Mr. Jerk | Jaywon

CHAPTER 3: first meal

JUNGWON

I found myself standing in my office kitchen, the scent of freshly chopped vegetables and sizzling olive oil filling the air. My mind, however, was far from the meal I was preparing. I couldn't stop thinking about the letter I found on my door last night. The way my name was handwritten on the envelope, as if someone knew me personally. But when I opened it, the note inside was completely blank—no message, no clue, just my name staring back at me.

The memory of it left me feeling unsettled, like a puzzle with a missing piece. Who would leave me something like that? And why? My thoughts kept circling back to that blank note, trying to make sense of it, but the more I thought about it, the more frustrated I became.

I forced myself to refocus on the task at hand—cooking a nutritious meal for the CEO. It was a simple dish, designed to ease him into healthier eating habits without overwhelming him. I was determined to make this work, even if Jay was resistant to change.

But no matter how much I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. My eyes kept drifting back to the countertop, half-expecting to see another letter appear out of nowhere.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my hand, snapping me back to reality. I gasped and pulled my hand back, realizing I had accidentally touched the edge of the hot pan. I shrieked in pain, quickly running my hand under cold water. The sting was intense, but it was nothing compared to the jolt of fear that ran through me.

What was happening to me? Why couldn't I stop thinking about that letter?

I wheeled the push cart tray into the VIP elevator, the dishes I had carefully prepared for Mr. Park neatly arranged and ready to be served. The elevator doors slid shut behind me, and I reached for the access card Sunoo had given me, sliding it into the scanner beside the control panel.

The screen blinked for a moment, then displayed a harsh red 'Denied.' I frowned, pulling the card out and trying again, hoping it was just a mistake. But each time, the same message flashed on the screen, and frustration began to bubble up inside me.

This was supposed to be simple, get in, deliver the meal, and get out. But now, I was stuck here, unable to access the floor I needed. I could feel the minutes ticking by, each one adding to my growing anxiety.

Just as I was about to try the card one last time, the scanner suddenly lit up, and the screen displayed 'Access Granted.' I blinked in surprise, wondering how that had happened, when I felt someone behind me.

Turning my head, I looked up and found myself face-to-face with a man standing incredibly close. His pale skin seemed to glow under the elevator's soft lighting, and his thick brows framed a pair of sharp, dark eyes. His high, pointed nose added to his striking features, but it was his smile that left me stunned—a smile that revealed straight white teeth, and... fangs?

For a moment, I was too shocked to react, caught off guard by his presence and his unusual appearance. The man's smile widened as he noticed my reaction, his fangs only adding to the strange charm that seemed to radiate from him.

The man just smiled and, without hesitation, brushed past me, moving gracefully into the elevator. I stood there, momentarily stunned, before shaking off the feeling and pushing my tray inside. The doors closed behind us, sealing the two of us in the small, enclosed space.

Neither of us spoke as the elevator began to go up. I pressed the button for the CEO's floor, and the silence that followed was thick with awkwardness. The soft hum of the elevator was the only sound, and I could feel the man's presence behind me, almost like a weight pressing on my back.