chapter 05
During the span of summer and autumn, Seoha had completely forgotten about Lee Jisoo. There was no chance of running into her, and Seoha had been far too busy preparing for the brand launch.
“It’s freezing. It was still kind of warm yesterday.”
Seoha buttoned her coat tightly as she got into the car, shivering at the sudden cold. It felt like she had just watched the college entrance exam news yesterday, but now it was already deep early winter.
“Your coat’s too thin.”
Seung-oh clicked his tongue after feeling the edge of Seoha’s coat.
“There’s a scarf in the back seat. Wear it—it’ll be cold at lunch.”
“Thanks.”
As she reclined the seat slightly to grab the scarf, something caught her eye under the back seat.
“……?”
She fumbled to pick it up and discovered a macaron—a pink macaron that someone had taken a bite of and dropped.
“What’s a macaron doing here? You don’t like these things, honey.”
Seung-oh glanced at the macaron and spoke casually.
“One of our employees used my car yesterday. Looks like they dropped it while eating.”
It was an unsatisfying explanation. Upon closer inspection, there was even a clear red lipstick mark near the bite.
“You lent your car to a female employee?”
“She picked up another female employee on the way back from an offsite.”
A gnawing sense of unease settled in Seoha. It was hard to describe, like chewing gum stuck in the corner of her mind.
Why did half a eaten macaron bother her so much?
Lost in thought, Seoha fell quiet, and Seung-oh spoke again.
“You know the fabric factory changed, right? I sent you samples—check them when you get to work.”
“Yeah. But why change? The previous factory wasn’t bad.”
“The new factory is larger and better in several ways.”
Seoha would need to handle the samples to know exactly what was better. She set aside thoughts of the macaron and mentally organized her tasks for the day.
“Good morning, everyone!”
Seoha entered the design studio and greeted the staff energetically. Responses came from all directions.
“Good morning, Team Leader.”
“Good morning, Team Leader!”
Whether as the CEO’s daughter or not, Seoha had started as the youngest designer, taking on all sorts of miscellaneous tasks.
But as her designs repeatedly became hits, she naturally became the lead designer, and eventually received the title of Team Leader.
Still, there were always those who whispered about her being a “gold spoon” or a parachute hire. For example, Secretary Ryu Kyung-jun, who would barely greet her with a cold glance whenever they crossed paths.
Seoha had never directly seen or heard him gossip, but she was certain he would if given the chance.
“Good morning, Ara. Have the samples from the new factory arrived?”
“I left them on your desk. The resumes and portfolios of the new designer applicants are set up in the meeting room.”
“Thanks. I’ll check the samples and then have a meeting in thirty minutes.”
Seoha went to her glass-partitioned desk, opened the fabric book, and checked each sample by touch, pulling and cutting them. The result:
“…No real difference?”
They were slightly better, but not enough to warrant the hassle. Still, the new factory was marginally better, and the old factory was inconveniently small, so she decided to approve it.
“Okay, meeting time. Gather in the conference room!”
She clapped her hands in the office, and the staff hurried to the meeting room. Seoha reviewed each resume and asked for her team’s opinions.
“Kim Yerim—she’s got a good sense. Thoughts?”
“She’s definitely got talent.”
“Unique, but isn’t it too bold for our target audience?”
Debates erupted over each resume—whether it was good or bad, age, experience, etc. Finally, Seoha frowned at the last resume.
“Lee Jisoo?”
Why was she here?
“Do you know her?”
Yoonjung asked after reading Seoha’s expression.
Seoha knew her. It was Lee Jisoo—the daughter of the helper aunt who had brought pancakes. Seoha confirmed the name and photo multiple times. Did she study design? And of all places, she’d applied to their company.
Seoha shook her head lightly. She wasn’t happy, but Jisoo hadn’t done anything wrong.
“No. Give your opinions.”
“This applicant lacks experience, Team Leader.”
“Her foundation is good, though. Very mainstream.”
“I agree. If she comes in as the youngest and learns, she’ll grow fast.”
The photo of Jisoo was far cleaner and more polished than Seoha remembered.
Seoha pictured the half-eaten pancake Seung-oh had enjoyed, the dress she hadn’t thrown away, and Jisoo’s red-faced expression from before, overlaying the neat photo.
She pushed the resume aside and flipped through the portfolio. True to someone else’s words, the designs were mainstream, lacking distinct personality. Regardless of the unpleasant personal memories, the portfolio itself didn’t impress her.
“Okay. Lee Jisoo is rejected.”
With that, the new designer recruitment meeting ended.
Fortunately, her portfolio wasn’t impressive. Had it been outstanding, Seoha might have approved her application without hesitation—for the company her parents had built from the ground up: Kang Yoon Company.
[Got a meeting, so I have to go. Can’t leave together today.]
A message from Seung-oh during the evening rush. Seoha now faced the usual battle of finding a taxi home.
The winter sun was impatient. When Seoha stepped outside, the sky was already dark, and brake lights crawled sluggishly through the congested streets.
Even stretching up and looking around like a meerkat, no taxis with lights on were visible.
“Ugh, it’s cold.”
The biting wind between the buildings cut her cheeks mercilessly. To make matters worse, sleet began falling from the gloomy sky.
“Snow always comes at the worst time.”
Seoha tightened Seung-oh’s scarf and judged that waiting for an hour would be futile—it’d be better to walk to the subway. She regretted wearing her thin morning coat and beige long boots today.
As she walked, the sleet turned into cold rain. At the subway entrance, a sign announced construction. Nothing seemed to go right.
She dashed to a nearby bus stop for cover. The small shelter was already packed with people trying to avoid the rain.
“Excuse me! Just a moment!”
Even crouched in the tight space, she was jostled by strangers. Her luxurious coat and boots felt like burdens.
Should she call her mom?
Her gaze shifted across the street.
“…?”
At first, she thought it was a car of the same color. Then the same model. Squinting, she checked the license plate and realized it wasn’t just similar—it was Seung-oh’s car.
“Seung-oh?”
He had said he had a meeting… Was the location nearby? Her heart raced uncontrollably. Thump, thump, thump. Her chest reacted before her brain did.
Seung-oh’s car was stopped with hazard lights on in front of the crowded subway. Other honking cars seemed irrelevant to him.
A woman ran up and, naturally, got into the car—the same side seat Seoha had sat in that morning.
The macaron. The pink macaron he had dropped earlier hit her like a massive ice block to the back of her head.
Trembling, Seoha took out her phone, still displaying Seung-oh’s message:
[Got a meeting, so I have to go. Can’t leave together today.]
She pressed the call button. Listening to the dial tone while watching Seung-oh’s car fade away, she licked her pale lips.
[Hello.]
“Yeah, hi.”
She hoped her voice hadn’t trembled.
“Where are you? It’s raining suddenly. Can you pick me up? I can’t get a taxi…”
She wanted him to say, I’ll be there soon, don’t come out.
[Can’t come now.]
In his usual tone.
[I’m in Gyeonggi-do now. Told you I had a meeting.]
So that’s it. That was the reason.
Her head felt cold. The unpleasant heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably.
“…Okay.”
Her voice didn’t tremble.
Before she could hang up, the call ended. No questions about how she’d get home, not even asking if she had an umbrella.
She stepped into the now heavier rain. She no longer cared about her cashmere coat or leather boots. She just wanted to walk and disappear somewhere.
She wandered in the icy rain for who knows how long.
Suddenly, the downpour stopped. Seoha paused, looking back with blurred eyes.
“Why are you wandering around like this, you privileged gold spoon?”
Of all days. Of all situations. And now, she faced him.
He wore a black long coat down to his knees. His skin seemed paler than usual in the dark, and his lips were bright red, looking even more arrogant.
His hair was neatly styled in a way she despised, and he held a large umbrella in a gloved hand.
“Seems like this isn’t Secretary Ryu’s concern.”
Seoha raised her head and replied coldly, signaling him to go on his way and leave her alone.
