Chapter 10: “You can wear my clothes.”

I continued walking, ignoring Ji-Han’s fiery gaze burning into my back. Even now I shivered, recalling how utterly defeated he’d looked—something I’d never seen in five years with him.

Jae-Ha led me from the wine bar to the elevator. Though we’d left Ji-Han’s view, he still held my wrist tightly. His large hand made my skin prickle with heat.

“I… I’m heading home.”

“……”

“Seo Jae-Ha?”

He paused at the elevator door and pressed a floor button. I realized he could end this ‘show’ whenever he liked, but he didn’t move.

“… Do you not hear me? I said, You can go home.”

I twisted, trying to pull away. His jacket slid off my shoulders.

“Haa. Stay still, okay? Do you not know what you look like?”

He whispered that and gently adjusted my jacket—his touch startled me.

“See that man over in the lobby? The one holding a tablet?”

“Huh? … Yes.”

I glanced where he indicated. A man on the lobby sofa eyed the surroundings—as the man looked our way, Jae-Ha stepped between us and whispered.

“He’s a reporter. Known for reporting all the gossip in the business world.”

‘Of all the times for a reporter to be here…!’ I forced a frown. Now I understood his plan: everyone had noticed me soaked in wine.

He pushed me into the empty elevator with a small smile.

“If you don’t want this revenge to end today, listen to me.”

“Haa…”

I caught the reporter’s glance and quickly looked away—his hyena-like gaze sent chills down my spine. I hesitated, my finger frozen over the “close door” button.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to hear it?”

Jae-Ha stepped right up to me and placed a room card in my free hand.

“I’ll give you my answer to your proposal.”

His eyes dared me to go up. I hadn’t come to end up here, but I sighed and released the button. He stepped aside, satisfied.

“Oh—and if you’re uncomfortable, you can wear my clothes.”

I didn’t know what that meant—he gave a slow smile through the elevator’s closing doors.

Jae-Ha’s suite was on the royal floor. The room was impeccably stylish.

“It doesn’t feel like anyone lives here.”

Looking out at the view, I realized I was still wearing the wine-soaked blouse—I moved to sit on the window sofa, then paused. I couldn’t go further looking like this. In the mirror, my wet hair and clingy blouse looked terrible.

“I should wash up.”

I stepped into the bathroom. After showering, I wore one of his large shirts. Emerging, I caught Jae-Ha standing inside, his expression surprised.

“When did you get here?”

I gasped. Droplets still dripped from my hair down my face. He watched, his gaze lingering over every feature from my forehead to my eyes, nose, and mouth.

“I didn’t expect this… to greet me.”

He sniffed as though detecting the citrus scent of his own cologne that lingered on me.

“Oh… I had the blouse dry-cleaned. The front desk said they’d take care of it.”

I looked down—his hands were empty. Not sure if he’d come in when I did or was waiting.

“You said I could borrow clothes, so I wore one of your shirts.”

I had searched through his closet and picked a shirt that was comfortable, not invading—but it worked well. I laughed softly.

“There was probably a t-shirt somewhere… And maybe you should’ve dried your hair first.”

His eyes dropped to the smooth line of my legs as I took a step—realizing how I looked, he inhaled.

Only then did I realize what I looked like.

I took a step back from him, my face flushing in an instant.

“It’ll be more visible if you step back like that.”

I’d wanted to hide, but his quiet comment froze me—my heart pounding in my chest.

Jae-Ha let out a deep sigh under his breath, then walked further into the living room.

I hadn’t intended to, but I followed him.

—

On the coffee table in front of the sofa sat an herbal tea that had been prepared at some unknown time.

“You went to buy clothes, right?”

“I couldn’t find any open stores nearby, so I sent my secretary.”

“Ah… it’s late at night; it must’ve been hard to find anything. I’ll just wear the shirt from the dry cleaner.”

He said it would only take a couple of hours, so I was planning to put on my clothes and leave after the dryer was done. My plan to talk about that proposal over a quiet glass of wine had been completely shattered.

‘The moment I bumped into those two, everything blew up.’

How did things end up like this?

“The time it takes to clean the blouse is probably about the same as how long it will take my secretary to buy clothes.”

“……”

“Just put on new clothes and head out. If it doesn’t fit, change out of it.”

The oversized shirt felt awkward on me. Seeing me hesitate, he spoke quietly, “And for now, you’re better off staying here.”

His tone carried a strange meaning.

“Seo Ji-Han must be dying to know what we’re doing right now. We should give him something to imagine, right?”

So I decided to stay until the blouse returned from the cleaners.

Silence fell between us again, punctuated only by my occasional sip of tea.

Jae-Ha had opened a book on the sofa and was reading, seemingly comfortable with the quiet.

‘Should I ask what his answer to that proposal is?’ I had come here to hear his response. If he turned me down, I’d need another partner. Jae-Ha suited the role perfectly—that was the problem.

“Are you serious?”

His low voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked up to find him watching me instead of the book.

“About taking revenge.”

He closed the book.

“Yes. I’m serious.”

I met his steady gaze. I wanted nothing more than to bring down Ji-Han and Hojin Group.

“You said the CEO position at W Group, right?”

“……”

“Then I’ll take it.”

He finally spoke after a pause, offering a subtle smile. Tension that had wrapped around me began to unravel. I wondered what was going through his mind, but his eyes were unreadable.

“Honestly, I don’t fully trust you, Yoon Yeo-Jin.”

He continued calmly. I’d restarted with memory of a past life—he lived in the present, so mistrusting me made sense.

“But that proposal… it was too tempting to refuse.”

He paused, a strange expression on his face, as if recalling that night.

“You said you’d speed things up.”

“I can accelerate your plan.”

I had whispered that to him the night we met alone. He leaned closer and murmured.

“Keep that promise. Let’s definitely bring down Hojin Group.”

His eyes flared bright with resolve.

“Of course. Your revenge against Hojin is also my revenge.”

“……”

“You can trust me on that part.”

Our partnership was forged by vengeance—he might not fully trust me, but I knew we’d make a strong team. My instincts told me so.

—Ding.

The intercom sounded in the quiet room. I stood, thinking the blouse might have arrived, but Jae-Ha’s large hand pressed me back down.

He looked at my outfit and said, “Where are you going dressed like that? Stay here.”

A moment later, he returned with a man into the living room.

I recognized him faintly—not through Jae-Ha’s circle, but as his secretary who’d likely gone around Seoul on my behalf.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Han Seong-jun, the CEO’s executive secretary. Please feel free to call me Secretary Han.”

“Hello, Secretary Han. I’m Yoon Yeo-Jin.”

He placed a hoodie and pants in front of me. Despite expecting the blouse back anytime, Jae-Ha seemed firm.

“I’m sorry… It must’ve been tough to find somewhere open this late.”

“Haha, it’s no problem at all.”

“You’ve done well.”

When I changed and re-entered the living room, Jae-Ha was seated, alone and composed.

His secretary had already left. It had been a long day.

It was nearly midnight—the night sky, pitch black beyond his back.

“Shall we go? I’ll see you home.”

“It’s fine. I’ll go by myself—I can take a taxi.”

“It’s less troublesome if I drive than if something more troublesome happens.”

He said it so straightforwardly… I nodded without protest. I was still uneasy about the reporter.

We drove down empty roads and soon pulled into the apartment complex. I hesitated before opening the door and turned toward the driver’s seat.

“Um…”

I shivered at the thought of going home soaked in wine alone.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Jae-Ha’s eyes looked calm—quiet, though perhaps embarrassed, as he averted his gaze. I smiled gently, then stepped out of the car.

Just as I started walking toward the entrance, someone grabbed my wrist.