Deal Breaker

Second Time at Dubai

(Six years later…)

In the party hall, surrounded on all sides by glass windows overlooking a dazzling night view, the sounds of laughter mingled with the constant hum of unfamiliar chatter—weng-al weng-al, shush-shush. For Hyeji, who knew only Korean and the kind of English taught in Korean public schools, the foreign languages spoken by the international guests all sounded like weng-al weng-al, shush-shush.

This was Dubai. And not just anywhere in Dubai, but the very top floor of the world’s tallest building.

This was the hotel that always appeared in those internet articles titled, ‘Must-Visit Hotels Before You Die’. Hyeji, having actually made it here before dying, had only one thought.

I just want to go back to my room.

All she wanted was to eat the cup noodles she’d brought from Korea and finish watching the drama she’d left off on. Of all scenes, she’d had to stop right at the best face-slapping moment.

This party was a New Year’s celebration thrown by some Russian natural gas tycoon who had rented out an entire luxury hotel in Dubai. It was an impressive event to be invited to, but she felt no excitement.

After working with Kanghyeon for almost six years, not much surprised her anymore, but more than that, about eighty percent of her lack of interest was because this was still work.

In truth, that Russian tycoon had never invited Han Kanghyeon, CEO of Acton Security, nor his secretary Noh Hyeji. Here, the boss and his subordinate were passing as a Korean IT businessman and his model girlfriend.

<Yuna, is this your first visit to Dubai?>

“No, it’s my second time.”

Well, she could though?

<Oh, I see. I wish I spoke Korean.>

Luckily, you don’t.

Hyeji understood everything Kanghyeon and the elderly man were saying. Still, she widened her eyes and pretended to be lost, acting like she didn’t understand a thing.

She didn’t want to open her mouth and risk a slip of the tongue. If she ruined the mission, the British Intelligence Service might cut their generous fee, and the only ‘taste’ she’d have left would be cup noodles soaked in tears.

On top of that, the CEO had promised to give her more hazard pay than usual.

Kanghyeon had specified the extra hazard pay not as a fixed amount but as a percentage. When it came to money, he was just as meticulous as Hyeji.

<We’re currently developing multi-purpose diagnostic solutions based on ML…>

A moment came when she didn’t even need to pretend not to understand. They’d started talking shop, and she truly had no idea what they were saying. Even if it were in Korean, Hyeji was sure she wouldn’t get it.

He was a CEO of a private military company, not an IT specialist. The CEO had slept the whole flight to Dubai, so when did he have time to study up on this? Yet his words flowed smoothly, and his face was full of easy confidence.

While staring up at the tall man beside her, a waiter approached with a tray and offered her a glass of champagne. She looked around and saw everyone was trading in their half-finished glasses for new ones filled to the brim.

It meant midnight was near.

<Three, two, one, zero!>

Everyone joined in the countdown started by someone, and just as it hit zero, a thunderous boom like cannon fire rang out through the hall, and fireworks shot up like fountains from the building’s exterior.

People clinked champagne glasses as they watched fireworks bursting all over the city, and soon, they started clinking lips as well. The investor who’d been talking to Kanghyeon kissed his wife right in front of Hyeji’s wide-open eyes.

Oh, mother.

Not that her mom was there, but calling out for her at her age, what good would that do? In her surprise, she found herself looking for her mother. As she did, the hand that had been wrapped around her waist slid upward. When her boss’s hand settled on her shoulder, Hyeji’s gaze tilted sideways.

…Don’t tell me, us too? Is kissing part of the job description?

She looked at her boss, who wore a mischievous smile, asking with her eyes. He answered with his body, pulling her into his chest and lowering his head toward her.

The subtle scent of aftershave, not overwhelming but just present enough, prickled at her senses. His face, which today seemed even more intellectual than usual, drew far closer than the professional boundary should allow.

…Is this for real?

No, it wasn’t.

Just when she thought he was going for her lips and tensed up, Kanghyeon’s lips landed at her ear.

“Secretary Noh, may you get lots of money this New Year.”

May you get lots of money. It was the best New Year’s wish she could imagine.

Hyeji the monk looks so flustered. You’ll sleep with me but won’t kiss?

It always started off nice but ended this way. Her boss just had to add a comment that spoiled the heartwarming moment. Hyeji ignored the words he’d playfully slipped into her head and replied only to what he’d whispered directly in her ear.

“I’ll take that as a verbal contract for a raise.”

“Greedy monk.”

It wasn’t even surprising anymore that the ever-calm ‘Hyeji the monk’ turned into a money-hungry ‘greedy monk’ whenever she was around this man.