Chapter 10
It’s impossible for every subordinate to like their boss, but at the very least, Louis Han was a superior most of them respected.
Chief Jang of General Division 2, who had just come out of Louis Han’s office, held up a folder bearing his signature.
“He made this himself. Said we should use it as reference for global trends!”
“Let me see that too!”
“Show me as well.”
Employees crowded around, opening the folder with curiosity. Seung-ah, caught up in the commotion, also took a peek.
The file contained a neatly organized collection of world-renowned ceramics, sorted by year, purpose, and pattern. There were even luxury porcelain pieces used in European royal courts and at state banquets in the White House.
“This is way more detailed and well-organized than the material we have.”
“Life really is unfair. Born into wealth and still this capable.”
Seung-ah repeated as if hearing it for the first time.
“Wealthy?”
“Yes. His grandmother is Chairwoman Geum Il-bong of Hanul Group. Director Louis Han is her only blood relative.”
So he wasn’t just any businessman?
Someone helpfully searched “Hanul Group Geum Il-bong” on a portal site and showed her.
In the photo, an elderly woman with white hair radiated charisma. Adding a pair of glasses to that image, Seung-ah instantly recognized the person—she was none other than the grandmother she knew.
“…Grandmother.”
That face explained the strange sense of familiarity she’d felt when she first met her at the pottery workshop.
Her grandmother always wore the same work clothes, the same beige apron, and shaped clay with her hands. She mingled easily with the visitors at the workshop.
No one there had ever guessed she was the chairwoman of Hanul Group.
One thing her grandmother had once grumbled still stuck vividly in Seung-ah’s memory:
“I’ve got this little business going. I sell good food. I want to pass it down to my grandson, but sigh, he only ever chases after what he wants. I don’t know how to change his mind!”
How is that a ‘little business’…?
In truth, nearly every other shopfront was a Hanul franchise. And beyond the domestic market, Hanul Group was a global company with hundreds of overseas branches.
If she really pretended to be his fiancée, that would make her the future granddaughter-in-law of such a figure!
Her grandmother was a good person, which only made Seung-ah hesitate more—it felt like deceiving her.
But still…
“Your role: my fiancée. Duration: one year. Reward: that house.”
It was an awfully tempting offer.
The thought kept circling her mind all day, even when she entered his office with documents in hand.
Seung-ah cleared her throat and handed Yu-jin the approval board.
“Director, here are next week’s weekly tasks.”
After skimming the documents, Yu-jin closed the folder and said,
“Make some time this weekend.”
“The weekend?”
“There’s a party I need to attend. Everyone brings a partner—it’d be good if you came with me.”
The casual way he demanded it was almost professional. Seung-ah’s eyes narrowed.
“You mean to say you want to go with me, specifically?”
“If you’re still thinking about accepting my proposal, wouldn’t it help to experience what it’s like? Just once.”
“In other words, you want me to ‘try out what it feels like to be Han Yu-jin’s woman’?”
“Exactly.”
A party he couldn’t skip, and one likely filled with the wealthy offspring of powerful families. Their world would be nothing like hers.
But judging from how lightly he suggested it, it probably wouldn’t be a place completely out of her reach. If it were too difficult, she might refuse his contract entirely.
Well… experiencing it once shouldn’t hurt. It might even be fun.
Opportunities like this didn’t come often. If she was going, she might as well enjoy it.
— Oppa! Come pick me up! I’m at Tethys Club.
By now, Tae-jun was used to looking for Yu-mi beneath the pounding bass.
It wasn’t the first time, so he headed straight for the VIP room.
Next to Yu-mi was some tall, decent-looking guy she’d probably met only a few hours ago. He had an arm around her waist, but she didn’t seem to mind.
Surrounded by young women with either a drink or a man in hand, Yu-mi announced in her shrill voice:
“Say hi! This is Kim Tae-jun, the man I’m going to marry!”
Her friends’ curious stares had become so familiar that his mouth tasted bitter.
Ignoring him, they asked her:
“So, are you actually getting married this time?”
“There’s no such thing as ‘actually’ or ‘not actually’!”
As the man beside her kissed her neck, Yu-mi burst out laughing.
She playfully shoved him off, then staggered to her feet. Tae-jun grabbed her thin arm and led her outside.
Tipsy and nasal, Yu-mi climbed into his car.
“I need a new car.”
“Why? Your father just bought you this one.”
“I’m bored of it. We used this car at the drive-in once, remember?”
She shook her head, pouting.
“I don’t like lying down in the same place twice.”
This woman—his future wife—enjoyed sleeping with strangers in unfamiliar places.
The problem wasn’t just that. She also enjoyed new men.
Tonight, the only reason she called him was because she suddenly wanted to go home. Otherwise, she might have slipped off somewhere private with that man at the club.
Maybe her back started aching, maybe the guy wasn’t attractive enough. Either way, she had called for Tae-jun.
Every time she summoned him like a chauffeur, his neck burned with humiliation.
But he couldn’t let his temper slip.
Marrying her meant a hundred-billion-won building in his hands. Shin Yu-mi could fall off the building for all he cared, but the money her family had was far too tempting.
Weighing the scales as always, he drove her back to her officetel.
Inside, he laid Yu-mi on her pristine white bed.
Her plump chest rising and falling tempted him, but the thought of actually touching her felt dirty.
After tidying up half-heartedly, he returned to his own shabby apartment, miserable as ever.
Did you come straight home last night?
Still drunk from the night before, Yu-mi texted him first thing in the morning.
Whatever she meant by that, he ignored it, pretending to be too busy driving to work.
And that’s when he saw it.
A silhouette he knew better than anyone, stepping out of a luxury sedan.
For a moment, his instincts denied it.
Choi Seung-ah had no acquaintances who would chauffeur her in such an expensive car.
But under the morning sun, as she crossed the crosswalk, there was no mistaking it—it was Seung-ah.
The sedan that dropped her off rolled smoothly into the Namrim Pottery parking lot.
On impulse, Tae-jun followed and watched the man get out.
It was Louis Han.
At once, Tae-jun recalled the day Louis had visited the showroom, how his hand had brushed against Seung-ah’s shoulder.
How she had pouted ever so slightly, and how his lips had curved almost imperceptibly.
Others might not have thought anything of it, but Tae-jun had watched Seung-ah too long. He knew how impeccably proper she acted before her superiors.
No… I don’t even have to overthink it.
Sometimes, Tae-jun trusted his gut. And right now, it told him there was something between Louis Han and Seung-ah.
Lost in suspicion, he found himself standing in front of the elevator.
Louis Han stepped inside alongside him.
“Good morning, Director.”
“Yes, Manager Kim Tae-jun.”
The man’s voice carried a faint chill.
Was it because he disliked the showroom display?
No, that was a trivial matter. He didn’t seem the type to hold a personal grudge over something like that.
Am I just overthinking because I suspect something between him and Seung-ah?
A sidelong glance told him everything: Louis Han was the very picture of excellence—tall, commanding, charismatic.
Even as a man, Tae-jun couldn’t deny he was attractive.
And this kind of man… with Seung-ah?
The more he thought about it, the more he doubted his own suspicion.
Even if Louis had touched her, how long could it last?
Tae-jun had seen countless spoiled rich brats flitting through women at clubs.
Men like that never lingered on one woman.
Louis Han would be no different.
“Aren’t you getting off?”
Startled, Tae-jun realized the elevator doors were already open.
“O-oh. Yes.”
He hurried out.
Glancing back, he found Louis Han’s pitch-black eyes fixed on him.
The piercing stare made cold sweat trickle down his back.
