[ Kidnap ] Seungmin x skz ff~~

chapter 34

The sun had barely begun to rise when Damien stirred awake, the soft light filtering through the curtains casting long shadows across his spacious bedroom. He lay still for a moment, staring up at the ceiling, his mind already racing with thoughts of the day ahead. But among the usual haze of work tasks, board meetings, and numbers, one image kept flickering in his mind—Seungmin.

A slow, almost imperceptible smile curled at the corner of his lips as he thought about the shy, blushing young man who had stumbled into his office yesterday. He hadn’t been able to shake the memory of Seungmin, of the way his cheeks had flushed under Damien’s teasing, his voice trembling just slightly when their eyes had locked.

With a soft grunt, Damien pushed himself out of bed, moving with a practiced efficiency. He showered quickly, the hot water rolling over his muscles as he let his thoughts linger on Seungmin for just a little longer.

He’ll be starting today… Damien mused, his smile returning as he stepped out of the shower, his mind already imagining their next encounter.

By the time he was dressed, his usual sharp, tailored suit fitting perfectly over his broad shoulders, the house was still quiet. He slipped out without a word, not wanting to disturb anyone. His mornings were always like this—silent, solitary, just the way he preferred. But today, there was a faint buzz of excitement under his composed exterior, something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Seated in the backseat of his sleek, black car, Damien leaned back, staring out at the city as it passed by. The driver knew better than to disturb him, the ride quiet except for the faint hum of the engine. His thoughts, however, were far from silent.

He was going to see Seungmin again.

A soft smile crept onto his lips before he forced it away, his expression hardening once more as they neared the office. The smile belonged to the private part of himself, the one he rarely showed anyone. He was Damien, the CEO, a man known for his aggressive, ruthless approach to business. His employees feared him, respected him—but no one dared cross him. And he liked it that way. Except, it seemed, when it came to Seungmin. For some reason, the boy had already softened something in him, something he didn’t know existed anymore.

As the car pulled up to the entrance of the towering office building, Damien stepped out, his face a mask of cold indifference, as sharp and impenetrable as ever. He strode into the building with purpose, his steps brisk, and his presence commanding attention from the moment he entered. Employees glanced up nervously as he passed, quickly returning to their work as if fearing even the slightest slip-up under his watchful gaze.

But behind the mask, his thoughts were elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Seungmin was already up, a mixture of excitement and nerves swirling in his chest as he finished getting ready. The memory of his interview with Damien still lingered in his mind, making his stomach flutter in ways he wasn’t ready to admit. He had taken extra care with his appearance this morning, dressing in a neatly pressed shirt and slacks, his hair styled just so. He told himself it was because it was his first day at work, but a part of him knew it was more than that.

Damien.

The thought of seeing him again made Seungmin’s heart race. He didn’t know what to expect from the CEO, but the way Damien had looked at him yesterday—so intense, so focused—made it hard to forget. Seungmin could feel his cheeks heating up just thinking about it, and he quickly shook his head, trying to focus on the task at hand.

After a quick breakfast, Seungmin grabbed his bag and headed out the door, the morning air crisp and cool as he made his way to the office. His heart beat faster with every step, excitement mixing with a nervous energy he couldn’t quite shake. The office building loomed in front of him sooner than he expected, and before he knew it, he was walking through the front doors, ready to start his new job.

The morning passed in a blur of introductions, paperwork, and learning the ropes. Seungmin was shown to his desk, where he quietly settled in, familiarizing himself with his tasks. But no matter how hard he tried to focus on work, his thoughts kept drifting back to Damien. Would he see him today? Would the CEO even acknowledge him after yesterday?

His heart fluttered at the thought, a small, giddy feeling he couldn’t suppress.

Damien, on the other hand, had spent the morning buried in files, his sharp mind cutting through the work with precision. But even as he went about his duties, Seungmin was never far from his thoughts. Every now and then, he would glance at the clock, wondering when he might have an excuse to step out of his office and see the boy again. He knew he shouldn’t be this distracted—it wasn’t like him—but something about Seungmin had ignited a spark in him that he couldn’t ignore.

Finally, he pushed his chair back and stood, the sudden need to stretch his legs giving him the perfect excuse to take a walk through the office. He didn’t need to justify it to himself—he was the CEO, after all.

As he stepped out into the hall, his eyes scanned the room, searching. And then he saw him.

Seungmin was sitting at his desk, focused intently on his work, his brow furrowed in concentration. Damien’s heart skipped a beat at the sight, the corners of his lips twitching upward ever so slightly. He took a step forward, his gaze fixed on Seungmin, watching the way his fingers moved over the keyboard, the way his lips pressed together in focus.

But then, as if sensing the weight of his gaze, Seungmin looked up. Their eyes met.

For a moment, time seemed to stop.

Seungmin’s breath caught in his throat, his heart thudding wildly in his chest. The intensity of Damien’s gaze made him feel exposed, like the CEO could see right through him. His cheeks flushed, the heat creeping up his neck as he quickly looked away, embarrassed by the sudden rush of emotion that filled him. But he couldn’t help it—Damien’s presence was overwhelming, his silent power drawing Seungmin in no matter how much he tried to resist.

Damien, however, didn’t look away. He watched as Seungmin blushed, the sight sending a surge of warmth through his chest. He hadn’t intended to stare for so long, but there was something about Seungmin’s reaction that made it impossible to tear his gaze away.

With slow, measured steps, Damien made his way over to Seungmin’s desk, his expression unreadable. He stopped just in front of him, his towering presence casting a shadow over the smaller man. Seungmin looked up nervously, his heart racing as Damien stood so close.

“Seungmin,” Damien said, his voice low, almost a whisper, as if the rest of the office didn’t exist. “How are you settling in?”

Seungmin swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly as he tried to find his voice. “I-I’m good… thank you.”

Damien’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. He leaned down slightly, his voice soft but filled with an unmistakable authority. “How about coffee after work? Just the two of us.”

Seungmin’s eyes widened in surprise, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the blood rushing to his cheeks again, his face turning a deep shade of red. He hadn’t expected this—Damien, asking him out, in front of everyone.

“I… yes, I’d like that,” Seungmin stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Damien’s smile widened, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. “Good. I’ll see you then.”

With that, Damien straightened, his expression returning to its usual cool, composed mask as he turned and walked away, leaving Seungmin sitting at his desk, his heart racing and his mind spinning with thoughts of what the evening might bring.