ALRE 07

Chapter : 7

Jisoo groaned at Jaewon’s sudden reaction. She really shouldn’t have added unnecessary words.
It seemed he had probably contacted the hotel manager, but now there was no one left to handle this situation.
Unless the hotel manager appeared immediately and pleaded for leniency, the chances of them simply leaving tonight were 100 percent.

“Okay, ten minutes. No more than that.”
With no reason to take the elevator anymore, Jaewon spoke to Jisoo.
“Follow me.”

He immediately turned and headed toward the hotel lobby.

“Y-you should go to the suite room.”
The startled manager said this politely as she watched Jaewon walk away.

“That can wait.”
With no choice, Jisoo followed the president.
The manager, caught in the middle, could do nothing but wipe the sweat off her forehead.

Once outside, a cold wind blew.
Jisoo shivered and pulled up the collar of her jacket.

“Ten minutes. If the manager doesn’t show up within ten minutes, we’re going back to Seoul.”
“Yes, sir.”

“This isn’t a small matter, so why send the manager to make decisions?”
“Exactly.”
Jisoo, knowing Jaewon’s personality well, could only agree.

Recently, many companies had been willing to sign contracts even if it meant cutting construction costs and lowering quality. But President Jeong Jaewon avoided such deals.
He made sure that contracts demanded fair amounts and proper construction costs while taking full responsibility and providing compensation.
Running the company this way, he never let things slide.

“Here he comes.”
“Huh?”
“The hotel manager.”

With a screech, the manager, who had parked the car haphazardly, rushed toward the hotel entrance.
Jaewon strode forward toward him with long legs.

“I’m Jeong Jaewon.”
“Oh! Sir, it’s an honor to meet you. I’ve been busy, I’m terribly sorry.”

The hotel manager had probably been briefed by the assistant while coming here. His posture was very submissive.

“I’ll decide whether to sign the contract after seeing it myself.”
“Ha ha, yes, let’s go.”

Jaewon led the way to the elevator, and the manager hurriedly followed.
The assistant trailed behind, receiving the manager’s sharp glares.

After getting off the elevator, they followed the assistant down the corridor to the room.

“So, could you stay here today and see how we should renovate?”
“Well…”
Jaewon entered the room, surveying it with sharp eyes.

“You should use the suite yourself to get a better idea. Please, we’re putting everything on the line this time.”
The suite, radiating outward from a central lounge, had a typical layout.

“We’ll match any amount you want.”
The hotel manager repeatedly begged Jaewon.

Jaewon, lost in thought with his chin resting on his hand, spoke after a moment.

“Very well. Let’s do it that way. The place is elegant and classical, but it looks old. We need to follow the global trend of ‘smart luxury.’ We should also maximize the open view.”

Finally, the manager’s expression softened.

“Then shall we at least prepare a preliminary contract, President Jeong?”
As the hotel manager hurried, Jaewon nodded and left the room.

Passing through the corridor toward the elevator, the door of the adjacent room swung wide open.
Suddenly, the quiet corridor was filled with loud voices as people poured out.

Jaewon’s eyes narrowed.
Familiar faces, one by one, and four unfamiliar ones.
A total of six young men and women in comfortable loungewear ran out.

“Cha Donghoon, I’m going to kill you today!”
“Ah, really, Kang Iyung. Didn’t I say I’d bury you in my eyes?”
“Gong Mijoo, don’t stand there! I said stand!”
“Nope.”
“Where are you going? Take me with you, okay?”

They were completely out of their minds. Drunk. How much did they have to drink to get this wasted in such a short time?

Iyung couldn’t even recognize him.
Another girl, wearing the same sleep pants as Iyung, stared him up and down, then whispered into Iyung’s ear.
“Iyung, isn’t that guy in the leather jacket cool?”

Jaewon, standing in front of the elevator, looked at them with indifferent eyes.

“……Huh?”

Iyung finally recognized him and blinked, extending a short finger.
Her heavily relaxed eyes curved like a half-moon, and her short hair was soft and tousled, like her sleep pants.
Her flushed face puckered her lips as she approached, the sweetness of alcohol dripping.

“Uh? Hello!”
Iyung bowed slightly in greeting.

“Who? Who is that?”
Her friends crowded around, asking one after another.

“A blind date. The man I had a blind date with today.”
“Whoa, seriously?”

Iyung shrugged as she watched her friends’ shocked reactions at seeing the building owner.
I had a blind date with a guy like this?
Honestly, the building owner was top-notch in looks—not because of the alcohol, he just fit Iyung’s ideal type perfectly.
The only catch? He had a girlfriend.

“Hello, these are Iyung’s friends. Sorry for the sudden introduction.”
While her friends greeted him, Iyung looked at the woman standing next to Jaewon.
She was even more beautiful up close.
Why would he bring such a woman and still come to a blind date? Was he mocking her father?

If she weren’t drunk, Iyung would never have acted like this.
“Hey, Jeong Jaewon. That’s not right. You have a girlfriend. Who do you think you are coming here? Does my dad look that easy? Huh?”

Even if he’s a building owner, she rambled incoherently about how being handsome didn’t give him the right to do whatever he wanted.

Jaewon’s cold eyes narrowed as he stepped closer.
Seeing this, Jisoo jumped in to try to handle the situation.

“Um, it seems you’ve had a lot to drink. We…”

Jaewon raised his hand to stop her.

“Enough.”
There’s nothing more foolish than dealing with drunk people.
No wonder I wanted to just return to Seoul.
Before it even started, when the assistant poked around to test the waters, I should’ve just left.
Then I wouldn’t be seeing this mess.

“Sir.”
Jaewon called the hotel manager.

“Yes, yes, sir.”
The manager rushed over.

“Regarding the renovation…”
“Ha ha, so you know each other, President Jeong. Then we’ll head down to the office. Assistant, let’s go. Quickly.”

The experienced hotel manager, fearing Jaewon might back out, preemptively grabbed the elevator and frantically pressed the buttons.

“Team Leader Lee, follow them.”
Jaewon muttered to Jisoo, giving Iyung a terrifying glare.

Understanding immediately, Jisoo hurried after them into the elevator.

“Huh? You’re not going? Leaving a girl alone?”
Watching Jisoo disappear first into the elevator, Iyung asked.

“Can’t you be quiet?”
Jaewon gritted his teeth and murmured.

Sensing his deadly aura, Iyung’s friends showed signs of slowly retreating.

With a crooked smirk, Jaewon put his hands in his pockets and looked down at Iyung.

“Sigh……”
Iyung suddenly lowered her eyes and let out a deep sigh.

“Did I make a mistake with the building owner?”
Shrugging and closing her eyes tightly, she seemed to be sober.