ARHS 07

Chapter 7

The murderous glare the man shot at Chris was easy to understand at a glance.

“Just because he’s the chairman’s son, he struts around calling himself an executive when he doesn’t have an ounce of ability. Of course everything he touches falls apart.”

Somin nodded.

“That must have been good news for the company.”

As the chairman’s son, no employee would dare hold him accountable for his mistakes. In a way, Chris had removed the biggest obstacle to the company’s growth.

“Some people might like me, but at least that bastard probably wants to kill me.”

Even with his enemy standing right in front of him, he didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. He neither regretted his choice nor felt guilty. It was the composure of a cold-blooded investment expert.

“That doesn’t mean he can come up to me and say a word.”

Somin thought she understood why.

Mixed into that hostile glare was fear.

“I could be a son of a bitch to someone, too.”

His voice was indifferent, even as he received looks full of resentment.

“I understand why he hates you. But the woman standing next to him keeps glaring at me… Am I imagining it?”

Somin subtly pointed with her chin at the woman standing beside the short man. Chris glanced over and let out a faint smirk, offering no immediate answer.

“Her face looks familiar, but I’m sure this is my first time seeing her today. I feel like you know the reason.”

With lazily curved lips, he raised his champagne glass. Somin, however, couldn’t bring herself to drink even a sip.

“She might be the one who confessed to me recently. I politely turned her down.”

Then say so clearly. What do you mean ‘might’?

“She said her dress strap had come loose and asked for help. I ignored her.”

The woman had a very voluptuous figure. Depending on what she was wearing, it could have been quite a provocative sight. Men were weak to visuals—was there really a man who could ignore something like that?

“What kind of dress was she wearing?”

“Probably something similar to what she’s wearing today.”

For someone claiming no interest, his memory was oddly detailed. Yet his gaze had been utterly indifferent.

The woman was wearing a halter-neck dress today. If the same style had come undone at the shoulder, it would have been a full wardrobe malfunction.

If an undeniably attractive woman had asked for help in that state—and even confessed afterward—wouldn’t that be the perfect romantic setup?

Judging by the fury in her glare toward Somin, it had turned into anything but romantic.

“If you’d accepted her confession and dated her, you wouldn’t have needed me as your partner tonight. She’s pretty… Was she just not your type?”

“I don’t have a type. And you keep forgetting something.”

“Yes, yes. I know—you hate bothersome relationships.”

Somin cut him off.

“Since we’re on the topic, let me ask. Is she the only woman here you’ve rejected?”

One of his eyebrows lifted.

The glares aimed at her from all directions were so sharp she felt self-conscious even breathing.

“Why?”

“At least two—no, four or five women are looking at me like I’m their mortal enemy. There has to be a reason strangers would do that… and I’m guessing it’s because of you, Chris. Am I wrong?”

“You’re perceptive.”

If she hadn’t been, she could never have survived as Ryu In-ho’s daughter.

“I’d like to leave here alive.”

She meant it.

The stares felt like arrows—so intense they bordered on life-threatening.

Perhaps amused by her answer, his lips curved. Then he glanced at her untouched champagne.

“You don’t drink?”

“I can handle one or two glasses.”

“Then have one. A little alcohol helps ease tension.”

If she wanted to survive the tiger’s den, she needed to stay sharp. But standing here, feeling like a human shield on a battlefield, enduring these piercing looks sober was torture.

Clink.

Their glasses touched. Somin slowly drank the entire flute. The flavor was excellent.

“Can I have another?”

“Suit yourself.”

She drank three more in quick succession.

“Chris!”

Someone called out to him from afar. A crease formed between his brows.

“Ha… the most troublesome person has finally arrived.”

“Who is it?”

“The one you should avoid most at this party.”

If such a person existed, he should have warned her first. Instead of telling her to sit still if touched or hugged, instead of asking if she liked someone while locking her in place, he should have told her about the dignified middle-aged man now approaching.

“I didn’t know you’d bring a partner.”

The man greeted Chris with a friendly pat on the shoulder.

“Uncle, this is—”

“Thank you for coming to my 30th wedding anniversary party. And Chris’s girlfriend? That makes it twice as delightful.”

Cutting Chris off, the middle-aged man extended his hand toward Somin.

He was the host of tonight’s party.

And Somin knew exactly who he was.

Chairman Jin Young-seok of JR Group—the man who wielded immense influence over South Korea’s media and economy.

“Nice to meet you… I’m Lee Da-hee.”

While shaking his hand, Somin barely avoided blurting out her real name.

“Would it be rude to ask what kind of relationship you have with Chris?”

“Uncle.”

“I didn’t ask you, so be quiet.”

It was surprising to see even the ever-arrogant Chris falter before someone.

Well, no matter how formidable Chris Han was, he would have to behave in front of Chairman Jin of JR Group.

More surprising was that Chris called him “uncle.” That alone hinted at their closeness.

Even so, Somin doubted the chairman would fully believe she was Chris’s girlfriend.

Recalling their conversation in the car on the way to the party, she carefully explained.

“It’s hard to define our relationship in one word. We compete—we win and lose against each other. That’s probably the most accurate description.”

“You beat Chris?”

Chairman Jin’s voice rose slightly in disbelief.

“Yes. Just once. It was the first time we met.”

Perhaps because of the champagne she had downed, her cheeks flushed faintly. She didn’t realize she looked exactly like a woman in love.

“What a shame I missed that spectacle.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve always wondered what that fiercely competitive brat would look like after losing.”

Chairman Jin chuckled softly, then offered his arm.

“My wife is playing chess. Would you like to join us?”

“Uncle, that’s—”

“I wasn’t asking you.”

When Chris tried to stop him, Chairman Jin gently but firmly cut him off.

“She’s my partner.”

“She’s also a guest at my party.”

They faced each other quietly, tension humming beneath their calm exteriors.

Chris shot Somin a sharp look—a clear signal to refuse.

The chess table likely wasn’t just about chess.

Somin wondered where, in this suffocating party, she might breathe even a little easier.

Chris was the only person she knew, but standing beside him was stifling. When he fixed her with those piercing eyes, she could barely even blink.

She wanted, if only for a moment, to be free from the prickling tension crawling up her spine.

Somin slipped her arm through Chairman Jin’s.

“I like chess, too.”

“Well, that’s fortunate.”

At his warm smile, Somin smiled back.

“Lee Da-hee…”

The low voice made her shoulders stiffen.

“Don’t worry about Da-hee. You should head over there.”

Sensing her tension, Chairman Jin intervened.

“Quite a few people have been waiting desperately to exchange a word with you.”

Chris followed his gaze and frowned.

“I don’t understand why they’re all so persistent.”

“If I know the reason, there’s no way you don’t. Go and humor them appropriately.”

At the gentle yet firm instruction, Chris shook his head and left.

Somin was amazed. There really was someone who could control that predator with a single sentence. Chairman Jin clearly had a talent for taming wild beasts.

The man who had been grumbling about annoyance now stepped into the crowd with arrogant eyes and a captivating smile.

People swarmed around him as if they’d been waiting.

Even as he was swallowed by the growing crowd, he shone.

Somin couldn’t take her eyes off him.