When The Phone Rings

Chapter 31

The other interviewers showed little interest in Hong Heeju's ability to speak, but Baek Sa-eon was the one who kept nitpicking.

After all, all she had to do was shut Baek Sa-eon up, right?

Hong Heeju's eyes shifted slightly before she signed with a bright expression: "If you hire me, I'll research even more passionately!

Baek Sa-eon rested his chin on his hand, covering the lower half of his face with his palm.

Does he think I'm too arrogant? She wondered, noticing the subtle wrinkle between his eyebrows. But when he sat upright again, his expression returned to its usual aloofness.

"Let's do it this way. I'll prepare a script you've never seen before and read it out loud. Can you interpret it on the spot?"

"Yes...!

"Well, your confidence is impressive."

A subtle smile played on his lips.

Heeju slowly unclasped her clenched hands and focused her gaze on him. She pushed all thoughts aside - her husband, the threats - everything. Only her goal existed.

Her life may have been one of constant submission, but if there was one thing she could be proud of, it was her detailed observation of Baek Sa-eon.

Sa-eon's voice, his expressions... Even the smallest gestures were enough for Heeju to know his state of mind. Unable to approach him directly, she had collected and hoarded every little piece of him she could find.

Through constant imitation and practice, she could even decipher the difference in his breathing. Coincidentally, the same dedication kept her from falling apart.

Her deep, shining eyes were fixed on the man before her.

"..."

"..."

Their gazes intertwined like sparks.

"Then let's begin."

The moment his voice - so close and yet forever out of reach - marked the beginning, Heeju forgot that this was a recruitment interview.

This interview simply became... the confirmation of her endurance and perseverance.

Soon Sa-eon's steady and precise pronunciation filled the room.

"Couples' Day is a legal holiday established to remind people of the importance of marital relationships and to encourage the building of harmonious families."

Baek Sa-eon, still making direct eye contact with Heeju, continued speaking spontaneously. And without taking her eyes off his face, Heeju's hands danced fluidly in response.

"Here is a married couple."

Here is a married couple.

As his words flowed, Heeju's hands immediately followed.

"This couple has been together for a long time, but harbours untold secrets."

Sa-eon's sharp eyes narrowed slightly as he continued.

"They decided to revise their 'Ten Commandments for Couples' together to celebrate the holiday."

Heeju conveyed the words with ease. Her heart kept racing as she wanted to express it even more beautifully.

Her eyes grew more and more ambitious.

She wanted to emulate this indestructible man and reach his level. Weakness, after all, instinctively seeks firm roots to cling to.

But then...

"One, complained incessantly about work."

What?

Her hands faltered for a moment, but quickly found their rhythm.

"Two, screamed while speaking."

"..."

"Three, comparing your partner with others while speaking."

"..."

"Four, to be stubborn while speaking."

Heeju's expression became more and more strange.

"Five, whining while speaking."

"..."

"Six, throwing tantrums while speaking..."

Baek Sa-eon's voice stopped abruptly.

"I'll take a hundred more calls if I have to."

Baek Sa-eon sighed and loosened his tie.

The whole time during the interview he felt as if something was strangling him.

Heeju's hands had moved like a graceful dance from across the room, so what on earth was choking him?

"I'll leave them alone for now," he muttered.

His gaze, fixed on the overcast sky outside, grew dark and thoughtful.

"I can't let her feel cornered enough to run away."

***

The interview was finally over. Heeju had dinner with the director before going home. And immediately collapsed on the bed.

When she woke up, it was almost 10 pm.

"Haah..."

Though she had handled the absurd questions with finesse, the blackmailer still hadn't reached out to her.

Just then, the door lock beeped and the sound of it unlocking echoed through the apartment.

"...!"

There were ten minutes left on the call! Why is he home so early today?

The person who wasn't supposed to be home had returned. The man who was supposed to be at the office to take the blackmailer's call had unexpectedly turned up.

Wait a minute...! Can I make the threat under the same roof? Won't he hear me? How good is the soundproofing in the rooms?

A wave of panic swept through her.

With a pale expression on her face, Heeju hurried to her room, grabbed the timer, the burner phone for the negotiations and the haphazardly scribbled notes on her desk and shoved them into her bag. She took a deep breath, steadied herself and walked out with a calm demeanour.

"It's so late... where are you going?"

"...!"

Her eyes met Baek Sa-eon's as he walked towards her, briefcase in hand. He glanced at her outfit and raised an eyebrow in question.

Busted.

Heeju quickly looked away, pointed vaguely towards the front door and mumbled 'supermarket'.

With a slight bow, she began to walk briskly.

But before she could escape -

"...!"

Sa-eon caught her by the strap of her bag. The leather strap slipped off her shoulder and the hastily packed items spilled out.

Clucking his tongue in irritation, Sa-eon crouched down to pick up the fallen items. In the process, the timer was accidentally activated.

"...Hong Heeju, what is this?"

Sa-eon stopped in his tracks, his gaze turning cold as he inspected the mess. His voice carried a chilling tone that made Heeju freeze in turn.

Did he recognise the timer?

In a state of panic, she quickly deactivated the beeping timer and stuffed the burner phone back into her bag.

Am I lost?

She closed her eyes tightly. And then his deep voice broke the silence.

"Your Honour, I'm a fr*ak b*tch, handcuffs, leashes..."

"...!"

Sa-eon's gaze lingered on a piece of paper. It contained the lyrics of Kariba that Han Joon, the director of the centre, had given her.