Tempting The Heir

CHAPTER 6 — stay close

The next morning, Lana suddenly became the main topic of conversation across the entire studio.

Again.

The moment she walked into the agency building, several staff members started whispering while secretly staring at their phones.

The article about her and Kris Lee had spread everywhere overnight.

And what made everything worse…

the photos looked way too intimate.

When in reality?

They had only walked out of the hotel together.

But camera angles were cruel.

In the pictures, Kris looked slightly leaned toward Lana while she stared at him with a nervous expression.

Like some secret couple.

“Unbelievable…”

Lana rubbed her forehead weakly while watching the comments continue to increase.

Who’s that girl? … A new stylist? … Kris likes innocent types now? … She looks average but she’s so lucky.

“I haven’t even had breakfast yet…”

“Lana.”

Her whole body immediately stiffened when she heard the senior stylist calling her.

“Director Han wants to talk to you.”

Lana instantly felt sick to her stomach.

Director Han’s office felt much quieter than usual that morning.

The man was reading gossip articles on his tablet with a satisfied smile.

And Lana immediately knew.

This was bad.

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you apologizing for?”

Lana blinked in confusion.

“The rumors…”

Director Han chuckled softly.

“This is actually good.”

Lana stared at him in disbelief.

“Good?”

“People are starting to connect the two of you.”

His tone sounded way too relaxed, as if Lana’s life wasn’t the one being played with by the media.

“Do you know how valuable articles like this are?”

“I’m not comfortable with it.”

“That’s because you’re still new.”

Director Han set his tablet down.

“Listen to me carefully, Lana.”

His gaze turned serious.

“Kris Lee is never seen with the same woman more than twice in one week.”

Lana’s chest tightened strangely.

“And now the media is starting to pay attention to you.”

“I don’t want to be famous.”

“You don’t need to be famous.”

Director Han smiled faintly.

“You just need to stay close to him.”

That sentence sent a chill down Lana’s spine.

Stay close to Kris.

Every day, this mission felt more real.

And more dangerous.

... ....

That afternoon, Lana returned to the filming location for Kris’ newest drama.

This time, the set was bigger. Louder. More exhausting.

And much more uncomfortable.

Because now almost everyone looked at her differently.

Some staff suddenly became overly friendly. Others looked at her with obvious judgment.

Lana could hear whispers even while carrying coffee.

“That’s the girl from yesterday’s rumor.”

“I heard Kris took her to dinner.”

“She climbed up pretty fast.”

Lana bit her lip softly.

She wanted to deny it. Wanted to explain everything was a misunderstanding.

But she didn’t even know where to start.

“Lana.”

That deep voice instantly made her entire body tense.

Kris.

The man sat casually in a backstage chair while reading his script.

Today he wore a simple white shirt and black pants, yet somehow still looked way too expensive to be human.

Several staff members immediately pretended to stay busy the moment Kris called Lana.

Because everyone was watching.

And they both knew it.

“Coffee.”

Lana quickly handed him the iced americano he ordered.

“Thank you.”

“…You’re welcome.”

Kris accepted the coffee without taking his eyes off her.

“You look stressed.”

“Because the internet wants to kill me.”

The corner of Kris’ lips lifted slightly.

“I like that answer.”

Lana instantly realized what she had just said and wanted to slam herself into a wall.

Why was she starting to speak more casually around this man?

Bad influence.

Kris was seriously a bad influence.

“Come here.”

“Huh?”

“Sit.”

Lana immediately panicked when she realized the seat next to Kris was empty.

And everyone could see them.

“I’m still working.”

“You’ve been standing the whole time.”

“That’s literally my job.”

Kris stared at her for a few seconds before casually saying,

“So you’re stubborn too.”

And somehow…

Lana sat down.

Huge mistake.

Because now everyone’s attention was completely focused on them.

“Why are you reading the comments?”

Lana turned toward him in confusion.

Kris was still looking at his script while speaking calmly.

“I can tell from your eyes. You’ve been reading the comments on the article.”

Lana stayed silent.

Of course she had read them.

And some of the comments were cruel.

“People are saying I’m using you.”

Kris laughed softly.

“They also said I had three ex-girlfriends this week.”

“…Was that wrong?”

Kris finally looked at her.

Their eyes met.

And damn it…

he looked way too handsome smiling lazily like that.

“Are you jealous?”

Lana’s face instantly burned.

“What?! No!”

“Mm.”

Kris clearly didn’t believe her.

“I’m just curious.”

“You’re always curious about my dating life.”

“I’m not curious!”

“You asked first.”

Lana immediately wanted to disappear.

And even worse…

Kris looked like he was enjoying this.

Really enjoying it.

“Mr. Kris!”

The manager suddenly approached with a tense expression.

“Reporters are starting to arrive.”

Kris’ smile faded slightly.

“That was fast.”

“They want to ask about yesterday’s rumors.”

Lana immediately froze.

Oh no.

No. No. No.

She was not ready to face reporters.

“We should leave through the back,” the manager continued.

Kris stayed quiet for a moment before casually standing up.

Then...

without warning...

he grabbed Lana’s wrist.

Warm. Firm. And enough to completely freeze her body.

“Come with me.”

Kris calmly walked through backstage while still pulling Lana along with him.

And everyone immediately stared.

The staff. The manager. Even several models getting their makeup touched up.

Whispers instantly filled the room.

Meanwhile Lana?

She was too busy trying to stop her heart from exploding.

Because one thought kept repeating in her head now.

And before they could leave through the back exit...

Lana nearly stumbled when Kris suddenly pulled her quickly through a narrow backstage hallway.

The sound of reporters and rushing footsteps was getting closer from the front studio entrance.

“Hurry,” Kris murmured calmly.

How was this man still calm?!

They turned several corners until Kris finally opened a small door at the end of the corridor.

Storage room.

The moment they entered, Kris quietly shut the door behind them.

The room was cramped. Dimly lit. Filled with clothing racks, makeup boxes, and filming props.

And now…

Lana stood extremely close to Kris because there was barely any space left.

Her breathing immediately became uneven.

Outside, faint voices could still be heard as people searched for another way backstage.

“Are they really this crazy…?” Lana whispered softly.

“The reporters?” Kris leaned casually against the door behind him.

“They’re more dangerous than ex-girlfriends.”

Lana reflexively laughed quietly.

Then immediately froze.

Because Kris was staring at her.

Again.

That gaze felt way too intense in a room this small.

“What?”

“This is the first time I’ve seen you laugh without panicking.”

Lana’s cheeks instantly warmed.

“I’m not that nervous.”

“You get nervous every time you’re near me.”

“That’s because you always say weird things.”

“Weird?”

“You like making people flustered.”

Kris let out a low chuckle.

And damn it…

his voice sounded way too close now.

Lana suddenly realized something terrifying: Kris’ cologne smelled much stronger inside this tiny room.

Warm. Masculine. Intoxicating.

Enough to completely mess with her head.

“Are you scared of me?”

The question came quietly.

Not teasing like usual.

More serious this time.

Lana slowly lifted her head.

And realized Kris was standing much closer than before.

“I…”

She didn’t know how to answer.

Because the answer was complicated.

Kris was scary. His presence was too overwhelming. Too difficult to read.

But strangely…

Lana didn’t really want to move away.

“Cute.”

“Hm?”

“You always look at me like I’m about to eat you alive.”

Lana’s heartbeat instantly sped up again.

Because honestly…

sometimes Kris really did look like that.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed through the hallway outside.

Lana instinctively tensed and unconsciously grabbed Kris’ suit sleeve.

The man slowly lowered his gaze toward Lana’s small hand clutching him.

Then slowly…

the corner of his lips lifted slightly.

“So now you look for me when you’re scared?”

“Huh… wait…”

Kris Lee clearly didn’t care what kind of rumors would appear after this.