Chasing Perfection || Lee Know

The Kitchen Chessboard - Games people play

Hyejin's POV:
The late afternoon sunlight streamed into the open kitchen, casting a golden glow on the marble countertops. Hyejin stood at the sink, washing vegetables for dinner while mentally preparing for the evening. Every step of her plan required precision—not just in cooking but in manipulation. She had spent the day carefully laying groundwork, sprinkling bits of misinformation for Hana to find and run with.

Lee Know, as usual, had drifted into the kitchen like a cat, quiet but keenly observant. He settled into his usual spot at the island countertop, watching her with an air of casual curiosity.

"Busy day?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"Not as busy as yours, I'm sure," she replied without looking up, her hands moving swiftly as she rinsed the vegetables.

"True," he said, leaning back in his chair. "But I still find time to check on my employees."

Hyejin smirked, glancing at him over her shoulder. "I'm not sure if that's a compliment or a warning."

"Maybe both," he teased, his tone light.

The chicken was roasting in the oven now, filling the kitchen with the warm, inviting aroma of herbs and spices. Hyejin moved with practiced efficiency, chopping vegetables and seasoning them with a pinch of salt and pepper. She had always found cooking therapeutic, a rare moment where her hands and mind could focus on a single, tangible task.

Lee Know, however, seemed intent on disrupting that peace.

"Do you always chop vegetables like that?" he asked, watching her technique with interest.

"Like what?" she replied, not missing a beat.

"Like you're auditioning for a cooking show," he said, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

Hyejin paused, narrowing her eyes at him. "Should I take that as a compliment or an insult?"

"Definitely a compliment," he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm impressed. You even look like you're enjoying it."

"Maybe because I am," she said, returning to her chopping. "Cooking is one of the few things in life that doesn't talk back."

Lee Know laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "Fair point. Though I think you'd miss my commentary if I weren't here."

"Unlikely," she said dryly, though her lips twitched in amusement.

"You know," he started, "most people would find it intimidating to cook for me."

Hyejin snorted, rinsing the board with practiced efficiency. "Most people don't know you well enough to realize you're just a glorified food critic."

"Glorified?" he echoed, pretending to be offended.

"You sit here, watching me work, throwing out commentary like you're Gordon Ramsay," she said, turning to face him with a raised eyebrow. "What's next? A monologue about how the chicken should be cooked to 'perfection'?"

Lee Know tilted his head, pretending to consider. "I could. But I'd rather see if you can meet my high standards without any guidance."

"Generous of you," she said dryly, grabbing a towel to dry her hands. "But don't think for a second I'm doing this to impress you."

"Impressing me wouldn't be the worst thing," he said with a grin.

Hyejin crossed her arms, leaning against the counter opposite him. "And why would I want to do that?"

"Because," he said, his voice dropping just slightly, "you hate losing."

She stiffened for a split second before masking it with a laugh. "Losing? This isn't a competition."

"Everything's a competition with you," Lee Know said, his tone teasing but pointed. "You just won't admit it."

Hyejin rolled her eyes, turning back to the oven. "If this is your way of getting a rise out of me, it's not working."

"We'll see," he murmured, his smirk lingering as he leaned back to observe her.

As she worked, Hyejin's mind flickered back to her earlier conversation with Hana. She had dropped the perfect bait, hinting at her supposed dissatisfaction with her role as Lee Know's private chef.

A few hours ago~

"It's just frustrating," Hyejin had said, feigning vulnerability. "I work so hard, but it feels like he doesn't even notice. Sometimes I think about quitting."

Hana had practically lit up at the admission, her expression a mix of sympathy and poorly concealed glee. "That's terrible, Hyejin. You deserve better."

Hyejin had nodded solemnly, inwardly smirking. She knew Hana would relay this to Lee Know as soon as possible, hoping to drive a wedge between them. What Hana didn't know was that Lee Know was already in on the game.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you going to stare at me all evening, or are you actually hungry?" Hyejin asked, her voice cutting through the quiet hum of the kitchen.

"I can do both," Lee Know replied, resting his chin in his hand. "Multitasking is a skill."

"Impressive," she said, rolling her eyes as she placed the seasoned vegetables onto a baking tray.

"Is this your way of saying you're impressed with me?" he asked, his tone teasing.

"Don't flatter yourself," she shot back.

Lee Know grinned, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. "Come on, admit it. You'd miss me if I stopped hanging around the kitchen."

Hyejin arched an eyebrow. "You mean hovering? Like an overgrown housecat?"

"Housecat?" he repeated, pretending to be offended. "I prefer to think of myself as more... refined."

"Sure," she said, smirking as she slid the tray of vegetables into the oven. "Refined like a stray looking for scraps."

"Now you're just being mean," he said, though his eyes sparkled with amusement.

By the time dinner was ready, the atmosphere in the kitchen had shifted slightly. The banter had softened, replaced by a comfortable silence as Lee Know watched Hyejin plate the food with meticulous care.

"You take this pretty seriously," he observed, his tone neutral but curious.

"Cooking?" she asked, not looking up.

"Everything," he clarified. "You always go all in."

Hyejin paused for a moment before responding, her voice quieter than usual. "Why bother doing something if you're not going to give it your best?"

Lee Know tilted his head, studying her. "Fair point."

She placed the plate in front of him with a flourish, her usual sass returning. "Now, let's see if your feedback lives up to my effort."

He picked up his fork, taking a deliberate bite. His expression remained neutral as he chewed, and Hyejin watched him closely, trying to gauge his reaction.

"Well?" she prompted, crossing her arms.

Lee Know set his fork down, meeting her gaze with a smirk "Not bad."

"Not bad?" she repeated, her tone incredulous. "That's it?"

He smirked, clearly enjoying her reaction. "It's excellent. But I couldn't just give you all the satisfaction at once."

"You're impossible," she muttered, though her lips twitched in a reluctant smile.

Lee Know's POV:

In Lee Know's office, a few hours back~

Sure enough, Hana had approached him earlier in the day, her expression one of faux concern.

"Hyejin seems... troubled," she began, her voice hushed as though she were sharing a secret.

Lee Know raised an eyebrow, feigning interest. "Oh? What's wrong?"

"She feels unappreciated," Hana said, her tone dripping with sympathy. "I think she might be planning to leave. She said you don't respect her enough."

Lee Know's expression shifted just enough to show subtle unease, and he nodded slowly. "I see. That's... concerning."

Hana, clearly thinking she had gained the upper hand, leaned in slightly. "I thought you should know. She's been working so hard, but it seems like she feels invisible."

"Thank you for telling me," he said, his tone even. "I'll see what I can do."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, as he watched Hyejin cleaning up the kitchen, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of amusement and admiration. She had played Hana like a finely tuned instrument, and Hana had danced to her tune without hesitation.

"Something on your mind?" Hyejin asked, glancing at him over her shoulder.

Lee Know shook his head, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Just thinking about how entertaining you are."

Hyejin frowned. "Entertaining?"

"In a good way," he clarified, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're full of surprises."

Hyejin rolled her eyes but didn't press further, focusing instead on drying the last of the dishes.

Lee Know leaned back in his chair, his smirk widening. Whatever game Hyejin was playing, he was more than willing to play along—for now.