Baek Ha Rim

just having finished my entire meal, i drank a cold glass of water and wiped my mouth gently with the napkin on my lap. i slowly moved my eyes and took a glance at the open doors of the dining area. i realized that i was bound to pass by the two ceos' table to exit the place as they were seated near that area. taking a deep breath, i stood up and started walking out in a steady pace.

i took one step at a time, but as i saw how i got nearer, i started to contemplate on whether i was supposed to greet them or look straight ahead to ignore their existence. besides, the two ceos already happen to be sharing a conversation within themselves.

nevertheless, i still submitted to my louder inner thoughts. i was going to have myself greet them before i left the place simply for courtesy. i got closer and quickly tucked a strand of hair behind my ear before i was about to bring my head down to bow.

"good-"

"miss baek, are you free tonight?"

my face immediately showed surprise as i was suddenly interrupted by yoo kihyun. i looked at him for a moment before i started processing him asking me out on the spot.

"you've promised me a meal together. i don't know when's the next time we'll get to see each other after you all leave tomorrow, so let's have it tonight." he suggested.

"oh, yes sir... that." i started to recall.

"so, it's a yes?" he raised an eyebrow at me, anticipation was written all over his face.

"sure, sir. we can meet tonight." i nodded.

he flashed me a proud look on his face after just having asked me out successfully. it felt a bit awful for me having to feed his ego like that by giving in so quickly. still, it was all part of the plan. with yoo kihyun showing interest in me, i could bait him in and use him as a way to associate myself with the chae family sooner.

"enjoy your buffet lunch here later, but don't forget to skip on dinner and meet me by 7pm. you know the floor to the pool area, right? there's a special restaurant right there, so i'll be inside waiting for you." he spoke.

"alright, sir. i'll see you tonight." i gave him a nod along with a small smile.

_____________________________

Im Changkyun

"you're going on a dinner date with ceo yoo? why?" i frowned and went closer towards ha rim who was fixing herself in the mirror.

she was wearing a body-fitting black dress. she noticeably also did her makeup lightly and curled her hair into subtle waves. along with that, she put on silver earrings and matched it with the sleek silver pouch she just asked me to go and buy this afternoon.

"you haven't even fulfilled the mission you failed during the anniversary party. now you're going into a date? mr. baek is going to be so disappointed in you."

"is he? or maybe you're just jealous i'm going on a date with someone tonight." she showed me a bragging look on her face.

"quit your delusion. anyway, why does it have to be yoo kihyun?" i asked.

"why not?" she responded.

"answer me seriously." i gave her a firm look.

"alright." she rolled her eyes and sat down on my bed.

"i'm not forgetting the plan, kyun-ah. this is all part of it. so please, just trust me a bit more." she pleaded.

i walked towards her and crossed my arms, ready to hear her out.

"from my observations, yoo kihyun is quite the casanova. above that, he thinks i could be someone he could charm. that night at the party, all i had to do was to lock eyes with him. he took the bait really quickly; he got intrigued, and approached me as fast as he could. he's quite easier to play with as compared to chae hyungwon."

"i'm not getting you. what does his romantic involvement have to do with our goal?"

"changkyun, i've secured a way to be a step closer to the chaes." she got straight to the point.

"and why do we need to go through that?"

"i think you're forgetting the fact that this is my revenge and not yours nor my stepdad's, kyun-ah. i'm a mere marketing associate and hyungwon's the ceo of the company. can't you see how big of a gap that is? i'm trying really hard to think of ways to reach him as naturally as i could." she explained, i could see how serious she was about this.

ha rim's eyes were filled with determination. i was starting to soften up and open up my mind to her.

despite so, i'll have to continue being the devil's advocate between the two of us, and question her every move. after all, i just want to secure the best for her endeavors.

"i realized that meeting them with violence, was not what i wanted. that's not justice for me, and i will never get my answers the moment i end their lives. i want to find a way to tie myself with them even if i have to be yoo kihyun's lover. that way, i'll no longer have to be a mere marketing associate. i'll eventually be someone in their family. and when i do, i'll haunt them of the past and have them reveal to me what really happened during that dark event my family faced."

"i'll have them pay. i want to see the horror in their eyes once they get to know me as seo ha rim. i survived for this purpose, so there's no way i'm backing down from any of this." ha rim looked at me with piercing eyes.

my heart ached knowing that i've opened a wound by having her talk about all of her plans to me. although it was a scary front i was seeing with her changed eyes, deep inside i knew there was a vulnerable girl she was hiding. a girl who was deeply scarred.

"compose yourself and go. it's 15 minutes to 7pm." i spoke up.

although i was bad at comforting people, i wanted to let her know that i supported her.

"this is an important step in having your plans laid out. do well." i spoke with eagerness.

she stood up and looked at me with glassy eyes as if my words had just touched her. ha rim just knew me well. although i may come off as dry and unable to empathize, ha rim doesn't take it against me and knows how to appreciate my sincere words.

i wish one day i could express myself better to her.

"i'll get going. thank you." she bid goodbye and walked out my door.

________________________________

Baek Ha Rim

i looked at the magnificent view of the pool area in front of me. i was mesmerized by how grand this entire floor was. there were people having drinks by the bar, taking a night swim, and relaxing by the jacuzzi.

"how nice must it be to feel the warm water of the jacuzzi if not for my gunshot wound.." i sighed.

i pulled my dress down to make sure my wound was covered up by the dress and started to look around the area for the restaurant. thankfully, it was easy to spot. the place was onto my left enclosed by glass walls which immediately allowed me to see ceo yoo who was already inside.

he was seated on a table, gazing at me from afar. it amused me to see how the way he was looking at me stood out despite the distance. i gave him a smile and started walking towards the restaurant.

upon having entered, i was immediately greeted by the waiters. there were no people around other than the ceo and the restaurant's employees. looking around, i was immediately able to pick up on the cozy and romantic ambience of the place which looked very beautiful now that it was evening.

i walked towards ceo yoo's table and had a waiter pull the chair so i could sit down. with a lingering smile on his face, it was evident that he was happy to have me around for the night.

"good evening, mr. yoo." i spoke.

"good evening, ha rim-ssi. hmm, how about we drop that? i'd like you to call me by my first name. it'll just be between you and me." he suggested.

"if that's what you prefer... kihyun-ssi." i let him have his way.

"i already ordered for the both of us. would that be alright for you?" he asked.

"really? i arrived on time, didn't i?" i expressed my surprise.

"you sure did and i'm impressed. punctuality is attractive." he threw in some sweet words to which i pretended to be pleased of hearing.

"well, i don't mind you ordering for us, kihyun-ssi. i trust your taste and you know your hotel best." i complimented him back.

"by the way, i was watching you admiring the pool area when you arrived. do you like the view?" he brought up.

"i absolutely love it." i answered.

"well then i'm sorry to have had the blinds rolled down the moment you came here. you can't stare at the view outside, but we have to maintain some sort of privacy tonight, don't you agree?"

"it's alright, sir. i prefer having my entire focus on you tonight than on the view of the pool area anyway." i started to flirt on purpose.

"well, i would want that, too." kihyun smirked upon hearing my words and took a sip of his red wine while his eyes were fixed on me.

"we should go for a night swim, what do you think?" he suggested.

"i'd have to decline that. i should be busy packing up my things tonight after we finish our dinner date."

"wow... you suddenly got me wishing the night was longer." he flashed a very charming smile.

"how about becoming a marketing employee in my company instead, ha rim-ssi?" he suddenly offered.

i smiled at how quick he was to give such offer. his desperation to keep me close and see me again was amusing me.

"i'm loyal to my boss and his company." i answered to which he showed disbelief.

"for the first time, i finally have something that would make me feel jealous of that guy, huh? are you really sure, ha rim-ssi? what if i paid you more?" he offered again.

i looked at him in the eye intently with a smirk on my face. with no doubt nor any hesitation, i made up my mind as fast as lightning.

"like i told you, i'm loyal to mr. chae." i smirked.

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next update is coming up soon! wattpad keeps having problems with the story whenever i try to edit a chapter so i continuously have to restore my last edits.

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