Whisper Chapter 22

“Oi Park Sae.”  

 

“Yeah.”  

 

“Don’t go blabbing about Heewoo being with President Cha.”  

 

“Heewoo? Is that her name?”  

 

Two burly men huddled together, whispering. With everyone out on business, the office was empty, and whatever they were up to in the corner was anyone’s guess.  

 

“That’s a pretty name.”  

 

“Right? If you name someone based on their looks, it’s a perfect fit.”  

 

Park Sae-min wasn’t sure what kind of name “looked” a certain way, but he got the gist of what Jang Pal-yong was saying and nodded.  

 

“Make sure the guys downstairs keep their mouths shut too. Damn it, what is this, a thread and a needle? Why’s he suddenly acting out of character?”  

 

“Don’t worry. You know my guys are tight-lipped. But why all the secrecy?”  

 

Even though Park Sae-min had been around for quite a while, this was the first time he had seen Cha Gyeol act like this. Sure, looking at Lee Heewoo, he could understand to some extent, but Cha Gyeol wasn’t the kind of man to be easily swayed.  

 

“I don’t know. I just feel like we need to keep it quiet. You think you’re the only one with instincts? I’ve got them too.”  

 

“Huh?”  

 

“Nothing. Life sure is funny. Maybe I should try dating too.”  

 

As if that were something one could just decide to do. Park Sae-min looked at Jang Pal-yong with a skeptical expression.  

 

Jang Pal-yong had a somewhat rugged, bandit-like appearance, but it wasn’t necessarily bad. In fact, he seemed solid and dependable—decent husband material. Yet, every woman he fell for worked in the nightlife industry. On top of that, he never played hard to get; he was practically a human sunflower, always getting used and tossed aside.  

 

“…Is the boss dating someone?”  

 

“Huh? If it’s not dating, then what is it? It’s annoying as hell. Who would’ve thought he’d lose his head over a woman like this?”  

 

Jang Pal-yong, having decided on his own that the two were dating, muttered complaints filled with envy about how unfair the world was. He looked like a kid being forced to do his homework, grumbling about having to go and see it for himself.  

 

“Park Sae, come with me later. I gotta go in there and take care of something.”  

 

Jang Pal-yong gave Park Sae-min a pat on the shoulder before turning away.  

 

***  

 

He had steeled himself before stepping in, but inside, Lee Heewoo was fast asleep on the sofa. It looked like she had dozed off while watching something on her phone, which was still playing a video, now slipping from her grasp.  

 

Jang Pal-yong muttered a curse under his breath at Cha Gyeol, who didn’t even glance his way, then quietly walked over and sat down on the sofa. He had to keep his movements silent—who knew what kind of fuss the guy might kick up?  

 

“President Cha, come here for a second.”  

 

He had planned to simply gesture if their eyes met, but since Cha Gyeol wasn’t even looking his way, he had to call out in a hushed voice.  

 

Turning his gaze toward Lee Heewoo, Jang Pal-yong saw that she was sleeping soundly and didn’t seem likely to wake up anytime soon.  

 

Cha Gyeol, his eyes devoid of emotion, walked over and sat near Heewoo’s feet.  

 

“Chief Kim wants to meet.”  

 

Jang Pal-yong got straight to the point. Of course, there was another matter, but for that, Heewoo needed to be awake.  

 

Cha Gyeol elegantly crossed his long legs, idly bouncing the tip of his foot. Then, hearing the faint sound from the phone, he turned to look at the sleeping Lee Heewoo. The volume was so low—did she even hear anything?  

 

As he took in her delicate, well-proportioned features, he recalled that morning.  

 

He had been getting ready to leave for work when he had a strange feeling. Stepping out, he checked the kitchen, then Heewoo’s room—she was nowhere to be seen.  

 

Following the long hallway, he was about to pass by when something caught his eye, making him turn his head back.  

 

There, standing by the entrance, was Lee Heewoo.  

 

She was dressed in a white cotton pant that exposed her ankles, a neatly printed white T-shirt, and a mint-colored cardigan draped over her shoulders—clothes he had bought for her. It looked like she had taken them straight from the shopping bag and put them on without rearranging them.  

 

Even her loafers matched the mint shade. She clutched her phone tightly in both hands, staring down at the floor and muttering something to herself.  

 

Noticing his presence, she lifted her head, her large eyes darting about in surprise before locking onto his.  

 

– ‘What are you doing there?’  

 

At Cha Gyeol’s question, Heewoo hesitated, her big eyes flicking around nervously.  

 

– ‘Where are you going, all dressed up so nicely?’  

 

Where could she possibly be headed?  

 

Cha Gyeol had already figured out that she had been waiting at the entrance to follow him.  

 

But he deliberately teased her.  

 

It was both amusing and endearing—like a soft breeze stirring inside his chest, making him feel oddly lighthearted.  

 

Realizing that he was asking despite knowing the answer, Heewoo’s eyes and lips drooped in disappointment.  

 

– ‘Are you planning to go somewhere else instead of following me?’  

 

– ‘Ah, no! …I was going to follow you.’  

 

As if afraid he might leave her behind, she blurted out her answer in a rush.  

 

Seeing that expression, he struggled to keep the corners of his lips from lifting, forcing a scowl instead.  

 

– ‘Sorry for being a bother, sir.’  

 

Perhaps misunderstanding his reaction, she whispered cautiously.  

 

– ‘If you’re really sorry, will you stay home?’  

 

– ‘…But I still want to go with you.’  

 

One more word, and her dark eyes looked like they might tear up. This was bad. An absurd, childish desire to make her cry flickered within him.  

 

Shit.  

 

What the hell was he doing at his age? He swallowed the self-deprecating curse.  

 

As soon as Lee Heewoo got into the car, she kept rubbing her sleepy eyes.  

 

– ‘Sweetie.’  

 

With her reddened eyes from all the rubbing, she turned to look at Cha Gyeol. At the same time, she clung to the window, trying to look outside.  

 

– ‘What were you doing instead of sleeping at night?’  

 

Her long, damp eyelashes fluttered slowly before she turned her head back toward the window.  

 

– ‘…I did sleep, but I had a bit of a nightmare.’  

 

Her transparent voice was tinged with drowsiness, murmuring softly.  

 

Later, when they arrived at the office, Lee Heewoo quietly sat on the sofa. While Cha Gyeol was momentarily handling his work, she started watching a video on her phone. Then, she slowly leaned over to the side and fell asleep.  

 

Cha Gyeol, who had been watching her from the beginning, let out a short laugh and turned up the air conditioner temperature.  

 

“Hey! I said I met him! Are you even listening to me?”  

 

At Jang Pal-yong’s loud voice, Cha Gyeol’s sharp gaze shot toward him like daggers. Jang Pal-yong glanced at the unmoving Lee Heewoo before clearing his throat.  

 

“So, shouldn’t you at least listen when someone’s talking? You received it, didn’t you?”  

 

“What did he say?”  

 

Cha Gyeol replied with a question, his face unreadable.  

 

“He said you’re acting weird.”  

 

Then, Jang Pal-yong started rambling on about how he had made sure the guys kept their mouths shut, including Park Sae-min.  

 

“What are you going to do about it?”  

 

Jang Pal-yong lowered his voice further. Cha Gyeol let out a thoughtful hum, his gaze aimlessly tracing the air with his three-whites eyes.  

 

“He won’t say who it is.”  

 

“He wouldn’t tell me either. Chief Kim seems to be quite bothered about it.”  

 

Jang Pal-yong was shaking his leg anxiously when Cha Gyeol looked at him with an indifferent expression. No matter what, he was someone Cha Gyeol could trust. He might seem a little slow and crude, but he was well-known in this field for being ruthless and merciless with a blade.  

 

“Pal-yong, find out who it is.”  

 

“And what are you going to do once you know?”  

 

Jang Pal-yong’s instincts were just as sharp as Cha Gyeol’s. He had survived in this business by knowing when to be cautious.  

 

“I need to see if it’s worth stirring things up.”  

 

Jang Pal-yong, who had his mouth slightly open as if at a loss for words, sighed deeply. Then, he made an effort not to glance at Lee Heewoo as he lowered his voice to a near whisper.  

 

“Can’t you just let this go? Why are you making trouble for nothing? I’m telling you, I have a bad feeling about this.”  

 

“Pal-yong.”  

 

“What? Since when have you ever let a woman push you around?”  

 

Jang Pal-yong’s lips jutted out in frustration, unable to understand why Cha Gyeol was suddenly acting out of character.  

 

“They offered two thousand.”  

 

“And?”  

 

“But do you know how much I got for taking care of her?”  

 

Cha Gyeol cut off Jang Pal-yong’s words. Of course, the money Heo Gwiryeon gave him wasn’t meant for his personal use, nor did he intend to spend it.  

 

“Huh? You got money too? Ah! So that’s why you’re doing this? How much did you get?”  

 

Jang Pal-yong quickly asked, his expression finally making sense. He had thought Cha Gyeol was acting like a lovesick fool, but this explanation made more sense.  

 

“I thought something was off. So, how much did you get?”  

 

“Off?”  

 

“So, you don’t think your actions are strange? I’ve seen a lot of crazy things, but this is the most ridiculous sight I’ve ever witnessed.”  

 

Cha Gyeol’s expression, shamelessly raised as if saying, ‘What about it?’ made him even more irritating.  

 

“Shit, Pal-yong. Just stop thinking about me and find out quickly.”  

 

At Cha Gyeol’s clear dismissal, telling him to shut up and get out, Jang Pal-yong muttered an acknowledgment, got up, and left the office. Only then did he realize that he hadn’t even found out how much Cha Gyeol had been paid.  

 

He also hadn’t gotten the chance to bring up the opera tickets he had been determined to hand over today. Jang Pal-yong’s broad shoulders slumped in disappointment.  

 

After he left, Cha Gyeol turned to look at Lee Heewoo, who had curled up in her sleep. The side of her face, turned to the side, was as delicate as if it had been painted. No matter where one looked, there was nothing flawed about it.  

 

“Did you sleep well?”