Chapter 5
The Ritz Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. Seated near the entrance of the 118th-floor lounge, Hong-joo watched Ji-hyuk’s every move without missing a beat, just like before. Whether it was a business meeting, three or four men in suits stood up at Ji-hyuk’s appearance and bowed politely to him. Offering only a brief eye greeting to those men, Ji-hyuk sat down.
It was an amusing scene. Men in their mid-to-late thirties seemed somehow flustered in front of Ji-hyuk, who would only turn thirty next month. It made sense. Though he was wearing the same attire as when he went to the private pool earlier, an indescribable sense of intimidation flowed from Ji-hyuk. Was it just intimidation? Even with his lack of polite demeanor, a dignity that dared not be approached emanated from him. It was truly a facet befitting the bloodline of Chairman Seol Byeong-joo. With just a casually thrown glance, the men in suits continued speaking, not knowing what to do with themselves. Nodding as he listened to the men’s story as if receiving a report, Ji-hyuk even signed a few documents they handed him.
Watching that scene, Hong-joo read a message from Chief Secretary Song Jae-jeong that had just arrived.
[Uncle Secretary Song: Hong-joo. Because we couldn’t wait any longer, we just delivered the Chairman’s obituary to the media, and official condolences will begin starting this evening. So, you absolutely must escort him back by tomorrow at the latest. You know, right?]
Haa. Letting out a deep sigh, Hong-joo checked the time. It was already 2 PM. Her goal of bringing Ji-hyuk back by this evening was already a lost cause. Hong-joo sent a reply with quick finger movements.
[I’m sorry for being late, Uncle.] [I will bring Ji-hyuk back before the sun sets tomorrow.] [Absolutely.]
Just then, Ji-hyuk stood up from his seat. Consequently, the men in suits hurriedly stood up following him.
“CEO, then how should we respond to Van Daer’s side…?” “Tell them to follow SW’s principles. That if they want me to put out one thing, they should put out one thing too. Tell them we cannot invest with their current level of business plan.”
SW Private. It is a private investment firm that Ji-hyuk, having left the embrace of Myeongmun Group, founded during his junior year at Columbia University. She heard that starting with a seed money of 50 million won at the mere age of twenty-two, now, 7 years later, he had amassed assets of an unimaginable scale. Since every project he touched succeeded, the nickname ‘Investment Genius’ was natural. She heard that now, global corporations were practically tripping over themselves, desperately begging for Ji-hyuk’s investment. Was it that he wasn’t just a victory fairy, but that his investment came to be seen as a symbol of business success? Perhaps that kind of principle was the secret to driving his investment success. Instead of just investing, changing the direction of the business to his liking. The direction Ji-hyuk proposed successfully led projects, and ultimately, both the investee and the investor could fill their bellies together.
“Then, should we also propose an alternative from our side?” “Why do that and make our team members suffer?” “Still, if we present the direction for the business plan revision first, it reduces time waste.” “If so, we should raise the terms.” “We will raise it by 3%.” “Van Daer is being insolent, so make it a special 5%.” “Yes, we will propose it with a 5% increase.”
Nodding his head slightly, Ji-hyuk turned his steps. Behind his back, the men bowed at the waist. Hong-joo, who had been sitting near the lounge entrance, stood up, staring intently at Ji-hyuk as he walked toward her. Casting a short, cool glance, Ji-hyuk brushed past her. Chasing after him with quick steps, Hong-joo claimed the spot next to Ji-hyuk, who had stopped in front of the elevator. He spoke without even throwing a glance her way.
“How far are you going to follow me.” “Anywhere?” “I’m going to wash up, are you going to follow me into the bathroom too?” “Nothing says I can’t.”
At Hong-joo’s unyielding answer, Ji-hyuk let out a pfft, laugh. Then, he nodded.
“I’ll look forward to it. Let’s see you try.”
The elevator doors opened.
Hong-joo found herself stepping into Ji-hyuk’s hotel room in her bewilderment. Because he had opened the door for her and even cleared the way for her to enter first. After slightly bowing her head to Ji-hyuk, who stood holding the door, and entering the living room first, she felt Ji-hyuk’s presence a few steps behind her. In the cool and dry air of the hotel room, Ji-hyuk’s heavy perfume scent spread faintly. Was it due to the tension the location brought? Or was it due to Seol Ji-hyuk’s suggestive body odor mixed with the perfume scent? Just inhaling a breath felt like committing a sin. Turning around carefully, Hong-joo quietly gauged Ji-hyuk’s mood. Her gaze interlocked with Ji-hyuk, who had approached closely, from a short distance.
“Why are you just looking at me like that?”
Staring intently at her, Ji-hyuk unhesitatingly popped open the buttons of his linen shirt, tap, tap. Straightening her back and neck rigidly and pulling her chin in, Hong-joo gently bit her lips. The firm chest and abs that had completely captivated her sight early this morning were being nakedly revealed under the bright lighting. Collarbones stretching in a straight line from broad shoulders, pectoral muscles boasting a solid volume without being excessive, and abs situated like a well-crafted sculpture. As she absentmindedly fixed her gaze on his upper body and swallowed hard, Ji-hyuk continued speaking.
“You should take yours off, too.”
Spitting out the bizarre words carelessly, he took off his shirt and tossed it casually onto the sofa. Following his movements, the magnificently shaped pectoral muscles undulated dynamically.
“W-Why should I?”
As she asked, struggling to hide her flustered feelings, Ji-hyuk stretched one corner of his mouth crookedly and let out a pfft, laugh.
“You said you were going to follow me into the bathroom too.”
Having taken off his top, Ji-hyuk approached Hong-joo. Reflexively, Hong-joo’s legs stepped backward. It would have been reasonable for him to stop then, but Ji-hyuk closed the distance with Hong-joo even tighter.
“I’m going to take mine off, so it’s unfair if you keep yours on.”
Something cold touched the back of Hong-joo, who had been retreating hesitantly.
“…Heup.”
Startled, she checked behind her. The glass door leading out to the balcony was touching her back. There was nowhere left to retreat. In that instant, the tips of her toes bumped against Ji-hyuk’s dress shoes. Hong-joo lifted her head. Ji-hyuk’s gaze indifferently swept down Hong-joo’s flushed red cheeks. However, the eyes that captured Hong-joo were neither indifferent nor apathetic. His dark grayish-brown eyes, containing Hong-joo, wavered suggestively. It truly felt as though waves were crashing within his eyes, making her feel like she might get motion sickness. Ji-hyuk’s head tilted slightly.
“Why are you running away?”
Between their two chests, which had grown considerably closer, hot air seemed to flow fiercely. Her heart pounded and her pulse throbbed crazily. Putting tension tightly into her spine at the strange sensation, Hong-joo curled her numbed fingers into fists and glared upward.
“That’s because, you approached me.” “And?”
The eyes that asked as if truly curious were somewhat delinquent.
“I’m asking why you’re running away to the point of what I would do if I approached you.”
One eyebrow lifting slightly was intimidating, too.
“What, were you expecting me to undress you?”
Then, he reached out his hand towards Hong-joo.
“Should I undress you?”
Greatly startled, Hong-joo reflexively clutched the lapels of the jacket she was wearing. At that, the tips of Ji-hyuk’s fingers lightly brushed the back of her hand. At the brief contact, a sharp, thrilling sensation arose as if electricity had passed through. Hong-joo quickly swatted Ji-hyuk’s hand away.
“N-No thanks.”
Tightly clenching and then opening his rejected hand, Ji-hyuk gently furrowed his eyes and met Hong-joo’s eyes again.
“If you aren’t going to undress, why did you follow me all the way here.”
Then, as if whining, he spat out a single remark.
“You made my heart flutter for nothing.”
Heart flutter? He didn’t have that kind of face at all. He still looked bothered, and even annoyance was visible as if he were slightly sick of it. And yet, to shake her heart with words saying his heart fluttered, he was incredibly wicked. Was this man like this in the past, too?
