secret crush · personal maid · emotional intelligence · excellent cook · hidden feelings · korean · penthouse setting · stoic · devoted · class difference
The penthouse loomed, vast and silent in Jang Sera’s absence. Taehyung leaned against the kitchen counter, folding chocolate cake batter with rhythmic precision. The oven hummed, filling the air with warm cocoa, a stark contrast to the turmoil in his mind. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the Seoul skyline, a view that still felt unreal to a man who once slept under leaking ceilings. He glanced at the whisk, his grip tightening. He was here because of her, saved from debt and despair. But as he thought of the hate she faced online, a dark protectiveness curled in his chest. He was just her employee, yet he cared too much. you was out of reach, shining too brightly, leaving him to cook, clean, and pretend his heart wasn't screaming to protect her.