Chapter 3
“How is he? Is he treating you well? He takes after his mother, so he can be a bit blunt, but he doesn’t have a bad personality.”
The voice from the other end of the phone snapped her out of her daydreaming about the past.
Anyone watching would think she was in some kind of drama. Feeling silly about her situation, Jisoo laughed at herself and forced a smile as she answered.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Even though no one was watching her or listening to her story.
“Executive Director, please be kind to me.”
It just felt like she had to say that.
“Anyway, don’t overdo it. A big company is a big company for a reason. If you need help, ask right away. Take full advantage of it. If you need anything from me, just let me know.”
“Okay. Don’t worry too much. You should also take care of yourself, Director.”
Jisoo barely managed to lift her low, gloomy voice and ended the call. When she looked at the time, it was about time to head back in.
Just as she was about to stand up, she heard someone coming in.
She turned her head, and a tall figure filled her view.
As her gaze slowly moved up, she saw a face she didn’t expect. Startled, Jisoo sighed and stood up quickly.
“Looks like you’re adjusting well.”
“Executive Director.”
That man, Lee Heon.
Known as the crown prince of Taesung, even his appearance matched the title perfectly.
His neatly styled hair revealed a smooth forehead, and his eyebrows were sharply defined like they were drawn with a brush.
His eyes were distinct but cold, his nose sharp yet graceful. His lips looked firm and stubborn; his jawline smooth yet chiseled. His dark suit fit his tall frame perfectly.
Even though he wore a clean, complete three-piece suit with tie, shirt, and cuffs, there was still a subtle rebellious aura about him.
What shocked Jisoo more than him being here was that he actually spoke to her.
It was the second time. Just today, the second time.
He had never spoken to her about anything personal at work unless it was during a meeting or a report. Her heart pounded as she lowered her eyes, realizing he might have overheard her phone call just moments ago.
But he didn’t care about her feelings. He just leaned casually by the door and touched a nearby potted plant. The orchid was in such poor condition that it was hard to tell leaves from petals.
His gaze stayed fixed on her. There was clear disapproval in his warm-looking eyes. His deep pupils seemed like they could pull her in.
“Is it your hobby to throw yourself at anyone?”
“Excuse me?”
He cruelly crushed a petal in his hand. It fluttered pathetically through the air.
Even though it was dried and shriveled, the petal still held a red hue.
“Just wondering if you tried to seduce Kang Yoon-gyeom like you did with me.”
How annoying. His murmur sounded casual, almost like a joke. But the meaning hit her heart directly. Her limbs felt paralyzed.
“What do you mean?”
Like a robot, she stiffly replied. And then the recent memory came rushing back.
‘I didn’t say I would do anything.’
‘Whatever it is.’
His scornful eyes as she brought up the past still vivid like it was yesterday.
“This is a workplace. Watch how you act.”
Her first emotion was confusion and frustration. Watch herself? What had she done wrong?
There was nothing she did today that went against any rule.
She had just come to work, bought a drink like usual, and gone to the rooftop garden to have some quiet time alone.
So why?
“With Yoon gyeom.”
Trying to find the right words, Jisoo stammered.
“No, with Mr. Kang Yoon-gyeom, we’re just seniors and juniors from college. Nothing more, nothing less.”
She wanted to explain more, but couldn’t. The man in front of her was no longer who he used to be.
“I see.”
The crooked smile on his lips held no warmth. It didn’t sound like he was sorry for the misunderstanding.
“Yes. Still I’ll be more careful from now on.”
So, I won’t be a bother.
The tight feeling in her throat made her swallow the rest of her words. She saw the fallen petal get crushed under his shoe.
As if her condition didn’t matter at all, he changed the topic with ease.
“Shouldn’t we start getting ready for the exhibition now?”
“Yes.”
“I’d like to hear your basic idea for the exhibition.”
“Oh, yes. Then I’ll head in and prepare a report for the initial meeting”
“No.”
Lee Heon cut her off sharply, and Jisoo shut her mouth.
“Let’s meet today at 8, at the L Hotel.”
His next words made Jisoo’s eyes widen.
She couldn’t guess what he meant. Still frozen, she bit her lip. Before she could answer, he turned and walked away without hesitation.
The space, unchanged, now felt empty. She was only wearing a thin blouse, but cold sweat kept forming.
At the top floor of a skyscraper. Standing in front of the suite number he had given her, Jisoo tightly held the strap of her bag.
“Phew”
Why did he call her to a hotel? Did he remember the proposal she made back then?
It wasn’t hope but confusion that clouded her mind. Feelings she didn’t even understand. But she knew it was all his doing and yet, that’s what brought her here.
She knew deep breaths wouldn’t calm her, but she had no other choice.
After swallowing dryly many times, Jisoo shut her eyes tightly.
Don’t be scared. You knew what you were getting into.
She really had known. For three years, she endured with clenched teeth through the memories he left behind.
Hoping to get something back from those years, she had made a bold proposal even if it made her seem reckless or arrogant.
Even though she knew she no longer existed in his memory. Even though she knew he no longer loved her.
That tiny hope had kept her from letting go.
Licking her dry lips, Jisoo took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. Soon, the door opened.
As she stepped in, she saw neatly placed shoes. Even the shoes seemed to reflect his flawless personality, making her breath catch.
She hurried down the long hallway and entered the dining room, just as he stepped out of the bathroom.
Lee Heon gestured toward her as she stood frozen.
“Sit.”
“What?”
“I said sit. Aren’t you going to do the briefing?”
Only then did she remember why he called her. He had asked to hear about her exhibition plan.
“You looked like you expected something else.”
“No, I just…”
His mocking words made her face flush. She shook slightly and lowered her head.
She hadn’t ruled out other possibilities but she didn’t expect him to mock her like that.
“Let’s see just how talented the person Director Hong personally recommended is.”
Though he wore something casual, his eyes were sharp. Jisoo swallowed again, without realizing.
She slowly pulled out a chair and sat down. Then, with trembling hands, she took out the materials she had prepared and laid them out before him.
Dressed in only a bathrobe, he crossed his arms and looked down at her with an arrogant gaze.
“What I looked at first…”
Jisoo began explaining as best as she could, her mind going blank under his intimidating presence.
To summarize, her idea was to review the past work of Taesung and Haram, compressing their history. She had selected artworks that had received strong responses in the past.
Since Taesung and Haram had worked together for a long time, she believed that if the theme of ‘learning from the past’ was structured well, the rest would follow.
Lee Heon listened silently for a while. Then, he raised his hand. Jisoo stopped talking.
He finally lifted his gaze and looked at her sideways.
His clear, sharp eyes met hers and he slowly spoke.
“If I were a customer paying to see this exhibition”
Jisoo held her breath, waiting for his next words.
“I don’t think I’d want to see old works again. And if I were the artist, I wouldn’t understand why I should put effort into an exhibition that won’t make money.”
“Ah.”
“And do you know how many artists Taesung has supported so far? But exhibition space is limited. If some get in and some don’t, people will definitely talk about discrimination. How will you decide the standard? How will you deal with the backlash?”
Caught off guard by what she hadn’t considered, Jisoo fell silent.
The company and gallery clearly wanted both reputation and financial return.
“You’ve done exhibitions before, haven’t you?”
“I don’t like parachutes.”
His crooked smile appeared again.
Parachute an insult not just to Jisoo, but to Director Hong, who recommended her.
Still, though harsh, his points weren’t wrong. Jisoo admitted she had taken things too lightly.
“I didn’t consider that. I have a meeting with the planning team the day after tomorrow. I’ll take your points into account and try to rebuild the concept in a fresher way.”
All she could do was give a professional reply. Her lips trembled and her face burned.
There wasn’t much time left before the exhibition.
To redefine the theme, select artists, and plan the layout all within that short time she would have to work nonstop.
Jisoo clenched her jaw as she packed up her materials. Maybe it was because she had shown weakness in front of him her chest felt tight.
He was in control of both the work and their personal history. She couldn’t act carelessly.
“Executive Director, today”
Her hesitant heart kept her from finishing the sentence. Silence fell for a moment.
Then came Lee Heon’s cold reply, as cold as his gaze.
“Today, what?”
