Chapter 6
Hanna seemed to know who he was. He had been a personal secretary whom Congressman Park valued highly, but now it was clear he had only looked out for himself. He had always been arrogant and insufferably proud, and the way he and her husband would look down on Hanna together had always disgusted her. In a way, it was just desserts.
“I see. Well done. That secretary didn’t seem to do much anyway. Most of the work appeared to be handled by Assistant Park.”
“So you noticed it too. I was the only blind one, huh?”
Congressman Park sighed repeatedly, as if disappointed in himself. Soon after, there was a knock, and the secretary entered carrying tea. Behind him followed a very tall man.
Hanna’s eyes widened instantly. He was striking. His height must have been at least 185 cm. He wore a navy suit, which fit him perfectly thanks to broad shoulders.
His slightly sun-kissed skin gave him a healthy glow, and his eyes were long and sharp, giving him a commanding presence. His high nose and well-defined features made him look like a model walking into the room.
“Leave it there, and you can sit here.”
“Yes, sir.”
After the secretary left, the man took a seat next to Congressman Park, not beside Hanna. Suddenly facing him directly, Hanna felt flustered.
When the man’s gaze landed on her, she found it overwhelming and kept her eyes fixed on her teacup.
“Drink. You should have some too.”
Only then did Hanna notice that a teacup had been placed in front of him as well. Realizing he wouldn’t leave immediately made her even more uneasy.
She should have been speaking with Congressman Park alone, but the presence of this stranger made conversation awkward, so she kept sipping the tea, hot enough to almost burn her tongue, just to calm herself.
“This is my daughter-in-law, Kang Hanna. She works as a translator for published books. Some fairly well-known titles have been translated by her.”
Congressman Park said this proudly. Hanna set down her teacup and offered a slight nod in greeting toward the man.
“Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Choi Jun-hoo,” the man said succinctly.
Congressman Park clicked his tongue in approval.
“This man is the head of the security firm I carefully selected.”
Hanna looked up at Jun-hoo. Handsome as a model, he also carried a sharpness in his eyes—perhaps befitting a professional bodyguard.
“I think I made an excellent choice with this company. I’m pleased.”
“You flatter me.”
“No, it’s true. They’re well-organized, and the bodyguards work extremely well. I feel secure enough now to go about my business without worry. Haha.”
Congressman Park laughed warmly, like a friendly neighbor. Hanna offered only a faint smile. She felt uneasy, realizing that with Jun-hoo present, she couldn’t converse with Park comfortably.
Moreover, the man’s gaze, though sharp, carried a subtle discomfort she couldn’t quite place.
“I arranged this because, Hanna, I think you might need a bodyguard as well.”
“Me…?” Hanna stammered, startled.
“Yes. You know the elections are approaching soon, and… hmm. Well, I’ve had some trouble myself, and there’s no reason you couldn’t face the same.”
“But…”
Hanna recalled that Congressman Park had never exposed his family to the media. Usually, during election season, politicians’ spouses or children would campaign publicly, but Park always moved alone. Despite some unfavorable rumors that emerged, he never changed his approach.
As a result, Hanna, her mother-in-law Mrs. Hong, and Park Sung-tae remained largely unknown to the press. Hanna herself had only occasionally appeared in the media as the adopted daughter of Chairman Kang, and those images were mostly distant shots, meaning very few could recognize her.
Sung-tae had taken advantage of this, behaving recklessly, leaving the cleanup to Park. Hanna had often wondered why Park allowed it but had never voiced her question. Meanwhile, Jun-hoo’s gaze never left her.
Park spoke occasionally, with Hanna and Jun-hoo giving brief replies.
“I’ve been talking so much that the tea’s gone cold. Finish it. Also, there’s something more I want to discuss with Hanna.”
“I’ll step aside.”
“Alright. I’ll call you again later.”
Jun-hoo stood, offered a polite nod, and left. Hanna felt an odd sense of relief.
“He’s a remarkable one.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean?”
“I said he’s a talent I’d like to recruit. He’s a bodyguard but doesn’t seem like one, and he has a brilliant mind. When he first entered the office, I thought a gangster had walked in. Haha.”
Hanna nearly dropped her teacup at the word “gangster.”
“What I said earlier wasn’t just idle talk.”
“So, you really intend to assign a bodyguard to me?”
“Not immediately, but soon, it would be wise. After all, you’ll need to be at the election office in a few months, won’t you?”
“But I can’t quit my work.”
“It’s only for a month or two. Is that really so difficult?”
Hanna pressed her lower lip against her teeth. It was true that the period was short, but if a good manuscript or bestseller project came in, she couldn’t refuse.
“I’ll provide generously. Surely you won’t be expected to work for free.”
Despite Park’s assurances, Hanna couldn’t respond immediately. Turning down a translation project could mean losing future opportunities.
“There are other capable people. Shall I look into it?”
“You’ll look into it?”
“Yes.”
“Then would you be able to stay by my side during the campaign?”
Hanna’s eyes widened. Being beside Park officially meant she would be formally introduced. She lowered her gaze briefly, understanding his intentions.
“I will draft the manuscripts. However, it will be challenging to handle alone, so I’d appreciate assistance if possible.”
“That’s fine. Handle it as you see fit.”
Park’s face brightened, and Hanna quickly grasped his plan. He knew she disliked being in the spotlight and had tested her deliberately. She pursed her lips, then smiled as if unaffected.
“You may speak freely if you wish.”
Feeling torn about revealing what she had endured, Hanna hesitated before finally opening her mouth.
“Actually…”
“I had some misfortune.”
“Are you referring to what happened a few days ago?”
As she suspected, Park seemed fully aware of Sung-tae’s actions.
“Did you tell anyone?”
Shaking her head, Hanna replied, “No, sir.”
“That’s a relief. I’ll give strict instructions, so you needn’t worry.”
“Yes.”
Park would likely offer a few scolding words and let it go. Hanna worried about what came next.
“That’s why I’m arranging a bodyguard for you. We can’t have such incidents happen again. People are starting to take an interest in my family as the election nears, more persistently this time. If the press tries to dig in, I can prevent it.”
Park spoke with a heavy sigh. It implied that he would no longer simply watch Sung-tae’s antics.
Hanna allowed herself a faint glimmer of hope but wondered whether Sung-tae would actually follow Park’s orders.
“It will be decided within a few days. I’ll contact you then.”
“Understood.”
Knowing Park was right, Hanna did not refuse further.
As she stepped out of the office, all eyes of the working staff fell on her. Standing barely over 160 cm, she had a petite frame, yet her beauty rivaled that of celebrities.
Her shoulder-length hair was neatly styled, and her minimal makeup gave her a fresh, pure look. Her large eyes, despite lacking double eyelids, appeared even more charming, and her translucent, fair skin seemed untouched by summer.
As she crossed the office, the staff’s persistent gazes followed her, but one caught her attention in particular. It was the head of the security firm from earlier—Choi Jun-hoo. Hanna glanced at him casually, then opened the door and walked out.
Standing in front of the elevator, she turned only slightly at the sound of the door opening behind her. She saw Jun-hoo there but quickly shifted her gaze, giving him no further attention.
