“Since that’s clear, I’m counting on you, 윤 앵커.”

염 기자 patted her shoulder, as if to empower her.

She felt a sudden chill.

Was she excited to have a good excuse to meet 차태경, or thrilled at the prospect of spy play?

She was confused.

At that moment, 태경 was inspecting his new residence.

He wanted everything that caught his eye to be removed, even though 한 실장 would take care of all the arrangements.

The apartment in 삼성동 was 64평. Even though it had six rooms, 태경 found it unnecessarily large for himself.

Requesting only two rooms during the remodeling, excluding the dressing room, was an excellent decision.

The already spacious living room boasted an even more expansive feel due to the extra space.

“Remove those,” he directed, pointing at the various plants and fancy glass bottles near the TV shelf.

“Yes.”

“Also, clear out everything in the master bedroom except for the bed.”

“Yes, understood.”

Everything else 한 실장 had appropriately placed. The monochrome interior in black and white was to 태경’s satisfaction.

He took his vibrating phone out of his suit pocket.

It displayed 윤우연’s name. His eyes narrowed.
It had been five hours since I sent the message suggesting we meet again. His reply finally came, bringing a chuckle. The content of her text just before the news was incredulous.

[I have a favor to ask of you.]

Asking for a favor after suggesting we meet again…

It felt like she was planning to use me to the end and then discard me. Of course, I was the one who declared I’d enter 윤우연’s turf.

But still.

Is this how you manage a fish that just entered your waters?

Poor water quality management, indeed.

I tossed my phone onto the long leather sofa. Not yet familiar with the remote’s location, I looked at 한 실장.

“Turn on the news, please.”

Quickly responding, 한 실장 seemed to know why I had been so edgy all day, turning on the news program featuring 윤우연.

[UBC News Anchor] Hello, I’m 윤우연 from UBC News Sider. First, this morning at around 6:30 AM, there was a six-car pile-up on the West Coast Expressway. Reporter 박성현 will give us more details.

The screen soon shifted from 윤우연 to the accident footage, yet her lingering image stayed with me for a long time.

The place we met again was the same bar where I first called her. The very room deep underground, where hats were removed and lips met.

The end of an uneventful day lit up like a beacon. Or perhaps, it was more of a warning signal.

Although I arrived earlier than the agreed time, she seemed to wait for the right moment. Under the deeply pressed hat, her lips were tightly clenched.

I thought it through, repeatedly. There seemed to be no one else but 차태경 대표 to help with this task.

Reminded of this unchanging fact, she entered the bar at the agreed time.

The employee, who seemed to have been informed of our meeting, led 윤우연 to the room.

“차 대표 hasn’t arrived yet,” he whispered close to her ear.

“Really?”

“Yes, please wait inside.”

The room she had previously entered was the farthest one in the bar, accessible after a long walk down a tunnel-like path, easy to lose your way in its maze-like layout.

She nodded slightly to the employee in response and was about to follow him when she heard footsteps from behind.

Instinctively, 윤우연 recognized them as 태경’s.

The sound of his substantial steps grew closer.

What compensation would 차태경 want in exchange for this favor?

I recalled his words about us wanting different things.

That night, I wanted 차태경’s body. What did he want then?

Was he different from other men, not expecting vile rewards?

Unable to predict his blunt yet unpredictable answers, 윤우연 was enveloped in unnecessary tension.

“……!”

태경 brushed past her quickly. Even in the wide corridor, their clothes brushed, and her fingertips touched his suit.

Startled, 윤우연 stopped in her tracks. 태경, having moved farther away, was talking to the employee.

The employee who led her bowed respectfully at 90 degrees before returning the way they came.

Standing there dazed, 윤우연 received a humble bow from the employee.

She returned the gesture awkwardly and looked ahead.
Now it was her turn to follow 태경. She moved stealthily, tracing the shadow of the broad-shouldered man.

He opened the door to the room at the end of the long corridor, gesturing with his eyes for her to come.

Come to me, quickly.

윤우연 exhaled softly.