The bass from Eclipse's sound system vibrated through the marble floors, making the ice cubes in Soyeon's champagne flute tremble. She watched with amusement as Taehyun attempted some ridiculous dance move that made him look like an electrocuted flamingo.
"Someone should tell him rich boys shouldn't dance," Jisu shouted over the music, her platinum ponytail swinging.
Soyeon smirked, swirling her drink. "Let him embarrass himself. It's more fun this way." The gold flecks in her cocktail caught the light, matching the sequins on her dress that shifted from silver to gold with every movement.
Across the club, Jungwoo stood like a shadow against the neon chaos, his dark eyes tracking Minho's erratic movements on the dance floor. His fingers tightened around his untouched whiskey when he noticed Soyeon watching him. Their gazes locked - her challenge meeting his disdain - until a drunk Minho crashed into him.
"Hyung! Dance with us!" Minho slurred, grabbing his brother's arm.
Jungwoo extracted himself with practiced ease. "You're cut off after this drink."
Minho pouted but brightened when he spotted Soyeon approaching. "Soyeon! Come save me from my boring brother!"
Up close, Jungwoo's presence was overwhelming. The crisp scent of his cologne cut through the club's cloying perfumes. Soyeon had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes, which only irritated her more.
"Having fun being a wallflower?" she taunted, deliberately stepping into his personal space.
Jungwoo didn't retreat. "I don't consider alcohol poisoning a recreational activity."
Soyeon's laugh was sharp as broken glass. "Oh please, one drink won't kill you." She snatched his whiskey and downed it, relishing the burn. "See? Still standing."
A muscle twitched in Jungwoo's jaw. "Your liver must be made of steel."
Before she could retort, Taehyun appeared, draping an arm around her shoulders. "There you are, princess. Ready for round two?" His breath reeked of tequila.
Jungwoo's gaze flickered between them with undisguised contempt. "I'll leave you to your... entertainment."
Something about his tone made Soyeon's cheeks burn. She shoved Taehyun away. "Wait!" The word slipped out before she could stop it.
Jungwoo paused, one eyebrow arched.
"Why do you hate me so much?" The question surprised even her.
For a heartbeat, his mask slipped. Then cold indifference returned. "I don't waste energy hating strangers, Ms. Kim. I simply have better things to do than babysit drunken heiresses."
The dismissal stung more than it should have. Soyeon opened her mouth to retaliate when the room tilted violently. Her vision swam, the neon lights blurring into nauseating streaks.
"Whoa there!" Taehyun grabbed her waist as her knees buckled.
Jungwoo was suddenly there, pushing Taehyun aside. "She needs air, not your groping hands." His arm around her shoulderswas surprisingly gentle despite his harsh tone.
The cool night air hit Soyeon's face like a slap. She gulped it greedily, leaning against the club's exterior wall. Jungwoo hovered close enough to catch her if she fell but kept a careful distance otherwise.
"Better?" His voice was softer now.
Soyeon nodded weakly, mortification creeping in. "You must be loving this."
"Watching you humiliate yourself?" Jungwoo sighed. "Contrary to what you think, I don't enjoy seeing people suffer."
The unexpected kindness disarmed her. In the dim light, his sharp features looked almost... handsome.
A sudden wave of nausea hit. Soyeon barely had time to turn before she was vomiting into a nearby planter. Humiliating tears pricked her eyes as she felt Jungwoo gather her hair back with one hand.
When the spasms passed, he pressed a chilled water bottle into her shaking hands. "Drink. Slowly."
The water soothed her raw throat. "I... ruined your jacket." She gestured weakly to the stains on his sleeve.
Jungwoo shrugged out of it without hesitation. "It's just fabric."
Soyeon blinked. This wasn't the cold CEO from earlier. "Why are you being nice to me?"
He studied her for a long moment. "Because someone should be."
The simple truth of it hit her like a punch to the gut. Before she could respond, her vision grayed at the edges. The last thing she felt was Jungwoo'sstrong arms catching heras the world went black.
---
Dawn painted Dubai's skyline in pastels when Soyeon stirred. The unfamiliar silk sheets confused her until she saw Jungwoo asleep in an armchair nearby,his tie loosened, dark lashes casting shadows on his cheeks.
Memories of the night flooded back - the drinking, the vomiting, the unexpected kindness. Her cheeks burned with shame. She should slip out before he woke, pretend this never happened.
But as she moved to leave, Jungwoo's eyes fluttered open. Sleep-rough and unfairly attractive, he regarded her with surprising warmth.
"Welcome back to the land of the living."
Soyeon opened her mouth to apologize, to thank him, to say... something. But the words stuck in her throat.
Jungwoo stood, rolling his stiff shoulders. "Your friend Jisu called. She's waiting downstairs." He handed her a steaming cup of coffee. "Drink this. It'll help."
Their fingers brushed during the exchange, sending an unexpected jolt up her arm. Soyeon stared at the coffee, then at him. "Why did you stay?"
Something unreadable flickered in his eyes before he turned away. "Because someone had to."
As the door clicked shut behind him, Soyeon realized with startling clarity:
Park Jungwoo had just become the most fascinating man she'd ever met.
And that… terrified her.
To be continued…