“Hmm.”

Opening her eyes, she found herself in someone’s arms. A pleasant autumn breeze wafted in through the open window. Savoring the new season, Hae Yeon ran her fingers through Do Ha’s hair.

Brushing aside the loose strands flowing over his cheeks revealed his handsome face, too precious to behold alone. As she gently lowered her head to kiss his sleeping face, Do Ha suddenly opened his eyes.

“Enjoying the view all by yourself again?”

He spoke in a sleepy voice, then pulled Hae Yeon close and wrapped his arms around her. Trapped in his embrace by the smooth movement, Hae Yeon felt strange and gently pushed Do Ha away, her face flushed red.

“D-Do Ha. When did you wake up?”

“A while ago.”

Unlike Hae Yeon’s stammering, Do Ha responded leisurely and caressed her face.

“But what should we do about our Hae Yeon blushing so often?”

Hae Yeon was already self-conscious about turning red whenever she was involved with Do Ha. Annoyed that he had to point it out, she changed the subject.

“…I’m going to wash up.”

Despite her curt response, Do Ha seemed satisfied, his eyes crinkling with laughter as he raised an eyebrow. Hae Yeon rolled her eyes mischievously and fled to the bathroom faster than anyone else.

Do Ha’s low laughter followed behind Hae Yeon’s swift back.

“You really don’t have to go today, Hae Yeon.”

Do Ha, who had been fiddling with the buttons on his shirt cuffs, showed a dissatisfied look towards the neatly dressed Hae Yeon. But Hae Yeon blinked her eyes cunningly at Do Ha as if coaxing a child.

“It’s fine, I told you. We can’t refuse when both of us are invited as a couple.”

The reason Hae Yeon and Do Ha had been getting ready together since morning was to attend Frith Hotel’s “Partner Day.”

Frith Hotel was a place that boosted sales in various aspects of the MICE industry, attracting overseas business customers and various corporate events. Therefore, it was a good opportunity for both the hotel and Do Ha’s company, CH Mice, to cooperate with each other.

In particular, as this Partner Day involved several large corporations, Hae Yeon knew it would have a significant impact on Do Ha’s business, which he had been working hard on for a long time. So she had been preparing meticulously for days.

“That’s true, but I’m worried that you’re using your first monthly leave for this.”

As Do Ha expressed his sincere apology, Hae Yeon had indeed taken a day off today. Dali Coffee had a system that provided one day of paid leave to employees who had worked for less than a year if they had perfect attendance for a month, and Hae Yeon actively utilized it.

“I’m really okay, so stop. If you say more, I’ll go ahead without you.”

Hae Yeon deliberately spoke firmly as if scolding a child. Despite her treating him like a young child, Do Ha couldn’t even laugh and sighed.

“Ah! Couple watches.”

Before Do Ha could say more, Hae Yeon cleverly changed the subject and took out the watches from the glass drawer where the accessories were stored.

Today’s Partner Day was similar to a workshop, so she didn’t wear a party dress. However, she couldn’t let Do Ha, the key attendee, wear an ordinary suit.

The double-breasted jacket, which went well with the traditional herringbone patterned vest, exuded a sensible elegance. Hae Yeon chose a double-cropped jacket and pants to match Do Ha’s attire, and the style and color harmonized well with his.

Finally, wearing the matching couple watches completed the look. Do Ha chose beige to accentuate his charcoal suit, while Hae Yeon opted for brown to match.

Hae Yeon was satisfied with her own sense of style that blended well with the autumn season.

Looking out the window, the cloudy weather seemed ready to pour rain at any moment. In that case, she felt even more that she had chosen today’s outfit well.

“Mm. It suits us well!”

“Of course, whose eye for style do you think it is?”

Hae Yeon, who had put the watch on Do Ha’s thick wrist, stepped back and looked him up and down, moving her head as if assessing him. Do Ha finally burst into laughter at Hae Yeon’s enthusiastic demeanor.

“Now that you’re satisfied, shall we go? Secretary Kim seems to be urging us to come down quickly.”

As Do Ha spoke while looking at his phone screen, Hae Yeon made a regretful expression.

“Secretary Kim is working hard today too.”

When Hae Yeon expressed her pity with a sympathetic face, Do Ha’s words were curt, as if something had displeased him.

“Come to think of it, Hae Yeon, you seem to care more about Secretary Kim than me.”

“…Don’t tell me you’re jealous of Secretary Kim?”

“Well? If you mention him a bit more, I might actually be.”

It was a petty and childish remark from Do Ha, unbecoming of a capable corporate representative invited as an official guest to Frith Hotel, but knowing that these words were an expression of his affection for her, the corners of Hae Yeon’s mouth lifted.

“Then treat Secretary Kim well before I start caring about him.”

When Hae Yeon didn’t immediately say she would never care, Do Ha’s brows furrowed.

“I’m already taking good care of him even without you telling me to.”

It was an answer that would have made Secretary Kim stomp the ground in resentment if he had heard it.

* * *

The road to Frith Hotel, a 20-minute drive from home, was quiet, avoiding the rush hour.

“Hae Yeon, here.”

Do Ha, who had gotten out of the car, held out his hand to Hae Yeon. As a stunning couple, the eyes of those entering the hotel turned to them.

“Thank you.”

Hae Yeon smiled and walked arm in arm with Do Ha. The interior was bustling with invited guests and reporters.

Before the main event in the evening, the luncheon meeting was a time to casually discuss business-related matters, so the atmosphere was friendly.

Since the official event was in the evening, Hae Yeon had nothing in particular to do and simply had to stay by Do Ha’s side until then.

“Hae Yeon, I’m sorry. You must have been very bored.”

Do Ha asked worriedly, looking at Hae Yeon, who had been wearing heels since noon until dusk. He bowed his head and thoroughly examined her feet to see if her heels had been rubbed raw like last time.

Having already adapted to the previous party, Hae Yeon reassured Do Ha with a less flushed face than before.

“It’s the last one now, so I just need to hold on a little longer.”

“…”

Do Ha was concerned as if it were Hae Yeon’s first time attending such an event, even though she had participated in quite a few. Hae Yeon felt sorry for him instead. She knew that he, too, had no unscathed part inside his body.

‘I hope time passes quickly.’

While Do Ha was briefly shaking hands with someone else, Hae Yeon looked at his side profile, forcing a smile, and wished for the Partner Day to end smoothly.

The venue had nearly 200 partner company officials in attendance. For reference, the top food company, Mibon Foods, and the second-place Gilmyung Confectionery had exerted their efforts to establish a partnership that would handle the hotel’s breakfast, dinner, room beverages, and various food products.

In addition, the heads of food and distribution companies were present, showcasing the prestige of Frith Hotel.

“Your mother is here too.”

“…She’s not one to miss an occasion like this.”

When Hae Yeon saw Chairwoman Yoon Myung Gil sitting in the VIP seat, she felt as if a thorn was stuck in her throat, but she hung a smile on her lips as it was an official event.

Finally, the main event’s opening performance began. In the center of the grand ballroom, a violinist showcased a beautiful electric violin performance on a stage reflected by dazzling laser lights, and people expressed their admiration.

Following the opening remarks by the host’s CEO, a partner company cooperation speech followed, and an unexpected name was called.

“Next, we will have a keynote speech by Mibon Foods’ Planning Director Lee Su Rin.”

With the emcee’s introduction, Lee Su Rin, who had been seated, took the stage. Wearing a cream-colored blouse and black pants, she stood on the platform with an even more slender figure.

“…Partner business is the core of growth strategy, enabling partners to predict and prepare for new business market changes, maximizing high value-added creation and capacity enhancement.”

Her beauty that put celebrities to shame, clear pronunciation, and sophisticated speech were enough to draw the attention of those gathered at the party.

“Mibon Foods also actively declares that we will support the next-generation solutions that can optimize the existing infrastructure of Frith Hotel.”

As the speech ended, there was a roaring applause, and flashes went off here and there.

“Su Rin is really capable. Pretty and smart too.”

The wife of the CEO of Creum Confectionery, a partner company of Frith Hotel, looked at Lee Su Rin with a satisfied face. Chairwoman Yoon’s gaze also followed Su Rin as she stepped down from the platform.

“Ah, come to think of it, Chairwoman Yoon. I thought there was good news between Director Lee Su Rin and your second son, but was that not the case?”

It had been four years since Do Ha married Hae Yeon, but this was still being said. To be precise, Chairwoman Yoon had not deliberately quashed the old, unfounded rumors.

The remark of Creum Confectionery’s wife was clearly made out of gossip and curiosity, so Chairwoman Yoon brushed it off with a laugh without any hesitation.

The speaker and those around her whispered about the topic as she intended, stealing glances, and Chairwoman Yoon saw Min Hae Yeon standing confidently next to Cha Do Ha in the distance.

Min Hae Yeon.

She was an agonizing blemish in Chairwoman Yoon’s life. Accepting Min Hae Yeon with the thought that the petty game of love would last a year at most was Chairwoman Yoon’s misstep.

‘Yes, I have to acknowledge that stubbornness of hers.’

Min Hae Yeon, who had endured any humiliation at the Cha household, had now also withstood Lee Su Rin’s schemes. If she had intended to run away from the beginning, she would have disappeared that fateful evening.

−I will inherit Gilmyung Confectionery.

Chairwoman Yoon’s eyebrows furrowed fiercely in the darkness without anyone noticing. The thought of Do Ha, who had even risked his business for Min Hae Yeon alone, still left her dumbfounded and dazed.

Of course, thanks to that, it was unexpected that Do Ha’s business had flourished while rapidly developing his abilities.

But that was it.

‘You’ve served your purpose, so it’s time for you to disappear now.’

In the darkness where the bright lights had been turned off to operate the video to assist the seminar, Chairwoman Yoon’s eyes gleamed intensely.