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Arrange Marriage

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3.

Taeseok held the phone closely to his ear.

"What are you doing?"

[Organizing the house. It hasn't been long since I moved.]

"Show me."

[What?]

"Your house. I miss you."

[.. Wait]

After a while, Hye-won's face filled the screen. In her light pajamas, she had a face without any makeup.

[It's awkward.]

"What?"

[Something like a video call.]

When their eyes met through the screen, Hye- won immediately lowered her eyes and bit her red lips. His heart tickled again.

"Ha..."

[What's.. wrong?]

"Nothing."

Tae-seok moistened his lips with his tongue. Hye-won tilted her head, putting her hair behind her ears.

[What should I show you?]

You being naked.

Tae-seok desperately suppressed what he wanted to say. And he said, leaning leisurely on the backrest.

"First, the living room."

The screen went from the living room to the kitchen and to the bedroom. Then that something fluttering came into Tae-seok's eyes, who was enjoying the tour leisurely. The bra and underwear hanging out on the balcony of the bedroom. Hye-won also turned the camera away, wondering if he noticed it.

"Don't hide it and show it to me."

[-I don't want to.]

Hye-won's face appeared on the screen again. It seemed very embarrassing to expose her underwear unintentionally.

[It's done now... right?]

"Is it over already? It's a shame."

[I am sleepy.]

Hyewon was sitting in the sunny living room. Her creamy skin, reflected in his phone, looks very transparent.

Tae-seok unwittingly swept her face with his index finger. Then Hye-won tilted her head again.

[Did you get... something on your screen?]

"...No."

Taeseok murmured with his eyes down.

"What are you doing tomorrow?"

[Tomorrow?]

"It's Christmas Eve. I'll pick you up."

[No. I have an appointment with my friends.]

"When does it end?"

[Um... I don't know...]

Hye-won murmured quietly and avoided his gaze.

Tae-seok felt bitter as she still seemed to be wary. He understood it in his head. Come to think of it, they only met once. It's also a family arrangement.

Didn't he also remember her as the granddaughter of Swan Group Honorary Chairman instead of her name or face?

"It's work time. I have to hang up."

The clock was already pointing to two o'clock.

"I'll call you later."

[Hm.]

"Are you going to sleep again?"

[Mhm.]

Hyewon hung up without hesitation.

However, Tae-seok's eyes remained on his cell phone for a long time even after she hung up.

...****************...

"Hyewon."

Hyewon, who was waiting for the elevator, turned around. Four of her teammates and her

team leader, Jung Hyun-woo, were walking

together.

"Are you busy today?"

"What's wrong, team leader?"

"It's Christmas Eve. Do you want to go for a drink with us?"

"Yes, let's go together. The team leader will buy it for us."

At Ji-yoon's words, Hye-won looked at Team Leader Jung again. He was handsome enough

to model abroad before joining the company. Perhaps that's why he was very popular not only among other departments but also among female employees in charge of the lobby.

"I don't think I've hung out with Hyewon after

work yet."

"Sorry, I have an appointment today."

Hye-won replied with an embarrassed face. Team leader Jung looked suspicious.

"A boyfriend...?"

"No. They're a group of friends."

"Really? That's too bad. Instead, you must attend the year-end party next week."

"Yes, I won't leave."

"You promised."

Team Leader Jung smiled with satisfaction.

Since she joined the company secretly as a regular employee, her colleagues did not yet know the identity of Hye-won.

The department that Hyewon worked for was a relatively small business among numerous departments in the group. This was a little different from the typical third-generation chaebol since they were assigned to important positions right after graduating from college or graduate school.

Hyewon was not disappointed with such preferential treatment. However, she was satisfied with just being able to join the company as an ordinary employee. After graduating from Hong Kong's international school, she moved to New York and entered the design school, but she had to return to Korea without graduating due to her poor health.

She thought that it would be shameless to choose a position without a diploma. At first, she just wanted to get a job at another company. but she had no choice but to give up due to the reluctance of her parents.

After much consideration, she chose to work in fashion, not Swan H&N, where her father is the representative. It was because she thought that she would be able to show her abilities because it was related to her major.

Although she is now a minor employee who handles unpleasant tasks with interns, her goal was to someday challenge the position of team leader, manager, and even executive in recognition of her ability.

Without relying on her status....

"Hyewon, didn't you bring your car today? You didn't go to the underground parking lot."

Team leader Jung asked when he saw Hye-won getting off the first floor.

"I might be drinking today."

"Then should I give you a ride near the appointment place? I'm going to my car. I'm also not good at drinking, so I'm a knight for team members at company dinners."

"It's okay. It's near Gangnam Station, so I can walk."

Hye-won declined politely.

As she left the lobby, a sharp wind poured down.

It has been cold day after day since the snow fell last week. The team leader seemed worried about Hye-won's thin clothes.

"Aren't you cold, Hye Won?"

"It's all right"

"Then you'll catch a cold. I'm on my way out anyway, so I'll drop you off nearby."

"Let's go! We're going to die of cold."

Ji-yoon and Yura, who were a few steps ahead, trembled. Hyewon, who couldn't wait any longer, opened her mouth.

"Then I stop in front of Gangnam Station..."

At that time, a car that escaped from the

ground parking lot stopped in front of the company's main gate.

Hye-won, who inadvertently cast her eyes toward it, was surprised. A sharp eye appeared through the half-open rear car window.

It was Taeseok.

Hyewon stared at him with a bewildered expression. She was a few steps away, but he was clearly visible. Seeing him waving his finger at her...

"Awesome."

Yura's voice belatedly brought her to her senses. The employees who recognized Tae-seok lowered their voices and began to whisper. Team Leader Jung also looked surprised as if he recognized him.

"Do you know... each other?"

Hye-won was embarrassed by the unexpected meeting.

I said I had an appointment today...

She was standing blankly, and Yura's voice pierced her ears.

"Unnie, how do you know him?"

"Looking at how he's picking you up on a day like today, I think you're very close."

As the attention of the employees was focused on them, Hyewon hurriedly bid farewell.

"I'm..... going to go for now."

...****************...

"Without contacting me... What's wrong?"

Hye-won in the back seat asked with a puzzled face.

"I said I had an appointment with my friends today...

"Who is it?"

Hye-won hesitated at the sudden question.

"Hm?"

"That man."

Tae-seok's eyes were directed at Team Leader Jung. Team leader Jung also seemed to be watching Tae-seok without moving.

"He couldn't take his eyes off you."

"It's not like that, He's our team leader."

"He's still looking at you."

"I guess.... It's because I recognized Tae-seok."

"What did you talk about?"

"About dinner with the team members."

While the two were talking. Mr Park's car completely left the company.

Only then did Tae-seok turn his head toward Hye-won. He had a smile around his mouth, but his eyes were fierce.

"Didn't you tell your company?"

"...What?"

"You have a man to marry."

She just blinked because she didn't know what to say.

"We haven't even met each other's families yet..."

"It doesn't matter."

Tae-seok raised the car window and shrugged indifferently.

"Since you will marry me anyway, you'll have to quit the company."

"What do... you mean?"

"I don't want my wife to suffer outside. I want her to stay home like a princess. Especially since you're a small-scale employce who takes care of all kinds of chores in the company."

Hye-won stiffened her expression, wondering if she heard it wrong.

"Are you telling me to stay home and wait for my husband to come home?"

"Hm. I'm excited just imagining it."

Tae-seok responded. Hyewon was serious.

"Don't mess with me. I will continue to work... even after we get married..."

Hye-won, who noticed something, hardened as it was.

He suddenly came closer to her side. She felt the warmth of his thighs and forearms touching him. The smell of mature body and tobacco..... In fact, Hye-won dislikes people who smoke.

However, she thought that the deep burnt smell from him goes well with his aura. Besides, he had clean skin unlike a smoker.

"Where do you want to go?"

"I have to go meet my friends."

"It's too cold."

He gave a wistful look.

"I wanted to see you."

Tae-seok lightly rubbed her cheek with his fingertips. Hye-won flinched at the unfamiliar

touch.

"I told you clearly yesterday. I have an appointment with my friends."

"Don't you like me?"

"Why do you... ask that?"

"You look like you're held hostage."