The soft hum of the espresso machine was the only sound filling the clean, glass-walled office. Morning sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a silver glow over sleek desks and flickering screens. Joon-Won sat at the head of the conference table, one leg crossed over the other, flipping through reports with surgical focus.
His tailored suit, deep navy with thin pinstripes hugged his frame in all the right places. The kind of look that said intimidatingly capable with very little effort. Ash-blond hair slicked back with precision, a few strands teasing their freedom just above his brow. His hazel eyes, sharp and calculating, flicked up only once to glance at his watch.
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7:42 a.m.
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He exhaled through his nose and shut the file. He ran his fingers through his hair softly and closed his eyes for a second to try and understand why would he even agree to such an idea.
Work had always made sense. Work obeyed rules. Work gave results. Not like this morning.
Earlier, at home.
Steam clouded the mirror as Joon-Won tightened his tie, expression unreadable. His wedding ring gleamed faintly in the light, a detail that never escaped his notice, especially when he was already irritable.
From the bedroom, her voice called gently, "Honey?"
He didn't respond immediately. He was trying to will away the small pit of annoyance forming in his chest. He knew exactly what she was about to tell him. And he wasn't prepared.
She appeared in the doorway, already dressed in a flowy beige dress that hugged her frame softly. Her makeup was subtle, her smile delicate, but guarded.
She spoke like she was testing the waters. "So, I told Seo-yeon we'd join them for dinner. At their place." She leans against the doorframe, her gaze not lifting to meet her husbands as she was a bit nervous by his reaction.
His eyes flicked to her reflection behind him in the mirror. "Tonight?" He asked, his tone slightly annoyed but wasn't totally mad since he can see how excited she seems about all this. Even if deep down he didn't want this, he would still do it for the sake of his wife and son.
She nodded, smoothing her dress as if she could ease the tension between them. "The boys are excited. It'll be nice."
He said nothing for a long moment. Jon-won eyes were still on her in the mirror quietly before he finally sighs and turn around to face her with a hand in his pocket.
And then, with the kind of voice that held everything back, he husked out a simple response. "Fine."
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Back at work.
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Join-won has been working none stop from the second he stepped a foot inside work today, he didn't want any extra work to be left behind. Especially since he was going to leave earlier than he usually does. He didn't even greet the staff like he usually does.
Going from business meetings, doing paperwork to taking calls, he worked with a frown all morning and no one dared even enter his office when they sensed the foul mood he's in.
After what seemed like forever, he placed his pen down after finishing his last call of the day and checked his watch one last time. The clock now read 4:16 p.m. Joon-Won stood, buttoning his jacket again before walking out of the glass conference room with his usual calm intensity.
"Clear the rest of my evening. Family obligation." He told his assistant as he walked past her. His tone was calm and dry.
Her brows raised, but she said nothing. After all, No one questioned Joon-Won. But she knew something was up today.
Once he got home, Joon-won walked inside the bedroom to see his wife standing by the mirror freshening up her make up from earlier this morning. When she sensed him at the doorway, Ha-eun gave him a warm welcoming smile, she seemed excited as he walks up to her to give her a small peck on the lips before he immediately got in the bathroom to get a quick shower and freshen up. No words were exchanged since they were in a hurry, and he didn't have anything good to say so he kept to himself.
He adjusted the cuffs of his charcoal-gray dress shirt. No tie now, the top buttons left undone, jacket still structured and clean. His slacks clung to his long legs in a way that wasn't accidental. Everything about him was put together.. too put together.
He stared at himself for a second longer in the mirror. Maybe this is what resentment looks like, polished into something presentable.
His wife walked past, spritzing perfume at her neck. The scent was floral and expensive. Her hair curled softly around her shoulders, makeup just the right kind of warm.
Their son came running into the room, tugging at his tiny loafers. "Appa! Are we late?"
He managed a small smile for the boy. "Not yet." He kneeled down to help Eun-woo with his loafers and fixed his hair gently before picking him up with one arm, giving his cheek a soft kiss. "You seem way too excited to meet your friend, hm? Is he nice to you?"
At the mention of his 'friend', Eun-woo immediately smiled big and threw his hands up in his fathers grip, wiggling slightly in clear happiness. "Yes! Min-Jun is the best! He loves to draw with me!"
Joon-woo couldn't help but smile fully now at his son's words, he sighed.. this was going to be okay.. is what he tried to tell himself as he, his wife and his son still in his arms walked out to get seated in the car, ready to drive over the other couples house.
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It was now 7:16 p.m.
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The soft hum of the engine filled the car as they cruised through the quiet residential streets, warm streetlights glowing against the windshield. Their son had finally quieted in the back seat, eyes glued to a tablet with cartoon sound effects kept low. The silence between the adults had settled in comfortably, until Ha- enu broke it first.
"By the way," she said casually, smoothing her dress over her knees, "Seo-yeon's husband—his name's Tae-hyun."
Joon-Won didn't glance her way. "Hm." He hummed as she mentioned this new information, 'Tae-hyun? She said he worked in the same field as me last time but I never heard of his name before.' He thought to himself as he leaned back comfortably in his driver seat.
"He's older than you, I think. Just a few years, not too much." A beat. "Used to run a restaurant downtown before he moved into something more corporate. I think he's in real estate now? Or investments? I didn't ask for the full details."
"Mm," he replied once again, eyes still on the road. He took a slow turn, jaw tighting slightly at the mention of his achievements. "Sounds like he's done a bit of everything." He husked out calmly. His tone seems uninterested, but deep down he was still trying to figure out if he heard that name before.
She chuckled lightly. "Yeah. He's… a bit different from you. More laid-back, rough around the edges, but she says he's good with his hands." She paused for a beat, her eyes glancing over at Joon-woo before she continues in a slight panicky tone. "I-I mean, for home stuff! Like furniture.. He builds their shelves and all.. himself… it's cool.. you know?"
Joon-Won finally gave her a quick glance, one brow raised. "You sound impressed." He mumbled, his gaze lingering on her face for a second too long before he faced the road again.
"I just said it was cool," she said with a soft smile. "It's not a competition." She adds quietly, her gaze shifting to glance outside the window now.
He didn't respond, but his fingers tightened slightly around the wheel. 'I wish I could just turn this car around and go finish my work.' He sighs and lean his head back against the seat to try and calm himself down. Joon-won was clearly getting irritated by this whole situation.
But Ha-eun went on, either oblivious or pretending to be. "Seo-yeon says he doesn't really talk much unless he has to, but he's blunt. She said something like 'he doesn't smile often but when he does, he looks like trouble.'"
That made something twitch at the corner of Joon-Won's mouth. "Charming." 'Why is she even telling me all this about a guy that I'd probably only see once for fuck sake.' He tapped the steering wheel lightly with his index. Getting even more irritated now the more she speaks but he kept it to himself like usual.
"I think you two will get along fine," she added, with a tone that felt hopeful. "Though I guess you're opposites. He's kind of a 'do it his way' guy." She finally turns her face fully to face him, still smiling softly but her gaze was searching her husband. As if trying to read his expressionless face.
Joon-Won exhaled quietly. "Is that right."
She didn't catch the subtle irritation in his tone, or maybe she did and chose to ignore it.
Just as she was about to open her mouth and say something, the GPS announced: You have arrived at your destination.
Joon-won sighs in relief at the interposition of the GPS and he loosens his grip on ghe wheel. As he pulled into the driveway, he said nothing more, but his jaw was clenched just enough to give him away if she would have glanced his way once again.
Already, he didn't like the sound of this man.
Too calm. Too capable. Too liked.
And if there was one thing Joon-Won didn't handle well… it was the idea of another man outmatching him, even before meeting.
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The house was modern. A little too clean — almost sterile, like something fresh out of a magazine spread. Sharp lines. Glass panels. Trimmed hedges that looked manicured by professionals rather than the couple inside.
Joon-Won parked behind the lone car in the driveway without a word.
The sky was clear and the weather was lovely. The warm porch light flickered on automatically as the car door opened.
Their son scrambled out first, practically bouncing with energy. Ha-eun followed, smoothing the back of her dress as she adjusted her earrings, one hand already reaching for her son's. "Remember, be polite. Say thank you, okay?" She whispered to him softly as they started approaching the house.
Joon-Won stepped out last, closing the driver's door with a soft thunk. He adjusted the cuff of his jacket with one hand, then tugged it lightly at the waist to straighten it. The porch light glinted off the wedding band on his finger.. gold, slim, elegant. Quietly binding.
The front door opened before they could knock.
The woman was small in stature, but her energy filled the threshold. Short brown hair framed her cheerful face, her voice warm as she waved them inside.
"You must be Ha-eun husband!" she beamed, stepping forward. "I'm Seo-yeon! come in, come in! We're so glad you could make it."
Ha-eun gave her a familiar smile, and their children were already eyeing each other with excitement. Joon-won was standing behind with a hand in his pocket while the other one resting firmly on his wife's side.
And then, he appeared.
Stepping into the frame like something timed too perfectly to be coincidence.
He was taller than expected. But not taller than joon-won at least. Broad. Yet somehow small. Imposing without trying to be.
Black shirt, open at the collar just enough to hint at the build beneath, sleeves casually rolled, forearms corded and strong. His undercut was styled slicked back, but it was the kind of slick that came undone deliberately, loose strands falling into his eyes, like they belonged there. A contradiction, messy polish.
His face was striking. More striking than any man had a right to be. Pale skin, long lashes, a strong jaw that moved ever so slightly when he pressed his tongue into his cheek. He was beautiful. Joon-won was definitely staring at him for too long, taking in his features.
Then suddenly his gaze shifted when he heard a small voice coming from behind Tae-hyun, dropping down by his legs, His son peeked out from behind his legs, a smaller version of him, hair tousled, wide-eyed and quiet. 'So this is Min-jun.. he's actually super cute.' Joon-won couldn't help his lip curving up slightly at the sight but it dropped as fast as it appeared before his eyes shift back up at the guy staring at him still. And so he held the eye contact just as strongly.
But it was his eyes that locked with Joon-Won's. Not a smile. Not a nod.
Just a long, slow stare.
Dark, sharp, and unreadable.
Joon-Won's spine went taut. But his own gaze was the same. Sharp and confident.
Seo-yeon didn't notice. She turned to her husband, already introducing him. "Tae-hyun, this is Ha-eun husband.. Joon-Won."
The man stepped forward.
The space between them felt heavier with every inch closed. He offered his hand without a smile.
"Nice to meet you," Tae-hyun said. His voice was lower than expected. Smooth, but with an edge that made it sound more intimate than polite. Making joon-won stare at him quietly for a second. He did not expect his voice to sound this way. Yet it suited him.
Joon-Won met the hand, firm and confident. His own grip was steady, practiced, but he noticed the slight squeeze. A fraction longer than necessary. A silent statement.
Something territorial.
Tae-hyun tilted his head slightly, gaze flicking down and up again. "My wife's been talking about you a lot lately." He said, in that same tone.
Joon-Won raised a brow, only barely. "Yeah?" He husked out, his voice taking on a slightly deeper tone as he stares at him with slight curiosity. He kept a firm grip on his hand as they speak still, not letting it go just yet.
"Mm." Tae-hyun's smile was subtle, if it could be called that at all. "She says your son's bright. Your wife mentioned how disciplined you are. Organized. A little… intense." He tilted his head slightly as he eyes joon-won down until his gaze fell onto their still locked hands, he then gave it one last firm squeeze before letting go to slide his hand into his pocket.
Ha-eun gave a short laugh when she heard tae-hyun say that and turned to face her husband with a smile. "That sounds about right."
Tae-hyun looked at her, then back at Joon-Won. He was way too focused on joon-won that he pushed further. "She said you're in corporate law." He's clearly trying to confirm what his wife has told him and it shows.
"That's right," Joon-Won replied coolly. "And you?"
"Real estate investment. Mostly private deals. I keep things… flexible."
Their conversation stopped there with them just standing at the door way, a few feet away from each other with their eyes locked in an intense silence. Even though they've just met, it's clear that there's a mutual understanding that both of them wasn't very found of each other.
Then suddenly Seo-yeon chirped, breaking the intense silence and stare down between the two guys, "Let's not just stand at the door! Come in! the kids can go play in the den."
Joon-Won followed the others inside, but as he stepped past Tae-hyun, he felt the man's gaze still on his back.. dragging slow, deliberate.
He didn't need to turn to know it.
He could feel it.
Like a hand just hovering, never quite touching.
'This man's not what I've expected..' He thought as he glanced back at him and their gaze met again.
'And I don't like not knowing what that means yet.'