House of Cards || Daerin

5. The Prey And Predator

DANIELLE

She was here.

Standing in front of me, her button-up shirt clung to her curves, its deep navy color contrasting sharply with her pale skin. The fabric was smooth and sleek, accentuating her figure in all the right places.

Today, she looked dangerous—entirely different from the version I saw yesterday. There was a new confidence in her stance, a fire in her eyes.

Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and the faint scent of her perfume, subtle and intoxicating, filled the air between us.

It was a scent I wanted to drown in, one so addicting I knew I could never get enough of it.

Kang Haerin, the girl I had spent my entire time in London researching, stood right before me.

Guess we’re meant to be.

"Me? I didn’t follow you anywhere. I should be asking you that question," she said, folding her arms over her chest, attempting to sound firm.

Her eyes, dark and striking, tried to convey annoyance, but it only intrigued me more.

I smiled as I slowly moved toward her.

I stopped just a few feet away, close enough to catch every detail of her. My gaze lingered, drinking her in.

My eyes inevitably found the small heart tattoo just below her ear—a detail I hadn’t noticed before.

It was cute, yet attractive at the same time, perfectly placed in a spot that begged to be kissed—or bitten.

No one had ever had this effect on me before.

I wasn’t the type to stick to one person. Commitment? Far too much work for someone like me.

Yet, here I was, entirely consumed by her.

When I didn’t respond, she spoke again, her curiosity clearly piqued.

"Who are you, and how do you know Hanni and Minji?" Her brow arched, her attempt at intimidation only making her seem more endearing.

"Who are you, and how do you know Hanni and Minji?" I echoed.

I knew a bit about her.

She had two degrees in fashion design and interior decorating but wasn’t currently employed in either field. She left her first job and now worked for some wedding planning company.

I didn’t get to dig any deeper—after all, the real prize was standing right in front of me.

The universe really does have a wicked sense of humour.

"That’s my question," she huffed, frustration seeping into her tone. "Anyway, this is supposed to be my room, so kindly move."

I raised an eyebrow, amused, an impressed smile playing on my lips. I hadn’t been this entertained in a long time.

"The last thing I expected was to be kicked out of a room in my own house," I said with a soft laugh, watching as her eyes widened in realization.

"You're—are you Hanni’s sister?" she asked. I nodded in confirmation.

"Oh—oh my God, I’m so sorry," she stammered, her face flushing with embarrassment as she began to apologize.

"And you?" I asked, cutting her off.

"I’m Minji’s friend and part of the wedding planning team, so—I’m staying here," she explained quickly, clearly flustered.

"And Hanni told me this was my room but I’ll just..." she trailed off, pointing awkwardly toward the hallway.