Vol 3 Ch 6

A gaze grazed the nape of my neck. The moment I became aware of it, my hair stood on end.

‘Could it be…?’

I couldn’t even bring myself to turn my head. Instead, I observed the situation behind me out of the corner of my eye. My vision, obscured by the brim of my hat, caught sight of only a pair of shoes. Even at a glance, the feet of the person standing behind me were considerably large—at least 20mm longer than my own, which were of average size for a man. Those feet, encased in unadorned handmade leather shoes, seemed to stake a claim on the ground as if conquering it.

My gaze was drawn to the long shadow cast by the tips of those shoes. The man wasn’t just big in his feet; every part of him was overwhelmingly large. His chest and shoulders were broad like a door, exuding an unmistakable sense of threat.

I know a man with a silhouette like that. As far as I know, there’s only one person with such an exceptional physique.

Adrenaline surged through my body like a fountain, and my hands, which had been resting on the ground, curled inward. Veins in my wrists throbbed with a low pulse, pounding like a drumbeat that spread through my bloodstream and reverberated throughout my entire body.

I couldn’t muster the courage to look up. My gaze remained fixed on the shadow cast by the man. Blinking even once felt like it could act as a trigger, setting the “man” into motion.

The man and I stood there, him towering like a massive shadow over the small courtyard.

 “……”

 “……”

A strange, chilling silence stretched between us, as heavy and oppressive as a slab of lead pressing down on my body. Only the sound of the wind, “swoosh,” filled the void, scattering through the courtyard. Envelopes on the wooden veranda fluttered and photos scattered like leaves caught in a gale.

The brim of the hat I had been pressing down wobbled a few times before flipping off entirely, falling to the ground. My long hair, which had been obstructing my view, became disheveled. Through the strands, I caught a clear glimpse of the face hidden in the shadows.

CEO Jang’s lips moved.

 “It’s been a while.”

 “……”

Had I ever been more terrified in my life? My mind screamed at me to run, but my legs gave out, leaving me frozen where I had collapsed. Then, CEO Jang took a step forward. I instinctively scooted backward on my rear. He closed the distance in just a few long strides, and I sprang up like a coiled spring, lunging forward like an arrow loosed from a bowstring.

As I fled, a chilling voice echoed from behind.

 “Bring him back.”

Looking over my shoulder as I bolted toward the veranda, I saw two men in black suits stepping through the doorway. I raced into the main room and flung open the only exit, a window. Just as I was about to climb out, one of the pursuers grabbed me by the scruff of my neck. Their rough grip hauled me to the floor.

Two men grabbed my arms, each securing one side, and dragged me out to the veranda. Pinning me down as if capturing prey, one pressed a hand firmly against the nape of my neck, forcing me face-first onto the wooden floor. I thrashed and screamed, kicking my legs wildly like an insect ensnared in a web.

“Ugh! Let go of me!” Saliva dripped from my gaping mouth, trailing down my chin.

“Stay still, will you?”

I threw all my strength into resisting, elbowing the man on my left in the face and biting down hard on his wrist. He groaned, shaking his arm until I let go. Spitting a curse, he got up and stomped on my face with his shoe.

“Urgh…!”

With my cheek pressed against the cold floor, I glared up at the distorted face of CEO Jang. Standing slightly apart, he extended his hand toward one of his subordinates, who quickly handed him something. When he swung it in the air, a sharp snap revealed the blade of a knife.

The sound of his shoes echoed as he approached me. Raising the knife high, he swung it lightly. A whooshing sound prompted me to shut my eyes tight, bracing for the pain. But instead, the foot pressing on my face suddenly lifted.

The man who had been pinning me down clutched his calf and stumbled back. Blood oozed between his fingers, dripping steadily to the floor.

“Don’t cross the line,” CEO Jang said.

The subordinate retreated. Without a hint of emotion, CEO Jang, who had just slashed his underling’s leg, bent down and picked something up from the ground. He tossed it near my face. The heavy clink told me it was a watch—the one he had clasped on my wrist before.

“To think you’d escape after I loosened your leash.”

CEO Jang sauntered closer, crouching beside me with his legs crossed.

 “I had anticipated this might happen someday, so I made some preparations. But I must admit, I didn’t expect you to hit me where it hurt.”

As he spoke, he nonchalantly unfastened the buttons of his shirt, pulling out a cigarette case from inside his jacket. Placing a slender cigarette between his lips, he lit it and exhaled a plume of smoke.

“My innocent employees paid the price for your little stunt,” he said, blowing smoke in my face. 

My eyes stung, and my nose burned.

“Have you ever considered that the compensation you receive is excessive for your worth?”

At his gesture, the men restraining me stepped back. CEO Jang’s broad hand seized the nape of my neck like a vice. The sheer force paralyzed any thoughts of escape.

“Every business requires investment. Even if it’s not immediately profitable, one must allocate resources for the future.”

“……”

“But before I could even recoup my initial investment, my partner—no, my business—decided to bolt.”

His lips twisted into a sardonic grin as he spoke. Despite his flat tone, I could easily detect the icy anger underlying every word.

“How dare you.”

Gritting his teeth audibly, his thick brow arched sharply upward. Pacing slowly, he tapped his fingers against his brow, as though suppressing a volatile temper.

His hand clamped under my chin, forcing it upward. A sharp pain shot through my jaw—my lip must have split.

“Were my funds insufficient? If you weren’t trying to provoke me, you should’ve just asked for a raise.”

“……”

“I’ve invested time and effort into taming you, only for you to run off. Do you realize how much trouble you’ve caused me?”

Leaning closer, he spoke each syllable with chilling deliberation.

 “Do you have any idea how many sleepless nights you’ve cost me, Seo Suwon?”

He paused deliberately before correcting himself.

 “Or should I say, Seo Yeowon?”

Hearing him utter my real name sent a shiver down my spine.

 “I’ve been thinking about you this entire time,” he continued, his words dripping with malice.

His tone might have seemed sweet, like a lover’s confession, if not for the cruel intent behind them.

“Considering all my options.”

“……”

“Slicing off that cheek of yours and serving it on a plate seemed like the best choice. It’s pale and tender—surely a delicacy surpassing any premium sashimi. But that would ruin such a pretty face. So, I decided to hold off. After all, I need to recover my investment.”

He conveyed his intent to punish me clearly, though whether he was serious or simply trying to intimidate me, I couldn’t tell. The shadow cast by the moonlight veiled his face, concealing his expression. I was grateful for that.

When he finished his cigarette, he dropped the butt to the ground and ground it under his shoe. Gripping the jackknife tightly, he spoke again.

“First, as a warning, I’ll cut off a finger.”

The scene from my dream replayed before my eyes—a man astride me, raising a saw. Struggling beneath him, I eventually lost a finger.

“…I-I was wrong.”

“This knife, believe it or not, is quite sharp. It’ll be over soon.”

I quickly grabbed his wrist, which was pressing against the back of my neck, shaking my head frantically. Instead of screaming for help as I had in the dream, I begged for his forgiveness.

“CEO Jang, I was wrong.”

I was wrong. I was wrong. Trembling uncontrollably, I desperately pleaded for mercy. My strength kept draining from my groin. At this rate, I might wet myself. Reality was far more terrifying than the dream. Worse still, my fingerprints were already a mess. If he saw this…

“You always acted like this, Yeowon.”

“……”

“Playing obedient, doing sweet little gestures, only to seize the chance to run away again?”

Tsk. He clicked his tongue. Covering my clenched fist with his large hand, he squeezed hard, then released it.

“Ugh.”

Even as I groaned in pain, I stubbornly endured.

“You came to me, batting your eyelashes, asking me to take my medication. All that pretense just to buy time to escape.”

Ha. A white breath escaped his lips, mingling with the cold air. He once again tightened his grip around my fist before letting it go. The strength he exerted was incomparable to when he had grabbed my chin earlier.

“…Ugh!”

“I’ve always believed in cutting off trouble at the root before it festers. But in your case, Yeowon, I decided to wait and see. And what did I get? A blow to the back of the head. That’s why I’m furious now.”

“……”

“I’m extremely angry.”

He twisted his lips into a smirk. While his mouth smiled, his eyes remained devoid of emotion, creating a chilling dissonance.

“Don’t make me any angrier. I’ve been holding back the urge to strangle you the moment I saw the back of your head.”

Ugh, ugh. He used the back of his jackknife to force my trembling fingers to straighten out completely. I resisted a few more times, but when I saw the gleaming knife tip in his hand, I gave up.

The fist I’d been clenching so tightly that the veins bulged finally relaxed. Tears dripped from my lashes as I squeezed my eyes shut.

“…Ugh, sniff.”

The scabs covering my bloody fingerprints were laid bare under his gaze. Silence stretched between us. Only the sobs escaping my lips broke the oppressive stillness.

A cold question landed on my face.

“Who did this to you?”

I was in such a state of panic that I couldn’t process his words properly. I tried to clench my fist again, but his grip on my fingers only allowed the faintest twitch.

“I’m asking you.”

“……”

“Which bastard dared to lay a hand on your body?”

Grabbing my face, he demanded an answer, applying a force that felt like it could crush my features entirely.

Then, as if realizing something, he sighed softly.

“…Ah.”

“……”

“Don’t tell me it was you?”

Ah, ah. With his hand gripping my face, words stumbled clumsily out of my mouth, failing to take proper form.

He released his hold on my face and asked, “Why?”

“Sniff…ugh.”

“Why did you mutilate your fingerprints again?”

I broke into heaving sobs. At first, it was a physiological reaction from being unable to breathe properly. But then, the heavy knot that had coiled in my chest finally burst, and I wept like a dam breaking.

Through my blurry vision, I saw CEO Jang’s face. He silently observed me, narrowing his eyes without blinking. An unreadable expression shadowed his features. His grip on the jackknife loosened slightly.

…It couldn’t be, but he almost seemed flustered. I dismissed the thought as soon as it crossed my mind. This man, who intended to pulverize me, wouldn’t be shaken by mere tears.

Seizing the moment, I reached for his waistband. He scowled and twisted my wrist, capturing both in his grip. With no other option, I pressed my tear-soaked cheek against his trousers.

The center of his black suit pants darkened further, growing rapidly in volume. His earlier claim of never having indulged himself seemed true.

“Here you go again.”

“……”

“This time, I won’t let it slide. I’ll get an answer, no matter what it takes.”

Standing up, he tossed the jackknife onto the floor and, with unhesitating hands, unbuckled his belt. The metallic clink echoed sharply in the room as his subordinates turned their backs.

When the man unzipped his zipper, his erect d**k popped out. He put it in my mouth and moved his hips.

“… Ahh, … Huh.”

“… Huu.”

CEO Jang closed his eyes and groaned as he felt the tightness in my throat. I couldn’t swallow it all, so I pressed my cheeks that were bulging out with my thumbs. With a quick movement of his waist, the d**k popped out of my mouth.

With his broad hand gripping his d*ck like a club, he struck my cheek with a resounding slap. My mind went blank, and my vision turned white. As sensation returned, it felt as if a heavy steel pipe had slammed into my cheek and left its mark.

“… Ugh!”

“… Haa, haa… .”

Then he put his erect d**k between my neck and collarbone and started rubbing it. The d**k, which had a smooth surface but was stiff, mercilessly rubbed my thin skin.

His pubic hair was roughly rubbed against my cheeks. I could hear the sound of sandpaper being mercilessly rubbed against a smooth marble floor.

Suddenly, my eyes were drawn to the silvery object lying beside the man’s shoe. Through my wet eyelashes, I stared at it. A watch. When its buckle was fastened, it was hard to discern where it began or ended. By chance, its middle part was twisted, and it suddenly struck me—it looked just like a Möbius strip.

I had thought that all ties had been severed the moment I escaped that place. But it was only then that my foolish self realized it had been nothing but an illusion.

CEO Jang tapped my lips with his c*ck as if knocking on a door. When I slightly parted my lips and extended my tongue, he eagerly pressed the flushed, dark-red glans against it. My groin was damp, likely from rubbing against my tear-soaked face. As I furrowed my brow at the strange sensation of tears shed from my eyes being reabsorbed into my body through my tongue, he continued his actions without pause.

The man pressed his leg tightly against my head. His d**k was sucked into my throat with fierce force. A low voice from above my head made me exclaim.

“… Ah.” Even though I was just sucking it with my tongue without any special skills, the man was happy.

I closed my eyes and looked up at the man who was savoring my mouth. The moment I saw the lump of pleasure rising thickly on his dark face, my jaw tightened. I felt an urge to cut this fleshy club off with my teeth.

At that moment, the man’s eyes widened sharply. The corners of his mouth curved into a long line across his angular cheek. A cold, sardonic sneer spread across his otherwise composed face—a silent warning not to even think about trying anything foolish.

I twisted my face as I was watching. I licked the smooth part just below the glans, exposed above the skin. The glans in my mouth twitched and slurped out precum.

“Huu… .”

The sticky liquid floated around in my mouth mixing with my saliva. An unrefined, pungent smell wafted into my nose. Suddenly, I felt like vomiting.

I fell on all fours, put my hands on the floor, and retched.

“… Ugh.”

Saliva dripped endlessly from my open mouth. Lying face down, I lifted my head to look forward.

Through the man’s legs, I caught glimpses of his employees’ backs. There were three of them, all dressed identically, exuding such a similar presence that it was hard to tell them apart. Despite the unmistakable sound of this sordid scene, they remained motionless, like barricades cordoning off a crime scene, steadfastly standing their ground.

When CEO Jang bent his knees, my view was obstructed. His shadowed face filled my vision, dominating both my eyes completely.

“What are you looking at from between my legs while you’re sucking my d**k?”

The tone in his voice sounded as if he was about to say, “How dare you?”

“You really don’t know your place, huh?”

Suddenly, the man grabbed the back of my collar with an iron grip. With overwhelming strength, he yanked me back into the house. Like a wolf cub caught by the scruff of its neck, I was dragged helplessly by his hand. I tried resisting, gripping the doorframe for support, but it was futile. His strength was far beyond what I could fight against.

The employees who had been standing with their backs turned began to leave the house one by one. The last to exit was the one with a slashed calf, limping heavily as he stepped through the door. Creak. With the sound of the iron door closing, they were gone.

He flung me into a corner of the living room like a trash bag. My palms hit something soft—a blanket, likely spread over the floor in place of a mat.