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The grey elevator door slid open with a soft chime, revealing Rhea, Yunah, and Noah. The three stepped out, their footsteps echoing faintly against the polished marble floor. Rhea led the way down the quiet corridor, her heels clicking with precision, until she stopped in front of apartment 808. With a practiced motion, she swiped her card against the panel. A sharp beep sounded, and the lock released.
"We're here," Rhea announced smoothly, turning with a polite smile. "I hope you'll like it, Miss Yunah."
She pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Yunah lingered at the threshold, her chest tightening. Something about this felt unreal—too perfect. Noah noticed her hesitation immediately.
"Di… what's wrong?" His voice held a rare thread of nervousness. "You don't like the place?"
He hadn't expected that expression on her face. This apartment, this deal—everything had been arranged for her comfort. For her happiness. Yet the uncertainty in her eyes made him question his decision.
Yunah exhaled slowly, struggling to put her thoughts into words. "It's not that I don't like it…" She glanced at him, her voice softening. "It's just… this place is way too good. It feels… unbelievable."
Before Noah could respond, Rhea's head popped back out from the doorway. "What happened? Why aren't you both coming inside?" Her tone was directed at Yunah, but her eyes flicked briefly towards Noah, her curiosity betraying her calm facade.
"We were just about to," Yunah replied quickly, nerves making her tug lightly at the folded sleeve of Noah's shirt. Her eyes darted towards Rhea, almost pleading for her not to pry further.
Noah's gaze dropped to where her fingers clutched his sleeve. His lips curved into the faintest smile—a real one, unforced. "Yeah… we're coming."
Rhea froze for half a second, startled. It had been so long since she'd seen Noah smile so genuinely. For a fleeting moment, her professional composure wavered. Then she recovered, straightening her posture.
"Good. Then please, come inside. I'm certain you'll love it," she said, stepping aside with a gracious gesture, almost like a servant welcoming royalty.
Yunah blinked at the sudden flourish but finally stepped inside, Noah following closely.
The moment Yunah entered, her breath caught. The living room opened up before her, vast and drenched in luxury. A white sectional couch stretched wider than the one in her current apartment, facing a wall-mounted television so large it looked like a theater screen. A glass table gleamed in the center, reflecting the soft golden glow of the chandelier above. Elegant flower vases adorned the corners, and framed art pieces gave the room a refined, gallery-like aura. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a breathtaking skyline, the city sprawled beneath them like a living painting.
Each of the three bedrooms came with its own en suite bath, and every room had direct access to the balcony—private doors leading outside without ever stepping into the hall. It was elegance wrapped in convenience, a dream carved into steel and glass.
Yunah stood frozen, wide-eyed. "This…" She swallowed hard. "Madam, are you sure this place is only twenty thousand? There… there must be a mistake."
"I understand how you feel," Rhea said gently, cutting off her doubts with practiced ease. "It does seem impossible. But I assure you, there's a reason. One I'll explain over tea. For now, the real question is—do you like it enough to close the deal?" Her smile was calm, almost disarmingly genuine.
Yunah stammered, words tumbling out clumsily. "Ye-yeah… o-of course. Who wouldn't? It's beautiful…"
"Then let's proceed to the contract," Rhea said, her smile widening. "We can discuss everything in detail at a café nearby."
"O-okay," Yunah managed, still dazed.
With a graceful turn, Rhea headed back toward the door. Yunah and Noah followed.
As they walked, Yunah leaned close, whispering urgently into Noah's ear, tugging him down slightly so he could hear her. "Do you think this is a scam? Because it really feels like one…"
Noah's lips twitched into a subtle curve. His voice lowered, intimate. "I don't think so. She seems genuine. And as far as I know, this building belongs to N&N Enterprises. No outsider steps foot in here without a keycard. Do you really think they'd just hand over an apartment at random?"
As he spoke, he tilted his head towards her, their faces brushing dangerously close. The space between them shrank to nothing, their lips nearly grazing. The air thickened, charged, the world shrinking down to just the two of them.
Yunah's breath hitched. Her pulse thundered in her ears, her cheeks burning crimson as her gaze slipped—helplessly—down to his lips. The dream of their kiss flashed behind her eyes, vivid and raw, and her body betrayed her with heat that pooled low in her stomach.
Noah, meanwhile, felt the pull like a tide. Every instinct screamed to claim her, to draw her into his arms and never let go. Darker thoughts flickered—visions of locking her away, keeping her only for himself. The hunger was there, clawing at him. But deeper still, beneath the shadows, he knew what he truly wanted: her heart. Freely. Willingly. Entirely.
He wanted her to walk towards him on her own. And for that… he would wait. He would endure. He would go to any length.
"Ugh! Ugh!" Rhea cleared her throat loudly, her sly smile making it obvious she had seen more than enough.
Yunah jolted back as if burned, instantly putting space between herself and Noah. Her cheeks were crimson, her heart pounding so fast it almost hurt. She avoided Noah's gaze, biting down on her lip in embarrassment.
Noah, on the other hand, didn't move right away. His eyes lingered on her for a fraction longer than they should have, a dangerous softness in them.
"If you two are finished," Rhea drawled, arching a brow with thinly veiled amusement, "shall we leave? I still have work to do after the contract is signed."
Her words snapped the moment like breaking glass. Yunah ducked her head and hurried towards the door, still flustered. Noah followed at a calmer pace, but the curve tugging at the corner of his lips betrayed him—he was enjoying every second of her shyness.
Rhea's eyes flicked to Noah briefly, reading his expression, and the smile on her face only grew more knowing before she turned and led the way out.
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At a quiet corner of the café, the three of them sat around a small wooden table. Rhea took the seat opposite, a steaming cup of tea before her, the curl of vapor rising elegantly. In front of Yunah sat a cappuccino, its frothy surface decorated with delicate latte art, while Noah casually stirred a tall glass of green apple shake.
The atmosphere was calm, almost too calm, but Yunah's slight fidgeting betrayed her unease. Noticing this, Rhea smoothly slid a contract across the table towards her, her expression as composed as ever.
"Our CEO decided to release ten luxury apartments this year at an eighty-percent discount," Rhea began, her voice calm, her fingers interlaced neatly on the table. "Completely random, at least on the surface. You, Miss Yunah, happened to be one of the chosen candidates."
Yunah's brows knitted as she picked up the file. "Chosen…? Why me?"
"There were criteria," Rhea replied smoothly. "We reviewed your records, your circumstances, your decisions. What caught our CEO's attention is that you're brave, responsible, and, above all, a devoted sister. That was enough." Her lips curved faintly before adding with a hint of playfulness, "And well… our CEO is a little bit of a crackhead."
Her gaze slid deliberately towards Noah. His jaw tightened, and he shot her a sharp, irritated glare—not dangerous, but the kind that siblings exchanged when one pushed too far.
"Huh?" Yunah blinked, confused, her grip tightening on the contract. "Wait... crackhead??? Did she called her boss a crackhead...." Yunah said in her mind.
"You know how rich heirs are," Rhea went on lightly, sipping her tea without breaking eye contact with Noah. "Eccentric, spoiled, always trying something new. Ours is no different—except he ranks at the very top of that list."
Yunah's eyes flickered over the contract again, searching for traps. When she found none, relief softened her features. She uncapped the pen, signed neatly, and slid it back. "Here."
"Good," Rhea said, rising smoothly as she tucked the file under her arm. "My work here is done. You can move in whenever you like. If you face any problems, just contact me."
"Hmm…" Yunah hesitated, then muttered with sympathy, "It must be tough, working for a crackhead CEO. I feel for you."
Noah nearly choked on his shake. "Ugh! Ugh!" He coughed violently, his composure breaking.
"Drink slowly! No one's going to steal it from you." Yunah leaned forward, concern flickering across her face.
Rhea covered her laugh, but her sly smile gave her away. Catching Noah's glare, she stuck out her tongue discreetly where only he could see. His answering glare wasn't dangerous, but, it was sharp and threaded with teasing annoyance.
"You're right, Miss Yunah," Rhea said sweetly looking at her. "But the pay is good. I can endure a crackhead or two." She shot Noah a last mischievous look before adding, "Well, before my boss calls me with another ridiculous order, I should go."
"Thank you for your hard work, Madam Rhea," Yunah said sincerely, standing and bowing her head slightly in respect.
Rhea gave her a warm smile and walked away, her heels clicking against the café floor.
As the sound of her footsteps faded, Yunah exhaled heavily and sank into the seat opposite Noah. She took a long sip of her cappuccino, as if to steady herself, then set the cup down with deliberate calm.
Her gaze lifted, sharp and unwavering, locking onto Noah. "Now," she said, her tone firm, "I think we can talk."
Noah stiffened, leaning slightly forward, his nerves tightening despite his outward composure. "What… what do you want to talk about, Di?" His voice held a trace of panic he couldn't hide.
Yunah's eyes bore into his, her silence stretching long enough to make his heartbeat quicken. Then, softly, she asked, "You… do you perhaps—"
Her words trailed off, hanging heavy in the air, leaving Noah more unsettled than he had ever been in his life.