Win | Chapter 2

It was the day when the routine that had been rolling like a hamster wheel came to a halt.

“I have a meeting scheduled with Director Nam Si-on of Namwon Holdings at 12 o’clock.”

The unfamiliar word “meeting” made her hand, which was signing the approval document, pause. Taking a calm breath, Doah closed the approval board and stood up.

“It’s more like a pre-marital inspection than a matchmaking. The marriage is already confirmed.”

In the hands of Chief Jeong Hee-won of the Secretary’s Office was a tweed setup sent via express from the department store’s VIP room.

“Excuse me for a moment, Executive Director. From now on, just for 10 minutes, I would like to ask you to take off your rank and talk to me as a high school classmate and your close friend.”

“say it.”

Doah snatched the hanger from Manager Jung’s hand and took off her blouse.

If they’re going to arbitrarily take off and put on rank insignias like that, shouldn’t they cut the salary? It was a moment of serious contemplation.

Director Jung placed his hands on his hips and asked a question with a sigh.

“Are you really going to go through with this match?”

“What should we do then? Do you want to go in my place?”

As I draped the tweed jacket over the inner top, the snug fit felt quite satisfying. While checking the fit in the full-length mirror placed in one corner of the office, Director Jung continued speaking in an excited voice.

“You know that’s ridiculous, right? Did you really think this marriage through? It’s not just anyone, it’s Namwon Nam Sion.”

“Why is that?”

Doha asked back nonchalantly, took off her slacks, and quickly put on the tweed skirt. Because she was taller than average, the hem of the skirt rode up well above her knees, exposing half of her thighs. Is it too short? Doha tilted her head in doubt.

“Is there anyone in this industry who doesn’t know about Nam Sion’s complicated relationships? He was the talk of the town with rumours circulating right up until the wedding article was published.”

Anyway, I’ll only wear it for a short time during the blind date, so should I just wear it? I didn’t like the skirt because it was shorter than what I usually wear, but it’s too much trouble to ask for another outfit now, and above all, I didn’t have time.

Tsk, clicking her tongue, Doah took the heels offered by Director Jung and slipped them on one by one.

“Even if it’s true, it’s just gossip. I don’t really care.”

“Even though it’s someone you’ll be living with for the rest of your life?”

“Rather than those who chant about love and pure devotion, it’s better to have someone who enjoys a little fun and quickly makes a getaway.”

Director Jung let out a sigh as if he was exasperated. Doah continued speaking, unfazed.

“At least it means he’s not foolish enough to let reason go just because of inefficient emotions. As a business partner, he’s not bad. As a person… I don’t know.”

Wearing high heels, Do-ah stood in front of the mirror again and checked her outfit. The reflection of Manager Jung muttered in a rather displeased voice.

“As a marriage partner, he’s even worse.”

Returning to her desk and sitting down, Doah picked up her tablet and opened her inbox. There was an attached file filled with Nam Sion’s personal information and details.

The information obtained through her mother was far less substantial than the data provided by the private investigator she had personally hired. From publicly available information to the detailed shareholding ratios of the Namwon Group held by Nam Si-on, and even the intricate relationships with family members. Do-ah looked over that file more than ten times a day.

Director Jung looked at Do-ah and murmured to himself.

“I just can’t understand it at all.”

“Don’t try to understand. I will never understand why you spend your life with people who are so far behind you.”

“The standards are different. I prioritise character over salary or family wealth.”

“Same here. I’m the complete opposite. Can you respect my taste a bit?”

Do-ah, who only slightly raised the corners of her mouth towards Director Jeong, asked.

“How many minutes are left?”

“7 minutes. If we go down in 2 minutes, it will be perfect.”

“No, I’ll be there 5 minutes late.”

If I’m going to get married anyway, isn’t it right to choose someone who benefits me when I do the math?

HX, to which Doah belongs, and Namwon had been in a fierce competitive rivalry for quite some time. Even now, the two construction companies were engaged in a battle of nerves over the redevelopment of prime land in Seoul. Both sides acknowledged that excessive resources were being consumed in the process.

It seemed they had come to the conclusion that by building a mutually complementary relationship through cooperation, they could prevent unnecessary waste and carry out large-scale national projects more smoothly.

As part of that, discussions about marriage took place between both families, and Doah did not strongly oppose. She was well aware of her inferior position compared to her two older brothers, who were in charge of major subsidiaries. If she could rise to an equal position with them, she could willingly handle marriage.

“Do as you please.”

Director Jung let out a deep sigh, shook his head, and left his office.

 

🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

 

Exactly 12:05.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the lounge located on the lobby floor of Hotel Arden, the staff all bowed in unison to greet the guests.

“Welcome, Executive Director. Your companions have already been shown to the room.”

Doa, who hated wasting time waiting for others more than anything, followed the employee with a satisfied smile. She thought to herself that coming down five minutes late was indeed a good choice.

“Please bring the prepared food all at once instead of in courses. We don’t have much time.”

“Ah, Executive Director, that is…”

Before the employee finished speaking, Doah opened the door and blinked at the scene unfolding before her eyes.

The man sitting in the room, dressed in an elegant suit with a tall and imposing physique, was exactly as I had imagined. However, the table already set with a feast of food was completely unexpected.

Doah raised the corners of her mouth and gave the employee a look that seemed to say, “Explain yourself.” Instead of the flustered employee, Nam Sion spoke up first.

“It’s late, Han Do-ah.”

He continued speaking while neatly slicing the steak with precise, unembellished movements.

“I said to bring out the food first because I’m hungry. It’s only fair, but there’s not much time.”

Only then did Nam Si-on lift his head, squinting his eyes and smiling as he met Do-ah’s gaze.

“Stop arresting innocent people.”

The habitual commanding tone was somewhat irksome, but I only bit my lower lip slightly. As Doah took a seat opposite me, the door closed. I masked my flustered expression with my usual indifferent face.

“I thought you would be busy and I would have to wait, but you came early.”

There was a sting in the words, but Nam Si-on didn’t care at all and just nodded.

“Your face has brightened up. It seems like managing people suits you.”

He scrutinised Doah’s face with his horizontally sharp eyes that lacked double eyelids.

“It’s much better than working under someone.”

At Do-ah’s calm answer, the tips of his raised eyebrows twitched.

“You hold grudges a bit, don’t you? When did that even happen?”

It had been a full three years since I worked under Nam Si-on.

After finishing her studies abroad, Doah’s father intended to entrust her with the art gallery and cultural foundation under the HX Group. Unlike her two older brothers, who were already at the forefront of management with their heads held high, she felt a sense of rebellion at the distinctly different treatment and immediately ran out of the house.

Getting hired through a public recruitment at the rival Namwon Department Store was also an extension of her rebellion. At that time, Nam Si-on was the head of the public relations team at the Marketing Strategy Headquarters of Namwon Department Store, and Do-ah was a new employee.

Due to Nam Si-on’s promotion to department head, Do-ah had only worked in the same office for about six months, but she stayed in Namwon for another year to build her experience.

Unable to bear his only daughter’s misbehaviour, the father eventually called Doah into the management of the hotel resort and duty-free shop operating company ‘Arden,’ and at the same time, Doah resigned from Namwon Department Store. Around that time, Nam Sion also left the department store and moved to the holding company Namwon Holdings.

I thought my connection with the Namwon Group was over, but to meet them again as my betrothed, it truly shows that you can never predict what life has in store for you.

“Mr. Nam Si-on too…”

It felt awkward to call the man I had always referred to as ‘Team Leader’ by his name, as it didn’t roll off the tongue easily. He seemed to feel the same, as he let out a small laugh.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Nam Si-on, huh? Interesting.”

Nam Sion tried to hide the laughter that was escaping by covering her mouth with her hand.

It was clear to Doah that his laughter wasn’t purely because he found the situation amusing. His laughter carried a hint of mockery, as if to say, “Look at this.”

I felt it at the last charity event too, but his laughter evoked a strange discomfort. The arrogant superiority as if looking down on me was quite irritating.