Lyla couldn't move.
Kang Min-Jae didn't touch her anywhere inappropriate. He didn't pin her to the wall, didn't drag his fingers down her body… but somehow, the way he stood close felt far more dangerous.
He held her chin lightly between his fingers—gentle, but a warning.
"Start talking," he whispered.
Her mind blanked.
All the lines her father forced her to memorize… evaporated.
Her lips trembled.
"I… wanted to see you," she forced out.
His eyes flickered with something unreadable. Not surprise. Not disbelief. Something sharper. Playful. Knowing.
"I see," he murmured. "So you miss me… even though your relationship with my son ended badly."
Her breath caught.
He was going to bring that up.
"I don't want to talk about Junho," she whispered.
"You should," he said softly. "Because walking into a private dinner with his father… wearing a dress like that… means something, doesn't it?"
Her heart thudded so hard she thought he heard it.
She tried to take a step back—his hand curled slightly against her chin to stop her.
Not forceful.
Not painful.
Just firm enough to show who had control.
"You're shaking," he said.
"I'm not."
"You are."
He let her go, but only to reach for her hand this time. His fingers wrapped around her wrist—warm, strong, commanding. When he led her to the table, she followed helplessly.
She sat down slowly.He took the seat across from her.
Long seconds passed as he watched her in silence, analyzing her, dissecting her.
Finally, he tilted his head.
"Lyla. Look at me."
She did. Hesitantly.
His voice lowered.
"What did your father send you here for?"
Her stomach flipped.
He already knew.
Of course he knew.
Men like him saw through every lie, every mask, every trembling breath.
"I came because I wanted to see you," she repeated.
Min-Jae laughed.
A low, deep sound that slid under her skin.
"Wrong answer."
She swallowed hard.
"The truth," he said. "Not a rehearsed line."
The waiter arrived with wine. Min-Jae lifted the bottle, poured for both of them, dismissed the staff with a nod, then leaned back in his chair.
"I'll ask once more. Why are you here?"
Her throat tightened.
Because my father threatened me.
Because he wants me to seduce you.
Because he wants your signature.
Because I don't want to starve.
Because I'm trapped.
But she couldn't say any of that.
She forced a shaky smile.
"I… wanted to apologize for the past."
"Hmm." He studied her. "You're lying. But I'll allow it—for now."
Her heartbeat broke into pieces.
He lifted his wine glass, swirling it lazily.
"You look different," he said. "Not just older. More… desperate."
Her heart stopped.
He noticed.
He always noticed.
"Tell me, Lyla… what exactly are you trying to achieve?"
Her lips parted.
A voice echoed in her head—her father's.
You will do this. Thirty days.
Her hands trembled under the table.
Min-Jae tapped the stem of his wine glass thoughtfully, then gave her a slow, destructive smile.
"If you wanted my attention," he said, "you have it."
Her breath caught.
"But don't make the mistake of thinking you can manipulate me."
His voice slipped into a dangerous whisper.
"You're the type of woman who gets swallowed whole in a game like that."
"I'm not playing games," she whispered.
"Good. Because I'm very good at them."
The waiter returned with appetizers. Lyla barely tasted anything. Her heart was too loud.
Min-Jae ate slowly, gracefully, as if the entire night belonged to him.
Then he said something that froze her blood.
"You're afraid of someone."
The fork slipped from her hand.
He didn't look surprised.
He didn't even pause.
He just continued cutting his steak.
"You keep glancing at the entrance," he said. "Your shoulders tense whenever your phone vibrates. And you only lie when someone else is forcing you to."
"I'm not lying," she whispered weaklyHis eyes lifted sharply.
"Lyla," he said. "I'm not your father. Don't insult my intelligence."
Her breath shattered.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
"Tell me who threatened you."
"No one," she whispered too quickly.
"Your father?" he asked plainly.
Her heart slammed in her chest.
She looked away.
He exhaled slowly. "I see."
Of course he did.
Men like Kang Min-Jae didn't need confessions.
They read people like open books.
He tapped his fingers on the table twice, then said quietly: "You're not here because you want me. You're here because you're trapped."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"But," he added, "you didn't come here for me to save you. So I won't."
She looked up, surprised.
He sipped his wine, eyes cold but curious.
"You came here to play a part."
His gaze swept her body slowly.
"But you're too innocent to play seduction convincingly."
She swallowed.
"Is that… a compliment?"
"It's a warning."
He set his glass down.
"I don't trust women who come to me with hidden motives."
She stiffened.
"But," he continued, "I'm interested in you."
Her breath stilled.
Interested.
In what way? She didn't dare ask.
He leaned back, gaze burning into her.
"You're beautiful, Lyla. Too beautiful for the business world your father wants to throw you into."
She blushed.
She hated that she blushed.
"And you look at me like you want to run," he added. "Which makes me want to chase."
Her fingers curled against her lap.
"Min-Jae… I'm not… trying to make you chase me."
He smirked.
"Then stop wearing dresses like that."
Her cheeks flushed deeper.
He checked his watch.
Then—unexpectedly—stood up.
"Let's walk."
"Walk?"
"Yes. You look like you can't breathe in here."
He glanced at her trembling fingers.
"And I can't have you fainting in front of me."
Outside, the city lights reflected on the wet pavement. Rain had stopped, but the air was cool. Lyla hugged her arms around herself.
Without a word, Min-Jae draped his suit jacket over her shoulders.
"I'm fine," she murmured.
"I didn't ask."
She went quiet.
He walked beside her, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed but eyes sharp. Every passerby stared—his presence was impossible to ignore.
Finally, he spoke.
"Your father asked me for a meeting last week."
Her heart dropped.
"What kind of meeting…?"
"A business request," he replied calmly. "One I refused."
She exhaled shakily.
"But he was persistent," Min-Jae added. "He mentioned he had someone useful to… persuade me."
Her throat tightened.
"He meant you."
She stopped walking.
Min-Jae also stopped, turning to face her.
"You came to seduce me, didn't you?"
Her breath hitched.
"I—no—I—"
"You're terrible at lying," he said softly.
Tears gathered in her eyes.
She looked down, ashamed, terrified, trapped in a cage she couldn't escape.
He stepped closer.
Not touching her.
Just close enough that she felt the heat of his body.
"Tell me the truth," he whispered. "Did he threaten you?"
She didn't answer.
But her silence told him everything.
Min-Jae inhaled deeply, jaw tightening.
"Your father is a fool," he said. "Pushing his daughter into something like this."
She blinked through tears.
"You're not angry?"
"I am," he murmured. "But not at you."
Her chest tightened.
"Then why aren't you sending me away?" she whispered.
He held her gaze.
"Because," he said slowly, "I want to see how far you'll go."
Her heart pounded painfully.
"And because," he added, voice dropping to a dangerous low, "I'm not a man who refuses beauty when it's handed to him."
Her lips parted.
"But don't mistake my interest for weakness," he said.
"If I decide to want you…"
He brushed a thumb lightly under her chin—barely touching her.
"…you won't be able to escape."
Her knees weakened.
"And if you choose to continue this act," he whispered, "you must handle the consequences. Including my son's reaction."
Her blood froze.
"Junho must not know," she begged.
"He will," Min-Jae said. "He always finds out."
Her breath trembled.
"Unless," he murmured, "you stay close to me."
"Close?"
He stepped behind her, lowering his lips near her ear.
"Very… very close."
Her heart burst into flames.
"Think carefully, Lyla," he whispered. "If you enter my world, you won't leave untouched."
A shiver ran through her.
Because his voice held two meanings.
One dangerous.
One intoxicating.
He stepped in front of her again, tilting her chin up gently.
"So tell me the truth," he said softly. "Do you want to continue this game… or walk away?"
She looked into his eyes—dark, intense, mesmerizing.
Walk away.
She should walk away.
But her father's threats…
Her helplessness…
Her trapped future…
And Min-Jae's closeness…
His heat…
His overwhelming presence…
She whispered:
"I… I'll continue."
His lips curved.
"Good."
He took her hand.
"Then starting tomorrow," he said, "you'll work for me."
She stared.
"What?"
"You want to seduce me," he murmured. "Then stay by my side."
Her heart stopped.
"Be my personal assistant for a month."
Her knees nearly buckled.
That was the exact moment—
PING.
Her phone vibrated.
A new message.
From Junho.
"Why are you with my father?"
Her soul shattered.
Min-Jae smirked slowly.
"Let the real game begin."