How she finds the most random moments to read a book—case in point, she was reading something at the dinner with our VPs and Levi.
I only glimpsed once—okay, three times—and caught the words “fated mates” and “pack alpha”. God knows why I went home that night and googled what that shit meant.
And that took me deeper into my understanding of this woman who seemed utterly magnetic yet dangerously elusive.
“What?” She tilts her head. “Nothing to say, Mr. Choi.”
I smirk at the correct pronunciation that she has childishly granted me, I suppose. “I’m not sure what to say without setting you off, ???.” (Aegiya ~ baby)
Her own little smirk drops off her face, clearly uncomfortable with the term of endearment I randomly threw at her. I doubt she knows it means ‘baby.’
And I am almost certain she doesn’t know that I’m not using it in a good way. It’s almost… entertaining.
“And I’m not sure whether you actually mean your apology. I’m actually waiting for you to start mouthing off again.”
God!She needs a more expanded vocabulary and find some boring synonyms for the word ‘mouth’.
And you need to control your fucking gaze, Taewon.
“I did say it won’t happen again,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“Christ, you’re such a child,” she mutters beforesquaring her shoulders. “I told Levi the truth. He knows what exactly happened ten years ago—about his parents sticking their nose in… whatever. So he knows why I’ve been avoiding them. Your questions have been answered just… get them from him.”
I freeze.
I had somewhat guessed that our suspicions about his parents intervening were proven true when Levi came to me, after his chat with Iris. But I suppose, this is yet another confirmation.
“So I’d appreciate it if we close the topic and keep our interactions… civil. I’m still supposed to be working with you all.” She averts her eyes uncharacteristically. It’s almost as if she’s draining herself with the confession and my stomach clenches.
Fuck. I don’t want her retreating like that. I want the smirk back. Even anger would be more tolerable than having her suddenly immersed in her sad past with Levi.
I turn sideways and lean back against the stone edge of the fountain, folding my arms like I’m bored—like my pulse isn’t hammering in my throat.
“Well,” I say mildly. “If we’re done unpacking decade-old trauma in the cold, I’ll let you get back to… avoiding everyone.” My words don’t match my actions. And I make absolutely zero effort to leave her here by herself.
Her head snaps up.
There it is. The spark—or maybe anger. I’d take it.
“I wasn’t avoiding everyone,” she says. “I was avoidingyou. Save you from running your mouth in public.”
Ah, fuck. There it is.Mouthagain.
I push off the fountain and take a step closer,casual. Deliberate. “You don’t like merunningmy mouth or just… my mouth?”
“I hate your mouth,” she says promptly, but I catch the immediate flush in her cheeks. “It’s… reckless. Unfiltered.”
“But Iris,” I murmur, another step, “you keep bringing it up.”
Her eyes flick to my lips before she can stop herself. Barely a second. But I catch it. Of course I fucking do.
“That’s not—don’t flatter yourself,” she says, but her voice is sharper now. “I’m just stating facts.”
“Facts,” I repeat, amused. “Funny. Most people don’t fixate on a man’s mouth unless it’s bothering them.”
“It bothers me because you use it to relay your uninformed opinions,” she says flatly.
“Careful, ???,” I say softly. I’m close enough now that I can see the tiny hitch in her breathing. “You’re going to give me the wrong impression.” (Aegiya ~ baby)
