004. Taming (5)
People's hearts sway like reeds. Han Yu-ra knew that all too well. She'd felt it back in university, and even more intensely once she dove into business. She'd experienced her heart stopping and then racing again at a single word from investors. She'd lost faith forever in an employee she'd once trusted like a colleague, and she'd ended up sharing her body with a man she'd dismissed as incompetent.
I never saw this coming.
Of course not. Han Yu-ra lay on the white bed, holding Im Seong-u's body close for a long, long time. His skin felt a touch feverish, and he shifted as if to pull away, but she was savoring this moment too much to let go.
You're on the warmer side too, huh.
His body heat was pleasantly toasty. They said people with fiery hearts had cold hands—was that true? His actions sometimes suggested as much.
And so firm.
Her own body stayed soft even after long workouts, but his felt like it would sharpen into angles with just a little exercise. Experiencing that difference for the first time, Han Yu-ra found a man's body endlessly fascinating.
And sometimes, he says the kindest things.
Im Seong-u wasn't the warm type on the whole. Most of the time, he was cold, using her like a tool for his lust without hesitation—in fact, he seemed to enjoy it.
Even too much, sometimes.
And come morning, he'd draw a cold line: not his girlfriend, stay away. What they had was just sex. His whole body screamed it.
Han Yu-ra didn't want to live with a man like that. A little chill was fine, but only in bed. In that, Im Seong-u fell short.
But today, he'd shown a different side.
"Yu-ra. That was rude. What they did to you was rude."
Im Seong-u had taken her side. Having someone in your corner— for Han Yu-ra, it was a sensation she hadn't felt in ages.
Yu-ra had always been forced to shoulder every responsibility alone. It had gotten worse since starting the business. Startup seminars hammered it home, self-help books from her reapplication year did the same, and even the investors.
She got the subtext.
It's easier to manipulate me that way.
But today, Im Seong-u had wrapped her in protection. And unexpectedly, it felt profoundly special. Like rain falling on parched desert. Her self-esteem soothed, joy blooming as his cake-sweet words warmed her chest.
And that was just the start. Im Seong-u was surprisingly good at comfort.
"Rest."
No one had ever said that to her before. Investors called anytime—weekends, holidays, dead of night—demanding whatever they wanted because they'd shelled out ten billion won. Her employees couldn't care less about her work-life balance.
But Im Seong-u?
"Rest. You're human too. Saying you don't need a break is just arrogance."
Words that gained him nothing, yet he'd said them for her sake. Thinking back now, even nestled against him, tears pricked her eyes again.
Your words... they're too sweet.
They were huge. Open Beta had been hell for her—a nonstop squeeze on her heart, forcing her to push relentlessly with razor-sharp edges.
But one sentence from him changed everything.
"You're getting chewed out anyway."
He was right. Perfect Open Beta was impossible from the start. Might as well write the apology and move on—suddenly, Open Beta felt like the freest time. Like kids ditching studying and reveling during exams.
God, this makes me an investment scammer.
Stockholm syndrome. Had to be.
Im Seong-u's method was whip and carrot. Guilt her into submission, ravage her roughly, then stroke her hair. Use her like a slave or bitch, then cradle her tenderly. Why did that make her dependency grow each time? Why did a scolding make her heart race, and his embrace shatter her resolve?
I'm turning into your slave. Can't live without you.
Han Yu-ra felt herself being tamed, bit by bit. And why? Why did he want her like this?
Smiling, she spoke to Im Seong-u. She couldn't see his face from this angle, but he had to be relaxed too.
"Being held like this feels so secure."
"...Yu-ra."
He started to say something, but she nuzzled his chest.
"Seong-u. No, Master..."
She bared her heart.
"Can we stay like this just a little longer?"
Calling him Master made his heart—and body heat—pulse with pleasure. She hadn't seen his face, but it showed.
Cute.
A small ripple spread in Han Yu-ra's heart. Who knew if it'd lead to dating, but right now, she was content.
......
"I'll do what you said."
Han Yu-ra spoke up.
"I'll text that I'm too sick to come in today."
What shift in her heart had brought this? Wiping away teary eyes, she finally peeled herself off him after a few minutes. His chest was slick with sweat.
She grabbed her phone and sent the message. As expected, the employees barely reacted—hell, they seemed pleased.
They'll clock out first, no doubt.
Salary thieves.
"Thank you."
"..."
"For comforting me."
Bathed in sunlight, Han Yu-ra smiled—a radiant grin free of indigestion and stress. Not CEO Han Yu-ra, just one happy person. It was the kind of smile you'd want to capture forever.
She's pretty.
I realized it anew. Not sexually—just plainly, in everyday terms.
Han Yu-ra leaned her head on my shoulder.
"Seong-u."
"Yeah?"
Then it came—a total gut punch from her lips. The question I least wanted to face.
"Me, for real—even if it's later. Could I never be your girlfriend? Tell me straight."
Her words were a question. Maybe laced with hope.
Out of nowhere...
Sudden, but I thought about Han Yu-ra.
The Han Yu-ra who'd hounded me. Throwing file binders at me after all-nighters, forcing overtime on "family," brushing off hazard pay with stock option promises.
I hated her.
The calculating Han Yu-ra. She'd reamed me out for work, tormented me for work, even given up her virginity for work.
I hated her.
The partner Han Yu-ra. Thrilled when I was rough, desperately seeking cuddles and comfort. Acting like she needed no love while thirstier than anyone, always watching for cues.
I wanted to ■■ her.
That's who she was. Seeing her dredged up painful memories.
Do you know?
Once, we camped at the office for three days straight. My head throbbed even at rest, heart pounding. Emotionally wrecked, I craved love like anyone. I've worked so hard—praise me. At least treat me humanely... A child's plea I couldn't shake even as an adult.
But her response scarred me for life.
"Seong-u, if you're gonna sleep, go home."
That look. Choosing suspicion over understanding my all-nighter's output.
Sleepless for days, yet sleep evaded me that night too. Rage.
You shouldn't have done that. Anyone but you—I needed you to see me.
If I hated someone, it was her more than Kim A-ram. A-ram was laughable; Han Yu-ra turned me deadly serious. You above all—you have to suffer.
So I couldn't picture marrying her, loving her. She'd always prioritize business, ready to ditch me. I was too weak to pour my soul into love, betrayal be damned. A prickly cactus now—hard to trust or hold anyone.
"Yu-ra."
"...Yeah?"
I spoke truth.
"I don't want a real relationship."
Maybe my complex. No rebuttal if called pathetic—I had none.
But love terrified me. Could I survive a long relationship's end? Marriage too—divorce, asset splits... chills down my spine. Losing hard-earned cash. Becoming a balloon hubby haunting international marriage forums for a Ukrainian bride? Terrifying.
Love scared me. If my love said, "Work matters more than you," it'd shatter me. Boozing at noraebang, wailing breakup songs—that inevitable loser? No thanks.
So no love.
"I don't want deep ties. Or settling down."
Deep down, I craved it most. I knew that.
I expected hurt, but she smiled like she understood.
"Oh, wanna play the field? Heh. You'll blackmail other employees too?"
"..."
I grinned, closing in. She turned away; I hugged from behind, grabbing one breast.
"Eek...!"
Sensitive Yu-ra let out a breathy hiss, shoulders tensing. But she didn't hate it. Held from behind, she relaxed, resting her head on my neck. Her hazy upward gaze was perfect.
I whispered in her ear.
"None of your business."
"Haa... So, Master okay with that? If I play around?"
"Not you."
If I cheat, you can't dodge~ Baby~
Trash song, no doubt. Han Yu-ra glared with axe eyes—unfair, her look said. Kneading harder, her face melted into lewd ripeness, honest as ever.
"Haa... Hng... Hate it. I'm serious! Hnng... Celibacy for a guy who'd never fuck me lifelong? No way..."
"Not celibacy technically. We'll keep fucking."
"Hate it..."
She said to me, tears glistening. Truly sad.
"I don't... want that."
"..."
Strange mood. Fondling her breast, yet melancholy. Unless mastectomy, impossible.
"At least set a time limit."
Yeah. You haven't sinned that bad.
My mastery over her wouldn't last anyway. A year tops. By then, exit or expansion; I'd get programmer underlings. Blackmail over.
I told her.
"One year."
"..."
"Be my slave for exactly one year."
"Then...?"
"Then our deal ends. I'll retire. Sick of even the 'R' in Railroad Software."
Her face foxed sly—half-lidded, annoying.
Shit. Played?
Never let guard down.
"Hehe. Bet you won't get attached?"
The woman who'd overtime'd me said that.
No dating overtime queens. Ever.
Who dates anymore? Rich folks chase free lives.
"Don't confess later."
We giggled. Me hugging her from behind—hearts pounding clear as day.