Try to Tempt Me - Episode 6

“Will you go out with me?”

Date…?

Even with Do-hyun’s voice so clearly delivered, Yu-bom doubted if there was something wrong with her hearing.

“Did you just say ‘date’?”

Yu-bom hesitated and took a step back.

She had never even imagined the word ‘date’ coming out of Do-hyun’s mouth.

That’s why this situation was even more bewildering.

“Yeah. Date.”

Do-hyun took a step forward, making Yu-bom’s step back meaningless.

Due to the difference in stride, the two became even closer than before.

“I, suddenly like this…”

Yu-bom trailed off.

“You don’t like it?”

At Do-hyun’s low voice, Yu-bom’s pupils shook without focus.

She couldn’t think of anything, as if a downpour was raging in her head.

“It’s not that I don’t like it, but…”

“Then let’s do it.”

Do-hyun provocatively cut off Yu-bom, who was hesitating about what to answer.

“……”

“Secretary Lee, let’s date.”

Do-hyun’s eyes curved like a crescent moon. It was a beautiful eye smile that seemed to raise the surrounding temperature by a degree.

‘Huh? Where have I seen that expression before?’

Yu-bom’s lips parted slightly with a short sigh as she searched her memory.

‘I have a girlfriend.’

Do-hyun’s expression now was perfectly identical to when he said he had a girlfriend at the training center.

“Wow. I almost fell for it.”

Yu-bom widened her eyes and covered her mouth with both hands.

“Almost fell for what?”

“Stop acting now. I’ve already caught on to everything.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Do-hyun frowned at Yu-bom’s incomprehensible words.

“What you just said, Representative. That’s not to really ‘date’ me, but to pretend to date me, right?”

“Pretend to date?”

“Isn’t it to pretend to be the ‘girlfriend you’re going to marry’ that you mentioned at the training center?”

When Do-hyun made a flustered expression, Yu-bom crossed her arms and continued triumphantly.

“You said you had a girlfriend when you gave the congratulatory speech at the training center, and you told people to spread rumors that you were going to marry that girlfriend. It was all part of a grand plan for this, right?”

She was certain.

That all of it was Do-hyun’s sly scheme.

‘He’s been dropping hints since two days ago with the intention of doing this from the start.’

Do-hyun’s passing over her mistake at the training center without saying anything, giving her clothes and hangover drinks, now it all made sense.

He must have been planning to seduce her with sweet actions and words, and then naturally make her play the role of his girlfriend, like clothes getting wet in a drizzle.

“…You’re perceptive.”

Do-hyun gave a vague answer that was neither affirmative nor negative.

“Ha. Now everything fits together perfectly.”

Yu-bom spoke to herself, as if she didn’t care about Do-hyun’s answer.

“Anyway. I’m not going to do it, so look for another woman.”

Yu-bom said firmly.

“You don’t like being my girlfriend, is that it?”

“Of course, I don’t like it!”

Yu-bom screamed in horror. There was no falsehood in her expression.

“Of course, you don’t like it?”

Do-hyun’s eyebrows went up as he repeated Yu-bom’s words.

“No. I misspoke. It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s that it’s uncomfortable, uncomfortable.”

Yu-bom quickly corrected herself.

“What’s uncomfortable about it?”

“If rumors spread that I’m dating the Representative, what kind of stories will come out behind my back?”

“People aren’t as interested in Secretary Lee as you think. No one will care.”

Do-hyun said monotonously.

“Ha! That’s what the Representative thinks. Anyway, I don’t like it. I’m never going to do it.”

“Think about it one more time. Either way, it’s a win-win for us if we date.”

“A win-win? Which part is a win-win?”

“Secretary Lee is popular too, isn’t she? If rumors spread that you have a boyfriend, annoying guys won’t bother you anymore.”

Snap.

A vein popped out on Yu-bom’s forehead. She wondered if he was making fun of her right now.

“…I don’t have that.”

“You’re not popular?”

“Yes!”

Yu-bom felt embarrassed for a moment, as if she had answered too loudly.

“Instead, I have a boyfriend.”

Yu-bom quickly added.

“Lie.”

Yu-bom was momentarily taken aback by Do-hyun’s confident tone. But she didn’t show it outwardly.

“Oh, come on. What do you think of me? I’m almost thirty. I’m at the age where I should be dating.”

“You’re with me all day long, when do you date?”

“……”

Yu-bom paused for a moment at Do-hyun’s pointed words.

Do-hyun was right.

Yu-bom didn’t want to date, but even if she wanted to, she couldn’t find the time.

Because of Do-hyun, who tormented her from dawn to night and didn’t want to be separated from her for a moment.

Unless the day was 48 hours long, dating was a luxury she couldn’t even dream of.

“So just do it with me. Date.”

“I think the Representative is making a big mistake, people date even during war. I just came from being with my boyfriend.”

“……”

“So, can I go now? My boyfriend keeps calling.”

Yu-bom stretched out her arm towards Do-hyun with a triumphant expression. And she gently shook her cell phone in front of his eyes.

“Is Team Leader Lee Jin-hyuk Secretary Lee’s boyfriend?”

“Yes…?”

Lee Jin-hyuk?

Yu-bom widened her eyes and checked her cell phone screen.

Surprisingly, Jin-hyuk’s name was flashing in the place where Nam-jung’s name should have been.

“Why is this person calling me…”

Yu-bom muttered, staring at her cell phone screen.

She had Jin-hyuk’s number as an emergency contact, but Yu-bom had never contacted him.

“It seems like it’s urgent since it keeps ringing, answer it.”

“Yes. Then just a moment.”

Yu-bom turned her back and pressed the call button.

She also lowered the call volume in case Jin-hyuk’s voice was transmitted to Do-hyun.

[This is Lee Jin-hyuk. I have something important to say, so let’s meet for a moment.]

Is it trendy to get straight to the point these days?

Yu-bom frowned.

“What’s going on?”

[Representative Cha Do-jin…]

Yu-bom glanced at Do-hyun as Jin-hyuk continued to speak, and replied.

“Okay. I’ll go now.”

–

Fortunately, Do-hyun let Yu-bom go willingly.

Yu-bom took a taxi to a bar about 15 minutes away from the company.

‘Lee Jin-hyuk was also on Cha Do-jin’s line?’

Yu-bom’s brow furrowed.

Cha Do-jin. He was Cha Do-hyun’s older brother.

Two years ago, Do-jin, who was pushed out of the HS Electronics succession by Do-hyun, established HS Cosmetics as soon as Do-hyun took office as the representative of HS Electronics, as if he had been waiting for it.

And he enforced innovative marketing through ‘Wanghong’, a Chinese power blogger.

Wanghong, who had a huge influence on women in their 20s and 30s in the Chinese-speaking world, was very effective in viral marketing strategies.

This was especially true in the beauty industry, where word-of-mouth had a great impact.

Before long, HS Cosmetics created a new sensation in the Chinese market and established itself as the trendiest cosmetic brand in just one year and six months after its establishment.

“We’re here.”

While Yu-bom was lost in thought, the taxi stopped with a screeching noise.

“How much is it?”

“9,700 won.”

“Here you go.”

Yu-bom handed over her card.

“Don’t you even have 10,000 won?”

The driver turned his head and scanned Yu-bom up and down.

“I do. On my card.”

When Yu-bom answered with a friendly smile, the driver grumbled and swiped the card.

[I’ve arrived.]

Yu-bom got out of the taxi, entered the building, and sent a text message to Jin-hyuk.

A reply came soon.

[Room 11.]

Yu-bom hesitated at the entrance of the bar, and a man in a suit approached her.

He guided Yu-bom to the front of Room 11.

“Thank you.”

Yu-bom greeted the man and opened the door.

A pungent smell of cigarettes rushed in through her nose.

How much did he smoke, the inside was all hazy.

How bad is secondhand smoke? She was annoyed.

“Have you arrived?”

Unlike what she heard on the phone, only Jin-hyuk was in the room.

“Where is Representative Cha Do-jin?”

Yu-bom asked with an unpleasant expression.

“He’s a little late.”

“I came too early.”

“No. You came just in time.”

When Yu-bom sat on the sofa, Jin-hyuk handed over a document envelope.

Yu-bom pulled it towards her and took out the documents from inside.

Jin-hyuk bit the inside of his lip and carefully observed Yu-bom’s actions.

There were already CCTV cameras installed inside, but he was trying to read even subtle changes in expression that could not be detected by them.

But his actions were meaningless.

Yu-bom revealed her emotions without hiding them to the extent that there was no need for him to do so.

Yu-bom’s eyes gradually narrowed as she read the letters written on the stiff paper. Wrinkles also formed on the bridge of her nose.

She scanned the documents and then put them down.

“Is it okay to just hand over these materials?”

“Yes.”

Jin-hyuk answered in a sullen voice. This was because Yu-bom’s answer came out too easily than he thought.

He thought she was a noble swan, but she was paddling her feet busily underneath.

He could see why Yu-bom, who was only 24 years old, easily became Do-hyun’s secretary.

Maybe the rumors circulating in the company are true.

“What about the money?”

Besides, she’s too honest. No, should I call this honesty, or should I call it audacity…?

Jin-hyuk hardened his face and lifted the bag he had placed below.

“Here.”

It was a bag full of 50,000 won bills.

Yu-bom opened the bag and roughly checked the amount. Then she closed the bag with a satisfied expression.

“I’ll hand over the materials within a week.”

“……”

Jin-hyuk stared at Yu-bom with a blatant look.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Just. It’s different from your usual image… No, it’s nothing.”

Jin-hyuk hurriedly closed his mouth.

“Well, Team Leader Lee Jin-hyuk doesn’t have this kind of image usually either.”

Yu-bom burst into a soft laugh. It seemed like a pretense, and it seemed like a sincere laugh.

“……”

Well, whether it’s the one giving the bribe or the one receiving it, it’s equally dirty.

Jin-hyuk closed his mouth tightly, leaving the words that Do-jin would be coming soon.

Yu-bom also didn’t open her mouth anymore.

–

Meanwhile, Do-hyun couldn’t concentrate on his work at all. His head was full of thoughts about Yu-bom and Jin-hyuk.

“Why did Lee Jin-hyuk call?”

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t find an answer. Instead, only bad rumors about Jin-hyuk came to mind.

“……”

In the end, he got up from his seat.

–

The tightly closed door slid open.

Jin-hyuk reflexively got up from the sofa. And he bent his back 90 degrees.

“Hello…”

Jin-hyuk’s voice dropped down without finishing. His eyes, which had widened momentarily, trembled.

The man who opened the door and came in should have been Do-jin.

But why…

Why is Cha Do-hyun standing there?

At Do-hyun’s unexpected appearance, Jin-hyuk’s whole body stiffened like a stone, as if he had encountered a grim reaper.

‘Did Lee Yu-bom call him?’

Jin-hyuk quickly looked at Yu-bom’s expression. But she also looked clearly embarrassed.

Seeing her mouth only opening and closing without being able to say anything, she probably didn’t know that Do-hyun was coming either.

Then how did Cha Do-hyun…?

Jin-hyuk’s fist clenched tightly. His pale knuckles represented his feelings.

“You two. What are you doing here?”

Do-hyun asked, sweeping his gaze over the table. The scattered documents and the bag that looked quite heavy came into view.

“……”

“……”

Yu-bom and Jin-hyuk. No one could answer. They were as silent as if they had eaten honey.

“I think I asked what you’re doing.”

Do-hyun asked again. His gaze was fixed exactly on Jin-hyuk’s eyes.

It was unknown why Do-hyun was glaring at only Jin-hyuk as if he was going to kill him, even though Yu-bom was also in this space.

“I… Well…”

Jin-hyuk couldn’t think of an excuse at all.

To make matters worse, yellow bills were visible through the gap in the bag that was not properly closed.

Damn it, damn it!

What should I do? How do I get out of this situation!

Jin-hyuk looked at Yu-bom with a desperate heart.

The embarrassed face from before was gone, and Yu-bom was wearing a relaxed smile.

Smiling? In this situation?

Jin-hyuk was confused.

Until a little while ago, he thought that Yu-bom and he were on the same side without a doubt…

With the emergence of a huge variable called Cha Do-hyun, he couldn’t predict at all whose side she would take and how she would act.

‘She’s not planning to get out of here alone, is she? She even took the money, surely not. It can’t be.’

Jin-hyuk suddenly remembered what happened at the training center.

What did he say to Yu-bom, who was inevitably late because of the snow?

What kind of curse did he say again when the after-party was coming to an end?

‘……’

It was too late to regret it.

He desperately hoped that Yu-bom wasn’t the type to hold grudges and sent her a look of salvation.

‘Help me?’

As if she had been waiting for it. Yu-bom said silently with her mouth.

‘Does she have a good way out? What if she’s playing tricks?’

Dozens of thoughts crossed Jin-hyuk’s mind.

But the conclusion at the end was one.

If Cha Do-hyun catches him, his life will end here.

He had no choice but to grab even a rotten rope now.

Jin-hyuk nodded desperately. At the same time, the corners of Yu-bom’s lips curled up long.

“What are we doing? Talking.”

Yu-bom said briefly to Do-hyun. Soon she turned her gaze to Jin-hyuk.

“Team Leader Lee Jin-hyuk. I’ll say it again, I have someone I’m dating. So, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said.”

Ha. Is this what helping is?

Jin-hyuk didn’t like Yu-bom’s method. No, he didn’t just dislike it, he hated it so much that he was shivering.

But there was no choice.

“……I understand.”

Jin-hyuk’s pride fell to the floor. The feeling of being rejected for a confession he didn’t even make was so humiliating that it was indescribable.

“Don’t contact me personally anymore. What’s the age difference… Anyway, take this money back.”

“……”

Jin-hyuk became a shameless man who pushed money at a woman who was 11 years younger than him and asked her to meet him.

“Don’t hit on young women for no reason and meet a woman who suits your age! It would be even better if you got married at this opportunity.”

Bang, bang, bang!

Yu-bom shot Jin-hyuk in the chest as if to show off.

She shot one bullet at a time, very carefully, as if she was taking revenge for the past.

Jin-hyuk felt like his whole body would be tattered if he stayed here any longer. He felt even more so because he had something to hide.

He hurriedly packed up the documents and the bag. His hands trembled.

“I’ll go first.”

Jin-hyuk bowed to Do-hyun and quickly left the room. His back was ugly.

Click.

As soon as the door closed, Yu-bom asked coyly.

“How did you know to come here?”

“Location tracking.”

“Ah……”

There was such a thing. Yu-bom nodded.

Some time ago, when Yu-bom went on a business trip to Japan, she got lost and almost missed an important meeting.

After that, the two installed a location tracking app to avoid repeating the same situation.

“But why did you come here? You knew I was going to meet Team Leader Lee Jin-hyuk.”

Yu-bom raised a question.

She had already told Do-hyun that she was going to meet Jin-hyuk.

It wasn’t something to get permission for, but he had readily allowed it.

But why did he follow her all the way here using the location tracking app?

Yu-bom urged Do-hyun to answer with eyes full of curiosity.

“…Because I didn’t like it.”

Do-hyun muttered softly to himself.

“Pardon?”

“Because I don’t like Secretary Lee meeting other men.”