Loving the Playboy||L.Hs

three.

"You just finished your meeting, right?" Jake asked as Heeseung leaned back in his chair, nodding briefly.

"So?" Heeseung asked, suspicion lacing his tone as he watched his friend, who had arrived at his office unannounced.

Jake shifted on his feet, his gaze darting around the room as he scratched the nape of his neck.

"Spit it out. I don't have all day," Heeseung pressed, his voice sharp as his attention flicked between a document on his desk and the buzzing notifications on his phone. He didn't bother reacting to the sound; he already knew who it could be.

Jake finally sighed. "Yumin is bothering me. She just can't stop asking about you."

Heeseung rolled his eyes, annoyance flashing across his face. "I told you, she was a one-time thing. And besides," he said, pausing as a smirk curved his lips, "she wasn't even that good."

His tone dropped to a whisper, dripping with amusement as he added, "I'm not missing anything."

Jake chuckled, shaking his head as he sat down on the plush leather couch in Heeseung's office. But his silence made Heeseung suspicious.

"Come on, I know there's more," Heeseung urged, his brow raised as he unlocked his phone and glanced at the message lighting up his screen.

Unsurprisingly, it was from Yumin. Heeseung scoffed and, without hesitation, blocked her number before tossing his phone onto the desk.

Jake grinned. "Fine. I know you've heard about the new club in town, right? Let's go tonight. It's been ages since we hung out. And besides," he added with a sly smile, "there are some new girls I want to introduce to you."

Heeseung leaned back in his chair, a slow grin spreading across his face. He liked where this was going.

"Tell me the time, and I'll be there," he said.

Jake nodded, already typing away on his phone. "Eight. Don't be late," he said as he stood, leaving Heeseung to his work.

A notification buzzed on Heeseung's phone moments later: 8 PM. Don't flake.

He smirked as he returned to his paperwork. Even though he hated it, this was the life he had chosen-the life that defined him as the young, successful CEO everyone admired. He had worked tirelessly, even leaving everything behind to make a name for himself overseas. But behind the polished exterior and high-class reputation was another side of him.

Hooking up with different women was a habit, a game he had grown accustomed to. No strings, no commitments-just fleeting moments of pleasure that kept his nights interesting.

---

The club was everything Jake had hyped it up to be. Crowds lined the sidewalk, waiting for their turn to enter the glowing neon-lit building. Inside, the heavy bass of the music vibrated through the walls, and the air was thick with energy, mingled with the faint scent of expensive cologne and alcohol.

Heeseung stepped through the entrance, scanning the room until his eyes landed on his friends gathered near a VIP booth. Their laughter and animated chatter were almost drowned out by the music.

"Took you long enough," Jake said as Heeseung slid into the seat beside Jay, who was nursing a glass of whiskey.

"Work," Heeseung replied simply, ordering his own drink from the waitress who lingered by the table.

Jake grinned. "Well, you're right on time. The fun is just getting started."

Heeseung followed Jake's gaze to see four women approaching their table, each dressed to impress and exuding confidence.

His eyes briefly swept over them. None of them particularly stood out, but they'd do for the night. That was how it always was.

One of the women, a petite brunette with bold red lips, took the seat beside him. Without hesitation, Heeseung placed a hand around her waist as he sipped his drink.

"You're very handsome," she said, leaning closer to make herself heard over the pounding music.

Heeseung chuckled, the compliment so familiar it barely registered. "I get that a lot," he replied smoothly, his tone laced with practiced charm.

"Yerin," she introduced herself, her voice tinged with flirtation.

"Heeseung," he said, his breath brushing against her ear as he leaned in closer.

But even as he spoke, his attention began to drift. His eyes wandered across the room, scanning the crowd without much interest-until they landed on someone familiar.

A figure he hadn't seen in years, someone who had once been impossible to forget.

She was walking toward the exit, another girl clinging to her arm.

His smirk returned, unbidden.

"Pretty name for a pretty girl," he murmured to Yerin, though his mind was already elsewhere.

Yerin giggled, resting her head lightly against his chest, but Heeseung barely noticed. His thoughts were consumed by the past, memories he thought he had long buried.

"She hasn't changed a bit," he muttered under his breath, his gaze fixed on the retreating figure.

Yerin tilted her head up, her brow furrowed. "What?"

He snapped back to the present, forcing a smile. "Nothing," he said smoothly. "You just smell really good."

She giggled again, seemingly satisfied with the answer.

But Heeseung's mind was far from her, his thoughts spiraling as he watched the club door close behind the girl he never thought he'd see again.

His body was there, but his mind was racing with thoughts he had pushed away for far too long.