The sound of her door clicking open drew Joon-hyuk's attention from the file in his hands.
He'd been reading her latest article—a clean, confident piece about LJ Group's new electric battery line. The tone was professional, yet the insight was sharp. He didn't say it aloud, but it impressed him more than he expected.
Then she stepped out of her room.
For a moment, he forgot the numbers on the page.
Hye-rin stood before the long hallway mirror, the crimson gown flowing around her like liquid silk. The soft lighting caught the sheen of the fabric, tracing her figure in quiet confidence. She didn't pose or preen—she simply was, and somehow that made it worse for his composure.
She caught his reflection in the mirror and tilted her head. "Reading work stuff again?"
He blinked, forcing his gaze back to the page. "Your report," he said smoothly. "You did well."
"Just well?" she teased, turning slightly so the dress caught more light. "That's a very mild compliment for something that apparently made you stop breathing."
He looked up again, this time unable to hide the faint pull at his mouth. "You look… presentable."
She laughed—a soft, melodic sound that made his fingers tighten around the folder.
"Presentable? That's what you call someone in a dress you picked yourself?"
"I didn't pick it," he replied quickly, then paused, lowering his voice. "I approved it."
"Ah, so you do have good taste." She smirked, meeting his eyes in the mirror. "I'll give you that, CEO Lee."
His gaze held hers, something unspoken flickering there. "It suits you," he admitted quietly.
The teasing in her expression softened for just a second. "Thank you," she murmured. Then, as if she'd said too much, she turned back toward the mirror, smoothing a nonexistent wrinkle on the fabric.
He returned his attention to her article, though his focus was long gone.
When she finally disappeared back into her room, the faint rustle of the dress lingered in the air.
Joon-hyuk stared at the same sentence for five whole minutes before realizing—
He hadn't absorbed a single word.