“Despite the recent fee hike, there are still continuous complaints about the lack of improvement in call quality. Do you have any appropriate solutions?”

In response to Si Heon’s question, the employees began presenting one by one based on the plans they had prepared in advance.

“Next, Jin So Yi. You said you couldn’t prepare a separate PPT file for your proposal?”

Si Heon asked with an expressionless face.

“Yes. But I can still present.”

“Go ahead.”

Si Heon leaned back in his chair and looked at So Yi.

“I think we need to expand investments in infrastructure upgrades to improve call quality. Earlier this year, there was a customer information leak incident that led to a massive customer churn, and headquarters issued a directive to reduce facility investment in the second half. However, I believe we should win back the hearts of those lost customers by improving call quality.”

Although there was no PPT file to show, So Yi continued her presentation with a confident expression.

Some employees nodded and took notes on So Yi’s presentation, while Si Heon listened attentively without any change in expression.

“Earlier this year, due to the customer information leak, sales decreased by 2.1% and operating profit decreased by 16.7% compared to the previous year. Isn’t it too risky to expand investment in facilities and equipment for call quality improvement?”

Si Heon asked after So Yi finished her presentation.

“If it’s difficult to expand investment in facilities and equipment within the budget, I think we can sufficiently attract investment through sales strategies that we haven’t tried before.”

“For example?”

“We could introduce a plan with lower per-data rates than the high-priced plans to target the customer base who perceive H Telecom as having more expensive plans than other carriers. Or we could promote a strategy of building networks in high-traffic facilities, in-building areas, highways, and transportation.”

With no PPT or printed materials, the employees had nowhere to look, so they alternated between So Yi and Si Heon.

“I’ve heard enough. Please email all the items discussed today by tomorrow, and Jin So Yi, please include specific plans in your email.”

After a moment of silence, Si Heon slowly stood up and ended the meeting. As Si Heon left the conference room, sighs of relief could be heard here and there as people shifted to more comfortable positions.

“Wow, Jin So Yi. Does our CEO also have such an expressionless face when he’s on a date with you?”

“What?”

“I’m so curious what kind of expression he has when he’s with you. He’s not that icy when he’s with you, right?”

“Does he make loving expressions at you?”

So Yi smiled awkwardly and avoided answering. Yesterday, his expression was exactly like that. An icy expression.

She couldn’t bring herself to say yes to the question of whether he makes loving expressions at her.

“Everyone, let’s go back to the office. The meeting is over.”

Fortunately, at Manager Kwak’s words, people began to get up one by one.

[This is the timeline separator]

“This was forwarded from the secretarial office of Managing Director Choi Tae Sik at H Telecom headquarters.”

Jang Woo handed a document to Si Heon, who had returned to the CEO’s office after the meeting.

“An apology letter?”

Si Heon frowned slightly as he opened the file.

“The secretarial staff must have had a hard time writing this.”

Si Heon read a few lines and then tossed the document onto the desk.

“What should we do?”

“What do you mean, what should we do? You think I’ll just let this go with a measly apology letter?”

“CEO……”

“You heard it too. Even if the person in question didn’t hear it directly, this is clearly sexual harassment.”

“But they even sent an apology letter……”

“Even an apology letter, you say. This is grounds for a defamation lawsuit.”

“Hyung…!”

Jang Woo seemed to have been instructed by Yu Kyung to persuade Si Heon, as he took a step closer to Si Heon with a flustered expression.

“Jang Woo. Imagine if your girlfriend heard that kind of remark. And a company executive was making lewd comments evaluating your girlfriend’s appearance like that. Would you have stayed still?”

It’s not wrong. Even if it wasn’t Si Heon, anyone would have been unable to hold back if they heard such words.

“You’re right, I wouldn’t be able to hold back. It’s right not to hold back, hyung. But you know this will spread to the media if it blows up. Of course, if you appropriately retaliate against improper sexual harassment, the press and the public will applaud. But you know the shareholders will think differently. They’re already displeased about the recent verbal gaffe incident……”

As Si Heon expected, Jang Woo began persuading Si Heon as if on a mission.

“……So, just this once, turn a blind eye and accept the apology. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure Jin So Yi never hears about this.”

While listening to Jang Woo’s impassioned speech, Si Heon tapped the armrest with his fingertips and replied in a pristine voice.

“I’ll think about it, so you can go.”

“What?”

Jang Woo asked as if to confirm he had heard correctly.

“I said let’s consider the apology accepted.”

He didn’t expect Si Heon to say he’d think about it so readily.

“If you don’t want to, I’ll contact headquarters right away.”

“Ah, no! No! Then I’ll handle the response to Managing Director Choi’s secretarial office for now.”

Jang Woo hurriedly left the CEO’s office, fearing Si Heon might change his mind.

Si Heon also had no intention of blowing up the matter.

The stock price had already plummeted significantly due to the customer information leak, and if Director Choi’s precarious remarks were made public, it was clear as day that it would cause an enormous stir.

Director Choi’s bullshit still made his blood boil just thinking about it. A woman who’s fun to enjoy.

Si Heon rubbed the corners of his mouth, recalling So Yi from the meeting room earlier.

‘To improve call quality, infrastructure upgrades need to be expanded……’

‘Introducing plans with lower per-data rates than the high-priced plans……’

The image of her continuing the presentation without any hesitation despite the lack of PPT materials, her clear pronunciation, the neatness felt from her upright posture, her beaming eyes.

The sight of So Yi calmly proceeding with the presentation kept flashing before his eyes.

He was already very disappointed by Manager Kwak’s report that she hadn’t prepared a proposal, so it was even more surprising.

Even without a proposal, she finished the presentation composedly. She was unfazed even by his unexpected question. In fact, it was quite a satisfactory answer.

After he had coldly left for home yesterday, his blunt way of speaking could have hurt her feelings, but she showed no sign of it at all.

Her unsubdued expression and confident voice. The simple misunderstanding that she might not even meet his eyes because her feelings were hurt.

As if nothing had happened, So Yi’s eyes were full of strength. The occasional smiles were as gentle as the spring sunshine.

And the necklace around her neck.

The necklace glistened softly on her fair neckline, shimmering with So Yi’s movements. No, it seemed like light was emanating from her neckline itself.

It seemed to suit her quite well. Si Heon unconsciously smiled.

Overnight, the temperature of his mood swung from one extreme to the other. Laughter kept escaping at this situation he had never experienced before.

Yesterday, he was so irritated and angry, but today he was grinning like a madman.

Maybe he really was crazy.

Jin So Yi.

He thought she was nothing special, but she kept drawing his attention. Like an itch somewhere but not knowing exactly where.

She draws his attention.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Pulling an all-nighter today?”

Hye Na pulled her chair over to So Yi’s side. As quitting time approached, So Yi was fully focused on writing the proposal.

“Probably? I have to finish the proposal again today, so work might run a bit late.”

“Didn’t you say you were going to a gathering with the CEO today?”

So Yi’s heart thumped loudly as she recalled the appointment with Si Heon that she had momentarily forgotten. Even during the meeting, she had fought tooth and nail to endure her pounding heart.

She mentally yelled a million times not to fall for him more, but at the mention of “CEO”, her heart thumped loudly again.

“Mm, I did tell him I might be late.”

“Ask the team leader if you can submit the proposal tomorrow. The CEO said to email it by tomorrow anyway.”

“Would that be okay?”

So Yi shook her head, saying she had already asked.

“He said to compile everything today and send it by email tomorrow.”

“What the hell is his deal?”

Hye Na clicked her tongue, as if it wasn’t unexpected. So Yi just laughed absently.

Actually, Manager Kwak’s overtime order was rather welcome today. The CEO’s college alumni gathering. Just the thought of sitting at the same table and having a meal with him already made her queasy.

‘Wouldn’t they be close friends? What if our fake dating is exposed?’

Cold sweat formed on her fingertips all day from the constant anxiety. It felt like she was in a job interview.

The fact that she could attend a bit later using the proposal as an excuse made her grateful enough to Manager Kwak.

“But really, where did that proposal disappear to?”

But no matter how she thought about it, it was a baffling situation. It’s not like there was an incomplete file left, the proposal file itself had vanished entirely.

“Maybe you deleted it along with the data folder?”

“Then it should at least be in the recycle bin……”

“Or you never saved it at all.”

“I don’t know. It feels like I was possessed or something.”

So Yi shook her head slightly.

“Hang in there. I’m heading out first.”

Hye Na bid farewell in a sympathetic voice. One by one, other employees also left the office.

Has quitting time ever felt this unwelcome? So Yi let out a small sigh.

She desperately wanted to leisurely have a cup of coffee while working on the proposal, but thinking of Si Heon who would be waiting made her uneasy.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Manager. I just sent it by email.”

So Yi, who had finally finished writing the proposal, got up from her seat. Leaving Manager Kwak behind, who didn’t respond even when she said she was coming in, So Yi left the office.

She got on the elevator and pressed the button, then looked in the mirror. To think this small necklace costs over 10 million won. So Yi smiled bitterly as she fiddled with the pendant with her fingertips.

It hit home again just how distant a world Cha Si Heon lived in.

[It’s over now.]

After taking out her phone and sending a message to Si Heon, she turned her head. In the mirror, the CEO’s fake girlfriend was smiling awkwardly.