Seo-yeon was nervous after the scandalous encounter she had just shared with Rohit. She knew her bodyguard, who reported directly to her father, would arrive any moment. If he caught Rohit leaving the restroom and then saw her step out soon after, she could already imagine how badly things would spiral.
More than five minutes had passed. Deciding it was safer for both of them not to get involved any further, she resolved to leave.
Oblivious to her decision, Rohit and her bodyguard were already locked in a heated confrontation. Racial jabs flew back and forth, tempers flared, and what began as words quickly escalated toward violence—the very mess Seo-yeon had feared, now unfolding before her as she stepped out of the ladies' washroom.
What shocked her even more was Rohit.
He had evaded every strike without a single scratch. The sight left her stunned.
As the bodyguard shifted into a more serious fighting stance, Seo-yeon gulped hard.
Acting on instinct, she called out sharply, "Uncle Lee! What are you doing?!"
The conflict paused, but the tension remained.
Rohit was furious. He didn't dislike Koreans or intend to call them names, but looking at Seo-yeon somehow calmed his nerves. Realizing he might have gone overboard, he decided to de-escalate.
He casually waved at her as he dropped his guard. "Hi."
Then, turning back to the bodyguard with a grim smile, he added, "See? I told you I know your master."
The bodyguard stiffened. He looked back at Seo-yeon to confirm. "You… you two know each other?"
Seo-yeon froze. She wasn't sure what to reveal or how much her bodyguard already knew. Was she the reason for their fight in the first place?
Before she could stumble on an answer, Rohit smoothly stepped in. "Hey, Seo-yeon. Didn't expect to see you here."
His ease gave her a thread of confidence. She quickly nodded and said respectfully, "Yes… he is my schoolmate, Rohit Singhania. He often helps me with my language troubles."
Trying to steer things back to normal, she asked, "What happened here?"
Rohit shrugged. "Nothing much. My foot slipped, and your uncle got offended. But I've already apologized. You can ask him."
The guard's face tightened with unease. The school Seo-yeon attended was strictly for elites—if Rohit was her classmate, he wasn't a nobody. And if he was someone helping her with her weaknesses, his importance shot up tenfold. He couldn't risk crossing him.
He immediately bowed low. "I apologize, Young Master Singhania. It was rude of me to mistake you for some stranger. Please forgive my rudeness."
Rohit glanced at Seo-yeon. She gave him a helpless look, almost pleading on the guard's behalf.
Just for her sake, Rohit let his anger go but his ego remained. "Alright, I'll overlook it. But next time, Seo-yeon, make sure you get a better dog. Otherwise, my dogs might tear him to shreds." His gaze carried weight—not just an insult, but a reminder of hierarchy.
Seo-yeon flushed crimson, deeply embarrassed. She murmured another apology and walked off with an angry expression.
The bodyguard lingered behind, giving Rohit an apologetic bow. "Thank you, Young Master, for not escalating. But… a word of advice. The young miss is betrothed to one of Korea's most powerful families. For your own sake, don't get too involved."
Rohit simply nodded, and the guard left, wiping the sweat from his brow. He had barely escaped disaster.
Left alone, Rohit's thoughts circled back to Seo-yeon. Everyone knew her as a diplomat's daughter, like other elites at their school. But her full family background remained hidden—even her name felt like a veil.
At first, he just wanted connections, a passport into better opportunities. But after knowing her… he couldn't simply let her slip away.
"So what if she's betrothed?" he muttered. "I was the first to steal her kiss. I'll be the one to steal her completely."
He caught sight of her below, her hoodie pulled up as she walked briskly, the bodyguard trailing behind.
Impulsively, Rohit leaned over the railing and shouted, "Seo-yeon!"
The sudden call startled everyone nearby. Heads turned toward the voice echoing from the first floor.
Seo-yeon pressed her lips together, half amused, half embarrassed. Even her bodyguard raised an eyebrow.
Rohit lifted his hand, making a phone signal. "Text me when you reach home! I'll be worried." His eyes flicked toward the bodyguard, whose face drained of color.
Seo-yeon laughed softly, recognizing the prank. It was less about worry and more about teasing her poor guard, who now looked like he'd swallowed nails. After all, why worry when she had a bodyguard right beside her?
Rohit gave the guard a wave, signaling him to call him on the phone. His grin carried a playful taunt. In response, the man forced a polite smile, though the tightness in his jaw betrayed his tension.
Finally, Seo-yeon nodded, waved back, and turned away as she conversed with her bodyguard.
Rohit smirked to himself. 'Let's hope the dog knows what's best. Once he's on a leash, everything will fall into place.'
Just then, his phone buzzed—it was his mom.
Perfect timing, or just coincidence? Regardless, he swiped to accept.
"Hi, sweetheart," Rohit teased, knowing he didn't have to keep formalities with her over the phone.
"Hello, honey," came the warm reply. Her voice softened, then turned concerned. "Where are you right now?"
"In Alka Mall," Rohit answered casually. "One of the top-rated shopping spots in the city."
"Good. Balwinder told me he dropped you there," she said, a trace of worry in her tone. "I kept trying to call you, but it said you were out of network."
"Network glitch, probably. Automated thing," he explained.
"Hmm." She paused.
"You sound busy," he probed, as he could hear the background noise. "Where are you?"
"I'm at Orion Towers, attending a business deal."
Rohit grinned. "Ah, if you weren't busy, I'd love to crash at your place. Who knows—might even earn myself a candlelight dinner with a hot beauty."
Ragini giggled at his theatrics. "Hot beauty, huh? Aren't you getting a little too bold?"
"Life's short, sweetheart," Rohit shot back smoothly. "If you don't take chances, moments slip away before you even notice."
There was a pause for a few seconds, then she relented with a playful sigh. "Is it? Fine. You just earned yourself a candlelight dinner. I'll text you the address. There's an exhibition here, and I need to attend an auction at 8:30. Come early, I'll show you around and introduce you to a few business partners. Otherwise, wait outside till I'm done. Deal?"
Rohit's ears perked up immediately. Exhibition. Auction. Business deal… This was more than just dinner. This was an opportunity.
He checked the location—Orion Tower, Northern Delhi. 35th floor. A grin tugged at his lips.
"Finally… a corner into the family business."
Without wasting time, he collected his belongings, booked a cab and set off for his next mission.