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Even having entered her thirties and attended numerous work-related parties, Seol Yoona had never managed to warm up to this kind of noisy atmosphere. Beneath the dazzling chandeliers lay hollow pleasantries, fake smiles, and countless intertwined schemes of self-interest.
She leaned against a table in the corner, taking small sips of champagne that didn't suit her taste. Her black bodycon dress hugged her slender curves, and her high bun exposed an elegant neck, only adding to her mature, untouchable aura. As a CEO, plenty of people tried to approach her, but most retreated after hitting the wall of her cold indifference.
“There you are, Ms. Yoona.”
A coarse voice reached her ears. Yoona slowly turned her head. Kim Junseong. He was the CEO of one of their rival companies, someone who had always shown an excessive interest in her. His face was flushed, clearly drunk, his brazen gaze sliding from her face down her neck and lingering on her legs.
“Mr. Kim.” Yoona greeted tersely.
“Why are you standing here all alone? Come join the fun.”
He stepped closer, invading her personal space. The pungent smell of alcohol assaulted her senses.
“I'm fine. You should enjoy yourself with the others.”
Yoona tried to take a step back but Kim Junseong was quick to grab her arm.
“Coming to a party just to stand alone is boring. You're always so cold. Lighten up a bit.”
A wave of disgust shot through Yoona from where he held her. She narrowed her eyes, staring fixedly at his hand. “Let go.”
“Don't be so tense. I just wanted to get to know you better.”
“I said, let go.”
Her voice dropped and turned sharp. A few people nearby began to take notice. Kim Junseong hesitated briefly as eyes turned their way, but perhaps emboldened by the alcohol, he still didn't let go, even staggering a step closer.
Just as Yoona was about to use force, someone casually stepped between them.
“Excuse me, coming through.”
Yoona looked up at the owner of that voice. It was a woman of impressive height. Neatly trimmed short hair and a sharp jawline left a strong impression. She wore black trousers and a beige shirt with the top button undone, quite simple compared to others here, but she exuded a very likeable vibe.
The woman skillfully angled herself between them, gently but firmly prying Kim Junseong's hand from Yoona's arm. The move was so fluid it looked like an accident.
“I’m trying to get past. Mind giving me some space?” The woman smiled at Kim Junseong, though her eyes held absolutely no warmth.
Kim Junseong’s face darkened, but in the awkward atmosphere with so many curious eyes watching, a man of his status didn't want to cause a scene. He snorted in annoyance, muttering something before stomping off.
Yoona felt relief as the pressure on her arm disappeared. She looked at the woman who had just helped her.
“Thank you.”
“Not at all.”
The woman turned to look at Yoona. Up close, Yoona could see that her eyes had soft curves, yet her gaze was very clear. “I guessed you were uncomfortable. Are you okay?”
“Yes, thanks to you.” Yoona nodded. Usually, she would just say her thanks and leave, but for some reason, she felt curious. “Are you a guest? I don't think I've seen you before.”
“Oh, no. I'm Oh Haewon’s assistant. I just came by to drop off some documents for her.” The woman replied politely.
Yoona had heard Haewon mention hiring a new assistant but hadn't paid much mind to it. She hadn't expected to meet her like this.
“So you're Haewon's new assistant. I'm Seol Yoona, Haewon's friend.”
The taller girl’s mouth dropped open, her eyes going wide. “Ah, Ms. Seol Yoona! Haewon talks about you all the time. It's an honor to meet you in person.”
Her attitude was polite but not fawning. On the contrary, she seemed quite relaxed and confident.
Yoona found it interesting.
“Just call me Yoona. I'm not your boss.”
Yoona glanced around. The party was as noisy as ever, but Kim Junseong had disappeared. She looked at the forgotten champagne glass on the table.
“I'm not in the mood to stay here anymore. Want to go grab a drink? You got me out of a jam so I should buy you one.”
Jinsol looked surprised but quickly offered a gentle smile. “If I take my boss’s best friend out and something happens, she will probably kill me.”
“Haewon won't know if we don't tell her. Even if she finds out, I'll deal with her so don't worry.” Yoona said with a slight upturn of her lips, tilting her head to gaze directly into Jinsol's eyes. “You don't want to?”
“No, that's not it.” Jinsol shook her head. “Then let me get it. What I did wasn't that big of a deal anyway.”
They left the party hall and headed to a quiet bar nearby. Inside was bathed in dim lighting and Jazz music, most of the seats were empty. Yoona wasn't usually one for bars, but it was still better than the tedious party, and of course, she now had company.
They took a spot at the corner of the bar. Jinsol ordered a beer while Yoona went with a whisky on the rocks.
“You don't like parties much, do you?” Jinsol asked.
“They're just places for fake small talk.” Yoona lightly swirled the ice in her glass. “How about you? I assume an assistant's job involves hitting these events.”
“Usually, no. Haewon doesn't force me into these things.” Jinsol raised her beer. “Honestly, I’d rather handle work than deal with mixers. Crowds are a bit...”
“You're the shy type?” Yoona guessed.
“Not really. I'm confident saying I'm an extrovert. But with parties that aren't just simple socializing but are heavily professional and as you said, fake talk, I don't feel very free in them. I need time to adjust.” Jinsol replied honestly, slightly shy, even though she had just said she wasn’t.
Yoona watched the girl while she drank. Her first impression was of a very mature young woman. Still, the contrast between her decisiveness in dealing with Kim Junseong and her current slight awkwardness created a strangely compelling feeling.
“Haewon praised you a lot. Said you're quick and very thorough.” Yoona smiled, lightly clinking her glass against Jinsol’s.
“She’s being too kind. I’m just doing my job.”
“Seems your job includes rescuing damsels from rude men at parties?”
Jinsol let out an embarrassed laugh. Her jawline shifted slightly. “That… consider it a special service. Besides, I couldn't just stand by and watch CEO Seol be harassed like that.”
“Yoona.” Yoona corrected. “No titles here.”
“I get it... Yoona.”
“Good.”
Their conversation flowed from there. Ordinary talk about work, hobbies, food and silly things. Jinsol talked more than Yoona expected, occasionally getting lost in her own story and pausing. Yoona was mostly the listener, sometimes joining in or teasing a few words to fluster Jinsol.
As time passed, Yoona discovered this woman was essentially a puppy at heart. When talking about things she liked, she would lean forward, laughing while gesturing animatedly. When agreeing with something, her nodding speed would pick up. Every time she tried to seriously answer one of Yoona's jokes then realized she was being teased, her dumbfounded face made Yoona's fingers itch. She suddenly wanted to stroke that soft hair.
What a ridiculous thought, Yoona thought to herself as she finished the last of her whisky.
“How's working with Haewon?” She asked. “She can be quite… energetic.”
Jinsol’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, she’s brilliant and really intense. Sometimes I can barely keep up. But there’s so much to learn from her and she takes great care of her staff.”
“She does. Haewon is a good person at heart.” Yoona mumbled. She set her glass down and looked Jinsol straight in the eye. “But, out of everything you heard about me, did Haewon say anything bad?”
Jinsol looked flustered. “Well, that…”
“So she did.” Yoona smirked. “What was it? I'm difficult? Or scary?”
“She said you look cold, fierce and a bit bossy.” Jinsol answered carefully, then quickly added. “But I don't think so. Actually, I think you're very... charming.”
As soon as the word left her mouth, Jinsol herself blinked in surprise. A pink flush swept across her face.
Yoona quietly enjoyed that reaction. This big puppy was too honest.
“Charming?” She slowly repeated the word. “Specifically, in what way?”
Jinsol looked thoughtful like a student faced with a tricky question. She answered with a serious face. “I think it's your decisiveness. You're very smart and full of confidence. Also…” She paused for a moment. “Actually, when I first saw you at the party, you looked like someone nobody would dare get close to. But looking more closely now… you seem quite…” She couldn't find the right word and trailed off.
Yoona chuckled. “Seem quite what?”
“...You have a cute side, too.” Jinsol said with extreme caution then immediately took a large gulp of beer as if to cover her words.
Cute. It had been a long time since anyone had described Yoona that way. Employees feared her, colleagues saw her as a rival, friends said she was too domineering, and lovers… well, she hadn't had a lover in a very long time. “Cute” didn't fit her at all.
But that word coming from Bae Jinsol please her so much.
“You're more straightforward than I expected.” Yoona said in a low voice.
Jinsol quickly bowed her head. “I'm sorry. I probably went too far.”
“No.” Yoona said. She signaled the bartender for another drink. “I like honesty. And…” She turned slightly on her stool, looking into Jinsol's eyes. “What you said, I feel something similar about you.”
Jinsol blinked. “Huh?”
“You're different from what I predicted. At first glance, I thought you were calm and maybe... cold? But you're actually very approachable and... a little clumsy..”
Jinsol laughed at that. “That's right. I'm not great at talking to people. Especially... in front of someone so attractive.”
Under the dim bar lights and the drifting jazz, Yoona looked deep into Jinsol’s clear eyes.
“So how about now? You doing okay?”
“I feel pretty good.”
Yoona swiveled her stool toward Jinsol, resting one hand on the edge of the bar right next to Jinsol’s knee. At this distance, she realized just how tall Jinsol really was. She had noticed her shoes earlier, the soles were lower than Yoona’s heels, but Jinsol was still taller when walking side-by-side. Even her perfume was something Yoona found herself memorizing.
“Why? Because I don't seem scary anymore?” Yoona asked softly.
Jinsol shook her head. Her gaze lingered on Yoona’s lips for a moment before meeting her eyes again. “No. You still seem very intimidating. But maybe that's why I want to be close.”
“Me too.” Yoona said. Without letting herself overthink, she leaned forward. She couldn't ignore the intense pull she hadn't felt in forever.
Jinsol's lips were soft and carried a hint of light beer. It was only a brief kiss.
Jinsol took a deep breath when they pulled back. “Is this okay?”
“As long as you don't say stop, it's okay.” Yoona replied. Her hand slid along Jinsol's jawline and cupped it, silently noting how fair and smooth her skin was.
Jinsol didn't tell her to stop. She even grasped Yoona's wrist and this time, it was she who leaned in to kiss Yoona with more intensity than the first.
Kissing at a bar counter was awkward, but neither of them wanted to stop. The world around them blurred. The jazz became distant background noise and the other patrons were forgotten. There was only the other’s breath, the sensation of their lips, and the heat spreading beneath their skin.
When Jinsol pulled away from Yoona’s lips and moved her kisses down to her chin and along her neck, Yoona couldn't hold back a low moan. She tilted her head back, her fingers tangling in Jinsol’s short hair. It was softer than she had imagined.
“Not here.” Yoona managed to get out with difficulty.
Jinsol stopped instantly. “I'm sorry. Was that too much?”
“No. It’s just a public place. Want to come back to my house?”
Yoona's apartment was in a high-rise in the heart of the city. The front door closing shut out the noise of the outside world. The only light in the spacious living room came from the city glow bleeding through the windows.
Jinsol stood at the entrance, looking around. “Your place is really nice.”
“Thanks.” Yoona kicked off her shoes and stepped inside. “Come in. Should I get the lights?”
“It's fine like this.” Jinsol removed her shoes and walked in. “The view is amazing.”
Yoona moved closer to Jinsol. She had to look up to meet the other woman's eyes.
“This is pretty reckless. We really don't know anything about each other.”
“Yeah.” Jinsol agreed, nodding.
“But still.” Yoona raised a hand, touching the button of Jinsol’s jacket. “I want to keep going.”
Jinsol covered that hand with her own. “So do I.”
The buttons were undone one by one. The jacket hit the floor, followed by the shirt. A greedy, endless kiss followed them as they moved from the living room toward the bedroom, clothes discarded along the way.
By the time they reached the bed, Yoona’s dress was gone and Jinsol’s hands were unhooking the bra at her back. As the clasp gave way, Yoona felt the pressure on her chest vanish, replaced by Jinsol’s warm palms.
She let out a moan. Her hands slid down to Jinsol's hips to loosen her belt.
They lost their balance and tumbled together onto the edge of the bed. Jinsol propped herself up on her elbows to look down at Yoona. Her pupils were blown wide in the dark, making it impossible for Yoona to look away.
“Are you okay?” Jinsol asked breathlessly.
Yoona pulled Jinsol's neck down and kissed her. That was her answer. Jinsol hesitated no more. Her lips left Yoona's, moving down her chin, neck, collarbone, and stopping at her chest. Her tongue flicked over a nipple, causing the woman beneath her to arch her back uncontrollably and cry out.
Yoona pulled Jinsol down by her neck and kissed her. That was the only answer needed. Jinsol’s lips left Yoona’s, moving down her chin, neck and collarbone before stopping at her breasts.
The soft head nuzzled into the warm breasts, kissing more fiercely and passionately. Jinsol's hand slid between Yoona's thighs, stripping away her stockings and underwear.
Yoona parted her legs to help. Everything was happening so fast. Jinsol’s breath hit her warm skin as she trailed kisses along her inner thigh, everything consumed by a burning hunger.
“You're so beautiful.” Yoona heard Jinsol whisper as she stared hungrily between her legs.
Those words made Yoona's face feel like it was on fire. She was used to compliments, but the context was different now and what Jinsol was admiring wasn't just her most private self.
“Touch me.” She took Jinsol's hand, guiding it towards her own warmth. “Hurry.”
Jinsol complied, touching the wet heat. A gasp escaped her. Her hand touched, withdrew, then touched again. Yoona realized she was more ready than she thought. This woman she had just met was making her absolutely wet.
Jinsol cautiously explored the soft folds, learning Yoona’s body by listening to her reactions. Yoona nearly screamed when a thumb pressed against that hard nub.
“Easy now.” Jinsol whispered against her lips.
The pleasure built too fast. It had been so long since Yoona had been touched like this, and she had never had an experience this intense.
“I'm… I'm about to…” Yoona struggled to get the words out. Her hands balled up in the bedsheets.
Jinsol pushed her fingers faster and deeper. As she sucked hard on Yoona’s lip one last time, a tidal wave of pleasure crashed over them.
Jinsol waited until Yoona had calmed before slowly withdrawing her hand. She lay down beside her and pulled Yoona close. Yoona didn't resist, resting her head on Jinsol’s chest.
For a long time, they just lay there, holding each other while catching their breath.
“It’s been... a long time since I felt like that.” Yoona whispered.
Jinsol kissed the top of her head. “Me too.”
“You’re good at this. You seem pretty experienced.” Yoona chuckled.
“I just did what I learned.”
“From who?”
“Movies.”
Yoona laughed as she rolled over to lie on top of Jinsol. “Must have watched a lot. Care to teach me?”
“I'd love to. But I think that's enough for today. We shouldn't overdo it.” Jinsol wrapped her arms around Yoona’s shoulders, pulling her down so she could hide her face in Jinsol’s neck.
Yoona thought for a moment then nodded. She was tired too, and she had work tomorrow. But she wondered if this woman wanted to see her again, or if this was just a one-time thing.
“Tomorrow then?” She asked.
Jinsol stroked Yoona’s cheek. “How about dinner together after work tomorrow?”
Yoona felt a wave of relief, though she kept her face neutral. “Fine. But I’m warning you, I'm very picky.”
“I figured. I'll make sure to take notes.”
“One more thing.”
“Yes?”
“Kiss me.”
Jinsol laughed and pulled her close, pressing her lips against Yoona’s with a gentle heat in the darkness.