“Is the call finished?” A woman approached Hye Su cautiously, carefully gauging her mood.

The woman was a friend who had accompanied Hye Su to the art fair.

In fact, Hye Su had come to the art fair with companions.

However, as soon as she spotted him, she pretended to be alone and naturally accompanied him.

Even though Hye Su had abruptly abandoned her to go with someone else, the woman merely observed Hye Su’s mood.

The woman’s father had business ties with Hye Su’s family and was receiving significant financial assistance from them. So following her father’s instructions, she had to avoid going against Hye Su’s wishes.

The woman carefully approached Hye Su, whose face was flushed red, and spoke again.

“Um… Hye Su?”

“Ah, why do you keep calling me! What!”

When Hye Su lashed out angrily, the woman shut her mouth.

Why was she angry? She seemed fine just a moment ago.

The woman looked around and suddenly noticed that the man who had been with Hye Su was no longer there.

The woman carefully ventured a question.

“Did that man from earlier leave…?”

At that, Hye Su glared at her with bloodshot eyes.

“Min Ji. Can’t you see I’m in a bad mood right now?”

“Oh, sorry. I guess I said something unnecessary. I’m really sorry, Hye Su. I didn’t know….”

“…..”

On top of everything else that was grating on her nerves, Min Ji unintentionally rubbed her the wrong way. Hye Su openly vented her anger.

While furiously letting off steam, Hye Su recalled the woman she had encountered earlier.

‘She said her name was Yoon Ga Eul…?’

The woman who had been constantly by his side, wearing a plain white dress and an even paler face.

Her bright, innocent smile and long straight hair gave her a pure and pitiful appearance that sufficiently stimulated protective instincts. But she didn’t seem exceptionally beautiful or from a good family compared to Hye Su.

When asked about their relationship, she had given a mediocre answer.

– We don’t have any special relationship. I’m just an artist under the CEO.

‘It didn’t seem like a lie.’

Still, it bothered her.

‘What if it’s all an act…? She might be more sly than she looks.’

Although she still felt like her insides were boiling, Hye Su let out a deep sigh and relaxed her stiff expression.

‘Right. No need to waste emotions on trivial things.’

Soon, Hye Su’s lips curved into a bright smile, just like the one she had shown Gi Tae earlier.

‘I wonder if the chairman knows.’

Seeing her smile, Min Ji cautiously approached again, carefully watching Hye Su’s expression. Unlike moments ago when she had snapped at Min Ji, Hye Su smiled sweetly and spoke.

“Min Ji. Since we’ve come all the way here, want to stop by the hotel next door for some cake before heading back? I heard their afternoon tea set is quite good.”

“…Sure, let’s go. Hye Su.”

Come to think of it, she seemed to have gotten unnecessarily worked up.

‘Yoon Ga Eul or whatever, who cares.’

She just needed to act like her usual self.

Hye Su’s steps lightened as she exited the art fair building.

* * *

“Yoon Ga Eul.”

“…..”

“Yoon Ga Eul!”

“Yes?”

Startled, Ga Eul, who had been sitting in the passenger seat, turned her head.

He asked, frowning.

“What’s with you?”

“…What do you mean?”

“You don’t look well. You didn’t respond even when I called you repeatedly.”

At Gi Tae’s words, Ga Eul, who had been in a daze, finally came to her senses.

She had been absentminded and lost in thought even though the CEO was right next to her.

Strangely, the conversation she had with that woman kept swirling in her head, making her dizzy.

Ga Eul forcibly pushed the thoughts away and spoke with a gentle smile.

“I was just overwhelmed by how great the exhibition was today.”

At that, his expression softened and he shifted his gaze.

However, the conversation didn’t end there. Steering the wheel while looking straight ahead, he threw out another question in an amused voice.

“Was it helpful?”

“Of course. After all, it’s a place where paintings from galleries all over Seoul are gathered.”

There was no response, but the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned.

Ga Eul also looked at him, forgetting about the earlier incident, as he seemed to be in a good mood.

Then, she called out to him.

“CEO-nim.”

“What.”

As he had to keep his eyes on the road while driving, Ga Eul could intently gaze at his side profile, which still wore a charming smile.

No wonder a woman like Hye Su was interested in him. Someone people were naturally drawn to even when he was indifferent.

His high forehead leading down to a tall nose bridge, sharp yet strong jawline. The rare sight of his lips curving into a subtle smile made Ga Eul curious, and she also smiled, following his lead.

Somehow, she felt a little reluctant to part ways like this.

It was enjoyable, and the breeze coming through the slightly open window felt refreshing.

Ga Eul casually asked him.

“CEO-nim. Would you like to have dinner together before heading back?”

Although she asked in a comfortable manner, she automatically tensed up, feeling nervous inside.

“Dinner?”

“Yes, it’s my treat today. …As a thank you.”

She wanted to repay him for bringing her to the exhibition. He had gone out of his way to invite her to come along.

Hye Su had also clearly said he wasn’t the type to accompany just anyone.

The thought of receiving special treatment made her feel good again.

As Ga Eul smiled brightly, he chuckled, meeting her gaze, and nodded.

“Sure.”

His car sped through the pleasant air.

* * *

Ga Eul made plans with Ju A to celebrate a special day.

“Isn’t this place too expensive?”

From the moment they entered the restaurant, Ju A had been looking around, wondering if it was an expensive place. Upon seeing the menu, she was startled. Ga Eul smiled and shook her head.

It was on the pricey side, but considering how Ju A was always treating her, she didn’t think it was expensive. Also, today was Ju A’s birthday.

“I’ve been wanting to come here with you.”

“Still, the prices are evil.”

“I came here with someone else before, and it kept reminding me of you.”

“Oh, really?”

At Ga Eul’s words, Ju A’s face quickly filled with emotion. She kept gushing about how Ga Eul had thought of her. Ga Eul also smiled back at Ju A.

The expensive Japanese restaurant she had visited with Shin Yeon Woo. At that time, she had felt uncomfortable and couldn’t eat properly, but coming with Ju A, it felt quite cozy.

The course menu seemed to change daily, and abalone innards porridge was served first this time. Ju A took a bite and widened her eyes, giving a thumbs up.

“Wow… It’s worth the high price. It’s really delicious.”

“You’re right. It’s tasty.”

Afterwards, braised tuna with radish, salad, and an assortment of raw fish were served. It was a neat spread.

Ga Eul, whose appetite was stimulated like Ju A’s, brought a piece of raw fish to her mouth. While focused on eating, Ju A suddenly asked Ga Eul.

“By the way, who did you say you came here with?”

“Just someone I happened to get to know…?”

When asked who Shin Yeon Woo was, Ga Eul, who couldn’t think of what to say, gave a vague answer.

Then, Ju A asked in a playful voice, grinning.

“It’s not a guy, is it?”

“Well… It is. But Ju A, it’s not what you think.”

“Ehhh.”

“Really, we just happened to have a meal together once because of a business thing.”

“Then who paid for the meal that time?”

“…He did.”

Ju A burst out laughing. Then, she said loudly.

“It is what I think! No one treats someone to such an expensive meal for no reason. You know that, Ga Eul.”

Ju A winked as she spoke, making Ga Eul hold her head.

‘It’s not like that though…’

He had said he rarely ate meals because he was so busy, so they had just come. Besides, these days, her heart was fluttering with confusion over other things.

However, she couldn’t fully explain her situation, so Ga Eul just smiled to deal with it.

After finishing their meal, the two naturally headed to the mall.

Ga Eul didn’t particularly want to buy anything, so she waited while Ju A shopped.

“Oh? Wow, that outfit is so pretty!”

Ju A, who was already carrying full bags and excited, ran towards the next store like an unbridled pony.

Ga Eul smiled as if there was no helping it, watching Ju A.

As Ga Eul was about to follow Ju A, she stopped upon seeing a store display.

‘What a pretty teapot.’

As if entranced, Ga Eul entered the store.

From cute and dainty teapots to practical transparent ones where the inside was clearly visible, to high-end products in the shape of porcelain.

Ga Eul fiddled with one of them. Most of them seemed convenient to use upon touching them.

‘It would be nice to brew tea for the CEO when he visits my studio. Simple and easy.’

Until now, no one had visited her studio, but that was no longer the case.

She wasn’t sure when he would come again, but it seemed not a bad idea to get one just in case. It was the least she could do to offer a guest who came to see her paintings a cup of tea.

‘I wonder if he likes tea. What kind of tea would suit his taste…?’

With that thought, Ga Eul’s hands moved faster as she looked at the teapots. A smile soon appeared on her lips as she chose one.

.

.

.

The sun had nearly set by the time Ga Eul left the shopping center with Ju A.

But.

‘…What is it?’

As they walked for a while, she felt footsteps persistently following behind. At first, she thought it was her imagination, but even when crossing the signal and turning directions, they kept following.

Feeling the presence that had been there since leaving the shopping center, Ga Eul suddenly whipped around.

‘Was it my imagination? There’s no one.’

Ju A asked, seeing Ga Eul suddenly stop.

“Yoon Ga Eul, aren’t you coming? What are you doing there?”

“No, I felt like someone kept following us.”

Ju A frowned at Ga Eul’s answer and looked around. However, there was still no one.

“There’s no one though?”

“Right. No, I must have seen wrong.”

* * *

Hye Su’s main residence located in Cheongdam-dong.

A dinner banquet was held at her house due to Hye Su calling Baek Ho, saying she would treat him to a meal.

It was thanks to her pestering her father in order to arrange the occasion as soon as possible.

When she tried to report Yoon Ga Eul’s existence to the chairman and have her removed, an unexpected answer came back.

“Ga Eul is a child I’m taking care of. I guess you haven’t heard from Gi Tae, Miss Hye Su.”

“…Pardon? You said she’s a child you’re taking care of, Chairman?”

He not only already knew of the woman’s existence but referred to her as his person.

“She’s a child with talent in painting. She recently signed a contract with the gallery too.”

“Oh… I see.”

As if they had all coordinated their answers, they kept giving the same response.

‘Why is the chairman bringing in such a girl and causing confusion.’

The person herself said they weren’t in that kind of relationship, and even the chairman said they weren’t, so it seemed she had worried for nothing.

There was nothing more to see. She could let it go.

“Chairman. Please have another glass.”

“Hahaha! Miss Hye Su is truly polite.”

“Is that so, Chairman? Thank you.”

Hye Su cheerfully responded to Baek Ho’s compliment.

Amidst the friendly atmosphere, her father pushed forward a secretive card.

“If our Hye Su marries the chairman’s second grandson, I was thinking of giving the land in Pyeongtaek as a wedding gift… What do you think, Chairman?”

“Hoho, you don’t have to do such a thing.”

“I believe it’s not an excessive gift. Please accept it, Chairman.”

If they built a large hotel under the Taesan name on the land in Pyeongtaek, it could fetch a high price within a few years. The only hotels nearby couldn’t compare to a 5-star one.

It would bring in a lot of money, but more than that, the fact that the Taesan name would become even bigger than now was appealing. Title and reputation were always the most important in anything.

After a moment of silence, Baek Ho’s mouth opened quietly.

“It would be wonderful to have Miss Hye Su join as a granddaughter-in-law.”

“Oh my, do you really mean that, Chairman?”

Hye Su smiled brightly, covering her mouth as if pleased.

Just a moment ago, he had dismissed Ga Eul’s existence as insignificant, but now he gave a different answer.

“If Miss Hye Su is concerned about Ga Eul, I’ll tell her to be careful.”