“The chairman is waiting for you.”

The affable-looking chief secretary opened the door to the chairman’s office as soon as he greeted Tae Ha.

Chairman Kwon often checked on Tae Ha’s wellbeing along with work reports. Everyone around knew that he, a renowned devoted husband, had lost his wife and two sons, and now poured all his affection on his youngest son.

Tae Ha acknowledged the 23 years his father had lived alone, keeping his wife’s place empty without taking a single lover.

Though it wasn’t always comfortable, Tae Ha did his best within his capabilities.

He could come when called and go when told. After all, no matter what anyone said, his father’s affection was genuine and abundant.

“You called for me?”

“Sit down.”

As always, tea was already set on the table. A bitter scent wafted, considering Chairman Kwon’s taste.

“It’s Lingzhi tea. It’s good for your health.”

Tae Ha took two sips of the deep brown tea as his father suggested, then set it down. The bitter flavor coated his throat and stomach.

“I see you’ve already started with the hotel work.”

“Yes. I’m receiving overall reports and getting a grasp on things. It’s a vast amount, so I’m getting extra lessons from Executive Director Kim and Manager Won. I’m also scheduled to have a meeting with Harbor Corporation from the U.S. soon.”

“You’ll be going on a business trip then.”

“We’re coordinating dates for them to come. They seem to want to conduct an on-site inspection in Korea before signing the franchise agreement.”

“I see.”

“We’ll be asking for franchise fees on par with H Hotel, the global brand leader.”

“I believe you’ll succeed.”

“I also think I should visit the new hotel construction site in Sokcho. The previous president seemed to have managed it meticulously, so I haven’t scheduled an urgent visit.”

“Right, if your schedule is too tight, it’ll only harm your health.”

Somehow, unlike his usual self, Chairman Kwon seemed halfhearted in listening to the report.

“But it doesn’t seem like you called me for a work report. Is it about my vacation schedule?”

“A vacation should be enjoyed leisurely by yourself. Just don’t cancel it because work is busy.”

Tae Ha read hesitation in Chairman Kwon’s expression. His steady gaze felt quite unfamiliar today.

“Tae Ha.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“You’re almost thirty now. And I’m not getting any younger either.”

“You’re just turning sixty. Someone who’s sixty-one would be offended to hear that.”

Tae Ha forced a smile, but he could roughly guess the direction of the conversation. That thing his peers had already experienced plenty of.

“Get married.”

Until recently, Chairman Kwon had politely declined all marriage proposals from political and business circles, reasoning that Tae Ha was still young and had much to learn.

But now,

“Marriage? Is it from a world-class family?”

Otherwise, how could he so easily talk about marriage, putting to shame all the previous proposals?

“There’s already a chosen girl.”

Tae Ha’s long eyes narrowed instantly.

“So there was a reason you turned down all those good matches.”

“Since my only son knows nothing but work, I chose in advance to save time. Did you think I didn’t know you rejected Se Young because you said your work time was too precious?”

Tae Jin Group’s eldest daughter, Se Young, was rejected by Tae Ha. Before formal talks between families, Se Young had tested the waters with Tae Ha, who firmly declined, and rumors spread in business circles that Tae Jin was looking for other matches.

Tae Ha’s reason for rejecting Se Young was simple. He didn’t want to spend time on dating.

“Since you’re going to get married anyway, think of it as saving time. You like saving time, don’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“Don’t go snooping around with your people out of curiosity.”

“Why not?”

“It’d be troublesome for me if you get rejected.”

Chairman Kwon laughed heartily, but at the word ‘rejected’, Tae Ha briefly thought of Song Eun Seo.

A person fitting the description of ‘rejected’.

Is it Song Eun Seo? Is the mystery being solved?

Right, it is strange. How could she have known all the personal information and filled out the report without any help?

It would be possible if it was father.

He might have thought Eun Seo would run away if he just matched her up. Her conditions were truly astounding.

However, Tae Ha soon dismissed the thought. If Chairman Kwon had decided on Song Eun Seo as a match, he would have already called her up to Seoul by the time grandmother died.

So it’s not Song Eun Seo.

Nevertheless, Tae Ha asks. Just in case.

“What’s her name?”

“Hmm? Usually people ask if she’s pretty first, but you’re a bit strange.”

“I just feel like she might be pretty. Just tell me her name.”

“I’m not going to tell you.”

Chairman Kwon chuckled mischievously as he emptied his teacup cleanly.

“Will you tell me if I beg?”

“You’re quite persistent today. I wonder why you’re so fixated on the name, not even the face.”

“I’m just really curious. I want to at least get used to her name, if not her face. So it won’t be awkward when we meet.”

“Her surname is Yoo. I’ll tell you her full name later.”

“Yoo?”

“Why that expression? Don’t tell me you have someone?”

“Of course not. The Lingzhi tea is bitter, that’s all.”

Tae Ha gave a faint smile and continued.

“I’m sure father has chosen a good match. I don’t mind.”

“That’s right. You’ll naturally grow fond of each other as you live together. Love will come too.”

“Was it like that for you too, Chairman?”

“Me?”

Chairman Kwon looked back over 30 years.

Meeting Tae Ha’s mother and his wife, Hong Ji Soo, was just a coincidence. It wasn’t a strategic marriage.

“For me, love came first. My love story was quite famous back in the day. People even suggested making a movie about it.”

Tae Ha lowered his head and smiled.

He was tired of the movie talk he had heard dozens of times, but when father talked about mother, he got quite a romantic expression. That’s why he sometimes asked on purpose. To make him recall the happy past, if only for a moment.

“Tae Ha, since you say you’re okay with it, I was thinking of setting a date to meet. When would be good?”

“Well, I’m busy these days. It’ll be difficult for a while, but maybe after I get used to the hotel work.”

Tae Ha stood up as he answered.

* * *

Incheon International Airport.

Ha Eun easily found her luggage at the baggage claim area, which was gradually filling with people, and loaded it onto a cart. It was exactly two years since her return to Korea.

She had graduated from university in the U.S., came to Korea, and then went back to the U.S., so it was precisely that long.

She hurriedly moved towards where Butler Jang was waiting.

Jang Hyun Jung is her adoptive mother. The person who adopted Ha Eun from an orphanage when she was an orphan.

The two of them were all the family they had. Ha Eun had never even seen her adoptive father, and he was divorced anyway, so whether blood-related or not, Hyun Jung and Ha Eun were the only family.

Her adoptive mother, Jang Hyun Jung, had always been a difficult presence, and since they had hardly lived together, Ha Eun didn’t know much about her.

Also, Ha Eun didn’t even know exactly who her adoptive mother worked for. As far as she could guess, she served someone in some company or organization.

Her adoptive mother very occasionally made phone calls to someone, and in some of those conversations, a ‘Chairman’ appeared.

She said that her long study abroad and comfortable life in America were all thanks to the sponsor, the Chairman.

So she had misunderstood.

Could the Chairman and her adoptive mother be in that kind of relationship?

Of course, not now. She had heard a few days ago that her marriage partner was the son of the sponsor.

As she was pushing the cart with her luggage, struggling a bit,

“Hey!”

Someone called out to her from behind and quickly caught up, blocking her way. The man, hiding his face with a black corduroy cap, was very tall.

Although she had seen many handsome men, the person blocking her way was even more attractive than them at first glance.

“You dropped this.”

It was an economic journal.

The man opened it to the exact page Ha Eun had been reading on the plane and handed it to her.

So this man who brought the magazine must also have been a first-class passenger.

Somehow finding this point interesting, Ha Eun stared at the man more intently.

‘I hope my marriage partner is at least this good-looking.’

Thinking of the arranged marriage partner she had only heard about from Butler Jang, Ha Eun had such thoughts, half expectant, half worried.

The reason for her return to Korea was to meet her fiancé.

“Thank you.”

Ha Eun pulled up the corners of her mouth into a bright smile.

“You seem to have a lot of interest in economics.”

Perhaps drawing a hasty conclusion from the economic journal, the man asked with shining eyes.

“Yes, a little.”

The page she had opened featured an article about the next-generation leaders selected by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. Of course, the most eye-catching face on that page was Kwon Tae Ha of GK Shopping.

Kwon Tae Ha was just Ha Eun’s dream and admiration. That’s why she bought the magazine, not out of interest in economics.

She fell for Kwon Tae Ha at first sight when he stayed for just 10 minutes at a charity party. Although she saw him from afar, his presence filled the entire party venue and more.

[Who’s that person?] [That’s Kwon Tae Ha, the only son of GK. They say he’s not interested in women. We even made a bet among ourselves. Whoever Kwon Tae Ha speaks to first gets a limited edition bag.]

There was no final winner that day, but Ha Eun was not just envious of the woman who would marry Kwon Tae Ha in the future, she almost hated her.

The man in front of her turned around right after handing over the magazine.

‘Even someone like him would be good.’

Ha Eun sighed as she watched the man slowly disappear, then exited the arrival hall.

She could easily find Butler Jang. She was very thin and always dressed elegantly.

“Ha Eun!”

Butler Jang raised her hand high and smiled brightly. Then she ran towards Ha Eun and hugged her tightly.

“Have you been well?”

“Of course. I’ve been fine.”

After a while, Butler Jang pulled away from Ha Eun, looked her up and down, and twisted her lips.

“You’ve gained some weight. You should take care of your figure.”

The expression and tone that made it hard to tell if she was a good mother or not, the same old nagging.

It was the very appearance that always made Ha Eun anxious. That’s why she had tried so hard not to fall out of Butler Jang’s favor.

“It’s just bloating. I haven’t been able to sleep for a few days because I’ve been worried.”

“I see. It’ll get better once you exercise. Let’s find a Pilates instructor and make a reservation soon. Driver?”

At Butler Jang’s gesture, the driver standing next to her took Ha Eun’s cart instead. Ha Eun linked her arm with Butler Jang’s, forming a light embrace.

“By the way, when am I meeting that person?”

“You mean the person you’re going to marry?”

“Yes, I’m curious. I was really surprised. I didn’t even know there was someone I was going to marry, and I was even more surprised that he’s the son of the sponsor. But why did they choose me?”

“It’s a secret. I’ll tell you later. But you haven’t dated anyone, right?”

“Where would I have had the time? You told me, remember? If I want to marry a good man, I should never date and cause gossip. You said the circle is small and rumors spread quickly.”

“Well done, well done.”

Butler Jang patted the white hand that had slipped between her arms, seemingly pleased.