Chapter 8: Unspoken Connections.

Isla had always been confident in her ability to compartmentalize her feelings. Work was work, personal life was personal, and never the two shall meet. But now, with Jin Woo crossing boundaries and seeping into every corner of her thoughts, her resolve was weakening.

The joint presentation had left her with a lingering sense of something she couldn't quite define. The way they worked together, how naturally they fit when they weren't at each other's throats—it made her wonder what else was lurking beneath their rivalry.

As she sat in her office, staring blankly at her computer screen, Mason entered without knocking, as usual.

"Isla, we've got a problem," he said, placing another file on her desk.

"Great, what now?" she replied, her voice laced with exhaustion.

Mason gave her a sympathetic look. "It's the logistics on the new joint project with Jin Woo's firm. There's been a delay, and both teams need to meet today to fix it."

Isla groaned, rubbing her temples. The last thing she wanted was to sit in another room with Jin Woo, especially after how easily he'd slipped into her mind lately. But she had no choice.

"Fine. Set it up. I'll be there," she muttered, waving Mason away.

---

Later that afternoon, Isla found herself in the conference room, waiting for Jin Woo and his team to arrive. She had her notes, her questions, and her defenses all lined up, ready for another round of veiled barbs and professional sparring.

The door swung open, and Jin Woo entered with his usual confidence, followed by two of his team members. His eyes met hers immediately, and for a brief moment, something unspoken passed between them. It was a look that wasn't quite hostility but wasn't exactly friendly either.

"Isla," he greeted her, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Jin Woo," she replied, keeping her tone neutral.

They settled into the meeting, going over the logistics and the issues that had arisen. At first, it was business as usual—both of them focused on solving the problems at hand, working seamlessly despite the tension between them. But as the meeting wore on, Isla found it harder to keep her mind from drifting.

She noticed the way Jin Woo's focus was sharp, how his eyes narrowed in concentration as he spoke, how he always had a solution ready before anyone else. And then there was the way he looked at her, as if he could read her every thought, every hesitation.

Isla's heart began to race, and she cursed herself for being so easily affected by him. This was exactly what she didn't want—to let Jin Woo get under her skin, to let her guard down in front of him.

By the time the meeting ended, Isla was exhausted—not from the work, but from the effort it took to keep her emotions in check.

"Looks like we're all set," Jin Woo said, gathering his papers. "Thanks for being so… cooperative."

Isla raised an eyebrow, her defenses snapping back into place. "Don't get used to it."

He chuckled, and for a moment, there was something genuine in his smile. "Wouldn't dream of it."

As the rest of the team filed out of the room, Jin Woo lingered, watching her closely.

"Isla," he said, his voice softer now, "I know this whole situation isn't exactly what you want, but… we do work well together. Maybe it doesn't have to be a constant battle."

She looked at him, surprised by the sincerity in his words. For a moment, she didn't know how to respond. Part of her wanted to tell him off, to remind him that their rivalry was what drove them both to succeed. But another part of her—a smaller, quieter part—was starting to see the truth in his words.

"Maybe," she said, her voice low, "but that doesn't mean I'm going to let my guard down."

Jin Woo nodded, his gaze lingering on hers for a second longer than necessary. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

---

That evening, Isla found herself wandering the streets of Seoul, her mind swirling with thoughts of Jin Woo. She couldn't shake the feeling that things were shifting between them, that their constant push and pull was evolving into something more complicated.

She stopped at a small café, ordering a coffee and taking a seat by the window. As she sipped her drink, she stared out at the bustling city, wondering why Jin Woo had to be the one who got under her skin. Why couldn't he just stay the enemy, the rival, the one she was always determined to beat?

But deep down, she knew the answer. Jin Woo wasn't just a rival—he was the only one who truly challenged her, the only one who understood the pressures of their world. And somewhere along the way, that challenge had started to feel less like a burden and more like… something else.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her from her thoughts. She pulled it out, expecting a message from Mason or one of her colleagues, but it wasn't.

It was Jin Woo.

Jin Woo: "I know you're still thinking about today. Can't wait for the next meeting."

Isla stared at the message, her heart doing that stupid racing thing again. She wanted to ignore him, to tell herself that this was just another game he was playing. But before she could stop herself, her fingers were already typing back.

Isla: "Don't flatter yourself. I have better things to think about."

His response came almost immediately.

Jin Woo: "If you say so."

Isla rolled her eyes, shoving her phone back into her pocket. But as she sat there, sipping her coffee and watching the city lights flicker to life, she couldn't help but wonder what was really happening between them.