Divorce in Bed Chapter 23

‘My spot? No way.’

Yeohwi’s eyes went round, and he examined the desk with a surprised expression. A gleaming desktop computer sat atop it, flaunting its presence.

“Starting today, we’re rebuilding the basic strategy for the inheritance management from scratch. That document you wrote—the direction was good, but the details were a mess.”

Dowon ignored Yeohwi’s reaction, which looked as if he were wagging his tail at getting a new house, and thudded several thick books and a bundle of documents onto Yeohwi’s desk.

‘Original Seong Family Inheritance Portfolio’, ‘Advanced Analysis of Financial Statements’, ‘Corporate Valuation Theory: Volume I’…

They were the kinds of titles that made one’s head throb just by looking at them.

“First, grasp how sharp the weapon you possess is, and exactly how much grip strength you need to hold the hilt,” Dowon added as he returned to his own seat. “Don’t even think about leaving until you’ve read and memorized it all.”

“Memorize it? All of this?”

“Why, were you planning on carrying it around with you?”

“No… Yes, I understand.”

Startled, Yeohwi quickly pulled himself together and added playfully, “I’ll work hard, Master!”

“Address me properly.”

Dowon didn’t even blink as he opened his files.

“Yes, Director.”

Yeohwi chuckled and sat in his newly prepared spot. The morning sunlight pouring through the window, the thick scent of wood, and Dowon sitting across from him.

It was perfect. Although the amount of study was a mountain, the mere fact that he was in this space with him was enough.

Time flowed slowly like that.

Stretching his stiff shoulders, Yeohwi’s eyes suddenly fell upon Dowon. He was perfectly immersed in his work. He looked focused, frowning while reviewing documents or rolling a fountain pen while lost in deep thought. Even the low, calm voice heard during occasional phone calls.

‘Is this what they mean by the sexiness of a man at work…?’

He was supposed to be reading the books, but once his gaze shifted, he couldn’t focus on the letters. His light brown eyes kept drifting across the desk.

The bone of Dowon’s wrist revealed beneath his rolled-up shirt sleeves, the long fingers that scribbled signatures quickly and sharply, and the habit of pressing his lips together when contemplating—each detail was etched into his mind.

‘He’s so cool.’

Yeohwi rested his chin on his hand and admired Dowon blankly. Right then, Dowon looked up.

Yeohwi’s vacant gaze and Dowon’s sharp eyes met squarely in midair.

“Ah.”

He tried to startle and turn his gaze back to the book, but it was already too late.

Dowon put down his fountain pen and asked, “Are there letters written on my face?”

“N-No.”

Yeohwi mumbled, his face turning red.

“Distracted. At your limit already?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Yeohwi decided to just go for it and confessed honestly.

“It’s just, Mister Dowon looks so cool while working. My eyes keep drifting.”

It was a straight ball. A pure compliment without excuses or embellishment.

“Nonsense. If you want to earn your keep, look at the book.”

“Yes…”

“And stop fidgeting with your limbs.”

“Ye-es…”

Yeohwi replied obediently while tucking his legs in. However, a groan leaked through his teeth.

“Ugh.”

Besides having been crumpled in a hard chair for a long time, he was currently experiencing severe growing pains, so his muscles were pulling and his bones were aching. His already long legs were even cramping, making it impossible to store them neatly under the desk.

“Wait a second. Ow, ow, ow.”

Yeohwi fidgeted while stretching his feet out. Thwack. The sound of Dowon closing a file folder rang out.

“What a concentration span.”

“No, it’s not that.”

“If you don’t even have that much persistence, quit. Get out.”

Hating the idea that Dowon thought he was playing tricks, Yeohwi rubbed his knees with a woeful face.

“My legs are cramping and it hurts so much. They say it’s growing pains.”

“Growing pains?”

Dowon let out a hollow laugh as if it were absurd.

“Just how much more are you planning to grow?”

“I don’t know… actually, I do want to grow about a span taller than Mister Dowon.”

“You think that’s possible? To poke a hole through the ceiling?”

“But I want to look cool too. To Mister Dowon…”

Yeohwi’s mumbling face looked quite pained. His hands were urgent as he massaged his calves, even breaking into a cold sweat. It seemed he had a proper cramp.

Dowon let out a long sigh. Judging that Yeohwi would be whimpering for quite a while if left like that, he pushed his chair back and stood up. He then approached Yeohwi with annoyed footsteps.

“Give it here.”

Dowon spun Yeohwi’s chair around to face him and knelt on one knee in front of him.

“Mister Dowon?”

Without answering, Dowon rolled up Yeohwi’s pant legs. Firm, long-reaching calves were revealed. Dowon gripped Yeohwi’s calf tightly with his large, cold hand.

“Ack!”

Yeohwi let out a scream.

“Stay still.”

Dowon’s touch was too rough to be called a massage. It was closer to pressure, crushing the muscle. However, because he accurately found the knotted points and pressed down, it was incredibly refreshing.

“Ooh… Mister Dowon, your hands are really big.”

The pain having subsided, Yeohwi looked down at Dowon with languid, relaxed eyes.

“It feels good because they’re cold.”

At those words, Dowon’s hand faltered.

He once again felt the calf muscle that filled—no, overflowed—his hand. It was solid. Perhaps because he was going through growing pains, he had grown again in that short time; it was different from the youthful appearance he had seen in the bathroom recently. The frame had thickened, and the muscles were densely packed.

The fact that he might truly become a span larger than himself was transmitted vividly through his palm. Then, a strange feeling took hold of him.

Dowon let go and stood up.

“Taking care of your body is also a skill,” he said with feigned sternness. “Don’t whine that it hurts. I won’t let it slide next time.”

“Yes.”

“Do it right if you don’t want to be kicked out.”

“Yes, Mister Dowon.”

Dowon returned to his seat. Yeohwi hid his reddened face while stroking the handprints Dowon had left on his calf.

‧₊˚🍊༉‧₊˚.

“You stupid piece of shit!”

Clatter-smash! A crystal whiskey glass hit the wall and shattered into pieces. Fragments flew everywhere, and the fishy smell of strong alcohol rose into the air.

The private residence of Do Jingyu, President of KD Group.

In the room where a heavy silence flowed, only the sound of the air purifier running and the scratching of a fountain pen against paper could be heard.

Do Jingyu took ragged breaths and glared at his son, Do Jinsang, who was slumped on the floor. His eyes were bloodshot like a venomous snake.

“You couldn’t even endure a single provocation from a brat like that, so you smear mud on your father’s face and ruin the party like that?”

“Father—President. It wasn’t like that, truly, they started it first…”

Do Jinsang’s voice trembled. He protested while clutching his cheek as if it were unfair, but he shut his mouth again at Do Jingyu’s kick.

“I don’t want to hear your rambling excuses,” Do Jingyu muttered lowly. “Do you know how hard the PR team worked to block the photos of you getting into a scuffle? The plan to appoint you as Managing Director this time has gone up in smoke!”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Do Jingyu roughly loosened his tie.

“Enough. An official personnel order for Busan will be issued soon. Get out. Stay out of my sight for a while.”

Do Jinsang fled the President’s office as if escaping.

Do Jingyu let out a sigh and buried himself deep in his chair.

What bothered him even more than his son’s stupidity was none other than the look in Dowon’s eyes he had seen at the party. That arrogant gaze that looked at him as if he were an insect. His pride had been hacked to pieces by it.

After Do Jinsang left, there was a knock and his confidant, Secretary Kim, entered.

“President.”

“What is it. I don’t want to see anything, so get out.”

“…It is a report on Director Dowon’s movements.”

Do Jingyu’s eyebrows twitched. He composed his ragged breathing and reached out his hand.

The tablet Secretary Kim handed over showed a complex flow of funds and reports.

“Director Do did not come into work today. It is said he is handling business from his residence.”

“Working from home? That workaholic?”

Do Jingyu’s hand stopped.

“It’s not as if he’s busy playing around with that fledgling he was hovering over at the party, and yet he didn’t come to work…”

After thinking for a moment, he smiled viciously.

“Well, if he’s finally discovered the taste of getting laid, that’s fine. A dry, impotent-like bastard without a single common scandal.”

“Actually, it doesn’t seem like he is simply playing.”

Secretary Kim hesitated, looking troubled. His expression was dark.

“This morning, the legal team directly under Director Do moved in top secrecy.”

“Why the legal team?”

“It is said they are collecting judicial precedents related to overseas asset management and gift tax laws. Also, there is information that they requested past accounting data from the Seong side.”

In an instant, Do Jingyu’s eyes turned sharp.

Seong family. Chairman Seong’s inheritance. Overseas asset management…

“I smell something,” Do Jingyu murmured.