A/N: Content Warning - some emotional blackmail between Se-ri and her mother (in the scene starting with "When Se-ri enters her father's study." and ending with the section break).
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On his king-sized bed at the Shilla hotel, Alberto is lazing around, watching Seo Dan get ready to leave. She's donned a crisp black pencil skirt and ruffled secretary blouse that narrows down at her waist. A black blazer sits on a chair across from the bed, ready to be worn last. She's dressed with more care than usual today, she had said, because she's going to a concert of the Seoul Philharmonic.
To tell the truth, Alberto doesn't know when he'd met a more impressive woman. She'd majored in cello at Seoul University. She had recently launched a line of fashion inspired by classical music. She is a patron of the arts, and he knows for a fact that she's on the board of several charities. Being with her, he feels like maybe he should be doing more with his life than trading stocks.
Now Seo Dan is sitting on the edge of the bed to slip on her shoes. It's progress. Usually she wears her shoes standing up, and doesn't wait half a second after getting dressed before slipping out the door, with no mercy for his poor heart.
He wonders what it must be like to be a man that she actually cares for. Would she be so maddeningly cool with him too?
"Seo Dan-ssi," says Alberto. "Can I ask you a question?"
Seo Dan hums, a noise which he takes as affirmation.
"Was your ex, Jeong-hyeok," Alberto's face takes on a strange expression. "Was he a bit eccentric?"
Seo Dan raises a perfectly-groomed eyebrow at him. Jeong-hyeok? He was the opposite of eccentric. The man was as routine and predictable as a soldier. "No, not really," she answers Alberto. "Why?"
"Er -" Alberto sees Jeong-hyeok's fake goatee in his mind again. He wonders if he should tell Seo Dan that her ex might be insane. He decides against it.
"I ran into him the other day. I was with Yoon Se-ri and he came to see her about something. I can't believe he's dating my ex. Small world, isn't it?"
"Wait," Seo Dan's face is frozen in shock. "You used to date Yoon Se-ri?"
"A long time ago!" Alberto is quick to defend himself. "Just for a few weeks!" Seo Dan stares at his face for a moment, and then scoffs loudly as she turns back to her clothing.
"Does that woman have a target on my back?" she mutters, shoving on her shoes with more force than strictly necessary. "Every man I like, she's always involved somehow."
"Like?" Alberto grins at her from across the bed. "You like me, Seo Dan-ssi?"
Seo Dan blinks at him for a second, her doe-like eyes wide with surprise. And suddenly Alberto is overcome with emotion. He reaches over across the bed and pulls Seo Dan close to him, till she's lying with her head on his chest and his arms tight around her.
"Ahhh," Seo Dan lets out a little exclamation of surprise. "What are you doing? Argh, let go of me!" She makes some halfhearted attempts to push him away, but Alberto doesn't move. After a second, she settles against his chest and sighs.
"You know, I said I don't cuddle," she grumbles.
"This isn't cuddling." replies Alberto.
"Oh really?" She rolls her eyes, wondering what this man is on about again. But her lips curve slightly upwards. "What is it then?"
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