaking slightly
Yeo-rin
(Thinking)
Phase one complete. ✅
Yeo-rin
(Thinking)
He’s already obsessed.
He just doesn't know it yet. 🖤
The Scent of Insomnia
11:45 PM. CEO's Office. ⏰
Outside, the rain was pouring against the glass walls of the skyscraper. Inside, the office was dark. 🌧️🌃
I knew Park Seo-jun’s secret. The one no one else knew. 🤫
He couldn't sleep. Chronic insomnia plagued him, making him irritable and dangerous. 😴⚠️
Yeo-rin
(Watching from her desk) 👀
He's still in there.
In my past life, I would have gone home hours ago.
But the new Han Yeo-rin knows better.
Vulnerability is the best time to strike. 🎯
I picked up the tray I prepared.
Warm tea, infused with dried chamomile and a drop of whiskey. ☕🥃
I knocked softly and entered. 🚪
Seo-jun
(Rubbing his temples) 😣
I told you to go home, Secretary Han.
He was sitting on the leather sofa, not his desk.
His jacket was off, his tie loosened, and his shirt unbuttoned at the top.
He looked exhausted.
And devastatingly handsome. 🖤
Yeo-rin
And leave you alone in the dark?
That’s not part of my job description.
I set the tray down on the low table in front of him.
Seo-jun
(Looking up)
You’re persistent. It’s annoying.
Yeo-rin
(Pouring the tea) ☕
You mean efficient. Drink this. It will help with the headache.
Seo-jun
I don't drink tea.
I held the cup out to him.
He hesitated, looking at me with those tired, intense eyes.
He took the cup.
His fingers brushed against mine.
His skin was burning hot. 🔥
Seo-jun
(Takes a sip)
...It's not bad.
Yeo-rin
(Sitting on the edge of the sofa, slightly too close) 😌
You haven't slept in days, have you?
Seo-jun
That's none of your business.
Yeo-rin
It is if my boss collapses during a meeting
I shifted my weight.
The movement sent a waft of my perfume—vanilla and musk—toward him. 🌸
I saw his nostrils flare.
He reacted to it instantly. ⚡
Yeo-rin
Do you dislike it?
Seo-jun
(Voice dropping lower) 🖤
It's distracting.
I reached out. It was a gamble. 🎲
I touched his shoulder, my hand sliding up to the tense muscles of his neck.
Seo-jun
(Freezes)
What do you think you're doing?
I began to massage the knots in his neck.
His muscles were rock hard
He should have pushed me away.
He was known for hating physical contact.
But he didn't move.
He leaned into my touch. 💫
Seo-jun
(Closing his eyes) 😖
You are crossing a line, Han Yeo-rin
Yeo-rin
(Whispering near his ear) 💋
Lines are meant to be crossed.
That's how you win.
My thumb brushed against the pulse point of his neck.
His heart was racing. 💓
Suddenly, his hand shot up and grabbed my wrist. ✋
He pulled me down.
I gasped as I fell forward, landing inches from his face. 😮💨
Seo-jun
(Opening his eyes) 👁️
You’re playing a dangerous game.
Seo-jun
If you look at me like that...
I might not let you go home tonight. 🔥
His gaze dropped to my lips.
The air was thick, suffocating with heat. 🌡️
Yeo-rin
(Breathless)
Who said I wanted to go home? 💔
For a moment, I thought he would kiss me.
I wanted him to.
But then, his phone rang. 📱
Seo-jun
(Releasing her wrist abruptly)
...Answer it.
The spell broke. 🫧
He sat back, running a hand through his hair, looking frustrated with himself.
I stood up, smoothing my skirt.
My heart was pounding like a drum. 🥁
Yeo-rin
(Picking up the phone)
CEO's office.
Min-ho
(On the phone)
Is the CEO there? This is Marketing Manager Choi Min-ho.
Min-ho.
The man who killed me. ⚰️
Yeo-rin
(Voice turning icy) ❄️
He's busy
Min-ho
Wait... that voice. Yeo-rin?
Yeo-rin
(Turning to him with a fake smile) 🙂
Wrong number.
Yeo-rin
(Thinking)
The game just got complicated. ♟️🩸
Download NovelToon APP on App Store and Google Play
