Tempting The Heir

CHAPTER 5 — Rumors

Chapter 5 — Rumors

Since what happened in the fitting room yesterday, Lana’s life hadn’t been peaceful.

Not peaceful at all.

It was only morning, and she could already feel the strange looks from the staff as she walked into the studio.

Whispers started following her everywhere.

“There she is.”

“The one Kris called yesterday?”

“She’s still new, right?”

“So weird…”

Lana pretended not to hear them, clutching the clipboard against her chest tighter.

She hated attention like this.

Especially attention connected to someone like Kris Lee.

“Lana!”

One of the senior stylists called from the wardrobe area.

“You’re accompanying Mr. Kris today.”

“…Me?”

“Yeah. He requested outfits for tonight’s dinner event.”

Lana immediately felt a bad feeling settle in her stomach.

Why did that man keep asking for her?

Wouldn’t it be easier to just use a senior stylist?

And what made her most uncomfortable…

was realizing Kris was doing this on purpose.

That night, the ballroom of the luxury brand event sparkled under giant crystal chandeliers and guests dressed in expensive designer outfits.

Lana felt completely out of place.

Everyone looked perfect. Elegant. Untouchably classy.

Meanwhile, she was just an assistant stylist wearing cheap heels that were already killing her feet.

She awkwardly stared at her reflection in the ballroom mirror.

She rarely dressed up for herself.

Usually, she was the one doing makeup for other people.

Tonight, she wore a simple black off-shoulder dress that hugged her figure perfectly without looking too revealing. The hem fell just below her knees, clean and elegant.

Not overly sexy.

But somehow, that made her look even prettier.

Her long black hair had been styled into soft loose waves by one of the senior makeup artists who practically forced her to sit still for fifteen minutes before the event.

“You have a pretty face. It’s a waste to always look exhausted,” the makeup artist had said earlier.

Her makeup looked different tonight too.

Soft natural glam. Her skin glowed subtly. Her lips were painted with a soft rose nude shade. Thin eyeliner made her eyes look bigger and more feminine.

Nothing too dramatic.

But enough to make a few male staff members secretly glance at her all evening.

The problem was…

Lana wasn’t used to heels this high at all.

She had nearly lost her balance twice in only thirty minutes.

“Heels from hell…”

she muttered quietly while adjusting the small black clutch in her hands.

The dress wasn’t even hers.

One of the senior stylists had lent it to her specially for tonight because Lana had only brought regular work clothes.

And honestly…

she felt like an intruder in the middle of this luxurious world.

Until finally...

Kris’ deep voice sounded behind her.

“You look tense.”

Lana turned quickly.

Kris stood behind her in a black tuxedo that somehow made the entire room feel smaller.

Damn.

This man was seriously too handsome.

And he knew it.

“I’m working.”

“You always answer that.”

Because it was true.

Lana quickly opened the garment bag.

“This is the spare coat in case it gets cold later.”

Kris didn’t take it immediately.

Instead, his gaze slowly traveled over her from head to toe.

Calm. Unhurried.

And somehow, it made her face heat up for no reason.

“You look good in black.”

“Huh?”

Kris gestured toward the black dress she was wearing tonight.

“Oh… this is just a simple dress.”

“Mhm.”

His gaze still hadn’t moved away.

“It still suits you.”

Lana’s heartbeat instantly became unstable.

She wasn’t used to being complimented by men.

Especially not like this.

And Kris looked way too relaxed while doing it.

“Mr. Kris, red carpet starts in five minutes.”

His manager appeared from behind, looking stressed.

Kris nodded lazily.

But before leaving, he suddenly leaned slightly closer to Lana.

“Wait for me when I’m done.”

Lana’s breath caught instantly.

Too close again.

And Kris’ cologne was seriously dangerous for her mental health.

“…Why?”

“Dinner.”

“Huh?”

“I’m hungry.”

Lana stared at him in disbelief.

This man was asking her to eat with him using a completely blank expression.

As if it were normal.

But for Lana…

it definitely wasn’t normal.

Before she could even answer, Kris had already walked away toward the red carpet.

Leaving her behind with a chaotic heartbeat.

The event lasted almost two hours.

Lana stood backstage watching the large monitor showing the live red carpet broadcast.

And Kris truly shined in front of the cameras.

His smile was perfect. His answers calm. Every movement elegant.

He looked like he belonged to the glamorous world.

It was impossible to imagine someone like him living a normal life behind the cameras.

“He’s seriously handsome.”

One of the staff whispered.

“But scary.”

“And a playboy.”

“I heard he made an actress cry in a restaurant once.”

“Which one? There were too many.”

They laughed quietly.

Lana stayed silent.

For some reason, hearing other women talk about Kris made her feel strange.

Uncomfortable.

And that was stupid.

Because she had only known him for a few days.

“Lana.”

Her body instantly tensed at the sound of that deep voice again.

Kris was standing behind her.

She didn’t even know since when.

“The event’s over. Let’s go.”

“Huh?”

“Eat.”

“But I’m still working.”

“I already talked to your manager.”

Lana’s eyes widened.

He got permission without even asking her first?

“Hurry up.”

Kris walked ahead before she could refuse.

And the most annoying part…

everyone immediately started staring at them again.

The whispers returned.

Lana wanted to disappear.

…………

The private dining restaurant looked too expensive to even breathe in.

Dim lights. Expensive wine. A breathtaking view of the Seoul river at night.

Lana sat stiffly across from Kris, holding the menu like it was the most important exam of her life.

One steak cost almost the same as her food budget for an entire week.

Insane.

“You look stressed.”

“I’m scared I’ll accidentally order something worth my apartment rent.”

Kris laughed softly.

And for a moment, Lana froze.

Because he looked much younger when he genuinely laughed.

Not as cold as usual.

“You’re always this honest?”

“I’m bad at lying.”

“I noticed.”

A waiter poured wine into their glasses.

Lana immediately panicked.

“I don’t drink alcohol.”

Kris raised an eyebrow.

“Never?”

“I get drunk easily.”

“Interesting.”

Why did everything about her seem “interesting” to this man?

Lana was starting to suspect Kris genuinely enjoyed making her nervous.

As the food arrived, the atmosphere slowly became more relaxed.

For the first time, Lana saw a different side of Kris.

He was smart. Funny when he wanted to be. And surprisingly attentive to small details.

But sometimes…

his gaze turned empty.

Like someone who was actually exhausted.

“Why did you enter the entertainment industry?”

Kris’ question made Lana pause mid-bite.

“I needed money.”

“A realistic answer.”

“It’s the truth.”

Kris smiled faintly while swirling his wine glass.

“Everyone in this world does something for money.”

His voice sounded strange.

Colder.

Heavier.

And before Lana could ask anything...

her phone suddenly vibrated nonstop.

Notifications flooded the screen.

Confused, Lana unlocked it.

And her face instantly turned pale.

A gossip article had just been published.

Photos of her leaving the ballroom with Kris were already spreading online.

The headline was huge.

KRIS LEE SPOTTED WITH A NEW MYSTERIOUS WOMAN

Below it was a photo of Kris looking at Lana with a gaze that seemed far too intimate.

Lana’s heart dropped instantly.

“This…”

Her hands started turning cold.

Because now she understood one thing.

The game had only just begun.