Lisa's POV
I didn't mean to ask her. I had every intention of just leaving, of giving us both space after everything we'd laid bare tonight. But as my hand touched the door handle, the words tumbled out before I could stop them.
"Can I kiss you?"
It wasn't planned, wasn't part of the careful image I'd promised myself I'd maintain. Jennie had already told me how she felt—or at least what she thought she felt. Yet here I was, standing there, holding my breath like some lovesick fool, waiting for her answer.
When she didn't respond immediately, I thought I'd made a mistake. Her wide eyes, the way her lips parted slightly in surprise—I felt a pang of regret. But something about the way she looked at me, the faint tremble in her stance, gave me courage.
Before she could answer, I closed the space between us and kissed her.
It was everything I had been holding back. The nights I spent thinking about her, the way she made me feel alive and frustrated and hopeful all at once—it all poured out in that kiss. Her lips were soft, hesitant at first, and I worried I'd crossed a line I couldn't uncross.
But then, she kissed me back.
Her hands moved to my shoulders, then to the back of my neck, pulling me closer. And suddenly, it wasn't just my kiss anymore—it was ours. Her hunger matched mine, and I felt her let go of whatever she'd been holding back.
The world around us disappeared. It was just Jennie and me, wrapped in this moment I'd been dreaming about for far too long. Her warmth, the way she clung to me like she didn't want to let go, made my chest tighten with emotions I couldn't name but knew had always been there.
I didn't want to stop, but I knew I had to. Slowly, I broke the kiss, resting my forehead against hers. Both of us were breathing hard, our faces flushed, her eyes wide and searching.
"I've been dying to do that," I admitted, my voice rough with emotion. "Ever since the first time we kissed. I couldn't hold it back anymore."
Her lips parted like she wanted to say something, but no words came. She looked at me like I'd just turned her world upside down, and maybe I had.
"I—" she started, her voice shaky. "I... didn't know you felt like that."
I laughed softly, brushing my thumb against her cheek. "How could you not know, Jennie? It's always been you. Even when I tried to pretend it wasn't."
Her expression shifted, something soft and vulnerable breaking through the usual guarded look she wore. For a second, I thought she might say it—might tell me what I'd been waiting to hear.
"Lisa," she whispered, her voice trembling, "I—"
I gently pressed a finger to her lips.
"Don't," I said, my tone softer than I'd ever heard it. "Don't say anything you're not ready to say. I just... I couldn't leave without letting you know how I feel. No matter what happens next."
I meant it. I needed her to know this was real, that it had always been real, even if we were both too scared to admit it.
I stepped back, every part of me screaming to stay, to hold her, to kiss her again until all the confusion and hurt disappeared. But I knew better.
"I'll see you tomorrow," I said, trying to sound calm, even as my heart pounded in my chest.
The look she gave me—conflicted, emotional, raw—made me want to turn back. But I didn't. I forced myself to leave, the door closing behind me with a soft click.
As I walked to the elevator, my fingers brushed my lips, still tingling from her kiss. For the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself smile.
Whatever happened next, I knew one thing for sure: I wasn't giving up on her.
Not now, but I'll make her chase me a bit.
-
The ride down to the parking garage felt longer than it should have. My mind was still replaying everything—the way Jennie's lips moved against mine, the way she clung to me like she was afraid I'd disappear. My chest felt tight, and for the first time in a long time, I felt... hope.
But hope was dangerous.
I climbed into the car, gripping the steering wheel as I sat there in silence. The kiss had been everything I'd dreamed of, but it also left me with more questions than answers. Was it real for her? Or was it just a moment of weakness, a reaction to the emotions we'd both spilled out tonight?
As I drove, I couldn't stop my thoughts from spiraling.
She said she was sorry. That she'd been in denial about her feelings. But was that enough? Could I trust that she wouldn't push me away again the moment things got too real?
Part of me wanted to turn the car around, march back into her penthouse, and demand answers. But the other part—the one that knew Jennie better than she probably realized—told me to wait. Jennie needed time, and I couldn't rush her.
Still, that didn't make the waiting any easier.
When I finally walked into my apartment, the silence hit me like a wave. Normally, I found comfort in it, but tonight, it felt heavy. Oppressive.
I kicked off my shoes, tossed my keys onto the counter, and collapsed onto the couch. For a moment, I just sat there, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything.
"Get it together, Lisa," I muttered to myself, running a hand through my hair.
But how could I? Everything about Jennie confused me. One moment, she was pushing me away, insisting this was just business. The next, she was kissing me like I was the only thing keeping her grounded.
I grabbed my phone, scrolling aimlessly through my messages until I landed on hers from earlier.
Dinner tomorrow at my place. Let's talk.
It was so simple, so unlike the emotional storm that had been brewing between us. I wondered if she was as much of a mess as I was right now, or if she was somehow managing to keep it all together.
-
Sleep didn't come easily that night. I woke up groggy and out of sorts, my mind still stuck on the kiss and everything that came with it.
By mid-morning, I was pacing around my home, trying to distract myself with work emails and phone calls, but nothing held my attention.
Every time my phone buzzed, my heart jumped, hoping it was Jennie. But it never was.
The first text from Jennie came just as I was finishing my coffee.
You need to stop doing the breakfast thing. I already talked to my parents to cancel everything, right? So you don't have to keep doing this. It's okay.
My heart sank. For a moment, I just stared at the screen, reading and rereading the message. Why would she say that? After last night, I thought... I thought we were starting to move past the walls she'd put up.
I opened the messaging app to respond, but before I could even type a word, another message came through.
I'll be at your office in 10 minutes. Let's eat together.
I blinked at my phone, the sharp whiplash of emotions leaving me frozen. Jennie had a way of doing that—confusing the hell out of me while pulling me closer at the same time.
The ride to my office was a blur. I couldn't stop thinking about her texts. Did she mean what she said about canceling the arrangement? And if she did, why was she still reaching out?
I arrived earlier than usual, my head spinning with questions I didn't have the answers to.
Sitting in my office, I tried to focus on work while waiting for her, but it was useless. Every minute felt like an hour. I kept glancing at the clock, then at my phone, wondering what she was thinking, what she was feeling.
When my secretary buzzed in to let me know Jennie had arrived, I stood up so fast I almost knocked over my chair. I smoothed out my shirt, took a deep breath, and stepped out to meet her.
Jennie was standing in the lobby, dressed impeccably as always, but there was something different about her today. She looked... nervous. Vulnerable.
"Hey," I greeted her softly.
She glanced up at me, her expression unreadable. "Hey. I thought we could eat here. If that's okay?"
I nodded, gesturing toward the private dining area attached to my office. "Of course."
The table between us felt both too small and too large. Jennie was unusually quiet, picking at her food instead of eating it. I didn't press her, letting the silence settle until she was ready to speak.
"I wasn't trying to push you away with that text earlier," she said suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.
I looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
"It's just..." She sighed, setting her fork down. "I know I've been confusing. One minute, I'm saying one thing, and the next, I'm doing the opposite. I'm sorry, Lisa. I really am."
"Jennie—"
"No, let me finish," she interrupted, her gaze meeting mine for the first time since she arrived. "I've been thinking about everything—the arrangement, us, what I want... and I realized that I don't want this to be forced. Not for you, and not for me. If we're going to figure out whatever this is, I want it to be real. Personal. Not something tied to contracts or expectations."
Her words hit me like a punch to the chest. It was everything I'd wanted to hear, but there was still a part of me that was scared. Scared of letting myself hope, only to be hurt again.
"Jennie," I said carefully, "I want that too. But are you sure? Because this isn't just about me anymore. If we're going to do this—if you want to do this—I need to know you're all in. No more running. No more denial."
She nodded, her eyes shining with determination—and something else I couldn't quite place.
"I'm all in, Lisa," she said softly. "I promise."
For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt like we were finally on the same page. There was still so much we needed to talk about, so much to figure out, but in that moment, I knew we'd taken an important step forward.
Maybe—just maybe—this time, we'd get it right.
I sat across from Jennie, my fingers toying with the edge of the napkin on the table. It was a nervous habit I couldn't shake, especially when I was feeling torn like this. Jennie, as usual, looked confident, her gaze pinned on me like she was daring me to say something. It was so typical of her—calm, composed, while my thoughts were a chaotic mess.
"I've been thinking," I started, my voice softer than I intended. She tilted her head slightly, a signal for me to keep going. "About this... about us. If you're really serious, I think we need to stop the breakfast thing."
Her brow furrowed slightly, and she leaned forward. "Why? I thought—"
I cut her off before I could lose my nerve. "Because... I don't want this to feel like a performance. Not for your parents, not for mine, not for the company or anyone else. If this is going to be real, Jennie, then I don't want to do it for show." My eyes darted to hers, gauging her reaction. She didn't say anything, but the frown stayed, her expression unreadable.
"It's not that I don't want to spend time with you," I added quickly, trying to explain. "I do. I really do. But if we keep doing this in front of everyone, it's going to feel forced. Like we're trying to prove something. And I don't want that. I want us to be real—not something people expect us to be."
She sat back, crossing her arms, watching me like I was a puzzle she was trying to solve. That look always unnerved me. "So, what are you saying? That we stop eating together? Stop being seen together?"
"No, not like that," I said, shaking my head. "I'm just saying we should keep this... private for now. Between us. It's fragile, Jennie. If we put too much pressure on it, I'm scared we'll ruin it."
She was quiet for a moment, her gaze softening. Then she smiled—a small, teasing smile that made my stomach flip. "You're overthinking again."
I exhaled sharply, glancing away. "Maybe I am. But it doesn't mean I'm wrong."
To my surprise, she reached across the table, her hand brushing against mine. "I get it, Lisa. Really, I do. But you're not pulling away from me again. If you're worried about pressure, fine. We can keep things quiet, just between us. But don't use that as an excuse to keep me at a distance."
I froze, her words hitting me harder than I expected. I wanted to believe her—wanted to trust that she wouldn't hurt me. But it wasn't that easy, not after everything.
"I just..." I started, my voice catching. I looked up at her, my walls slipping for just a moment. "I don't want to get hurt again."
She didn't flinch. Her fingers tightened slightly around mine, grounding me. "Neither do I. But Lisa, we can't keep circling around this. We won't get anywhere if we're too scared to try."
Her words were so simple, but they hit like a punch to the gut. Maybe she was right. Maybe I was overthinking this, holding myself back out of fear. I took a breath, letting her words sink in.
"Okay," I said finally, my voice quiet. "But you have to promise me something."
Her head tilted again. "What?"
"No more games," I said, meeting her eyes fully. "No more pretending you don't care. If we're doing this, we're doing it for real."
She nodded without hesitation. "I promise."
The sincerity in her voice made my chest ache, but in a good way. I let myself smile, just a little. For the first time, it felt like maybe—just maybe—we could make this work.
Jennie had been unusually sweet all morning, a side of her I wasn't used to but couldn't help savoring. She was smiling more, her voice softer, and every time she spoke to me, it felt like her walls were down just a little bit. It was... odd. Odd but nice.
As breakfast came to an end, she pushed her chair back and stood, brushing imaginary crumbs off her impeccable blazer. "I'll be busy the whole day," she said, glancing at me. "Meetings, calls—the usual chaos. But I'll try to text you when I can."
I nodded, watching her move around with an effortless elegance that always left me a little stunned. "No rush," I replied. "I know how hectic things get for you."
She paused by the door, turning back to me with a small smile. "Still... I'll try."
And then she did something that made my heart stutter. Leaning down, she pecked me lightly on the cheek—quick, soft, but warm enough to send a jolt of surprise through me. I barely had time to process it before she reached for the door handle, but instead of leaving, she hesitated.
Jennie turned back, her eyes darting to mine, and before I could ask what she was doing, she leaned in again—this time pressing a kiss to my lips. It was brief but firm, her soft lips stealing the air from my lungs. I froze, utterly caught off guard.
And then, just as quickly as she'd kissed me, she pulled back, her cheeks faintly pink. "I... I'll see you later," she mumbled, her voice flustered, before hurrying out of the penthouse like she couldn't get away fast enough.
I sat there, still frozen, my fingertips brushing against my lips as if to confirm it had really happened. My heart was racing, pounding against my ribs in a way that felt both foreign and exhilarating.
What had gotten into her? And why did it make me feel so ridiculously happy?
I leaned back in my chair, exhaling deeply as I tried to process what just happened. Jennie Kim was full of surprises, and every time I thought I had her figured out, she threw me for another loop. I wasn't sure where this was heading, but one thing was clear: she was getting under my skin in a way no one else ever had.
Rosé showed up not long after Jennie left, her entrance as casual as ever. She strolled into my office with a familiarity that spoke volumes about how close we were. "Morning, Lisa," she chirped, plopping onto the couch and kicking her legs up. "So, how's the love life? Or should I say... the Jennie situation?"
I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the faint smile tugging at my lips. "You always just assume it's about Jennie."
"Am I wrong?" she shot back, her grin widening when I sighed and sat across from her. "Exactly. Spill it."
I hesitated. Rosé had always been someone I trusted, but talking about Jennie still felt... complicated. However, the need to vent won out. "It's been... strange. She's different... Softer, I guess? She's been making these sweet gestures, like texting more, being open... She even kissed me this morning before she left."
Rosé's eyes widened, and she leaned forward as if I'd just dropped the juiciest gossip of the year. "Wait—Jennie Kim kissed you? Like, on purpose? On the lips?"
"Yes, Rosé. On purpose, and yes, on the lips," I replied dryly, though I couldn't suppress the heat creeping into my cheeks.
She laughed, clapping her hands. "So what's the problem? Sounds like she's finally making an effort."
"That's the thing," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck. "It feels... too sudden. Like she's trying to make up for lost time all at once. I don't know if I should trust it. After everything, how do I know it's not just guilt or—"
"Stop," Rosé interrupted, holding up a hand. "First of all, she should feel guilty. She was horrible to you before, let's not sugarcoat that. But this? This sounds like her actually trying, Lisa. And you need to let her."
I frowned, unsure. "But what if she's just doing this because she feels obligated? I don't want to get hurt again, Rosé."
Rosé's expression softened, and she leaned back. "That's valid. But listen, you've already put so much of yourself out there for Jennie. You're allowed to have boundaries now. Let her prove herself to you. Make her work for it."
"Work for it?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow. "How?"
"Don't make it too easy for her," she said firmly. "Don't just fall back into her arms the moment she starts acting sweet. She needs to understand that she hurt you, Lisa, and trust doesn't come back overnight. Let her earn it—step by step. Be kind, but be firm."
I mulled over her words, the idea both appealing and daunting. "I don't want to push her away."
"You're not," Rosé assured me. "You're setting boundaries. There's a difference. If Jennie really wants you—not just the arrangement but you—she'll respect that. And if she doesn't... well, you'll know where you stand."
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "This is so exhausting. I wish things could just be straightforward."
"Love's never straightforward," Rosé said with a shrug. "But it's worth it when it's real. And you... you deserve something real, Lisa."
Her words hung in the air, heavy but comforting. I nodded slowly, my thoughts still racing but my resolve a little stronger. Maybe Rosé was right. Maybe it was time Jennie showed me she was serious—not with words, but with actions.
--
Jennie POV
When I stepped out of Lisa's office that morning, my heart was racing so fast it felt like I'd run a marathon. I told her I'd be busy the whole day, and I meant it—I had back-to-back meetings and deadlines. But as I climbed into my car, my fingers brushed my lips, still tingling from the kiss I'd left her with. A quick peck on the cheek wasn't enough; I'd turned back and kissed her on the lips before practically bolting out the door.
I was supposed to act collected, like everything was under control, but the truth was far from it. My emotions were a mess. I was a mess.
The car ride to the office was quiet, just the sound of the city passing by, but my mind was anything but. I replayed Lisa's words from breakfast—her hesitance, her guarded tone. She said people didn't need to see us doing things together for it to feel real. It was a subtle dig, one I couldn't even deny. She was right. I'd been so fixated on making this "real" in the eyes of others, but what about us? What about what she needed?
I hated how much this all mattered to me. It wasn't supposed to be this way. I wasn't supposed to care this much. And yet, Lisa was all I could think about.
By the time I reached the office, I was distracted enough to irritate my assistant, Mina. She kept asking if I needed anything—coffee, a snack, even a break—but I waved her off each time. My work barely held my focus. I kept glancing at my phone, hoping Lisa might text me first. She didn't. Of course, she didn't. I told her I'd be busy, after all.
The hours crawled by, my overthinking spiraling out of control. What if I'd come on too strong? What if I scared her off? Lisa had been hesitant—what if she decided this wasn't worth it after all? And what if... what if she really didn't trust me anymore? Could I blame her? The recording Jisoo played that night—the hateful things I'd said about her—kept haunting me. No matter how many times I tried to convince myself that I'd been in denial back then, the fact remained: I'd hurt her.
As the day dragged on, I realized I hadn't eaten since breakfast. The thought of food didn't appeal to me, though. My stomach was tied in knots, and the memory of Lisa's guarded eyes that morning lingered like a shadow over my thoughts. I missed her. Desperately. But missing her wasn't enough—I needed to figure out how to fix this.
And then there was Jisoo. I still couldn't bring myself to talk to her. Every time I thought about it, anger bubbled up again. She'd betrayed me in the worst way, airing my private rant to Lisa of all people. How was I supposed to forgive her for that? Even if she'd been drunk, it wasn't an excuse. Sisters were supposed to have each other's backs, not tear each other down.
By the time the sun set, I still didn't have answers. I only had questions. Did I really want to keep pushing Lisa to be with me through that arrangement? Or was it time to fight for her—really fight for her—as myself? No contracts. No family expectations. Just Jennie and Lisa.
I didn't know if I had the courage to do it. But one thing was clear: I couldn't afford to lose her. Not now. Not ever.
--
Boring ass chapter...