The next morning, LJ Group felt different.
The hallways buzzed with laughter, congratulatory messages, and the proud hum of success. Their U.S. deal had been finalized overnight, sending the company's stocks soaring.
Kang Hye-rin scrolled through her emails, pretending to focus, though her mind kept drifting to last night. The quiet dinner. The strange tension. The way he'd gone completely silent after asking about Min-jae.
Her phone buzzed suddenly.
> CEO's Office — Come in.
She blinked. No explanation, no time — typical.
When she stepped into his office, Lee Joon-hyuk was standing by the window, phone in one hand, the faintest trace of satisfaction tugging at his mouth.
"Good morning," she said cautiously.
"Morning," he replied, his voice unusually calm. "Sit."
She obeyed, wary. "You're in a good mood."
"I should be," he said. "We secured the deal." Then, without preamble, "There's a celebration dinner tomorrow night. You'll be attending."
Her brows furrowed. "As your employee or your fiancée?"
He glanced up. "You already know the answer to that."
She crossed her arms. "You could at least ask, not order."
He smirked. "You're difficult to order around, Kang Hye-rin."
"Then maybe stop trying."
He ignored the jab and added, "A formal dress will be delivered to your apartment tomorrow. Wear it."
Her eyes widened. "You already picked one? You don't even know my size."
"I didn't need to."
The audacity of his tone made her jaw drop. "You—You're so—"
"Efficient?" he offered smoothly.
"Infuriating," she snapped.
He chuckled quietly, the sound soft but real. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
Her cheeks warmed. "You're impossible."
"And you talk too much," he said, though there was a ghost of a smile on his lips.
For a moment, the office felt smaller — lighter — the space between them almost charged.