Stage of Humiliation: The Depths
She can't think of anything anymore. Like a machine, she simply repeats the humiliating movements until the music ends.
Especially when she turns her back to the men, places her hands on the floor, and shakes her hips—that choreography pierces her pride like a dagger with the satisfied groans coming from behind her.
When the music finally stops, Seoyeon freezes, panting and staring at the floor. From behind her comes satisfied applause, along with crude praise like, "As expected from Ciel!" and "Eyes are feasting today."
She can't return to her seat. Covered in sweat and shame, she lacks the courage to lift her head.
"Sister-in-law, good work. Come sit here."
At the Chairman's voice, Seoyeon forces herself to stand and returns to her original spot. The moment she sits, Park refills her glass to the brim.
"Excuse me... I need to use the restroom."
Unable to endure any longer, Seoyeon rises from her seat. No one stops her.
The moment she enters the cold marble restroom, she locks the door and collapses in front of the sink. The tears she's been holding back burst forth. Grief, pain, and self-loathing mix together, making it hard to breathe. But she doesn't cry out loud. She bites her lip and swallows her sobs.
She can't break down here. For her husband's sake, she must endure all of this.
She washes her face with cold water and fixes her smudged makeup. In the mirror stands 'Ciel' once more—her perfect face devoid of emotion.
When Seoyeon returns, the atmosphere has grown even more depraved. Since her dance, the executives treat her like a bar hostess. They force drinks on her and grope her openly.
The Chairman, pretending to be drunk, pulls her close beside him. He chats about company matters with the other executives above the table, but below it, his hand slips under her dress hem, kneading her thigh.
Seoyeon stiffens like ice but can't push his hand away. He even grabs her hand holding the glass, brings it to his mouth, and licks the liquor from her fingers. Each time, vulgar laughter erupts in the room.
Hours pass. Seoyeon and the executives are all quite drunk. Amid her haze, Seoyeon steels herself, thinking this is her last chance, and speaks up.
"Chairman... so... about my husband's matter..."
Before she finishes, the Chairman gives a lukewarm response.
"Ah, that thing... It'll work out fine."
Refusing to give up, Seoyeon presses on. Park chimes in as if supporting her.
"Chairman, still, our Kim has done well this time..."
"Quiet."
The Chairman cuts him off and holds out his glass. Park immediately signals Seoyeon with his eyes.
"Sister-in-law, the Chairman's glass is empty. Pour him one."
As Seoyeon pours with trembling hands and tries to bring up her husband again, the Chairman shows clear annoyance.
"Don't you know I hate business talk when I'm drinking?"
The mood chills. Park lightly scolds her in a joking tone.
"Come on, sister-in-law! When you're asking the Chairman for a favor, you don't serve it in a tiny glass like that!"
Seoyeon looks at him, confused. Park approaches, saying, "Good liquor deserves a good glass," and whispers something very quietly—but clearly—into her ear.
Seoyeon's body freezes at the whisper. Her mind goes blank, her heart like ice. Rage and shame make her tremble all over.
Just then, the Chairman leans forward slightly, hand on the sofa armrest. His hips lift 2cm off the cushion, on the verge of standing.
"Sitting so long has worn me out. Time to head out. Your husband's matter... it'll be decided in the internal meeting."
It's all over. If he stands fully, her husband...
In that instant, Seoyeon grabs her glass and downs the remaining liquor. The strong whiskey fills her mouth. Without hesitation, she slips into the narrow space between the sofa and table. Right in front of the rising Chairman, she quietly kneels by his knee.
Surprised by her unexpected action, the Chairman settles his hips back onto the sofa and looks down at her curiously.
Seoyeon says nothing. She gently cups his face with both hands. Her cold, liquor-warmed palms touch his cheeks, narrowing his eyes.
Slowly, so very slowly, she turns his face toward her. She brings her own face right above his. Her scent—sweat and perfume mingled—brushes his nose.
She tilts her head slightly. Her red-lipsticked lips part, and a thin golden stream begins to flow from the liquor she's held in her mouth.
The whiskey follows gravity, dripping precisely from her moist lower lip into his parted lips. Like a sweet, sticky bridge connecting the precarious space between her lips and his.
All noise in the room stops. Only the faint drip of liquor and the men's ragged breaths fill the air.
Park watches the scene, hiding a satisfied smile.
Seoyeon pours the last of her pride—and her husband's fate—into his mouth, then slowly pulls back. Leftover liquor glistens on her lips.
The Chairman licks his lips in satisfaction and leans back deeply into the sofa. Seoyeon can't lift her head in shame, but he pulls her waist and seats her beside him again.
After that, his hand no longer hesitates. Above the table, he converses politely with the executives, but below, he openly kneads her thigh. As his fingers crawl over the soft silk dress, Seoyeon stiffens but can't move a muscle.
Moments later, his hand slides to her back, gripping her ass firmly, or wraps around her shoulders, holding her almost in his embrace as he enjoys the drinks.
Seoyeon sits like a soulless doll, enduring it all.
How much time passes? She musters her final courage.
"Chairman... so, about my husband..."
Only then does the Chairman nod with a satisfied smile.
"Kim Cheolsu, was it? Don't worry. I can't make Ciel sad. Haha."
At his permission-like words, Park jumps in exaggeratedly.
"Thank you so much, Chairman! Kim Cheolsu is a subordinate I truly value! May I offer you a gratitude drink too?"
Park approaches the Chairman and Seoyeon, who's pressed close on his left.
Suddenly grabbing her shoulder, he says, "Sister-in-law, what are you doing?"
Seoyeon startles and looks at him. "The Chairman's getting a drink, right? Give me your glass," Park says, then lightly grips her chin and tilts it up. He tilts the whiskey bottle over her mouth.
Seoyeon realizes his intent. Shocking and repulsive, but it happens so fast she unwittingly parts her lips. The golden liquid flows into her mouth.
"Here, Chairman, have some."
Park says. Seoyeon tries to let the liquor drip from a slight distance, like before. But this time is different.
"Even if money's no object, wasting good liquor is a shame."
The Chairman murmurs lowly, grabs the back of her neck firmly with one hand, and pulls her in for a kiss.
"Mmph...!"
Seoyeon widens her eyes in shock but can't break free under his strength. With the hot, wet sensation, the liquor in her mouth transfers entirely to his.
As it's nearly all gone and she tries to pull away, his tongue thrusts roughly into her mouth. It ravages every corner, sloppily licks her tongue, then sucks it hard once before slowly releasing her lips.
Seoyeon is utterly shocked and furious, but reminding herself it's all for her husband, she forces down her expression and pulls her twitching lips into a strained smile.
The Chairman rises with a satisfied face.
"I've felt Ciel's sincerity well, so don't worry too much about your husband! Time for me to go."
The executives rise with him. Park and Seoyeon bow their heads until they leave the room.
Once the executives are gone, only Park and Seoyeon remain, seeing them off at the door to the end.
Park turns, grinning lewdly as if everything went according to plan.
"Glad it worked out."
Instead of replying, Seoyeon glares at him with eyes full of contempt and hatred. Without a word, she turns and leaves the bar, brushing past him.
On the taxi ride home, her tightly pressed lips tremble.
Watching her retreating figure, Park laughs contentedly in the darkness.