The news of the "incident" in the employee lounge spread through the Queens Department Store faster than any corporate memo. It wasn't just a whisper; it was a full-blown sensation. The security camera footage, discreetly "leaked" by an anonymous employee, quickly circulated through the company's internal networks. It showed Director Hong Hae-in, her face a mask of predatory fury, cornering her husband against a wall. It showed his panicked plea, the swift, chilling departure of her brother and sister-in-law, and finally, the fierce, consuming kiss that followed. The finale, a single shot of the lipstick mark on Director Baek Hyun-woo's cheek, was the cherry on top of a very scandalous cake.
Hyun-woo, still a dazed mess, finally stumbled his way back to his office. He sat down at his desk, his hand absently touching his swollen lips, the sensation of her kiss still a ghost on his skin. He was defeated, publicly humiliated, but a profound, undeniable sense of joy was settling in his heart. He had wanted to provoke a reaction, to make her jealous, but this was more than he could have ever imagined. She had claimed him, in a way that left no room for doubt. The lipstick mark was a public sign, a brand of her ownership. He was hers.
He looked at his reflection in the dark screen of his computer. The bright red mark on his cheek stood out like a beacon. He had been warned not to remove it. He wouldn't dare. He could face the teasing, the mockery, the endless questions. It was all worth it. He was hers, and she had made sure everyone knew it.
His phone buzzed with a message from an anonymous number. It was a picture of him, his face a mix of shock and surrender, the lipstick mark a triumphant symbol on his cheek. The accompanying text was simple: "Looks like we have a new alpha male in the office. Congrats on your promotion, Director Baek." Hyun-woo couldn't help but laugh. His plan had backfired spectacularly, and yet, he had never felt more victorious.
Hae-in, back in her office, was a picture of cold, professional calm. But beneath the surface, a sense of triumphant satisfaction bubmed. She had won. She had shown him, and everyone else, who was in control. The jealousy, the possessiveness, the anger—it had all led to this. To a public declaration of her love, a warning to anyone who dared to look at her man. She looked at her reflection in her desk. Her lips were slightly swollen, a faint smudge of red on them. She smiled, a small, private smile of victory. She had punished him, and in doing so, she had reasserted her dominance. The balance of power was hers once again. Or so she thought.
A message from Hyun-woo buzzed on her phone.
Hyun-woo: My dear wife, my lips are swollen, and my cheek is marked. You are a truly fierce woman. I'm just glad no one was hurt in your little display of ownership.
Hae-in's smile widened. She typed a quick, confident reply.
Hae-in: You should be. And don't even think about removing that mark. It's a reminder of who you belong to.
Hyun-woo: I wouldn't dream of it. I'm proud to wear your mark. But… what should I tell my colleagues when they ask? I can't exactly say I was a willing victim, can I?
Hae-in smirked. He was already playing the victim. She had to shut that down.
Hae-in: Tell them the truth, Hyun-woo. Tell them you were caught in the act. Tell them you were getting too close to a new intern. And tell them I punished you for it. Make sure they know exactly what happens to those who try to flirt with my husband.
Hyun-woo: Yes, ma'am. Will do. But… about my lips… you seem to have left a little something behind.
A new message followed, a picture of his face, his lips red and swollen, and the smudge of her lipstick on his cheek. It was a brazen, confident move.
Hae-in: That's what you get. It's a good look on you. It makes you look… well, it makes you look like my husband.
Hyun-woo: I'm glad you think so. But I have a feeling this is just the beginning of my punishments. I'm afraid to see what happens next.
Hae-in's heart fluttered. She was playing into his hands again. He was still the one in control, even in his defeat. He was still the one escalating their game, using her own anger and possessiveness against her. But she didn't care. She was having too much fun. And besides, she was still the one who had him pinned against a wall, her hands on his chest, her lips on his. She was the one who had won. And that was all that mattered.
The office had never been so lively. The romance, the scandal, the public display of affection—it was the talk of the town, and Hae-in and Hyun-woo were at the center of it all. They were no longer the distant, cold couple. They were the fiery, passionate, and hilariously dramatic duo who had just given their company a story to talk about for years. And in their own private, silent way, they knew it was just the beginning of their happily ever after.