Meanwhile, in the director's office at Adam Corporation, Williams sat across from his father's desk, his laptop open, fingers moving steadily over the keyboard.
Him and Secretary Kim had been buried in work since returning from Germany the day before.
Still, his eyes kept drifting to the clock on the wall. As if he were waiting for someone.
Then a light knock sounded at the door.
Before Williams could answer, the door opened.
Ha Yun stepped in, hands in his pockets, amusement already written across his face.
"I never knew you had this side," he said, glancing at the laptop. "You're really surprising me."
Williams shut the screen and leaned back. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Ha Yun chuckled. "This transformation of yours… it's lasted longer than I expected."
"I've always been obedient," Williams replied, rising to his feet. "What took you so long? I thought you changed your mind."
"Why would I?" Ha Yun smirked. "Free food is involved."
"Leech," Williams muttered, grabbing his jacket.
They left the office together and soon were on the road in Williams' car, heading toward the best restaurant in town.
As the city passed by, Ha Yun glanced over.
"Did you hear from Veronica again?" He asked.
Williams' jaw tightened slightly. "Since she came to the hospital, I haven't set my eyes on her. But she called while I was in Germany… said she was sorry she hadn't visited again."
They both laughed.
"She promised to buy me those ridiculous banana boxers when she gets back. Latest design," Williams added.
Ha Yun burst out laughing, clutching his chest. "That girl is unbelievable. You two really match."
At that moment, a particular face flash Williams face, "Bitch" he murmured getting irritated. "What do you mean?" He snapped at Ha Yun, as he tried to focus.
"Nothing, nothing," Ha Yun said quickly, still laughing.
Moments later, they arrived at the restaurant.
The moment Williams stepped inside the restaurant, the atmosphere shifted.
Whispers spread through the room.
"Is that Adam Williams?"
"Oh my God…"
Girls glanced over, giggling, adjusting their hair, and doing everything possible to draw his attention.
Williams barely noticed. He simply walked in, calm and composed___ like he owned the restaurant.
The moment Ha Rin caught sight of him, she gasped.
"Wait… that's William. It's really him."
Alex frowned, then turned to Linda with a worried look.
They still hadn't talked about what had happened between Linda and Williams before, and the tension was obvious.
Linda, who had been lazily scrolling through her phone, lifted her head when she heard Ha Rin's voice.
"Adam Williams?" she repeated, then glanced around the girls eating at the nearby tables who were already whispering.
"Oh my God, he's so handsome."
"That's him ___ the only heir of Adam Corporation."
"I'm already in love."
The noise irritated Linda.
"Who the hell is this Adam Williams anyway?" she muttered, as she turned toward the entrance.
Then, she froze.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"It's him…" she whispered, standing up slowly. "Is he.... Adam Williams?" She a weakly.
Ha Rin leaned closer, her voice low and excited.
"Yes. The son of the richest man in Seoul."
Linda kept staring, her heart beating strangely in her chest, the noise of the restaurant fading into the background.
For a moment, their last encounter came rushed back to her.
And she knew this encounter was not going to be simple.
At that moment, Williams sighted her. Then,
He pause.
For a second, everything else in the restaurant seemed to disappear.
His eyes locked on her face, and a slow, unreadable expression crossed his features.
Then his lips curved.
"Well… well… well," he said quietly, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Look who we have here."
His gaze traveled over her, calm but sharp, as if he was seeing his long lost best friend, and at the same time remembering the terrible thing she has done to him.
Linda felt her chest tighten without warning.
Of all the places…
Of all the days…
Here.
Now that she looks her worse.
In a few confident strides, Williams closed the distance between them. He stopped just in front of Linda, looking her up and down with that trademark smirk.
"Why do you look like you've been rolling in the dirt?" he murmured, voice low, and teasing.
"You, uh…" He leaned closer, so close that the space between them vanished entirely.
Linda instinctively raised her hands, pressing them against his chest as her heart hammered.
"You look like a pig," he continued, eyes flicking over her face, lingering on the sweat-streaked strands of hair clinging to her forehead.
Linda frowned, irritated, but couldn't deny the strange pull she felt. Despite the dirt, despite the mess, Williams found her… impossible to ignore. His gaze softened almost imperceptibly, settling on her lips. He swallowed hard, his breath catching.
As if something suddenly struck him, Williams' expression hardened.
He reached out and caught her jaw, holding her face still.
"You owe me," he said quietly.
Pain flared through her jaw. Linda slapped his hand away at once.
"I don't owe you anything, Mr. Adam."
His eyes darkened. He caught her wrist before she could step back.
"Have you already forgotten what you did to me last time?" he said pointing at that between his legs.
Her gaze followed his hand for half a second before she looked away, heat creeping up her neck.
Williams leaned closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear.
"And how exactly do you plan to make that right?"
Her breath stuttered. She forced herself to step back, pulling free.
"Stay away from me," she warned. "Or next time, I won't stop where I did."
For a moment they just stood there, the space between them tight with unspoken things.
Seeing the situation escalate, Alex and Ha Rin slowly stood from their seats, unsure of how to step in without making things worse.
All around them, customers had already stopped eating, their attention fixed on the strange scene unfolding.
Linda struggled to keep her composure, but before she could react, Williams suddenly bent, lifted her onto his shoulder, and turned toward the exit as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Put me down!" Linda protested, hitting his back.
Williams ignored her completely.
Gasps rippled through the restaurant.
Ha Yun froze in place, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
"Is he insane?" he muttered.
Alex moved forward. "Hey—!"
But Williams was already halfway out the door, Linda still draped over his shoulder, her heart pounding as the entire restaurant watched them go.