When The Phone Rings

Chapter 39

"Your prognosis for concussion is good and the test results show no signs of other symptoms of shock. However, you should take care to avoid inflammation until the stitches are removed, and you'll probably be discharged next week..."

No...! My time was running out!

Heeju's restless gaze shot around, reflecting her growing unease. At first glance, there were barely ten days left until she could file for divorce.

A quick glance at the wall clock showed that it was almost 10pm.

She fumbled for her phone.

"....!"

But where is the negotiation phone? Heeju couldn't help but cringe.

"Haa..."

Her pale face flushed with alarm as she scrambled off the bed.

After saying goodbye to the doctor as he made his evening rounds, Heeju locked the door. Luckily, the hiking bag was on the table in front of her. Hastily rummaging through her belongings, Heeju sighed in relief as she picked up the negotiation phone.

'I hope no one saw it...'

Heeju was afraid, thinking about what might have happened when she was unconscious. She plugged her dead phone into the quick charger and waited.

If there were problems, the hostage-taker should have tried to contact her one way or another. Knowing his volatile nature, it would have been inevitable.

None?

Seeing no missed calls from the blocked number, Heeju thought as she scrolled. The only number that flooded her mobile was Baek Sa-eon's.

- "Is that so? Because I'm scared to death right now."

The voice that suddenly appeared in her head made her chest tighten painfully.

Heeju shook her head from side to side in anger. It made her dizzy. But she had to shake off these feelings.

The threatening calls should still be valid...

The clock ticked down to ten o'clock. Almost reflexively, Heeju picked up the negotiation phone.

Ring! Ringing!

Biting her lip anxiously, a forgotten sensation surfaced. Cool hands contrasting with burning lips on her skin - the vivid intensity of those feelings lingered in her mind.

- "...Hello?"
"...!"

Heeju felt goosebumps and said as she rubbed her reddened neck.

"It's ...... me."

The other person grinned.

- "I know it's you, 406."

"You actually have the nerve to answer the phone. Looks like Hong Heeju didn't die after all."
- "Why do you always have to be so sharp-tongued?"
"What?"
- "You shouldn't say things like that."

His demeanour changed, a serious tone permeating his voice.

"What do you mean by that?"
- "Heeju barely made it, according to 406. Try not to be so cruel."

His tone was oddly conciliatory.

"I was always good to begin with. What are you going to do about it?"

Heeju's heart skipped oddly, but she answered even more rudely.

- "Ah, now you admit that you are a bad person?"
A soft, ironic laugh slipped through.

Heeju felt a strange warmth in her chest and switched the phone to her other ear.

"What's wrong with you, brother?"
- "...again with b-bro? really..."

His voice was muffled, as if Sa-eon had covered the phone.

She snapped.

"What's your problem?!"
-"...Ah, my apologies. 406 is just too intimidating."
"What?"
-"I'm just nervous."

I felt strangely irritated. I don't know if it's because I'm sick, but every single one of his reactions annoyed me.

His voice wasn't cold, his tone wasn't contemptuous. Most of all, I didn't like the fact that he didn't lash out at me.

"Am I a joke to you?"
-"It's not that. 406 just scared me."
"Scared?"

- "I listened to all our previous calls again and remembered those moments."
"..."
- "I realised that 406's way with words is much more impressive than I thought."

The sudden compliment stunned Heeju. She had never expected such recognition, had never even dared to hope for it. Unconsciously she closed her mouth.

- "I'm curious who taught you that."
"Is it really that good?" she asked, clearing her throat awkwardly.
- "It's the Blue House spokesman's assessment. It should be credible enough."
"T- That's true..."

The unexpected kindness made Heeju cautious. Furrowing her brow, she tried to guess his intentions, but the throbbing at the back of her head blurred her vision.

- "406, are you feeling dizzy?"
"...!"

Baek Sa-eon's precise observation startled her.

-"Your breathing sounds off."
"It's not that, I..."
- "You were just as tense as me, weren't you? You probably spent the whole day obsessing over Heeju's whereabouts. You must be exhausted. Lie down while we talk."
"What?"
-"I think we've built up enough trust by now."

Trust? Trust?! His sly tone drew her in, even against her better judgement.

A husband warming up to the criminal threatening his wife - how absurd. The realisation sent her emotions scattering in all directions.

She ruffled her fringe in frustration.

- "Let's talk about something you like."
"I'm just interested in messing with you."
- "I like that too. But we made a deal, didn't we?"
"What?"
- "Why didn't you send the photos?"
"...!"
- "The ones of Heeju."

Heeju's breath caught.

"That... I changed my mind."

Cold sweat ran down her back. She was afraid to admit it, but now she had no choice.

"I've recalculated. Twenty billion isn't enough. Turns out I accidentally found out something more interesting about you."
- "Is that so? Even better then."
"What?"
-"Because I've also discovered 406's secret."
"...!"

Her body tensed and her wrists shook from the pressure. Still, she raised her voice so as not to back down.

"If I reveal this, you'll go straight to prison!"
- "Then shall we go together?"
"What? W-where...?"
-"Let's be cellmates."
"...!"

Baek Sa-eon's bold reply only made her more confused.

-"Although that might be difficult."

His voice dropped an octave, frighteningly calm.

- "After all, 406 doesn't have one."
"...!"

Heeju froze, her mind blank as an untouched canvas.

"I-I have one!"
-"That's just a stereotype you've projected onto me. If you're so offended, send me a video of yourself... proving the opposite. But you can't. Because you don't have one... well, you know."
"..."

Her throat tightened as he continued in a voice laced with innuendo.

- "I found that out when I took the modulation out of your voice."
"...!"
- "I know what you sound like."

Wait... Wait a minute...!

Heeju couldn't keep up with the stream of words.

-"Now to my real purpose."

His tone suddenly became icy and a feeling of foreboding washed over her.

-"Stop calling me from now on."
"What?"
-"If you ignore this warning and call me again, you'll regret it."
"What...?"
-"Didn't I tell you? I have no problem dealing with such things."
"...!"
-"If you think you can handle it, try me."

At that moment, the roles of predator and prey were completely reversed.

***

"I'm doomed..."

I can't remember what I thought all night.

I thought he would never get rid of the voice modulation, not even in my dreams...!

She chewed the tip of her blunt thumb.

He didn't seem to notice it was me though, did he?

His demeanour had subtly changed, but the hostile, mocking nature of it hadn't. Instead, we were back to square one, each clinging to the other's secrets.

Especially the warning he had nailed down before hanging up. The negotiations weren't over yet.

Heeju's stitches throbbed, but his headache was worse.

It was early in the morning, and while he was tossing and turning in frustration, the door creaked open without warning.

"...!"

Gasp-! Heeju quickly pulled the blanket over her head.

The man who had been haunting her thoughts all night came in, perfectly dressed in a tailored suit.

"Do I have to pry your lips open to hear you speak again?"

His gruff murmur carried with surprising clarity, as if amplified by a megaphone. With little effort, he pulled away the pile of blankets she'd buried herself under.

As she avoided his gaze and clung to the fabric, he suddenly leaned in, close enough to make her jump like the night before.

His intense gaze landed on her lower lip.

"That wasn't my doing."

Unconsciously, Heeju licked her swollen lips. His eyebrows twitched in discontent.

"Why did you bite her?"

Her eyes darted nervously.

"What could have happened overnight to make you do that?"
"...!"

Heeju still felt reluctant to speak openly. It reminded her of the judgmental looks she had to endure at the beginning of every school year. Those moments when dozens of pairs of eyes would bore into her while she hesitated, unable to introduce herself properly.

When looks of anticipation would turn to annoyance. The cycle repeated itself well into adulthood, never really leaving her.

Feeling a familiar sense of déjà vu, her hands and feet grew cold.

Fortunately, Baek Sa-eon didn't ask again. Silence remained, but the silence between them was somehow more natural than any conversation.

Ironically, they both wore eerily calm expressions.

"For the time being, I've requested sick leave from the PR office. You'll return to work as soon as you're released."
"...!"

She had been secretly worried that her appointment might be revoked...

Baek Sa-eon tapped her pale nose lightly.

"Why are you so surprised?"
"...."
"You said you'd tell me everything if I hired you... how much and in what way you've studied me."

He spoke casually as he adjusted the IV line with practiced ease.

"I won't let you go until then."

He stood with his back to the window, his silhouette casting a shadow across her face.