Alpha Culinary Love

Chapter 111: Asking Yura for Help Setting

The afternoon sun cast long shadows as I made my way to Yura's office, my thoughts tangled with a mix of anxiety and determination. I'd spent the entire morning going over everything Park Joon had told me, and the weight of it all was starting to crush me. I needed backup, someone I could trust completely, and there was no one better than Yura.

Yura had always been my rock—steady, unyielding, and fiercely protective. But today, I needed more than just her support. I needed her cold, calculating mind, the side of her that didn't shy away from getting her hands dirty. The side that was only ever unleashed in business but was terrifyingly effective.

As I entered her office, the air was thick with the scent of polished wood and leather, the kind of understated luxury that matched Yura's personality perfectly. She was sitting at her desk, focused on her laptop, the picture of calm efficiency. Her icy demeanor had always been intimidating to others, but to me, it was a source of comfort. She was a fortress, and today, I needed her to help me go to war.

"Jiyeon," she greeted without looking up, her voice cool and collected. "I wasn't expecting you. What brings you here?"

I closed the door behind me, shutting out the world. "We need to talk," I said, my voice more serious than I'd intended.

Yura finally looked up, her sharp eyes scanning my face. She could read me like a book, and she instantly knew something was wrong. "What happened?" she asked, her tone dropping to a dangerous calm.

I crossed the room, standing in front of her desk, my fists clenched at my sides. "It's Min-seok," I began, watching as her expression darkened at the mention of his name. "He's been paying one of my contractors to sabotage the new branch. I confronted the bastard today, and he confessed everything."

Yura's eyes narrowed, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees. "That son of a bitch," she muttered, venom dripping from her words. "I knew he'd try something, but to stoop this low…"

She stood up, walking around the desk to stand in front of me. Her presence was commanding, a stark contrast to the gentle side she usually showed me. "Tell me everything," she ordered, her voice as cold as ice.

I didn't hesitate. I laid out every detail, from the mysterious delays at the site to Park Joon's confession and Min-seok's involvement. Yura listened intently, her expression growing harder with each revelation. By the time I finished, her lips were pressed into a thin line, and I could see the gears turning in her mind.

"We can't let this slide," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "Min-seok thinks he can play games with us, but he's about to find out just how wrong he is."

Her words sent a shiver down my spine. This was the side of Yura that terrified most people—the side that didn't just fight back but destroyed anyone who dared cross her. And right now, I was more than happy to unleash that side on Min-seok.

"I need your help, Yura," I admitted, my voice softer now. "I can't do this alone. He's too powerful, and he's got too many connections. But with you… with us together… we can take him down."

Yura's gaze softened slightly as she looked at me, her icy exterior thawing just enough to reveal the concern beneath. "You don't have to ask, Jiyeon," she said, her voice gentler now. "I'll always be here for you. We'll handle this together, and Min-seok will regret the day he ever thought he could mess with us."

Relief flooded through me at her words, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. I knew Yura would stand by me, but hearing her say it—feeling the strength of her resolve—gave me the confidence I needed to see this through.

"What's our first move?" I asked, ready to dive into whatever plan she had in mind.

Yura's eyes hardened once more as she slipped back into her ruthless business mode. "First, we need more information. Min-seok may be pulling the strings, but he's not working alone. He'll have allies—people who owe him favors or who are invested in seeing him come out on top. We need to identify those people and cut them off at the knees."

I nodded, following her logic. "And how do we do that?"

"I have contacts—people who can dig up dirt on Min-seok and his associates. They'll find the weak points in his network, the places where we can hit him where it hurts. Meanwhile, we need to keep a close eye on Park Joon. If Min-seok gets wind that he's flipped, he'll come after him."

Yura's eyes met mine, and I saw the unspoken question there. I knew what she was thinking—that Min-seok wouldn't just come after Park Joon. He'd come after anyone close to me, anyone he thought he could use against me. That included Yura, and it included our families.

"We'll need to keep this quiet," Yura continued, her voice softer now, almost tender. "I'll handle the logistics. You focus on the restaurant and keeping everything running smoothly. We can't afford to let anyone suspect that we're onto them."

I nodded, my determination solidifying. "We'll need a plan to trap Min-seok. Something that forces his hand and exposes him for the snake he is."

Yura's lips curved into a cold, predatory smile. "Leave that to me. I've dealt with assholes like Min-seok before. He thinks he's untouchable, but everyone has a weakness. We just need to find his and exploit it."

Her confidence was contagious, and I felt the tension in my chest start to ease. With Yura by my side, I knew we could do this. We could bring Min-seok down and protect everything we'd worked so hard to build.

Yura stepped closer, her hand reaching out to gently cup my cheek. "Don't worry, Jiyeon," she said softly, her voice full of warmth despite the icy fire in her eyes. "We'll get through this. Together."

I leaned into her touch, feeling the strength in her grip, the unwavering support that had always been there between us. "I know," I whispered, my voice cracking with emotion. "I trust you, Yura."

Her thumb brushed across my cheek, wiping away a tear I hadn't realized had fallen. "You're strong, Jiyeon," she said, her voice fierce. "Stronger than you know. And anyone who tries to hurt you… well, they'll have to deal with me first."

I managed a small smile, the tension easing just a bit more. "Thank you, Yura. I don't know what I'd do without you."

She smiled back, a rare sight that she reserved only for me. "You'll never have to find out," she promised. "Now, let's go home. We'll finalize the plan there, away from prying eyes."

We left her office together, the weight of the situation still heavy on my shoulders but no longer crushing. With Yura beside me, I felt like I could breathe again. We drove home in comfortable silence, the bond between us stronger than ever as we prepared to face the storm ahead.

Once we were home, Yura immediately set to work, pulling out her laptop and making a series of calls. I watched her, marveling at the transformation from the cold, ruthless businesswoman to the loving, supportive partner. But I knew that both sides of her were necessary for what we were about to do. We needed the ice and the fire, the love and the fury, to take down someone as dangerous as Min-seok. Continue reading at m|v-l'e -NovelBin.net

As she worked, I started preparing dinner, needing the distraction of something normal to ground myself. The familiar motions of chopping vegetables and stirring sauces helped calm the storm in my mind. But even as I tried to focus on the task at hand, my thoughts kept drifting back to Min-seok and the battle we were about to wage.

"Jiyeon," Yura's voice called out, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned to see her standing in the doorway of the kitchen, her expression serious. "I've made the arrangements. We'll need to move quickly if we want to catch Min-seok off guard."

I nodded, wiping my hands on a towel. "What's the plan?"

"We're going to set a trap," Yura explained, walking over to stand beside me. "But to do that, we'll need to create a situation that forces him to act. Something that makes him think he has the upper hand."

"Like what?" I asked, trying to keep up with her rapid-fire thoughts.

"Like a fake delay at the new branch," she said, her eyes glittering with anticipation. "We'll make it look like there's been a serious setback—something that gives Min-seok an opportunity to strike. But when he does, we'll be ready."

My heart raced at the thought. It was risky, but it could work. "And how do we make sure he takes the bait?"

"Leave that to me," Yura said, her smile turning cold and calculating. "I know exactly how to push his buttons. He won't be able to resist."

I nodded, trusting her instincts. "Then let's do it. Let's take that bastard down."

Yura leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. "We will

, Jiyeon. Together."

We spent the rest of the evening finalizing the details of our plan, going over every possible scenario and contingency. By the time we were done, I felt a strange mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. This wasn't just about the restaurant anymore. It was about protecting what we'd built, what we'd fought so hard to achieve. And I wasn't going to let anyone take that away from us.

As we crawled into bed that night, Yura pulled me close, her arms wrapping around me in a protective embrace. "Sleep, Jiyeon," she whispered in my ear. "We've got this."

I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of her body and the steadiness of her breathing lull me to sleep. For the first time in days, I felt at peace, knowing that whatever happened, Yura and I would face it together.

But as I drifted off, the last thought that crossed my mind was Min-seok. The man who had dared to threaten everything I loved. And I knew that by the time we were done, he'd regret ever crossing me.