Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Ye Jun

I couldn’t even make it to the elevator before I lost it completely.

I spun on my heel, marched straight back into Si-woo’s office, door banging open so hard the glass rattled and planted myself right in front of his desk again like I hadn’t just stormed out thirty seconds earlier.

He hadn’t even moved. Still leaning back in that stupid expensive chair, arms crossed, looking at me like I was a mildly entertaining toddler throwing a tantrum.

“You know what?” I said, voice already cracking from how hard I was clenching my jaw. “Fuck your ’no’. Fuck your little speech about how I’m gonna stay and beg and break and whatever else you get off on saying. I’m done. I’m actually done this time. I quit. Right now. Write it down, sign it, email it to HR, I don’t care. I’m walking.”

He blinked once. Slowly. Then the corner of his mouth twitched.

“You already said that,” he reminded me, voice flat, almost bored. “And I already said no.”

“Yeah, well, I’m saying it louder.” I slammed both palms on his desk harder than I meant to, papers slid everywhere and leaned in so close I could see the tiny scar above his left eyebrow that I’d never noticed before. “Just because I’ve been staying quiet, swallowing every shitty thing you throw at me, doesn’t mean I’m some harmless pushover who’s gonna roll over forever. I’m not your dog. I’m not your punching bag. I’m not your little brother anymore either. I quit. Deal with it.”

For a second maybe two he just stared at me. No smirk. No laugh. Nothing. Then he leaned forward, elbows on the desk, and his voice dropped so low I had to strain to hear it.

“You quit, you trigger the clause. 100 million won. Due in full within thirty days. Non-negotiable. Your dad wrote it that way on purpose. You think he’s gonna pay it for you again? After the last two weeks? You think Mom’s gonna cry to him until he caves? Because last time he made you director and what did you do? You really think he’ll be nicer to you?”

I laughed. “Oh wow, so you’re admitting you tried to quit too? That’s adorable. Big bad Si-woo ran crying to Daddy when the startup dream didn’t work out. Classic.”

His eyes narrowed. “Watch it.”

“No, you watch it. I’m not paying one hundred million which of course I don’t have, to walk away from this circus. But I’m also not staying here to be your personal entertainment. So what now? We just keep doing this forever? You sabotage me, I fail, everyone hates me, Dad sighs, Mom cries, you jerk off to my misery? That’s the plan? Because if it is, I’d rather declare bankruptcy and flip burgers than keep playing.”

He stood up then slowly, like he had all the time in the world and walked around the desk until he was standing right in front of me. Too close. Way too close. I could smell the coffee on his breath and the stupid cologne he always wore that probably cost more than my rent used to.

“You want out?” he asked quietly. “Fine. Pay the penalty. Sell your car. Sell your body maybe, to the streets. Move back home and explain to Mom why you’re sleeping in your childhood bedroom at twenty-eight. Or…. ” he tilted his head, eyes flicking down my body and back up again ” you could stay. And we keep going exactly like this. Your choice.”

I stepped back. One step. Then another. My back hit the door.

“I’m not paying 100 million,” I said through my teeth. “And I’m not staying like this.”

“So what’s the move, genius?” He crossed his arms again. “Lawyers? You think you can lawyer your way out of a contract your own father wrote? Good luck. You’ll burn through whatever savings you have just on the consultation fees.”

I stared at him. Chest heaving. Head spinning. Every single option felt like stepping on a landmine.

Then it hit me.

Just pure, reckless, fuck-it-all spite.

If I couldn’t quit and I couldn’t win by fighting fair, then I’d cheat. I’d cheat so hard he’d never see it coming.

I straightened up. Wiped my sweaty palms on my pants. Looked him dead in the eye.

“Okay,” I said. “You win. I’m not quitting. Happy?”

He raised an eyebrow. “That was quick.”

“Yeah, well, I’m a fast learner.” I took one step forward. Then another. Until I was the one crowding him against his own desk. “But if I’m staying, we’re doing this my way now.”

He snorted. “Your way?”

“Mm-hm.” I reached up, grabbed his tie loose, half-undone and yanked him down so our faces were inches apart. “You like watching me break? You like making me beg? Cool. I’ll beg. I’ll break. I’ll do whatever disgusting little thing you want me to do. But you’re gonna have to give me something back.”

His hand shot up, grabbed my wrist. Hard. “Don’t get cute.”

“I’m not being cute.” I twisted my wrist free and slid my hand up to his collar instead, fingers brushing the skin of his throat. “I’m being practical. You want control? Take it. All of it. Fuck me up however you want. Make me crawl. Make me cry. Make me scream your name until I can’t talk anymore. But you’re gonna have to touch me to do it.”

Silence.

Long, thick, silence.

His breathing changed. Just a bit. Shallower. Faster.

I kept going because if I stopped now I’d lose my nerve completely.

“You think I haven’t noticed?” I whispered. “The way you look at me when no one else is watching? The way your jaw ticks when I’m on my knees fixing your messes? You hate me. Fine. But you want me too. And I’m betting you want me more than you hate me.”

He didn’t answer. Just stared. Pupils blown wide.

I leaned in closer. Lips almost brushing his ear.

“So here’s the deal,,” I said, voice shaking but still going. “You get to ruin me. Completely. Every day. Every night. Every way you’ve been dreaming about.. You in or out?”

He grabbed my jaw suddenly fingers digging in, tilting my head back so I had to look up at him.

“You’re insane,” he said. Voice rough.

“Yeah.” I grinned, even though my heart was hammering so hard I thought it might crack a rib. “But guess who made me insane?”

He exhaled through his nose. Sharp. Like I’d punched him.

Then he shoved me back against the door hard enough my head thumped and caged me in with both arms.

“You think you can handle this?” he growled. “You think you can play this game and come out on top?”

“I think,” I said, reaching down and palming him through his slacks just to hear his breath hitch, “that I’ve got nothing left to lose. So yeah. I can handle it. Question is can you?”

He stared down at me for what felt like forever.

Then he pushed me adjusting his tie as he walked away. Fine! I was gonna stay, but he was going to regret all of this. Trying to fuck me up? He’ll be begging to fuck me on the bed.

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