The early autumn night air was cold.

Jin Yu Hee, wearing a dress that exposed most of her shoulders, looked cold for that reason.

The goosebumps along her shoulder line spoke of her chilliness.

Still, she looked beautiful.

The gray dress tinged with light purple suited Jin Yu Hee’s intelligent face well.

It even boasted seductiveness, blending with the purple lights hanging like balloons throughout the garden.

And that confidence.

“Nice to meet you.”

Jin Yu Hee, lifting her chin slightly and extending her hand for a handshake, was literally majestic.

A woman who would soon become part of the Han Joo Group family.

Perhaps someone who might become the mistress of this terrifyingly glamorous place.

The confidence that only such a person could exude enveloped Jin Yu Hee.

Flaunting a presence as large as the heavy diamond earrings hanging from her ears.

“Hello.”

Yeo Eun bowed to Jin Yu Hee and took her outstretched hand.

Thinking she would let go quickly, Jin Yu Hee instead gripped her hand more firmly and smiled brightly.

“I was curious about how it felt.”

“Pardon?”

“Cha Do Ha couldn’t let go of your hand, so I wondered if there was something special about it.”

The bright smile faltered slightly.

Jin Yu Hee’s gaze fell on Yeo Eun’s hand.

“It’s small, moist, and pretty.”

She gripped it more tightly until it almost tingled before finally letting go.

Then, in a slightly mischievous voice, she continued.

“Mine is big, thick, and dry.”

Jin Yu Hee looked down at her own hand and spoke grumpily, then curled her lips into a pretty smile again.

“Seo Yeo Eun.”

Jin Yu Hee called her name affectionately and linked arms with Yeo Eun.

It was an affectionate gesture that would seem quite friendly to a stranger.

“That business card I meant to give you last time. Just give me one of those.”

The business card she had offered at the blind date had been taken by Cha Do Ha.

“I’ve decided I want image training too. From you, Seo Yeo Eun.”

“From me?”

At the sudden remark, Yeo Eun unconsciously became wary, and Jin Yu Hee turned her gaze towards Cha Do Ha.

He was still surrounded by people, engaged in conversation.

From his eye contact to his expressions while speaking, even the slight smile at the corner of his mouth.

It was an impeccable appearance.

“I don’t know if it’s thanks to you, but Cha Do Ha has changed, hasn’t he?”

“…?”

“He was quite infamous for his party manners, you know.”

Jin Yu Hee’s expression grew deliberately serious as she looked at Cha Do Ha.

“He rarely attended these parties, but when he did, he’d get drunk like a hooligan and harass women.”

Jin Yu Hee continued, not hiding her displeasure, then waved her hand, cutting her words short.

“Anyway, his behavior was somewhat… questionable.”

It was unimaginable.

But she seemed to have heard similar words from Cha Hyun as well.

Dress him up nicely, make sure he’s in his right mind before bringing him.

Please don’t let him come in drunk.

That’s why she had earnestly implored Cha Do Ha before coming here.

[Did you drink a lot?]

She had asked while driving in place of Cha Do Ha, who had been drinking.

[Why? Afraid I’m drunk?] [Yes.] [Did my breath smell of alcohol when we kissed earlier?]

If she hadn’t been driving, she would have turned to look at Cha Do Ha.

She wanted to see his eyes when he asked such a question.

But because she had to focus on driving, she couldn’t see his eyes, and Yeo Eun just silently swallowed her dry saliva.

[I drank a little, but I’m in my right mind.]

That was a relief, if anything.

But the words that followed made her heart shake uncontrollably.

[I kissed you in my right mind, and I want to enjoy it in my right mind, so don’t drink today either, Seo Yeo Eun. It’s only fair if you’re in your right mind too.] [I’m on duty, so…]

She tried not to tremble, but her voice shook, and she paused for a moment.

It was embarrassing to say she was on duty while her heart wasn’t.

Regaining her composure, Yeo Eun spoke again.

[I won’t drink. So please keep your promise too, Director.] [To behave with manners?] [Yes.]

Cha Do Ha nodded.

[Recite it again. The things I should do.]

Your first appearance is the most important.

No matter who your first greeting is to, don’t avoid eye contact and smile.

But don’t smile too brightly either.

Lift the corners of your mouth, but don’t let your eyes smile. You need to show the demeanor of a cold businessman in your expression.

Keep your back straight, but don’t lift your chin.

Arrogance might inspire fear, but it won’t inspire trust.

Don’t talk to any one person for too long, and avoid deep conversations as well.

Don’t even shun the executives of Mulsan.

Treat everyone equally, so there’s less to say when you have to cut them off.

Especially in front of the Chairman…

[Seo Yeo Eun.] [Yes?]

Yeo Eun, who had been reciting at length, met Cha Do Ha’s eyes through the rearview mirror as he called her.

[Let’s not try too hard on the first day. Watch what I do and point out anything that needs correcting. I’ll try to do what you just said.]

That was the promise they had made before coming here.

And from the start, Cha Do Ha was keeping his promise to her well.

Jin Yu Hee seemed pleased with that.

Her eyes curved gently as she looked at Cha Do Ha.

Jin Yu Hee, who had tightened her grip on Yeo Eun’s arm, pressing their bodies closer, whispered quietly.

“Make him pretty for me until he falls into my hands.”

He’s just perfect.

Jin Yu Hee flashed a bright smile and let go of her arm.

Gently pushing her back as if urging her to go, Yeo Eun walked towards Cha Hyun, leaving Jin Yu Hee behind.

Did thorns grow in her mouth? It felt prickly, and even her throat ached.

* * *

Cha Hyun offered champagne, but she declined.

She carefully added that she doesn’t drink while on duty.

“So this is work, huh?”

He seemed quite pleased with the phrase ‘on duty.’

“Then have a glass of Hawaiian punch at least. It’s delicious.”

At Cha Hyun’s gesture, a server brought over a red punch.

But she only held the punch without drinking it.

“First, go greet the Chairman. He’s curious about you.”

It felt like dry sand had filled her mouth, which had been feeling prickly, making it difficult to even swallow.

“The Chairman?”

“Above me is the Chairman. He’s the final authority.”

As if the tension wasn’t already high enough, hearing the words ‘final authority’ made her fingers and toes curl.

Was it the moonlight that made Yeo Eun’s already pale face look even more sickly?

Seeing this, Cha Hyun laughed silently.

“Even the great Seo Yeo Eun trembles before Chairman Cha Ji Seop?”

“I tremble before you too, Director Cha Hyun.”

Cha Ji Seop, Cha Hyun, and Cha Do Ha.

Her life and death hung in the hands of these three men of the Cha family from the Han Joo Group.

Still bewildered as to why it had to be her, Yeo Eun was simply terrified of the situation where she could walk in heaven or hell depending on the whims of these three people.

And she knew from experience that in times like these, one should lie flat on the ground.

“You know, I’m obsequious because I have many weaknesses.”

Contrary to her words, Yeo Eun’s smile was quite elegant and beautiful.

Cha Hyun seemed to like this about her, his face full of evident satisfaction.

“You know that too, right? That I like even that obsequiousness of yours.”

I know. That’s why you like it even more.

Swallowing her bitterness, Yeo Eun nodded with a bright smile.

“Don’t be afraid. Do Ha looks so good today that the Chairman will praise him too.”

At Cha Hyun’s words, Yeo Eun’s gaze sought out Cha Do Ha again.

[Should I wear a tie too? If you think it would look more proper, I’ll do that.] [No, this is fine as it is. It gives off a casual cocktail party vibe… Just button one more button, please.]

Cha Do Ha’s shirt had three buttons undone.

Yeo Eun carefully buttoned one more and briefly fell into thought as she looked at his loosened shirt collar.

What did he do at that wild party?

She had glimpsed Kim Hae Ri’s neck covered in kiss marks, probably made by this man.

Did he cover her lips with the same lips that had devoured Kim Hae Ri’s nape?

How could he, when he has a girlfriend…

At that moment, Cha Do Ha’s gaze met Yeo Eun’s.

Despite the considerable distance, Cha Do Ha’s sharp gaze was palpable.

Quickly lowering her eyes, Yeo Eun followed behind Cha Hyun as they crossed the garden.

* * *

Chairman Cha Ji Seop’s eyes narrowed.

The image trainer Seo Yeo Eun, whom Cha Hyun had brought, gave off a very different impression from what he had seen in the photo.

Putting aside her pretty face and figure, the aura she exuded was completely different from what he had expected.

They say photos can’t capture a person’s aura, and it seemed to be true.

He had thought she was just a girl with a pretty face like Kim Hae Ri, but Seo Yeo Eun was not just a pretty girl. In fact, she was drastically different from Kim Hae Ri.

Even without heavy makeup, her fine features were both gorgeous and elegant.

Her downcast eyes, tightly closed lips, modest demeanor, and gentle voice.

There was nothing jarring about her.

Moreover, though he had heard she lived modestly, she exuded an inexplicable air of refinement.

If he hadn’t been told about her family circumstances, he might have mistaken her for a young lady from a quite respectable family.

But that wasn’t all.

There’s an image that people project, and Seo Yeo Eun’s was exquisite.

As a professional, she had even refined her own image quite elegantly.

That point particularly pleased him.

“You’ve worked hard. Bringing Director Cha here.”

Chairman Cha Ji Seop offered Yeo Eun a seat and continued speaking, watching closely as she sat down obediently in the chair.

“I was a bit surprised to see him appear in such a presentable state.”

Remembering Cha Hyun’s words to praise her just for bringing him, he shared his honest thoughts.

“He’s not one to obediently follow instructions.”

To be more honest, he wanted to ask what kind of conspiracy they had hatched.

He could understand her image-making skills, but it was clear that such things wouldn’t work on Do Ha.

So there must have been some kind of collusion between the two.

Of course, the fact that she had managed to draw that out of Do Ha was also praiseworthy.

“Was it manageable?”

At this probing question, her dark brown eyes moved keenly.

She was quick-witted as well.

“He is a difficult person indeed. But because he’s so intelligent…”

Yeo Eun, who had opened her mouth to offer praise, ultimately couldn’t finish her sentence.

“Are you talking about me?”

It was because of Do Ha’s sudden appearance.