Chapter 3

At eight in the morning, Kang Ji-hoon's office was once again filled with meeting agendas. Two monitors displayed occupancy reports from every branch of Mirain Hotel. Rows of figures shifted slowly across the screens, interspersed with autumn reservation charts that continued to climb.

Ji-hoon flipped through the reports without pausing for long. Every now and then, he marked a few figures that didn't make sense with the pen in his hand.

"Busan branch."

His flat voice made everyone in the meeting raise their heads.

"Operating expenses are up six percent. Explain."

The regional manager for Busan immediately opened his file. "There's a renovation underway at the first-floor restaurant, Director."

"The budget was four percent."

Silence returned to the room. The manager swallowed before explaining the cost difference that hadn't yet been included in the report. Ji-hoon listened until he finished, then closed the folder.

"Revise it before two."

"Yes, Director."

The meeting ended fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. As soon as the conference room door closed, Secretary Kim entered carrying a tablet and a cup of black coffee.

"Director."

"Hm?"

"Your umbrella has been returned."

Ji-hoon paused mid-signature. "What?"

Secretary Kim placed a small box on the desk. Inside was a metal keychain shaped like Mirain Hotel, the one that had been left on the umbrella the previous evening.

"A courier delivered it this morning."

Ji-hoon picked up the item. It was still spotless; even the little ribbon hanging from its end had been straightened.

"Director Han left a message."

Ji-hoon looked up. "'Thank you. Your belongings are too expensive for me to keep.'"

Secretary Kim gave a faint smile. "And?"

"There's more."

"What?"

"'If its owner is as much of a perfectionist as his keychain, I feel sorry for the entire staff of Mirain Hotel.'"

The room fell silent for several seconds. Secretary Kim hurriedly lowered his head, pretending to check the schedule on his tablet.

Ji-hoon slipped the keychain into a drawer. "She talks too much."

"But she's funny."

"I didn't ask for your opinion."

"Sorry." Even so, the corners of Secretary Kim's mouth were still twitching as he struggled to hold back his laughter.

---

Elsewhere, Han So-yeon had just entered the marketing department at Hanseong Group when Oh Na-ri thrust a tablet toward her before she could even sit down.

"Look at this."

The homepage of a business news portal displayed a photograph of her walking beneath an umbrella with Kang Ji-hoon the previous evening. Both their faces were clearly visible.

The headline was even more sensational:

MIRAIN HOTEL CEO AND HANSEONG HEIRESS SPOTTED HAVING A SECRET DINNER. IS THERE SOMETHING GOING ON BETWEEN THEM?

So-yeon handed the tablet back to Na-ri. "That was fast."

"The netizens were even faster." Na-ri scrolled down the page.

Some speculated that the two were dating, while others believed their families were preparing a major business partnership. Quite a few even commented that Kang Ji-hoon was a far more suitable match for So-yeon than Cha Min-jae.

So-yeon picked up her coffee cup. "The media never takes a day off."

Before she could take a sip, her phone vibrated. A short message from Han Mi-sook appeared on the screen.

"Come to my office. Now."

---

Han Mi-sook's office overlooked the Han River. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls made Seoul look peaceful from above, as though the city were never flooded with news that changed by the minute.

Han So-yeon stood by the window, reading a marketing report her assistant had just sent over. Several red annotations covered the margins. She had only just closed the folder when the door opened.

"Director." Her secretary bowed. "President Han is waiting."

"I'm already here."

"Not in the main office." The secretary nodded toward a private door that was rarely used.

So-yeon let out a quiet sigh before walking inside. The room was much smaller than the main office, containing only a bookshelf, an old wooden desk, and a tea set.

Han Mi-sook was pouring tea without looking up.

"Sit down."