The lunch ended like that.

Card key and packet coffee.

Accepting the weight of meaning these two words gave, as I went outside, Manager Kim Jung Joo was there.

Cha Do Ha’s afternoon schedule is fieldwork starting now.

He says he has to attend executive meetings at Hanju Semiconductor and HJ Hotel all afternoon.

And in the evening, there’s a dinner appointment with the chief aide to the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy.

“Seo Yeo Eun, you have free time.”

After briefly explaining the situation, Cha Do Ha added to rest a bit and walked away.

Free time. Rest a bit.

Those simple words caused a commotion inside my chest.

Just then, a message came in from Cha Do Ha.

It was when Cha Do Ha’s car was still stopped at the intersection traffic light.

Yeo Eun stared blankly at the darkly tinted car window and sent a reply.

I shouldn’t be like this, but my heart was pounding.

Only after Cha Do Ha’s car completely disappeared from view did Yeo Eun start walking.

Card key, 9 PM, packet coffee.

With each additional keyword, the fluttering in my heart grew wildly.

On top of that, suddenly given free time.

It feels like my mind and thoughts are running wild, out of control like something unleashed.

Though a bit flustered by this unfamiliar situation, my thoughts quickly organized themselves.

“I’ll just go to Persona and do some research or something.”

Thinking that seeing Ji Soo might help regain some sense of reality.

Because right now, it doesn’t feel real at all.

With that decision, Yeo Eun immediately headed to a nearby subway station.

The whole way there, her mind kept replaying every word Cha Do Ha had said.

[Aren’t you curious why I told you to come to headquarters?]

That’s what he asked as they were leaving after finishing the meal earlier.

[I was actually wondering. Why you called me in. Image training could be done sufficiently from outside.]

At her words, he stopped climbing the stairs.

Suddenly turning back, a faint smile spread across Cha Do Ha’s face.

[To keep you close and watch you.]

As surprised Yeo Eun blinked slowly, Cha Do Ha’s smile deepened.

Hesitating over how to interpret his smile and words, Cha Do Ha started walking again.

Her palms tingled and ached.

Even now, recalling that moment, it was the same.

An unfamiliar heat wandered erratically from her swallowing throat down to her navel.

Biting her lower lip hard, Yeo Eun clenched her fist to try to forget that sensation.

Just then, a message came in.

Having just arrived in Sinsa-dong, Yeo Eun immediately called Ji Soo.

“Senior. What is it? Did something happen?”

−She says she’s Director Jin Yu Hee from ST Group. She insists on only consulting with you no matter what. She’s waiting. Can you come? Please?

Director Jin Yu Hee?

Cha Do Ha’s future wife Jin Yu Hee.

The warmth slowly heating her body chilled abruptly.

A different feeling scratched at her palms.

It hurt a little.

“I’ll be right there. 5 minutes.”

After hanging up, Yeo Eun hurried her steps.

* * *

The moment she opened the consulting room door, the scent of perfume filled her nose.

It was the same fragrance as the perfume Cha Hyun had given her as a gift about a year ago.

From what she’d heard, it was quite an expensive perfume, but Yeo Eun had to part with it without ever using it.

At that time, she had to sell everything of value to cover debts that needed paying.

She’d been so regretful when selling that perfume, but now she gets to smell the scent like this.

Swallowing a bitter smile, she entered the consulting room where Jin Yu Hee greeted her with a gentle smile.

“Nice to meet you, Seo Yeo Eun.”

Elegantly dressed in a sophisticated and classy suit, Jin Yu Hee reminded her of a magnificent poppy flower.

A single poppy flower, beautiful enough blooming alone.

Yeo Eun bowed to her and sat down.

“I didn’t think you’d really come.”

When they met at Chairman Cha Ji Seop’s house, Jin Yu Hee had taken her business card saying she wanted image training.

But she thought it was just a warning to Yeo Eun who stood by Cha Do Ha on the matchmaking day, not sincere.

Even now, she doesn’t think it’s sincere.

“I told you. That I wanted image training.”

“You, Director Jin Yu Hee, want image training?”

She must be here to give a more severe warning.

Which means Yeo Eun is that much of a bother.

“Why do you think?”

At Yeo Eun’s question, the smile slowly faded from Jin Yu Hee’s face.

“Don’t tell me you pick and choose clients?”

“It’s not exactly that, but I don’t take clients who don’t need training.”

“So I look like I don’t need training?”

“Yes, you’re close to perfection already. The image of an attractive female leader, I’d say.”

Jin Yu Hee is a clever person.

Someone who knows what to do to gain an advantageous position.

She’s also someone who started alone and solidified her position within ST Group more firmly than anyone.

In that sense, Jin Yu Hee is a match well-suited for Cha Do Ha.

“You really don’t need training.”

“But my matchmaking partner didn’t seem to like me very much.”

Though she spoke as if it was no big deal, Jin Yu Hee’s eyes flashed sharply.

“Tell me, Seo Yeo Eun.”

It seems Yeo Eun’s guess was right.

“What should I do to appeal to Cha Do Ha?”

Jin Yu Hee’s purpose wasn’t image training. It was Cha Do Ha.

“You must be the expert, after all.”

She was asserting her ownership rights over Cha Do Ha’s future with the qualification of having secured it.

Yeo Eun quietly looked at Jin Yu Hee before speaking softly.

“It seems Director Cha Do Ha will become your spouse even if you do nothing?”

Anyone can see they make a well-matched couple.

For the future of both of them, it would be natural for them to be together.

“I heard it’s a business-to-business deal. A marriage involving trillions of won in interests.”

“You know well?”

There was a tinge of sarcasm in her tone.

It was a kind of criticism, asking why she was hovering around Cha Do Ha knowing that.

“I was hired because of that too.”

For a moment, Jin Yu Hee’s eyebrow twitched and her expression changed subtly.

She remained silent for a while, as if trying to gauge the meaning of being hired because of that.

It seemed to take quite a long time before Jin Yu Hee spoke again.

Adding a hint of warmth to her rigid smile, she leaned back in her chair.

It’s evidence that her defenses have loosened a bit.

“This might sound funny, but I like you, Seo Yeo Eun.”

Yes, it was a funny story.

“So I want to get along well.”

An even funnier story.

With the following words, Yeo Eun could understand why Jin Yu Hee was spouting such ridiculous nonsense.

“Cha Do Ha will become my husband anyway.”

There was a slight tremor in Cha Do Ha’s name as it flowed from Jin Yu Hee’s lips.

“He’ll have to hold onto me to keep his share.”

It was a bit confusing whether that tremor was excitement or contempt.

“The marriage is already decided, so it’s okay if there are no feelings?”

Jin Yu Hee, who had been fiddling with her well-manicured nails while leaning back in her chair, lifted her gaze to meet Yeo Eun’s.

“Not for me, Seo Yeo Eun.”

For no reason, the center of her chest ached.

“I’ve come to want Cha Do Ha’s heart too.”

Whether excitement or contempt, Jin Yu Hee’s feelings for Cha Do Ha were ultimately one thing.

To possess him completely.

“So help me, Yeo Eun. Make that man clear out all other women and only look at me.”

From the look Jin Yu Hee was giving now, Yeo Eun could clearly tell.

That the range of other women she mentioned included Yeo Eun.

“Can you do it?”

Can I do it?

Forcefully pulling up her trembling lips, Yeo Eun gave a strictly professional smile.

“That’s my job, isn’t it.”

If Jin Yu Hee’s purpose in seeking her out was to hurt her, then it’s a success.

If it was to warn her, that too is successful.

“But I can’t be your image trainer, Director Jin Yu Hee. Right now I’m Director Cha Do Ha’s trainer, and the one who hired me is Chairman Cha Ji Seop.”

But she can’t bring her down completely.

“I work solely for Director Cha Do Ha’s benefit.”

She is Seo Yeo Eun, the ace of Persona, and now Cha Do Ha’s personal trainer.

“I can’t do anything that could go against my client’s interests, so please find another trainer, Director.”

At the very least, she doesn’t want to be swayed by Jin Yu Hee and put her professionalism to the test.

“My interests could go against Cha Do Ha’s?”

“I think they could. Even a small difference could create a big hole. Whatever it is, it’s a business with trillions of won at stake.”

Jin Yu Hee fell silent again.

Her gaze that had softened considerably hardened cold, and the smile completely disappeared from her face for quite a while as she remained speechless.

Then she let out a light laugh and stood up.

“I like you even more, Seo Yeo Eun. I thought you were just pretty, but you’re clever and gutsy too.”

As if Yeo Eun’s refusal wasn’t a fatal blow, Jin Yu Hee’s smile was light and cheerful.

“Is Cha Do Ha lucky too? To have someone like this under him.”

But it didn’t seem like she was lying.

“Maybe I want Cha Do Ha even more because of you, Seo Yeo Eun.”

The final smile she gave even seemed sincere.

“Let’s see each other occasionally.”

Jin Yu Hee placed her business card on the desk and gently pushed it towards Yeo Eun.

“Forget the training, just be someone I can talk to sometimes. Consulting is fine too.”

With those words, Jin Yu Hee left the consulting room.

But Yeo Eun remained unable to move for a long time after that.

* * *

[It seems clear that the three-year bad luck cycle has begun.]

Jin Yu Hee’s visit must have been a shock to Ji Soo.

[It’d be better to maintain a thin, long lifeline than have these big shots coming in and threatening our livelihood like this.] [I’m sorry.] [Why are you sorry? This is all because of Director Cha Hyun. We treated her as a VIP, and now she’s holding a knife to our throat.] [Director Cha Hyun is a VIP? No way. She’s a VVIP. So what can we do? If she says jump, we have to ask how high.]

Though she spoke as if it wasn’t a big deal, Yeo Eun’s heart was just as heavy.

The series of events stemming from Cha Hyun were like a sudden typhoon for both Persona and Yeo Eun.

Where it would go, how much damage it would cause, how to block it, or whether to change course to avoid it – she couldn’t properly figure out any of it.

And at the center of that typhoon was Cha Do Ha.

5 minutes before 9 PM.

Arriving in front of the hotel, Yeo Eun couldn’t bring herself to go inside and just looked up.

That’s when she heard the sound of a car horn.

“Seo Yeo Eun.”