Chapter 15

Chapter 15

The President had specifically sought her out. What could he possibly want to say? Haewon wondered. He wouldn’t have come just to force an unwanted medal into her hand. Or had he suddenly developed some curiosity about the past incident now?

As Haewon and Hyunseok took their seats, Ildo connected an internal line and asked his secretary for tea. Haewon quietly observed Ildo, who moved with an easy familiarity in the National Intelligence Service Director’s office, despite the director not being present.

It occurred to her that the National Intelligence Service Director and the President might be closer than she thought.

“I heard the field was tough; you’ve been through a lot of hardship. This was the first time in my life I’ve experienced such a terrifying incident. Even while managing state affairs, my mind was completely focused on Myanmar.”

It was understandable, given that it was his precious youngest son who had been kidnapped in a foreign country, not just anyone. Haewon nodded impassively, while Hyunseok next to her reacted with more enthusiasm.

“Oh, sir. You have no idea how worried we were. Of all places, why did it have to be a country in the middle of a civil war?”

“Yes… it’s a blessing he returned safely. I am deeply indebted to the National Intelligence Service.”

“Not at all, Mr. President. Indebted? It’s our obvious duty. Haha.”

As pleasantries were exchanged, the secretary’s office brought in tea. Haewon picked up a teacup with chrysanthemum petals floating in it and took a sip.

She wished they would get to the point quickly, but Ildo slowly drank his tea, deliberately drawing out the time. As silence settled in the Director’s office, accompanied by the fragrant scent of chrysanthemum tea, she studied the President’s face.

At first glance, he didn’t seem to resemble Kwon Yeonwoo, but up close, the way his eyes curved when he smiled and his prominent nose were strikingly similar.

While she quietly played a game of “spot the difference” between father and son, Ildo, who had been savoring his tea, slowly set his cup down. Finally, he spoke.

“Actually, I came here with a request.”

“Yes. Please speak freely.”

“You can keep a secret, right?”

Ildo’s gaze slowly alternated between Hyunseok and Haewon. Perhaps it was an occupational hazard, but hearing the word “secret” made every cell in her body react instinctively. Information always translates into money and power.

However, Ildo’s next words were far beyond Haewon’s expectations.

“After that incident, my son seems to have developed trauma. He won’t leave the house at all and is afraid of people.”

Haewon almost spit out the tea she was drinking. What was he saying? Kwon Yeonwoo was afraid of people? And trauma, even?

“So I was thinking of assigning him a bodyguard, but the boy just doesn’t trust anyone.”

“Ah…”

Haewon couldn’t find a suitable reply and just stared at the President’s face. She doubted if he was truly serious. The Kwon Yeonwoo she had seen and experienced in Myanmar was certainly not such a man.

However, Ildo’s expression was earnest.

“But I thought perhaps this agent might be someone Yeonwoo could trust. So, I shamelessly came to ask for a favor. Could Agent Lee Haewon take on the protection of my son?”

“…”

Suddenly, her last moments with Yeonwoo came to mind. The sensation of their lips meeting and the intense, entwining gaze he had given her.

Honestly, she didn’t want to get involved with him again. But given who she was dealing with, a flat refusal was difficult. She glanced at Hyunseok next to her, who was blinking in surprise.

Indeed, it wasn’t a typical request. Asking a National Intelligence Service agent for personal security.

Of course, if Kwon Yeonwoo was an individual with significant influence on national security, or if harm to him would cause immense national loss, it might be feasible. But Kwon Yeonwoo’s case was ambiguous.

Was there really a need to assign a National Intelligence Service agent, let alone a Black agent, for his security? Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to request a private firm or the presidential security service?

Haewon carefully chose her words before opening her mouth.

“I am sorry to hear that your son is not doing well, Mr. President. But while I did spend time with your son in Myanmar, we don’t have a special bond. There are surely more capable individuals for security work.”

Ildo nodded as he listened to Haewon’s words. A kind smile remained on his face. Only Hyunseok, beside her, was flustered and unable to maintain his composure.

He grabbed Haewon’s shoulder, his eyes darting.

“Oh, come on, you. How can you compare a Black agent to a regular bodyguard?”

“…”

Haewon looked at Hyunseok with a “what are you talking about?” expression, but Hyunseok pressed down on her shoulder, pretending to pat it.

“It’s been a while since you’ve been back home, hasn’t it? You’ve suffered a lot overseas. Wouldn’t it be great to work in Korea while guarding Yeonwoo? There’s no place like your own country, right?”

Hyunseok chuckled, but in his eyes, Haewon felt the pressure to agree immediately. For Hyunseok, who was aiming for a promotion, this seemed like an opportunity to impress the President.

Well, if it was such a great opportunity, he could do it himself.

Haewon averted her gaze from Hyunseok. Becoming Kwon Yeonwoo’s personal bodyguard would undoubtedly mean following him around all day.

Just imagining it made the mission seem tedious, and the thought of hearing that absurd “Angel” nickname every day made her head throb. Deciding she couldn’t possibly agree, Haewon addressed Ildo once more.

“Mr. President, I am very grateful for the offer, but I…”

It was then. The door to the National Intelligence Service Director’s office opened, and Cha Hyeoncheol, the room’s owner, walked in. He brightened immediately upon seeing Ildo.

“Oh, if I had known the President was coming, I would have postponed my meeting.”

Ildo smiled at the apologetic Hyeoncheol.

“Not at all. I apologize for dropping in unannounced.”

“Apology? Nonsense. Mr. President, you are welcome anytime. Haha.”

Cha Hyeoncheol exchanged friendly greetings with the President, then belatedly noticed Haewon and Hyunseok standing behind him.

“Oh, Team Leader Min and Lee Haewon? What brings you two here?”

The answer came not from Hyunseok, but from President Kwon Ildo.

“I came to ask for a favor, but it seems it was a rather unreasonable request.”

At that, Cha Hyeoncheol’s eyes widened, and he looked around at the three of them.

“What kind of favor?”

“I asked this agent here if she could take on the security of my son…”

“Security? Ah, I see.”

Cha Hyeoncheol turned to Haewon with an open mouth, then spun around to face the President.

“Of course, she can! Absolutely! What could be more important for national security than the psychological stability of the head of state? When your son was kidnapped last time, didn’t the Republic of Korea truly falter?”

Haewon felt a little awkward. Cha Hyeoncheol seemed to have no regard for Haewon’s wishes. He arbitrarily reassured the President, then turned to Hyunseok and asked.

“Team Leader Min, does Agent Lee have any ongoing missions?”

“None!”

“Then assign her directly to security duty.”

A flustered Haewon called out to him.

“Director!”

Cha Hyeoncheol turned to Haewon and smiled thinly.

“Let’s see each other often, Lee Haewon. I don’t want to send you to a war zone.”

“…”

He clapped her shoulder. Unlike the curve of his lips, his characteristically sharp eyes weren’t smiling.

If she refused, her next mission would be a war zone.

–

Haewon looked into the mirror, adjusting her clothes. The feel of the suit against her body wasn’t bad. It was a suit she’d had tailored before her infiltration mission to Thailand, and it was the first time she was wearing it after a year.

“It’s worth the price.”

Haewon moved her limbs a few times and concluded as much. Ha Gyuho had told her about this shop, famous for making good suits. She remembered feeling tired from all the measurements taken one by one during the fitting.

“Still, you have your uses, Ha Gyuho.”

Thinking of Gyuho, who sometimes proved useful, Haewon chuckled softly and left the house.

Today was the first day of her security mission for Kwon Yeonwoo. It had been three days since the President’s request.

She still wasn’t keen on it, but with the Director, Deputy Director, and Team Leader taking turns pleading and pressuring her, she eventually agreed. On one condition: a strict two-month limit.

‘Think of it as a vacation. Take it easy, fill your time, and then come back. A college student’s activities are pretty predictable anyway, so what could possibly happen?’

Hyunseok, who didn’t know Kwon Yeonwoo well, made light of the situation. Haewon didn’t bother to respond.

If she had refused, it would be different, but once she accepted a mission, completing it properly was Haewon’s conviction. Even if the person involved was someone she didn’t want to get tangled with.

“I think it’s here.”

Haewon, a large suitcase in hand, stood before a detached house. She raised her head and slowly scanned the entire residence. She felt a surge of confusion.

Kwon Yeonwoo… lived alone in a place like this?