Isabelle's heart was racing.
She wasn't scared but she was definitely not at ease. She couldn't understand this man and she had no plans to do so. She just, wanted him out of here so she could breathe.
She glared at him.
"What do you think you're doing?" She asked, her angry gaze locked on his expressionless face.
She wanted to move her hands but they were locked tight. He had such incredible strength that he wouldn't budge no matter what she did.
"Stop moving or you'll get hurt."
"Thanks. That's one more charge to press for when I call the police." She said. "First, you show up at my door uninvited, then you force your way into a woman's house, and then you hurt me. I'm sure the police and the press would love to hear more about your fury identity as well," she said but she didn't have any confidence in bringing that up if she did go to the police.
No one would believe her anyway.
"Isabelle Han, do you know what you've put yourself into?" Elias asked, his gaze steady on her.
"Enlighten me." She said and then he leaned closer. She gulped and furrowed her forehead in dismay.
What was he doing?
"You have no idea the trouble you've brought upon yourself. If you wish to live then delete that photo and never speak about what you heard to anyone. Never!"
"Ah, now you're threatening me." She looked at him maniacally. "So, if I tell a soul about what I saw and refuse to delete the picture I took, you'll kill me? Is that it?"
Though she spoke boldly, her insides were screaming in fear. What was this dangerous situation?
She rolled her eyes down, wondering if she could get away from his hold with a kick.
No, it wasn't that simple.
She looked up at him.
Her strength compared to his was nothing and if she failed, she would definitely succeed in agitating him. Then, her death would be even closer.
'Think, Isabelle.'
"I'm not the one who's going to kill you," Elias said. "I can't kill you. I won't."
"Hmm?" She looked at him suspiciously.
"Isabelle Han, I have no problem with you but the fact that you know my secret has exposed you to far more danger than you can imagine."
Isabelle was still confused.
He was practically speaking in circles. If he was going to threaten her then he could just go for it, not turn around in circles.
Unless... He can't actually kill her, like he said. As if there was a restriction on him.
Well, whatever the case was, she was going to believe that he was restricted from killing and she could get away with this.
"Elias Yoon, let's make a deal." She said, her lips curling up in a menacing grin.
"I don't think you understand what's going on here." He said, his grip on her locked hands tightened and she clenched her jaw. "You are in no place to negotiate since it is your life I'm trying to save."
"Whatever." She wouldn't hear any of it. "I'll see for myself if you're telling the truth once I let out your secret. The worst that could happen is my death, right?"
This rattled him, and that firm expression in his eyes faltered.
'Hoho,'
She saw it very clearly to ignore.
"Whether I die by your hand now or I die by the hands of some strangers, it doesn't matter." But it didn't matter because she could not afford to die yet.
She had to live.
She had to get to a higher position and earn more so she could pay off all the debts, her father's medical bills, and then buy back her father's company.
But she wasn't going to tell him that.
She activated her flawless acting where even her emotions could not be read through her expression or her eyes, making her the perfect negotiator.
"No one will believe you anyway, so why take the risk?" He asked, his voice smooth and even, that she almost believed he was genuinely looking out for her.
But there was no way this evil capitalist who made her work overtime four nights in a row would look out for her.
"That's not my problem." She said, confidently. "It seems there's something you're trying to hide." She said. "And it'll pose a problem for your side if people start wondering out of curiosity once I make it known that beasts are hiding among us, right? So, you have to listen to my terms so we can both have a happy ending. What do you say?"
Elias went silent.
She was very stiff-minded and steel-hearted.
He has doubts about convincing her this way, but from what he's seen, she could not be swayed with begging either.
She had set her mind on something... She had a goal, and she planned to accomplish it no matter what.
To her... He was just a beast in her path.
And she would readily cut down that beast to move forward.
This made him narrow his eyes.
Even his cold front was nothing but a mirage to begin with but... He never expected to see her as such a changed person.
What happened to the one he came back for, for her to change so much?
"What do you want?" She asked him and this made her elated.
She smiled, giving her professional smile, and made a bold demand.
"I want you to step down from being Manager and hand the position over to me."
Just as he thought, she wanted nothing more than the position he gave to her.
But unfortunately...
"That, I cannot do."
... It was a crucial position that he, too, could not give up on.
This made her frown and she bit her bottom lip.
If it were like this, then she would have to resort to threats.
But before she was able to speak, he continued,
"But..." He gazed deeply into her eyes, showing his sincerity, and offered, "...I'll give you a position that's equivalent to mine. Let me... Be a puppet manager."