Jeon leaned back in his leather chair, eyes as cold and unreadable as ever. His reputation as a ruthless billionaire mafia boss preceded him, and Hyunjin had witnessed firsthand how effortlessly Jeon destroyed anyone who dared oppose him. Despite the power radiating off the man before him, Hyunjin kept his gaze steady, his heart pounding against his ribs.
"I won't repeat myself, Hyunjin," Jeon said, his voice low but firm. "The merger with the Japanese syndicate depends on my marital status. They want to know that I'm a stable family man-someone they can trust in business."
Hyunjin swallowed hard, his mind racing. He had been Jeon's secretary for two years, never once imagining that his duties would extend beyond office work. But now Jeon was asking him to become more than a secretary. He was asking him to be his husband.
"It's only for show," Jeon continued, sensing Hyunjin's hesitation. "A contract marriage, nothing more. You get paid handsomely, and in return, you play the role of my loving spouse. After a year, we'll dissolve the arrangement, and you'll be free to go back to your life."
Hyunjin clenched his fists under the table, his thoughts battling between logic and fear. A contract marriage? It sounded absurd. Ridiculous, even. But this was Jeon-there was nothing the man did that wasn't calculated. There had to be a deeper reason behind this.
"And if I refuse?" Hyunjin asked quietly, knowing full well that defying Jeon wasn't an option.
Jeon's eyes darkened, his expression hardening. "That wouldn't be wise, Hyunjin."
Hyunjin's stomach twisted. He knew what refusal meant. It meant losing his job, his protection, and possibly more. But agreeing to this marriage meant stepping into a life he wasn't prepared for-one filled with lies, deception, and danger. He had seen what Jeon was capable of. Being tied to him in any way, even if it was just on paper, was a risk.
Jeon stood, walking around the desk until he stood before Hyunjin, towering over him. "I don't expect you to love me. This is purely a business transaction. But I do expect loyalty. You'll stand by my side, no questions asked."
Hyunjin hesitated, then slowly nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. "Fine. I'll do it."
Jeon's lips curved into a smirk, but there was no warmth in his eyes. "Good choice."
As Jeon turned back to his desk, Hyunjin couldn't shake the feeling that he had just made a deal with the devil.
Little did he know, this was only the beginning. The contract might say one year, but neither of them could predict how long it would take for their hearts to break through the carefully constructed walls they both lived behind.