Possessive Golden Eyes
A smile entirely different from any she had shown before bloomed across Sua’s face.
“Tezman.”
Her voice brimmed with unmistakable delight. As Sua rose from her seat, Taein stood up as well, though far more awkwardly. There was no reason he would feel the same joy at the man’s arrival.
“Hel—”
“Sua.”
Before Taein could finish his greeting, Tezman called her name and stepped directly in front of her.
“You must have had fun. Coming only now for dinner.”
He leaned down and kissed her forehead with natural ease, one arm sliding around her waist to draw her close. The gesture alone was shocking enough, yet what truly stunned Taein was something else: the way Sua accepted his affection as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
“Ah, walking around Rome was just so much fun that…”
“If I had known how much you enjoyed it, I would have taken you sightseeing sooner.”
“Let’s go together next time. There’s still so much I haven’t seen.”
“Alright.”
The loving gaze Tezman had been pouring over Sua shifted slowly toward the man standing before them.
“Ah. So this is the friend you spoke of.”
“Taein doesn’t speak Italian well.”
“Then you can interpret for him, Sua.”
Taein was tall, but Tezman stood a full head taller. His shoulders and overall frame were superior in every way. Yet what pressed down on Taein most heavily were those eyes. The instant their gazes met, he felt it—the golden irises gleaming like a predator baring its fangs.
It didn’t take long for him to realize those fangs were aimed at him because of Sua. He could see the deliberate tightening of the hand around her waist, a silent declaration of ownership.
“I heard the story.”
The heated passion that had filled his eyes when looking at Sua vanished without a trace. The gaze now fixed on Taein had turned chillingly cold. With an impeccably businesslike smile, Tezman extended his hand.
“Tezman von Pavard.”
Taein might not know much Italian, but he caught the name clearly. Tezman von Pavard. The surname Pavard definitely sounded familiar. If he had a moment longer to search his memory, it might surface, but there was no time. Taein took the offered hand lightly and replied in awkward Italian.
“Hello. I’m Park Taein.”
It was only a light handshake, yet instinct told him everything. The man standing beside Sua was no ordinary person. The pressure against his palm alone confirmed it.
Perhaps it came from years spent facing vicious criminals as a narcotics detective. Taein had developed a keen eye for such things. He could usually size a man up quickly—determine whether he was truly dangerous or not.
But with Tezman, he could not get a read. What was certain was that this man carried an aura completely unlike anyone he had ever encountered before. An untouchable, overwhelming presence.
Taein swallowed dryly. Noticing his tension, Tezman let out a soft, amused chuckle.
“So, did you enjoy your time with our Sua?”
“He’s asking if you had a good time,” Sua translated.
Taein nodded.
“Yes. It seems Sua prepared quite a lot. We had a wonderful time catching up on old memories after so long.”
“They talked about old memories and had a good time,” she relayed.
“Then I’m glad.”
Tezman pulled out a chair for Sua and waited until she sat before taking the empty seat beside her. He gestured for Taein to sit as well. Though the motion was polite, to Taein it felt nothing but arrogant.
“You haven’t eaten yet, I understand.”
“Ah, yes. We arrived at the restaurant rather late.”
“You must be hungry.”
His eyes never left Sua as he raised a hand. A waiter appeared almost instantly, as if he had been waiting for the signal.
“Serve the meal. Now.”
“Yes, right away, sir.”
Tezman did not spare the nervously retreating waiter so much as a glance. His attention remained fixed solely on Sua.
Once the food arrived, Taein and Sua began to eat, but Tezman never set down the wine glass in his hand.
“Tezman, you should eat.”
“I’m full just looking at you.”
“...Really…”
Such blatant affection should have grown familiar by now, yet Sua still could not adjust to it. Seeing her blush at his words, Taein’s expression hardened further with every passing second.
He had learned Italian in an intensive crash course, but it was barely enough for basic travel phrases. He wondered what exactly had been said to make her face turn that shade of red. On second thought, perhaps it was better he didn’t know. He might not be able to remain seated if he heard it.
Simply watching the way Sua and Tezman looked at each other in front of him was already filling Taein with a continuous wave of defeat.
“Sua.”
Taein set down his fork. Both of their gazes turned to him at once.
“May I ask what she liked about you? I’m curious how you managed to change the heart of someone who was practically a nun.”
Sua looked flustered by the question.
“Taein…”
“Ask for me. I’m curious. I also want to know whether he’s someone who can truly cherish you.”
From the atmosphere alone, Tezman seemed to sense that the question concerned him.
“Sua, interpret.”
“Well…”
After a brief hesitation, Sua continued.
“Tezman says he’s curious what I liked about him. And how he changed my mind about becoming a nun…”
“Ah.”
A sigh-like sound escaped his lips.
“I knew it from our very first meeting. That I would fall at Sua’s feet like a dog in heat.”
“...Pardon?”
“She’s the first woman who’s ever made me lose control like that.”
The explicit words left Sua unable to translate them. Tezman smiled, clearly finding her hesitation adorable.
“So tell your friend this: from the moment we met, my mind has been consumed by thoughts of Sua and nothing else. That’s why…”
His gaze lingered on her a moment longer before sliding slowly toward Taein.
“I corrupted her.”
Because corruption was the only way to keep her by his side.
Unable to bring herself to translate, Sua could only blink. Taein urged her gently.
“Sua. Translate it for me.”
“Ah… it’s that…”
As she struggled, Tezman gently stroked the back of her hand.
“Tell him exactly what I said.”
She swallowed hard. Choosing her words with the utmost care, Sua finally spoke.
“He said he liked me from the first time we met. So he hoped that I would choose him.”
“That doesn’t sound like everything he said.”
“It’s something like that. Just…”
Watching the two of them, Tezman took out his phone. His long fingers moved across the screen a few times before he held it up toward Taein. The display showed text translated from Italian into Korean.
I plan to keep her by my side for the rest of my life. I’m quite persistent, you see. Once something catches my interest, I never tire of it.
After Taein finished reading, his eyes clearly shaken, Tezman withdrew the phone.
“Hm? Tezman, what did you show him?”
“Just a simple Korean greeting. I thanked him for spending time with you today.”
His gaze returned to Taein once more. The tightly clenched jaw suggested the man was holding something back. A faint sneer curved Tezman’s lips.
The meal ended shortly afterward. Taein claimed he was full and ate no more, while Sua, exhausted from wandering all day, seemed to have lost her appetite as well.
When the final desserts arrived—sweet and tempting—Sua ate them with visible pleasure. Tezman immediately instructed the staff to prepare fresh portions of everything she had enjoyed and pack them to go.
The three rose from the table. Seeing him naturally wrap an arm around Sua’s waist, Taein’s expression darkened. The dinner that might have been romantic between just the two of them had been cut short by Tezman’s arrival. They had barely shared any old memories, let alone deeper emotions.
Turning to Taein, who wore a bitter look, Tezman spoke.
“I’ll give you a ride to your hotel.”
Taein’s eyes widened in surprise. The words were in English, not Italian. If only he had used English from the beginning, everything would have been far easier. Taein had studied and used English constantly for international investigations, so there was no problem communicating.
“You speak English?”
Tezman nodded at the question asked in English.
“Knowing several languages is essential when doing business.”
“...You’re in business?”
“If that’s what you wish to call it.”
He tilted his head slightly and gave a small laugh.
“Let’s say I handle the financial side.”
Financial side. That explained the wealth. Taein’s lips, which had been pressed into a thin line, finally parted.
“Please take good care of Sua. She’s incredibly innocent and knows nothing about men…”
“Ah.”
A derisive snort escaped Tezman. The way Taein spoke as if he had some claim over Sua grated on his nerves.
“It’s good that she knows nothing about men. Our Sua only needs to know me.”
Tezman lazily lifted his eyelids, his gaze sharpening as it lowered.
“I hope she continues to know nothing.”
Taein saw it then—the possessive fire burning in those golden eyes.
“I’ll take care of our Sua myself.”
If those languid words sounded like a threat, it was no illusion.
“You can ride in the car behind us. My employee will escort you to the hotel entrance.”
“No, thank you. I think a walk would be better for my digestion.”
After politely declining Tezman’s offer, Taein turned to Sua.
“Sua. I really enjoyed today.”
“I’m glad. I had fun too.”
“Can we meet one more time before I leave? Just a simple lunch.”
“Yes. I’d like that.”
“I’ll contact you.”
Sua nodded and waved. Tezman took her hand and opened the rear door of the car. After helping her inside first, he turned only his head to stare at Taein.
“Safe travels, then.”
The coldly ringing word “safe” left an extremely unpleasant taste in Taein’s mouth. The car carrying Sua and Tezman pulled away. Taein remained rooted in place until it disappeared completely from sight.
“Ha.”
Only when he was finally alone did Taein release the heavy sigh he had been holding in all day long.