The dinner has ended. Laughter fades. The night breeze carries the scent of wine, grilled meat, and unresolved tension.
Guests begin trickling downstairs.
HANNA clutches her coat, walking beside JUNHO with calculated grace.
Suddenly—
DAEJIN appears at the entrance, slightly out of breath, in casual wear.
DAEJIN
(sheepish)
"Sorry, everyone. I couldn't join earlier—had to take care of something."
He casually glances at JUNHO and HANNA.
DAEJIN
"I'll drive the Director and Ms. Han back."
Junho gives a short nod. Hanna gives Seri one last sideways look before walking off with them.
Downstairs, the sidewalk is lively with the rest of the team waiting for taxis.
BORA is still slightly tipsy, wobbling in her heels and dramatically clinging onto TAEHYUN like he's her newlywed husband.
BORA
(giggling, tipsy, wobbling slightly)
"Director Lee, be honest… are you a prince? Because if I take off this shoe right now—"
(she dramatically kicks one heel off)
"—you're legally required to find me tomorrow and marry me. That's the fairy tale law!"
EMPLOYEE 1
(catching the shoe mid-air)
"Or at least send her home before midnight before she turns into HR's problem."
TAEHYUN
(chuckling, calm)
"Should I set a timer now, or… wait for the second shoe?"
He lightly straightens her slipping blazer and gently redirects her toward another female employee.
TAEHYUN
"Be a dear and make sure she gets home safe?"
The employee salutes playfully, taking Bora's Now only a few remain.
SERI stands near the curb, checking her phone. Her steps a bit soft, her face a bit flushed—but she's steady. Always steady.
TAEHYUN steps closer.
(smiling warmly)
"Where do you live, Seri-ssi? If it's anywhere near Gangnam or Seocho, I can drop you off. I'm heading that way anyway."
SERI
(sipping the last of her drink, casually)
"Yangjae-dong. Near the flower market."
TAEHYUN
(grinning)
"Perfect. That's literally on the way."
JUNHO
(sharply, from behind)
"You had wine, didn't you? Just take a cab."
TAEHYUN
(turning calmly)
"I didn't drive. I have my driver."
JUNHO
(flatly)
"Still. She can take care of herself. No need to play chauffeur."
TAEHYUN
(smiling, unbothered)
"It's no trouble. I'd rather make sure she gets home safe."
Silence.
All eyes flick to SERI — waiting for her to refuse.
But she doesn't.
SERI
(smoothly)
"It's fine. I'll accept the ride."
TAEHYUN
(cheerful, turning to Seri)
"Shall we?"
SERI
(putting on her coat, unfazed)
"Lead the way."
JUNHO watches it all from a short distance — a tension stiffening his jaw.
Then — HANNA suddenly leans into him, her arm gently pulling his.
HANNA
(soft, calculated)
"Jungho… I think the wine's hitting me too hard. My head feels light…"
Her cheek brushes his shoulder.
JUNHO stiffens.
He's not exactly holding her, but he doesn't push her away either. His hand hovers — unsure.
DAEJIN notices. He doesn't like it. But stays composed.
DAEJIN
(curt, firm)
"Let's go, Mr. Kang. Your car's ready."
Junho nods faintly, eyes never leaving Seri.
SERI meanwhile stays perfectly calm — like a quiet lake in winter. Her expression doesn't shift, her steps unhurried. She walks just past them, not sparing a glance.
But Junho… watches her.
His hand, the one still hovering near Hanna, curls slightly.
Guilt. Frustration. Something else he can't name.
HANNA, sensing it, tightens her grip — like claiming territory.
____
A sleek Genesis G90 glides through the city. Soft jazz plays in the background — expensive, polished, distant.
TAEHYUN sits comfortably in the backseat, posture relaxed. But his eyes? Shift every so often — subtly — toward the woman beside him.
SERI stares out the window, silent.
The passing city lights flicker across her face like ghosts.
Neither speaks… until —
SERI
(quiet, cold)
"Did you enjoy pretending to be part of this chaos… after taking orders from from Uncle Iwao?"
She doesn't look at him — just keeps her eyes on the passing city lights.
Uncle Iwao — a high-ranking boss in the Koyama-gumi, one of the oldest yakuza clans in Japan.
He raised Seri like his own after her family's fall.
And now… he's pulled her into Korea with a mission — infiltrate Kang Corporation.
TAEHYUN blinks.
No panic. But a slow inhale, then a low, amused exhale — like he expected her to catch on eventually.
TAEHYUN
(turning slightly to her)
"You figured it out."
SERI
(still staring out)
"You wore the ring."
He follows her gaze downward — to his hand.
*INSERT: A subtle silver ring — simple, unassuming… except to someone who knows.
The Koyama Clan crest — faintly etched on the inside.
SERI
"Uncle Iwao always told us to be discreet. But that ring… he gave it only to people who weren't meant to stay hidden."
TAEHYUN
(smirking)
"I never thought you'd see it that fast."
SERI finally turns — slow, sharp — eyes cutting through the quiet like knives.
SERI
"I saw it before the wine even arrived."
TAEHYUN
(glancing at her, voice lower)
"So that's why you were so… calm. So sharp tonight. I know you, Seri.
You're always firm — but not like this. Not when the mission gets personal."
SERI
(still watching the window, tone bitter)
"I don't have time to entertain anything else.
Especially not from a clown who thinks I should stay in my lane as a 'typical worker.'"
(beat)
"I have two weeks. That's all."
Taehyun turns to fully look at her, worry flickering across his otherwise collected face.
TAEHYUN
"That's why I'm here."
SERI
(her gaze sharpens, warning tone)
"I didn't ask for backup. I warned Uncle Iwao not to send anyone."
TAEHYUN
"I volunteered."
That makes her turn to him — finally, fully.
SERI
(suspicious)
"You? Since when do you volunteer to mess with someone else's mission?"
SERI
(eyes narrowing, voice low)
"Do you have something more to do with this…?
Because it sure looks like it."
Taehyun gives a small, calm smile — that same charming calm that only makes people more suspicious. He turns slightly, watching the passing streetlights through the window.
TAEHYUN
(darling, quiet tone)
"Pretty much…"
Seri studies him — thoughtful, alert. Her voice is quiet but sharp.
SERI
"You're not gonna ruin this… are you?"
Taehyun slowly turns his head, locking eyes with her. His expression softens, but his gaze turns sharp — effortlessly intense.
TAEHYUN
(voice cool, a touch cryptic)
"I'll manage my part of the mess…
so cleanly, even you won't notice it."
Seri pauses. There's concern in her eyes, even if her face stays unreadable. She opens her mouth to ask something else—
But before she can—
DRIVER
(politely from the front)
"Miss Im… we've arrived."
Seri blinks, confused. She leans forward, glancing out the window — eyes widening.
SERI
(alarmed)
"Wait—how do you… this is my apartment."
She turns to Taehyun sharply. But he's already smiling. Calm. Knowing. Smug, even — but just enough to make her skin crawl in warning.
TAEHYUN
(chuckling softly)
"Let's just say… I'm not exactly out of the loop.
Uncle Iwao made sure I knew where to find you."
Seri just stares. Not angry. Not surprised.
But very aware that the game just got deeper.
Seri steps out of the car. The city air is cooler now. She exhales slowly, hand on her bag strap. Taehyun gets out too, casually closing the car door behind him.
TAEHYUN
(grinning)
"Don't forget to drink a hangover remedy. You're not as tough as you pretend."
SERI
(glancing back, dry)
"I can manage myself. I'm not twelve."
TAEHYUN
(snickering softly)
"You were… once. To me."
A short pause.
That silence says more than she wanted it to.
She turns away — doesn't want to show she's flustered.
SERI
"…Good night."
She starts walking toward the entrance.
Taehyun calls after her with a cheeky grin—
TAEHYUN
(teasing)
"Sleep tight, Miss Imchikoo!"
Seri freezes in her steps. Her eyes go wide.
That name.
That cursed, embarrassing childhood nickname her uncle used to call her — and only one person dared to use it.
She spins around, glares at him from a distance with pure horror.
He waves innocently like nothing happened.
She doesn't yell. She doesn't even speak.
She just slowly raises her hand…
And draws an imaginary X in the air with a straight face — like she's canceling him silently.
TAEHYUN
(laughing, loud)
"Still the same Imchikoo I remember!"
She storms into the building.
Cut to Taehyun leaning against the car door, still smiling to himself — fond, mischievous.
He exhales slowly, then reaches for his phone.
He dials.
TAEHYUN
(low, steady)
"She already knows."
(pause)
"She's aware of the two-week clock… and more alert than you think."
(beat)
"I'll do my part — quietly. You don't have to worry."
He ends the call, tucks the phone back in, and glances up at the apartment building — a shadow of thought crossing his face. The weight of the mission. The weight of their history.
EXT. HANNA'S APARTMENT – NIGHT
The car pulls up quietly. DA-EJIN stays in the driver's seat, hands on the wheel, not saying a word.
HANNA steps out first, heels clicking softly against the pavement. She pauses just outside the car, looking over her shoulder.
HANNA
(softly, teasing)
"What are you thinking about?"
JUNHO leans slightly out the open car door, hands in his pockets.
JUNHO
(half-smile)
"Do I look like I'm thinking?"
HANNA
(grinning)
"Yes. And beside the obvious — me, of course."
He lets out a small chuckle, gaze dropping for a beat before rising to meet hers again. His eyes… unreadable.
HANNA
(takes a step closer)
"You know… If you ever wanted to read me…"
(beat)
"…just to know if there's even a chance—I'd let you."
The air tightens.
JUNHO stares at her. Deeply. Not with power. Not to read. But like he's searching for something he once lost.
JUNHO
(smiling faintly)
"I'd rather not risk seeing something I don't want to."
HANNA's face flickers — the tiniest break in her confident exterior. She nods slowly.
HANNA
"Still afraid of me, Kang Junho?"
JUNHO
(smirk growing)
"No. Just realistic."
A beat. They both hold each other's gaze.
HANNA takes a breath, then turns, walking up toward her apartment door. But halfway up the steps, she stops and turns back.
HANNA
(soft, playful)
"Oh—see you tomorrow. Don't be late to your own interview."
She flashes that polished smile, waves slightly, and disappears into the building.
JUNHO watches her go. For a second, just one, he lets his mask fall — and the ache in his eyes says everything.