Smart phones were distributed to the people attending the presentation, and the display showed the catalog screen.

“Now we’ll turn on the lights, and everyone can use their smartphones to take pictures of their feet to experience trying on shoes from the Dowon Outlet.”

It was possible to try on digitized shoes while pointing the camera at one’s legs, and view them from different angles.

“For clothing, there are two scanning methods: self-scanning using the phone camera to scan your whole body, and using the scanners installed in the outlet stores.”

“Oh! This is fun. The recognition is much better than the previous sample.”

“The UI is easy to understand too. I’m looking forward to the final version.”

“Director Do Jae Kyung, what do you think?”

The executive director of Dowon Distribution posed a question to Jae Kyung. Jae Kyung made eye contact with Bo Mi through the phone. Jae Kyung looked at the confident Bo Mi with a satisfied expression.

She acts better than expected and has guts too.

The corners of Jae Kyung’s mouth turned up gently.

“It’s good. Since it’s still in the demo stage, I’d like to see data on overall capacity and app launch time. Even at this early stage, there’s no discomfort and it’s very promising.”

“Thank you.”

As Bo Mi smiled and bowed, Ga Young’s hands trembled.

This can’t be happening…….

“If there are no questions, we’ll conclude here. Thank you.”

As Bo Mi bowed, applause erupted. Ga Young grabbed Bo Mi’s wrist, panting.

“CEO Han Bo Mi. It seemed like there was a problem this morning, what happened?”

Bo Mi smiled professionally at Ga Young’s question.

“A problem? Was there a problem?”

“I mean, the server virus…….”

Ga Young covered her mouth with her hand, realizing what she had unconsciously blurted out.

“Virus?”

Bo Mi pretended not to have heard correctly and asked again.

“Well……. I heard there was a problem with the server this morning. The server must have gone down due to a virus.”

“There was a problem.”

Bo Mi’s eyes flashed sharply.

“But how did Team Leader Yeon Ga Young know what kind of problem it was, whether it was a virus or not?”

Ga Young’s palms became clammy and her lips dried. Could this girl actually be suspecting me?

“Ah…… I’ve just heard that such things happen a lot in the ICT industry.”

“I see. That’s right.”

Bo Mi nodded and then added with a slight smile.

“I almost suspected that you might be involved with the virus. What a relief.”

“No way……. What nonsense are you talking about?”

Ca…… Calm down, Yeon Ga Young. I didn’t touch anything. There’s no way I could be caught.

Ga Young swallowed hard and rolled her eyes.

“Right? There’s no way you would do anything to harm the team.”

“Of course. What on earth are you saying?”

“Team Leader Yeon Ga Young. If there was someone who deliberately tried to sabotage this precious project that our Narae Creative employees worked overtime to prepare.”

Bo Mi’s eyes flashed sharply as she stared at Ga Young.

“I absolutely won’t let them off the hook.”

Ga Young, overwhelmed by Bo Mi, unconsciously took a step back.

“Wha…… What are you saying? This has nothing to do with me.”

Ga Young cleared her throat and turned around.

“Hmm. Good job on today’s presentation. CEO Han Bo Mi.”

“You worked hard too, Team Leader.”

Bo Mi greeted Ga Young with a forced smile, swallowing her rising anger.

She wanted to grab Ga Young by the collar right then and there, but there was no decisive evidence that Ga Young had done it.

‘I’m certain that Team Leader Yeon Ga Young is interfering with our project.’

The act she and Su Young had put on this morning was because she was worried Ga Young might try something else if she knew her plan had failed before the presentation.

Ga Young had accidentally blurted out that she knew about the virus, but that alone wasn’t enough to corner her.

Bo Mi, her mind in turmoil, raised her hand to rub the back of her neck.

The man Jae Kyung had apprehended last night was from the Hwangdo Construction resort team.

‘How did you know the password? Did you also delete the initial version data?’

‘I don’t know anything about that.’

The man brazenly pretended not to know in response to Bo Mi’s questions.

‘I don’t know what Hwangdo Construction promised you, but I can also cut off your livelihood.’

At Jae Kyung’s question, the man looked down, seemingly flustered.

‘Well…… That.’

‘The USB with the virus. It came from your pocket. Why did you do it? No, who ordered you to do it?’

‘I…….’

‘If this project fails, you might end up taking all the responsibility. Can you compensate for the entire investment amount?’

‘Eek. So…….’

Frightened by Jae Kyung’s words, the man confessed, trying to find a way out.

‘I’ll tell you. They said they’d give me money if I just planted the virus……. I bought the password from Hyun Min. That person is addicted to online gambling and has debts.’

The man had deliberately approached and bribed Hyun Min after learning through interactions with Narae Creative employees that Hyun Min was in need of money.

‘Hyun Min also deleted the data.’

Bo Mi’s heart ached at being betrayed once again by someone she had trusted. In the end, there was no evidence that Ga Young was behind it. The man steadfastly refused to say who had ordered him, and they could only learn that he had contact with Deputy Manager Kang Sun Young, who was close to Ga Young.

Ga Young knew too well how to use people without dirtying her own hands.

Swallowing her frustration, Bo Mi watched as Ga Young scurried after Jae Kyung, who was heading back to the director’s office.

“Elder brother Jae Kyung.”

Jae Kyung avoided Ga Young’s hand as she reached out to grab his arm, looking at her with a cold gaze.

“Team Leader Yeon Ga Young. Please refrain from using such terms of address in the company.”

“You’re being so cold to your fiancée. We’re going to get married soon.”

Ga Young said, pouting her lips.

“Whether it’s an engagement or marriage. Keep it professional.”

“……. Alright. Director.”

Director doesn’t sound bad either for office romance. Ga Young raised the corners of her mouth as she mouthed the word ‘director’.

“Today’s presentation was good, right? I put a lot of effort into it.”

Although her plan had failed, Ga Young wanted to take credit where she could, now that the presentation was successful. She waited expectantly for Jae Kyung’s praise.

“CEO Han Bo Mi did a good job presenting. You must have good teamwork.”

“I personally guided everything.”

“I look forward to the future project results as well.”

Ga Young tucked her hair behind her ear and lifted her chin.

“Sigh……. CEO Han Bo Mi is lacking in many ways. Yesterday, she couldn’t even manage data properly. It’s pathetic. I really…….”

“Team Leader Yeon Ga Young.”

Ga Young looked at Jae Kyung, entranced by his handsome voice calling her name.

“Yes, elder brother Jae…… I mean, Director.”

“The responsibility for Narae Creative’s mistakes is shared. If there’s a failure, Team Leader Yeon Ga Young will be disciplined.”

“That’s! Why me?”

“If you’re in a management position, you should know how to take appropriate responsibility.”

“That’s unfair. Narae Creative, who couldn’t handle the work properly, should be held responsible. Why should our Hwangdo Resort…”

Jae Kyung tried to exercise patience at Ga Young’s question, which lacked even basic common sense.

It was a moment that revealed the level of CEO Hwang Min Jun, who had put such a person in charge of the project.

“When has the world ever been fair?”

“What?”

“Because the world is unfair, Yeon Ga Young gets to be a team leader, and gets promotions without achievements, right?”

Ga Young’s face turned red and blue as she clenched her fists. Even someone as oblivious as Ga Young could understand.

Jae Kyung was now criticizing her for becoming a team leader without ability, through nepotism.

“So manage things well without problems from now on.”

Jae Kyung closed the door to the director’s office, ignoring Ga Young who was trembling with anger.

Left alone outside the door, Ga Young glared at it, seething.

Ha! Why should I have to hear such things?

It’s all because of that Han Bo Mi girl.

If Han Bo Mi hadn’t been working at Dowon Group in the first place, Ga Young wouldn’t have had to go to the trouble of spending money and using people to try to drive her out. No matter what anyone said, she couldn’t stand to see Han Bo Mi doing well right in front of her eyes.

Above all, it irritated her to have her abilities questioned every time she resorted to these tactics.

“Aaargh!”

Ga Young screamed, stomping her feet and messing up her hair.

The secretarial staff, startled, focused their attention on Ga Young, but she soon walked towards the Paradisus project office as if nothing had happened. Han Bo Mi. Just you wait. I’ll definitely drive you out.

Ga Young gritted her teeth, determined to think of the next plan.

Returning to the office, Bo Mi leaned against the partition with a dazed expression.

‘You’re being so cold to your fiancée. We’re going to get married soon.’

So he has someone he’s going to marry.

She hadn’t intended to overhear Jae Kyung and Ga Young’s conversation, but for some reason, those words clearly stuck in her ear.

To think that Jae Kyung’s marriage partner was Ga Young.

Bo Mi tried to swallow the bitter feeling.

While she had no desire to get involved with Jae Kyung, the fact that he affected her like this was surely because he resembled Won.

Nothing more, nothing less, and yet… her heart reacted to Jae Kyung as if it were malfunctioning.

Get a grip, Han Bo Mi. Is this the time to be worrying about men?

But still…….

She recalled walking with Jae Kyung last night.

‘It’s late, so I’ll walk you home.’

‘No, it’s okay. I live nearby. It’s only a 10-minute walk. I live in the employee apartments just behind here.’

Bo Mi declined, not wanting to trouble Jae Kyung any further. She felt particularly conflicted after causing trouble for the company due to Hyun Min’s actions. Hyun Min would have to be fired, but considering the time they had spent together since their club days, she felt a mix of emotions.

‘It may only be 10 minutes, but you never know what might happen in that time.’

It had been the night an intruder broke into the office. Jae Kyung’s concern didn’t seem like an unnecessary worry.

‘It sounds like you’re saying you’ll walk me home no matter what.’

‘You understand well.’

As Jae Kyung slightly bowed his head and smiled, Bo Mi’s heart ached.

The path to the employee apartments wasn’t in a bustling area, and they had to cross a large park. They walked together along the dark night path lit by streetlights. The scent of grass mixed with earth reminded her of the forest path in Nakwon Village.

On an early summer night, she had walked with Won to see the fireflies by the lake. Intoxicated by the beautiful light of the stars wandering the earth for their final mating, they had pressed their lips together.

Remembering that night when they had explored each other’s lips, forgetting even the heat in the midst of the rising passion, Bo Mi’s cheeks turned red.

As she lifted her head, Jae Kyung, who looked just like Won, was walking in step with her. Afraid that Jae Kyung might notice her reddened face, Bo Mi spoke in a deliberately gruff tone.

‘I didn’t know the director cared so much about employee welfare.’

‘Do you think I’d walk just anyone home?’

It seemed like he was saying she wasn’t just anyone, which made her feel strangely conscious.

‘I don’t think you’re interested in me.’

Jae Kyung’s gaze, looking down at Bo Mi, suddenly deepened.

‘Don’t be too quick to judge.’

‘Director!’

Someone on an electric scooter brushed past Bo Mi, and Jae Kyung reached out to pull her into his arms.

‘Whether I’m interested in CEO Han Bo Mi or not.’

As Jae Kyung released Bo Mi, she unconsciously smoothed the part where his hand had touched.

‘I’m still analyzing that too.’

‘…….’

Thump thump. The sound of her heart beating seemed too loud. Her heart really did seem to be malfunctioning.

‘I apologize for what happened today. It was due to my lack of management.’

Bo Mi was touched by Jae Kyung’s apology. It was something for which he could have placed all the blame on Bo Mi with no room for argument…….

Realizing that yesterday’s touching apology might have been to cover for Ga Young, his fiancée, made her feel incredibly foolish.

All the positive thoughts she had about Jae Kyung suddenly came crashing down.

I’m sorry, Won.

Bo Mi muttered inwardly, feeling as if she had committed adultery.

It felt as if Won was scolding her for being distracted when she had Yeo Reum.

To think that Yeon Ga Young, who had consistently bullied Bo Mi since childhood, and the cold-blooded Do Jae Kyung……. Still, it’s a shame about the director.

“Ah! It’s cold!”

Bo Mi stood up, startled by the cool sensation on her cheek.

Su Young had touched an iced Americano cup to Bo Mi’s cheek and was smiling brightly.

“You were amazing during the presentation earlier. As expected of our CEO Han Bo Mi!”

As Bo Mi wiped off the water droplets on her face with the back of her hand, Su Young offered her the coffee.

“Thanks. Sorry for calling you yesterday when you must have been tired.”

“It was for work, not something else……. If that had spread as it was, today’s presentation would have been… Ugh. Terrible.”

“Thanks to you, we got through it well. Thank you.”

“It’s all because you handled it well. Our CEO Han Bo Mi is so capable and amazing, I’m worried someone might snatch you away.”

Su Young joked, teasing Bo Mi.

“What are you……. I’m going to live with Yeo Reum, just the two of us.”

Why does Won’s face suddenly come to mind? For a moment, Bo Mi couldn’t tell if it was Won’s face or Jae Kyung’s.

“No. These days, you can’t just live for your child.”

“I feel sorry that I can’t give him enough attention as it is…….”

“I wonder if our Yeo Reum has arrived at Seoul Station, with his sun-gazing mother waiting.”

“Since our home is in this area anyway, Mi Rae said she’d call when they’re near the station.”

“Yeo Reum must have grown again in the meantime.”

Su Young smiled good-naturedly, measuring Yeo Reum’s height against his thigh with his palm. Bo Mi was grateful that Su Young always loved Yeo Reum like a real nephew.

“Oh? It’s Mi Rae. They must be here. I’ll go take the call and be right back.”

Bo Mi walked into the corridor with her phone.

“Mi Rae. Have you arrived?”

−Elder sister……. What should we do! Yeo Reum…….

Mi Rae’s voice was trembling with fear. Bo Mi gripped her phone tightly with a sense of foreboding.

“Mi Rae. Stay calm. What happened?”

−Yeo Reum has disappeared.

At Mi Rae’s shocking words, Bo Mi’s vision went dark.