EPISODE5: HOW ARE YOU, LEE HWUI SOE?
1731 Words
PART 1: HOW ARE YOU, LEE HWUI SOE?
Two weeks—fourteen days without a word. Park Cho Sung counted every second with mixed emotions—anxiety, anger, and something deeper, something that tightened his chest every time his mind wandered back to that night. Lee Hwui Soe had disappeared without a trace after turning his world upside down. After setting his body on fire, after tearing down every last one of his defenses. And now? Nothing. Just a piercing silence.
But it wasn’t just that bothering Park Cho Sung. Hyie Jin—that woman, Lee Hwui Soe’s ex-fiancée—had suddenly returned from America, haunting the halls of LAMI like a ghost. Every day, she walked in with a sweet smile, dressed impeccably, spending hours in Lee Hwui Soe’s office. As if she still had a claim over him.
Every time Hyie Jin strode through the lobby in her head-to-toe Chanel, Park Cho Sung’s mind raced. "Is Lee Hwui Soe avoiding me on purpose? Or… has he gone back to Hyie Jin?"
"Or has he grown tired of me and returned to Hyie Jin…?" he thought bitterly.
Hyie Jin, walking down the corridor toward Lee Hwui Soe’s office, smirked as she passed Cho Sung in the hallway.
"Oh, what was your name again, Miss…? What business do you have here every day? Are you looking for someone?" she asked mockingly.
Park Cho Sung clenched his fists behind his thick-framed glasses, pretending to adjust them.
"Company financial matters. Nothing for Hyie Jin-ssi to worry about."
"But weren’t those supposed to be handled in meetings…?" Hyie Jin murmured innocently, completely unsuspecting. Then she suddenly stepped closer, whispering, "Oppa is so busy… He doesn’t even answer my calls. But I always know where to find him."
Park Cho Sung’s hands trembled. She knows where Hwui Soe is? And I don’t?
PART 2: LEE HWUI SOE’S WHEREABOUTS
In his luxurious villa atop the hill, Hwui Soe sat at his sketching desk, his hand moving swiftly across the paper—lines sharp and precise. A dollhouse for an American client. A luxury villa for a Hong Kong billionaire. A mini-palace for a Swedish prince. But every time his pencil paused, what appeared wasn’t a blueprint—it was Park Cho Sung’s shadow. His wild curls splayed across the pillow. His ragged breaths. The way his voice had trembled, half-moaning, when Lee Hwui Soe—
Lee Hwui Soe cursed under his breath.
"I have to stay away from him… before I destroy him." He picked up his phone for the hundredth time, his finger hovering over Cho Sung’s name… then pulled back. What if I lose control again? What if he sees the monster behind my mask? I’m too ashamed to apologize for my madness, but you—you’ve infected my desires, my lust, my inspiration.
By accident, his finger pressed call.
Ring……
Outside the window, rain began to pour—heavy, chaotic, like the storm in his mind. And on the other end of the line, Park Cho Sung’s cold yet trembling voice answered:
"Finally… You’re still alive, Lee Hwui Soe? Has our contract ended…?"
Lee Hwui Soe stayed silent. So did Park Cho Sung. Then—click. Hwui Soe hung up.
"If this contract must end, then I’ll do it properly," he thought.
PART 3: HYE JIN – THE SILENT BATTLEGROUND
Since Hye Jin arrived, LAMI’s office had turned into a silent battlefield. The woman moved like the wind, always in the right place—near the conference room, behind the desk, anywhere within Lee Hwui Soe’s territory. But the most painful part? Lee Hwui Soe himself.
The man had vanished for a full month. Only one unanswered call. No messages. Just a biting silence that left Park Cho Sung awake on long nights, replaying the memories of that night—Lee Hwui Soe’s rough touch, his teeth on his thigh, his hot breath against his ear.
And now?
Lee Hwui Soe stood across the hallway, dressed in a perfectly tailored gray suit. He looked as handsome as ever—even more so than their last encounter in the penthouse. Their eyes met, but his expression was cold as ice. As if they had never known each other.
Park Cho Sung clenched his fists. Was this all just a game for him?
A flashback of their first night silenced him.
"You think this is just a contract?" Lee Hwui Soe had growled between bites on his neck. "I can feel your pulse… this fast." His fingers traced Park Cho Sung’s ribs, leaving red marks like brands of ownership. "Don’t expect me to let you go after this."
But now… he has.
The scent of sandalwood hit Park Cho Sung as Hwui Soe walked past, snapping him out of his daze. He was jolted back to reality when Hye Jin suddenly appeared beside him, clinging to Lee Hwui Soe’s arm with a sweet, venomous voice.
"Oh, you’re finally back, Lee Hwui Soe! I’ve missed you."
Cho Sung stayed quiet, but his nails dug into his own palms.
Lee Hwui Soe walked past Park Cho Sung without a glance, his voice flat as he ordered, "Prepare the financial report for the Hong Kong project. Have it on my desk by six."
Cho Sung’s reply was bitter and shaky.
"Y-Yes…"
In his mind, he screamed, "Is that all you have to say?"
Lee Hwui Soe walked away; Hye Jin still latched onto his arm, chattering nonstop.
From a distance, Lee Hwui Soe’s thoughts raged. He had to pretend, but the minty-milk scent of Park Cho Sung still burned in his senses.
"Are the marks I left still on his skin?" he wondered as he passed by.
His mind was wild. Visions of Park Cho Sung—flushed, trembling, willing—haunted him. But he couldn’t. Not now.
Hye Jin was too close to his family. His father would destroy Park Cho Sung if he found out. And… he wasn’t ready to admit what he truly felt. To lose everything.
As Park Cho Sung walked away, Lee Hwui Soe glanced back—his dark eyes burning with unspoken questions.
Do you miss me too?
But all that left his lips was:
"Park Cho Sung-ssi. Don’t forget the deadline."
And Park Cho Sung, colder than ice, replied:
"I won’t, Director."
PART 4: THE ELEVATOR
The LAMI office elevator stalled on the 23rd floor. Park Cho Sung cursed inwardly when he realized he wasn’t alone.
Lee Hwui Soe stood right behind him, the scent of sandalwood and something darker—something he only knew from that night—filling the cramped space.
Two weeks, six days, and thirteen hours.
That was how long it had been since Lee Hwui Soe last touched him.
And now?
He acted like they were nothing more than coworkers.
The elevator jerked suddenly. Park Cho Sung stumbled—a large hand caught his waist. Too hot. Too familiar.
"Be careful." Lee Hwui Soe’s voice was steel.
But his fingers… they lingered for three seconds too long.
A flashback of their first night flooded Park Cho Sung’s mind. He shut his eyes.
"You like this, don’t you?" Lee Hwui Soe had snarled between bites on his shoulder. "Your body answers for you."
The ticking clock… Sweat… Teeth… The heat of that hand on his waist—
Park Cho Sung bit his lip like Lee Hwui Soe’s hand—
Ding!
The elevator doors opened, saving him from the memory.
"Let go," Park Cho Sung demanded, his voice shaking.
Lee Hwui Soe immediately pulled back, but his breathing was ragged.
"..."
Park Cho Sung turned, his thick glasses unable to hide his glistening eyes.
"Had your fill? After turning me into—"
Lee Hwui Soe cut him off sharply.
"Don’t."
Their eyes locked. Behind Lee Hwui Soe’s cold mask, Park Cho Sung saw the same shadow—the shadow of the man who had trembled when he first entered him. Lee Hwui Soe studied him closely—every unruly curl, every shaky breath. His gaze traced the faint bite marks still hidden under Park Cho Sung’s collar.
This is torture, he thought.
He wanted—
No.
Hye Jin was too close. His father would ruin Park Cho Sung.
When the elevator doors opened… Park Cho Sung felt too ashamed to voice his feelings. He remembered—their relationship was just a contract.
In an instant, Park Cho Sung strode out, leaving Lee Hwui Soe behind, his hand twitching as if to reach for him.
PART 5: TORTURE IN THE MEETING
The board meeting took place in LAMI’s coldest room. Park Cho Sung sat directly across from Lee Hwui Soe, forcing his eyes to stay on the presentation—not in the way the man gripped his pen with the same intensity he had once gripped his waist.
"Park-ssi, your thoughts?"
The CEO’s voice snapped him back.
He lifted his head and immediately locked eyes with Lee Hwui Soe.
Park Cho Sung was sharp—now the right hand of the finance team lead.
Lee Hwui Soe’s dark eyes reminded him of the night they lost control.
"I—"
A phone buzzed. Lee Hwui Soe’s screen lit up with a photo of Hye Jin.
Park Cho Sung smiled bitterly.
"I agree with all of Director Lee’s decisions."
From across the table, Lee Hwui Soe’s gaze burned into him, memories of their first night replaying in his head.
"Don’t—!" Park Cho Sung cried out in fear.
Lee Hwui Soe’s teeth sank into his inner thigh just as his hands pinned Park Cho Sung’s wrists above his head.
"I want you to remember this every time you sit in a meeting."
And now—he really did remember. His right thigh burned under his pencil skirt.
Lee Hwui Soe’s restraint was crumbling. He could still smell Park Cho Sung’s mint-milk scent from across the table. Mint, milk, and something deeper—himself.
The presentation droned on, but all he could hear was:
Park Cho Sung gasps the first time he—
The rustle of his skirt as he crossed his legs—
A sudden clink of an engagement ring against a glass snapped him back to reality.
Hye Jin.
A contract.
An obligation.
But…
When Park Cho Sung stood to retrieve documents, a stray curl caught his button.
Without thinking, Hwui Soe reached out—
- Writer
