When The Phone Rings

The other interviewers showed little interest in Hong Heeju's ability to speak, but Baek Sa-eon was the one who kept nitpicking.

After all, all she had to do was shut Baek Sa-eon up, 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 too arrogant? She wondered, noticing the subtle wrinkle between his eyebrows. But when he sat upright again, his expression returned to its usual aloofness.

"Let's do it this way. I'll prepare a script you've never seen before and read it out loud. Can you interpret it on the spot?"
"Yes...!
"Well, your confidence is impressive."

A subtle smile played on his lips.

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

Her life may have been one of constant submission, but if there was one thing she could be proud of, 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 state of mind. Unable to approach him directly, she had collected and hoarded every little piece of him she could find.

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

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

"..."
"..."

Their gazes intertwined like sparks.

"Then let's begin."

The moment his voice - so close and yet forever out of reach - marked the beginning, Heeju forgot that this was a recruitment interview.

This interview simply became... the confirmation of her endurance and perseverance.

Soon Sa-eon's steady and precise pronunciation filled the room.

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

Baek Sa-eon, still making direct eye contact with Heeju, continued 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 immediately followed.

"This couple has been together for a long time, but harbours untold secrets."

Sa-eon's sharp eyes narrowed slightly as he continued.

"They decided to revise their 'Ten Commandments for Couples' together to celebrate the holiday."

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

Her eyes grew more and more ambitious.

She wanted to emulate this indestructible man and reach his level. Weakness, after all, instinctively seeks firm roots to cling to.

But then...

"One, complained incessantly about work."

What?

Her hands faltered for a moment, but quickly found their rhythm.

"Two, screamed while speaking."
"..."
"Three, comparing your partner with others while speaking."
"..."
"Four, to be stubborn while speaking."

Heeju's expression became more and more strange.

"Five, whining while speaking."
"..."
"Six, throwing tantrums while speaking..."

Baek Sa-eon's voice stopped abruptly.

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

Maybe it was because of her deep concentration, but for a moment they locked eyes as if challenging each other.

Baek Sa-eon clenched his jaw in realisation. In the end, it was he who gave in first.

"...Alright, that will be enough."

Baek Sa-eon, seemingly parched, adjusted his tie briefly before ending the test.

***

With a loud bang, the door to the interview room was flung open and slammed shut. Baek Sa-eon walked down the empty corridor with heavy, hurried steps, almost as if he were fleeing.

"Sir, are you all right? Are you feeling unwell?"

Park Do-jae ran after him, calling 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, has something happened?"
"What is it?"

Baek's curt tone made Assistant Park scratch the back of his head awkwardly.

Even though Park Do-jae had run, it was Sa-eon whose chest heaved heavily. His breathing was irregular.

Assistant Park was concerned about his superior's mood, but decided to deal with the matter at hand first.

"It's about some strange posts that have appeared online."

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

"It's... about a rumour involving you, sir."

Park hesitated, choosing his words carefully, "Fortunately, the post was deleted before we intervened. We're still tracking down any copies or re-uploads. But the content was..."
"Did it accuse me of playing 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 they were deleted soon after. Someone is deliberately trying to damage your reputation..."
"It's a warning."
"A warning?"
"It was a reminder for me. 406 turned out to be quite a fool."

Baek Sa-eon's lips curled into a slight smile, 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 list of attendees at the event, but had found nothing out of the ordinary.

He had dug up every possible connection to Hong In-ah and Heeju, schoolmates, family acquaintances, even their illegitimate children, but nothing came up.

The person behind it was as elusive as a ghost.
 

"It seems that we lack sufficient data. We need more information about the blackmailer.
"He seems to be a born thief and a scoundrel."
"I beg your pardon?"
"If it wasn't at school or work, where in the world would she have met someone like that?"

He clicked his tongue in disgust.

"Oh! Actually, we've started cross-checking dating app users with criminal records."
"Start with people with minor charges or fines. They may not have a full record..."
"Yes. 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, obviously 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 doesn't get hurt..."

The unexpected emotion in his voice made Park's eyes widen in surprise.

"I'll take a hundred more calls if I have to."

Baek Sa-eon sighed and loosened his tie.

The whole time during the interview he felt as if something was strangling him.

Heeju's hands had moved like a graceful dance from across the room, so what on earth was choking him?@@novelbin@@

"I'll leave them alone for now," he muttered.

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

"I can't let her feel cornered enough to run away."

***

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

When she woke up, it was almost 10 pm.

"Haah..."

Though she had handled 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 ten minutes left on the call! Why is he home so early today?

The person who wasn't supposed to be home had returned. The man who was supposed to be at the office to take the blackmailer's call had unexpectedly turned up.

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

A wave of panic swept through her.

With a pale expression on her face, Heeju hurried to her room, grabbed the timer, the burner phone for the negotiations and the haphazardly scribbled notes on her desk and shoved them into her bag. She took a deep breath, steadied herself and walked out with a calm demeanour.

"It's so late... where are you going?"
"...!"

Her eyes met Baek Sa-eon's as he walked towards her, briefcase in hand. He glanced at her outfit and raised an eyebrow in question.

Busted.

Heeju quickly looked away, pointed vaguely towards the front door and mumbled 'supermarket'.

With a slight bow, she began to walk briskly.

But before she could escape -

"...!"

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

Clucking his tongue in irritation, Sa-eon crouched down to pick up the fallen items. In the process, the timer was accidentally activated.

"...Hong Heeju, what is this?"

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

Did he recognise the timer?

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

Am I lost?

She closed her eyes tightly. And then his deep voice broke the silence.

"Your Honour, I'm a fr*ak b*tch, handcuffs, leashes..."
"...!"

Sa-eon's gaze lingered on a piece of paper. It contained the lyrics of Kariba that Han Joon, the director of the centre, had given her.