Chapter 1
Director Jang Jae-won felt as though he were plunging off the edge of a cliff.
No—that was exactly what it felt like.
The tranquil melody of a solo gayageum drifting through the room sounded like a funeral dirge, while the alluring scent of wood rising from the pillars of the traditional Korean hanok reminded him of the smell of death inside a coffin.
“I assume you’ve seen the article that came out last night.”
The comments beneath the article were like knives.
His company’s stock price was plummeting just as mercilessly, digging deeper and deeper into the ground. Somehow, his phone number had been leaked, and every minute, every second, it was bombarded by curses from the public until it had effectively died under the relentless assault.
“My wife… collapsed from the shock.”
With the news that his wife had fainted after reading the article and had been hospitalized, Jang Jae-won had become the nation’s public enemy.
As he confessed his misery, the man seated across from him leisurely enjoying an extravagant meal finally moved.
His finger lifted from his phone, and the calm voice of a news anchor filled the room.
“Director Jang Jae-won of Jeongsan Trading has come under heavy criticism after an industry insider alleged that he sexually harassed a rookie actress identified only as Ms. A. Director Jang dismissed the accusations as fabricated slander unrelated to him. However, according to evidence submitted by the whistleblower…”
“I see.”
The indifferent reply seemed to suck every remaining drop of moisture from Jang’s body.
“I’ve just seen it now. I’ve been rather busy.”
Jang squeezed out his exhausted voice.
“…Makes things easier. No need for a long explanation.”
The news only mentioned sexual harassment.
But there had been rape as well.
Not just Actress A.
There were at least five more victims.
He had no idea how much evidence the whistleblower possessed, but if things continued like this, the rape allegations would inevitably surface too.
“Chairman Kim told me you’re the right man for this.”
He swallowed hard.
“They say you’re capable of burying any problem without leaving a trace.”
That was why he had sought this man out.
“Please… quiet this controversy down.”
“It isn’t difficult.”
The man set down his chopsticks, pulled a stick of gum from his pocket, and slipped it into his mouth.
“My breath doesn’t come cheap.”
Jang carefully maintained his composure.
“I’ve heard. You don’t work for money. Only information.”
The man smiled pleasantly.
Oddly enough, the discourteous act of chewing gum didn’t seem rude at all, thanks to the overwhelming influence he carried.
Among certain political and business elites, there was an unspoken rule:
If you wanted the media silenced, you went to this man.
Others may have crawled before him begging for help.
Jang Jae-won wasn’t one of them.
Even in his current predicament…
He was still Director Jang Jae-won of Jeongsan Trading.
“If I get through this crisis, I’ll have my wife step down due to health concerns…”
He paused.
“…and I’ll take control of Jeongsan Trading.”
Like the seasoned negotiator he was, he proposed future benefits instead of immediate payment.
“I’ll personally ensure my wife retires. After that, I’ll be useful to you. What do you say?”
“The bidding for Hansung Heavy Industries.”
The man’s jaw slowly worked as he chewed.
“Withdraw.”
He met Jang’s eyes calmly.
“Then I’ll consider it.”
Jang’s eyes flew wide open.
“You call that an offer? If I lose that bid, I’ll be removed as CEO! Do you honestly think I’d agree to something so ridiculous?”
The man’s expression didn’t change.
“I think you might.”
He smiled faintly.
“If you’re desperate enough.”
Everything Jang had spent his life building—his wealth, his reputation—stood on the verge of collapsing into ashes.
Even so, he still believed he could survive.
If he could just suppress this scandal, then secure the Hansung Heavy Industries acquisition next week, the board would realize how indispensable he was.
The furious shareholders?
Money would change their minds soon enough.
And his wife—the chairwoman—had married him when he owned nothing, out of pure love.
If he pleaded earnestly enough…
Surely her heart would soften.
“Think it over and call me.”
The man rose from the floor cushion.
“I’m busy, so I’ll be leaving.”
He couldn’t let him walk away.
“Stop right there!”
Jang shot to his feet.
“Do you have any idea what I went through to get here? I barely escaped those reporters, and this is how you’re going to end it?”
“Call me.”
The condition was impossible.
Abandon the bid?
Overcome with rage, Jang grabbed a bottle of bokbunja wine and hurled it.
The crimson liquid exploded across the luxurious feast before splashing onto the man’s chest.
The rounded ceramic bottle rolled across the floor with a hollow clatter.
“You insolent brat! Do you know who you’re standing in front of?!”
The man slowly ran his fingers across the spot where the pungent wine had soaked his clothes.
His open palm came away wet.
“I’m Jang Jae-won.”
His face twisted with fury.
“I’m Chairwoman Yoon Ja-yeon’s husband! Someone like you doesn’t get to treat me this way!”
Without a word, the man wiped his hand clean with a wet towel.
Then he removed his vest.
He calmly began undoing the first button of his wine-soaked shirt.
One.
Then another.
Then another.
Each button came undone with deliberate slowness…
Like someone skinning an animal.
Jang frowned.
Was he really stripping here?
But as the shirt opened…
His throat locked shut.
The body beneath it was terrifying.
Muscles sculpted for violence flexed beneath his skin with every movement, thick tendons standing out like unrefined weapons.
And there really was a weapon.
Tattooed beneath his left collarbone was a large black handgun.
Jang swallowed dryly.
That must have hurt like hell…
The man peeled off the ruined shirt and casually draped it over a chair.
Using another wet towel, he meticulously cleaned the wine from his sharply defined torso.
Only after removing every trace did he pick up the untouched glass of liquor before him.
Bathed in the warm lighting, his bare upper body radiated overwhelming dominance.
His youth.
His composure.
His sheer presence.
Everything about him squeezed the air from Jang’s lungs.
The man slowly opened his eyes.
“Director Jang Jae-won.”
His gaze transformed into that of a predator moments before a hunt.
In one swift motion, he stood and seized Jang by the collar.
“No matter how I think about it…”
His voice remained frighteningly calm.
“…you’ve got absolutely no manners.”
“The food ingredients are arriving from each production area by five every morning without any issues.”
The sharp clicks of high heels echoed across the stone path of the traditional hanok.
Behind the woman, six men’s footsteps rumbled like thunder.
“Any customer complaints?”
“None, Executive Director. Every guest has praised the restaurant. Everything is running smoothly.”
With both hands tucked into the pockets of her trench coat, Kang Yoo-jin carefully inspected every detail.
Richeul, an upscale Korean fine-dining restaurant specializing in traditional cuisine, had opened only a week ago.
Though located on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province, it was only twenty minutes from Seoul, making it highly accessible.
The old hanok estate had been preserved to give visitors a unique cultural experience.
Especially noteworthy were the six private VIP villas overlooking the estate’s most beautiful scenery.
Only six rooms.
Scarcity itself was luxury.
As Yoo-jin admired the intricately carved wooden doors handcrafted by Living National Treasure Master Han Cheong—
CRASH!!
The beautifully latticed sliding door exploded apart.
A massive body flew out through the doorway.
The man tumbled across the wooden veranda before slamming violently into the stone steps.
“H-Hurk…!”
The manager turned pale.
“S-Sir! Are you alright?”
“Ghh…”
Yoo-jin’s eyes narrowed.
Her gaze shifted toward the shattered doorway.
There was no doubt.
Someone had been thrown out.
As the manager moved to help the fallen man—
“Don’t.”
Yoo-jin spoke quietly.
“His back is injured.”
“Ah… should I call an ambulance?”
At that moment…
The broken sliding door creaked open.
“He’s exaggerating.”
Yoo-jin looked up.
“I didn’t throw him that hard.”
A man stood there wearing nothing but a pair of black trousers.
The instant Yoo-jin met his face…
Her eyes heated.
As if cut by a blade.
His features were impossibly cold.
Beautiful.
Sharp enough to wound.
The corners of his narrow eyes brushed past her before moving elsewhere.
“I thought someone reserved the entire VIP section.”
His tone implied a simple question.
Why are there so many people here?
The manager hurriedly answered.
“Ah… this is…”
“I’m Kang Yoo-jin.”
She walked closer to the veranda.
“The person responsible for Richeul.”
Looking up at him, she asked,
“What exactly do you think you’re doing, sir?”
He inhaled the cool autumn night air.
“I’m watching someone call me ‘sir.'”
“Violence is strictly prohibited at Richeul.”
The handgun tattoo beneath his collarbone seemed to point directly at her.
“So is indecent exposure.”
Her voice remained calm.
“Please put something on.”
He tilted his head.
“Want to dress me yourself?”
Yoo-jin’s eyes grew colder.
He leaned lazily against the doorframe with both hands in his trouser pockets.
“I don’t feel like lifting a finger.”
One of Yoo-jin’s bodyguards stepped forward.
At the exact same moment—
The neighboring room’s door slid open.
Men dressed in black poured out like a tidal wave.
They lined up across the veranda, looking down at Yoo-jin’s security team.
The atmosphere became instantly tense.
A man who appeared to be the stranger’s secretary disappeared into the room before returning with a suit jacket.
Only then did the stranger remove his hands from his pockets and slip into it.
“Hngh… hospital…”
The injured Jang Jae-won groaned weakly.
“…ambulance…”
People finally began noticing the man crumpled on the ground.
“Calling emergency services will only create unnecessary attention.”
The stranger buttoned his jacket over his bare chest.
“Figure out who he is.”
Yoo-jin studied the injured man carefully.
His face was so twisted in pain she couldn’t immediately recognize him.
Her secretary leaned close and whispered so only she could hear.
“That’s Director Jang Jae-won of Jeongsan Trading.”
He lowered his voice further.
“He’s currently at the center of a major personal scandal in the news.”
Only one week after opening…
And someone like this had appeared.
“If word gets out that he was here, Richeul could become embroiled in the controversy.”
“We’ll handle everything ourselves.”
The man spoke evenly.
“Delete the CCTV footage.”
It should have been a relief.
Yet something about him rubbed Yoo-jin the wrong way.
Perhaps it was because he had just demolished one of the restaurant’s doors.
He had caused trouble here too.
Watching Jang being carried away by bodyguards, Yoo-jin walked toward him.
“So…”
She stopped in front of him.
“You’re asking us to pretend none of this happened?”
He turned to look at her.
“You catch on quickly.”
A faint smile curved his lips.
“Maybe I should offer you a bribe.”
He pulled a business card from his back pocket and held it out between two fingers.
“Take it.”
Yoo-jin looked down.
SOO ENM
President — Ki Seung-hyun
“My direct number.”
He nodded toward the ruined room.
“Bill me for the door.”
“The wallpaper.”
“The wine-soaked chairs.”
The sharp lettering on the card suited him perfectly.
Yoo-jin slipped it into the pocket of her trench coat.
Then—
He leaned in slightly.
“And if you ever decide you want to sleep with me…”
A dark, teasing smile lingered at the corner of his lips.
“You can call.”
His voice brushed against her ear.
“I’ve noticed you’ve been staring at my body this whole time.”
