## **Lee Yoon-seo**

“Wait. What do you mean *he’s the other bidder?*”

My assistant shrank a little. “Uh... the Ji Corporation. They’re the final contender for the Haenam Tech partnership... along with us.”

I blinked. Once. Twice.

“Ji. As in Ji Hoon-min?”

“Yes... ma’am.”

---

Cue the dramatic pause.

Cue the mental meltdown.

Cue the image of Ji Hoon-min — in that annoyingly tailored charcoal suit — smirking his way through a corporate takeover.

---

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

---

Sure enough, when I walked into that glass-walled boardroom, there he was.

Ji. Freaking. Hoon-min.

Legs crossed. Fingers steepled. Expression: CEO-mode. Dangerous. Controlled. Smug.

His eyes flicked up when I entered — and for half a second, the mask slipped. Surprise. Amusement. Maybe even... delight.

Then — a smirk. “Oh. Hello... *darling.*”

---

I gritted my teeth. “Don’t. Even.”

The executives blinked between us. “Wait, you two know each—”

“We’re married,” Hoon-min said smoothly, leaning back. “Didn’t you see the headlines?”

Cue chaos. Papers shuffled. Gasps. One intern audibly choked.

---

But beneath the smooth PR smile — his eyes? Locked on mine. Challenging. Infuriating.

Game on.

---

## **Third Person — Meeting Room Chaos**

The meeting kicked off.

PowerPoint presentations. Financial projections. Blah blah blah.

Except — there was nothing boring about the tension simmering under the surface.

Every time Yoon-seo spoke — clear, sharp, confident — Hoon-min’s gaze tracked her. Every gesture. Every word.

When she shot down a proposal? He smiled like he was *proud.*

When he countered her numbers? She grinned like she was *daring him to try harder.*

---

“Haenam Tech needs flexible innovation, not legacy rigidity,” Yoon-seo argued, fingers tapping the table. “We provide that.”

“Legacy isn’t rigidity,” Hoon-min countered, voice cool. “It’s stability. Something startups can’t always guarantee.”

“Oh, we guarantee plenty,” she shot back, leaning forward. “Including market agility... which your board has historically struggled with.”

His jaw ticked. His lips curved. “Careful, darling. You almost sound like you enjoy fighting with me.”

A flush crept up her neck. “Oh, I absolutely do.”

---

## **Enter: Second Lead Energy — Kang Min-jun**

The door swung open. “Apologies for being late.”

Min-jun. Effortlessly calm. White shirt. Sleeves rolled. Perfectly rumpled.

“Ah... Mr. Kang,” the lead investor greeted. “Didn’t realize you’d be sitting in.”

“Friend of the board,” Min-jun said, slipping into a chair directly next to Yoon-seo. “And... friend of the bride.” His smile tilted, teasing.

Hoon-min’s knuckles tightened slightly around his pen.

---

As the discussion continued, Min-jun leaned toward Yoon-seo, murmuring something that made her laugh.

Not a polite chuckle. A real, genuine laugh.

Hoon-min’s eye twitched.

---

## **Back to Lee Yoon-seo — Inner Monologue**

I could feel it.

The daggers Hoon-min was sending Min-jun with his eyes.

The way his knee bounced — subtle, controlled, but *so him* when he was fighting the urge to do something reckless.

And the way his gaze kept flickering — from me... to Min-jun’s shoulder... to my hand resting dangerously close to Min-jun’s arm...

Possessive.

Territorial.

And absolutely refusing to admit it.

---

## **The Climax — The Verbal Checkmate**

Final bids. Last statements.

“I’m confident,” Hoon-min said, “that Haenam Tech understands the value of a stable partner with a proven record.”

“And I’m confident,” I countered, rising to my feet, “that the future doesn’t belong to companies stuck in the past.”

I met his gaze. Unflinching. “With all due respect... your proposal is safe. But ours is revolutionary.”

Silence.

The board whispered.

Decision pending.

---

As the meeting adjourned, Min-jun touched my elbow gently. “You were incredible in there,” he murmured.

I smiled — but felt that familiar shadow behind me.

Turning — yep. There he was.

Ji Hoon-min. Arms crossed. Jaw tight.

“Ready to go, *wifey*?” he asked, voice deceptively light.

“Oh, suddenly you want to hold hands again?” I snarked.

His fingers brushed mine anyway. *Not for the cameras.* No one was watching.

Just... because.

---

## **Final Beat — Elevator Scene**

The doors closed. Silence. Tension.

Then — his voice, low. Dangerous. “Don’t let him touch you like that again.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

“Possessive much?”

His eyes darkened. “*You’re my wife.*”

“Fake wife.”

His gaze dropped — to my lips. Then back to my eyes. “Yeah... keep telling yourself that.”