DANCE WITH THE DEVIL

CHAPTER 20

Jaemin had grown accustomed to the relentless pace of his life, yet lately, he found himself wondering why he hadn't engaged in anything more stimulating. His days had devolved into a monotonous cycle of signing papers and reviewing contracts, a far cry from the action-packed weeks that had preceded them.

He had successfully dealt with Weishen, imposing a lifetime penalty on the Chinese gang for their transgressions against Nucleus's Lady. The victory felt hollow, overshadowed by the mundane reality that followed.

As he roamed the expansive halls of the Lee household, he'd often cross paths with Areum and Chenle. They had been given free rein to come and go as they pleased, which meant their interactions consisted mostly of fleeting eye contact or casual greetings before Jaemin hurried off to attend to more pressing matters. But now that he finally had some downtime, he could prioritize his personal plans.

Descending the stairs toward the training ground, he entered one of the smaller rooms. His heart quickened when he spotted Areum, deftly handling knives with an impressive agility.

"I see Haechan's an effective teacher," he remarked with a grin.

Startled, Areum reflexively threw a knife, but Jaemin's quick reflexes allowed him to dodge it with ease. Her eyes widened as she realized who it was, shifting her gaze from the knife on the floor back to him.

"Do you have a death wish?" she exclaimed, her expression a mixture of surprise and indignation.

He chuckled, picking up the knife and stepping closer. "Clearly, your blade isn't fast enough to pin me. Enjoying your stay, hm?"

"You literally made me stay," she replied, nudging at the blade in his hand. "Give it back."

"Go get it yourself," he challenged, a teasing glint in his eyes.

Areum scoffed, still smarting from earlier when Haechan had mocked her skills.

"Hmm, no?" Jaemin pressed, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.

"Ugh, have it yourself," she said, stomping past him.

"You can't refuse the boss's challenge, ma chérie," he countered, his voice smooth as he followed her.

She halted at his words, turning to face him, her expression defiant. "Tch, you can't order me around."

"Clearly, I can," he hummed, stepping closer and letting his lips brush against her neck. "If you win, I'll let you do whatever you want to me."

The challenge piqued her interest almost instantly. "Sir Na, are you perhaps beginning to like me?"

He chuckled, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "I don't know; I've been so busy handling work that I sometimes forget you're here."

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Take that knife to your ass."

"But I must admit, your name is spoken everywhere," he continued, lightly kissing the back of her ear. "It makes me wonder what you're doing so far."

"I'm doing quite well, thank you," she replied, looking up at him with a bright smile. "Besides, you're lucky that I still like you. You just gave me a reason to get closer to you."

Before he could respond, she unexpectedly elbowed him in the ribs. He stumbled back, but the shock quickly morphed into a smirk.