Joon-ho's phone rang just as he was leaving the private office building where he'd been conducting meetings all afternoon. The caller ID showed Harin's name, and he answered with a familiar warmth that had developed between them over the years of working together.
"Harin. How did the meeting with Chae-won go?"
The response was immediate—Harin's voice came through with a slight slur that betrayed more than just polite celebration. She was tipsy, her words flowing together with the kind of looseness that only alcohol could produce.
"It went amazing, Joon-ho! Seriously amazing!" Harin's enthusiasm was barely contained, her volume slightly higher than necessary. "Chae-won is incredible—not just talented, but genuinely nice. She didn't put on airs, didn't make impossible demands, just wanted to discuss the project like a professional. We ended up having dinner together, just us girls, and the conversation was flowing so naturally…"
