/Contains suggestive words

In this situation, working with Sa-eon would be no different than stepping into a pit of vipers at will.

"This position requires a letter of recommendation to get past the initial screening. I can only write one from our centre. If you're not interested, my recommendation will go to someone else."
"...!"

Heeju's gaze lingered on the job advertisement, betraying a spark of ambition mixed with a stubborn refusal to acknowledge it.

"You wrote down how much you wanted this, and now you're acting all stiff and proud for no reason..."

The centre director suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing meaningfully at Heeju.

"Wait... don't tell me. Is it because of 'that'?"
"Because of what?
"When I was dating, my girlfriends used to make expressions like yours whenever they tried to get tickets to a fan meeting or concert of their favourite idol. The nervousness and excitement made their legs tremble."
"...!"
"Why did you flinch? That makes it even more suspicious!"

The grinning director flared his nostrils in exaggerated amusement.

"Are you really going to throw away your chance to become a successful fangirl?"

"It's not like that!
"Honey, if Baek Sa-eon is already married, you can at least console yourself with a successful career."

The director laughed when he saw Heeju smoking. It felt good to tease her mercilessly.

"I can't understand the heart of a virgin."
I'll be 30 soon!
"I didn't know you were so serious, Heeju."
That's not what I meant!
"But Baek Sa-eon must come from a powerful family, right? His wife must be just as impressive. A guy like him won't marry just anyone."
"..."

Heeju's expression changed slightly.

She had never surpassed, equalled or even come close to Baek Sa-eon in her life.

As someone who had always been regarded as the inferior, the so-called 'wife', she couldn't let this pass.

Write me a letter of recommendation.
"What?"
I'm going to apply for the job.

Heeju's face hardened with determination as she couldn't suppress her impulse.

Just once, if only once, she wanted to be in the same time and space as him.

If she were a sign language interpreter and he the President's spokesman, it might be the only chance they had to appear remotely equal on the surface. Rather than be pitied as a political pawn in her father-in-law's campaign, she decided to make the most of the opportunity.

She hoped that at least something worthwhile would come out of this disgusting arranged marriage.

***

Blunders, profanities, insults... the words spun endlessly in her mind.

How was she going to get such remarks out of him? It was the first time she had struggled so hard to concentrate during a phone call.

Sitting by her vanity mirror, Heeju gazed distractedly at her reflection as his voice came over the speakerphone.

-"There will be much to discuss between us today."
"Well... I wouldn't count on it," she muttered, pressing her fingers to her temple in frustration.
-"First, send me all the photos you have of Heeju. Every single one, originals included."
"What?"
-"All of them."

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

But I don't have any! What photographs?

-"Do you think I would let my wife's name be tainted by a few grainy leg shots? What kind of amateur do you think I am?"

Heeju looked at her phone, disturbed by his cold tone.

-"Are there any other pictures? Something that shows her face maybe? The girl supposedly has a birthmark on her eyebrow."
"...!"

His words left her with an eerie feeling.

Leaning closer to the mirror, she studied her reflection. She brushed her eyebrow in the opposite direction, revealing a small, hidden mole.

How could Baek Sa-eon know that?

It was a detail she herself hadn't noticed until she started wearing make-up as a teenager.

-W-why should I give it to you?" she stammered.

His voice became firm and determined. "Because I don't want another creep like 406 pulling stunts with them."

"...!"
-"So if you're planning on leaking them, give them to me."
"...!"
-I'll compensate you generously. Let's make a proper deal."

Heeju's eyes couldn't focus due to the shock.

Again... she was being toyed with by him...

-Why would someone like you, someone who could end this sham of a marriage right now, let yourself be blackmailed over and over again? As a fellow human being, I really don't understand it.

Why is he holding on so tightly to someone as insignificant as me?

I won't let him get away with it this time!

Heeju's expression became determined.

She had realised during their last exchange that Baek Sa-eon had an unusual sensitivity when it came to the concept of a wife.

Going after his reputation wasn't nearly as effective as hitting this particular nerve.

Once again, she made herself the victim. By now she was aware that 'wife' was a sore point of his.

"I'll send you something else, but no photos."
-"What is it this time?"

Heeju squeezed her eyes shut and steeled her will.

"Haa... haa..."
-"...!"
"Hnnng..."
-"What the... what are you..."

For the first time, the presidential spokesman was left speechless.

Heeju was burning with shame, but she couldn't stop. Her only goal was to make Sa-eon curse out loud.

-"Nggh...!"

The distorted, almost digitally altered groan echoed grotesquely through the line. It continued with stubborn determination.

"Something like this~"

Baek Sa-eon seemed too stunned to answer.

"I'm just relaying exactly what I heard," she added nonchalantly.
- "..."
"Better than photos, don't you think?"
- "Haa... d*mn it..."

When Sa-eon's defeated sigh came through, Heeju's eyes lit up like a light bulb.

"Shall I do it again?"
- "..."
"Hmm, hngh... like that?"

The sound of uneven breathing came from the other end of the line, sharp and erratic.

- "You... son of a b&%#h."

The curse slipped out as Sa-eon couldn't hold it back any longer.

Heeju was elated when she realised that she had managed to shake "Baek Sa-eon" - the Baek Sa-eon. A strange, inexplicable thrill coursed through her, resembling a guilty satisfaction.

-Knowing that I'm her husband, you still choose to humiliate her in front of me? Is that how people ask for death these days?"

He lashed out word for word.

-I'm going to fill your mouth with water, keep pouring it in until your lungs, throat and vocal chords are all bloated and torn. I'll see if you can still talk.

Was he threatening to torture me?

Even though Heeju was surprised, she quickly checked if the recording was still running.

"Wow! Keep going..."

Would that be enough vulgar words? Her hands shook slightly, but she forced a weak grin.

-"Drowned bodies fall apart at the slightest touch. If 406 has parents, I'll throw his body at their feet. If not, you'll be dog food."

He spoke these vicious words without hesitation. It wasn't just an insult, it was practically a death threat.

With a single nudge from her, Sa-eon had completely lost control.

-It is people like 406 who make society so vile. Someone has to clean up the mess."
"..."
-I'll start by rinsing their throats with bleach. When you slaughter a pig, you scrub out its intestines with detergent. Why should 406 be treated any differently?"
"So waterboarding1? And what?"

The cold, cutting tone stopped abruptly.

-"There's something wrong with you from the start..."
"?"
-"Talking to you makes me sick."
"What?"
-"Stop swallowing your saliva so loudly. I can hear everything."
"...!"
-"Your preferences are 'disgusting'."
"P- Preferences?"
-"Did you teach Heeju that too? F*ck!"

Startled, Heeju pulled the phone slightly away from her ear.

The device felt hot, though she couldn't tell if it was from mechanical overheating or Baek Sa-eon's seething rage. Either way, she felt like she was going to suffocate, even though she hadn't eaten anything.

-Watch what you say. Especially since Heeju has no idea, you're spreading this nonsense about the two of you."

His voice became darker.

-"Don't spoil her memories. She doesn't have to deal with things she shouldn't."
"...!"

Her heart sank as if it had fallen into a bottomless pit.

Baek Sa-eon wasn't being honest.

-"No matter how despicable you act, it's your character that will be destroyed, not Heeju's. Keep that in mind."

Every time she spoke to Sa-eon, Heeju was painfully reminded of one thing: on the surface, he dismissed her like a cold, indifferent husband. But deep down, he cared for and worried about his young wife more than anyone else.

"...Since when have you been so considerate..."

It wasn't easy to admit this truth. Something that had been building up inside her finally burst out like a sneeze.

"What's the point of telling me all this instead of her?"
-"If I have to thank 406 for one thing..."

Her raised voice was cut short by his interruption.

-"For breaking me out of my complacency."

His words didn't immediately make sense, but they sent an odd chill through her shoulders.

-"Congratulations, you've completely annoyed me."
"...!"
-"If you knew what I've done because of Heeju..."

He whispered the next part as if he was telling a dangerous secret.

-"You wouldn't dare pull such a low trick on me."

His voice, laced with mockery, sank into something heavy and oppressive.

For some reason, Heeju couldn't answer.

What did he mean?

A sudden suspicion crept into Heeju's mind.

It was as if he was hiding something from her... something very important.