Two black sedans rolled to a smooth stop in front of the towering JGo Company headquarters.
The first door opened, and Jang Su-mi stepped out.
She wore a perfectly tailored white suit that emphasized clean lines and authority. Her long dark brown hair had been straightened neatly, falling down her back like silk. Her makeup was minimal, almost understated.
Her face carried its usual expression—calm, composed, and unreadable.
The JGo employees near the entrance instinctively straightened as she passed.
The second sedan door opened moments later.
Woo Ye-jin stepped out, looking like the complete opposite.
Radiant as always, she wore a bright orange formal dress that hugged her figure confidently. Her light brown bangs framed her face, and her bold red lipstick made her smile even brighter.
Spotting Su-mi ahead, Ye-jin hurried over and slipped her arm through her friend's.
"Whoa," Ye-jin said dramatically, giving her a once-over. "The classic Su-mi dressing style is back. To hell with anyone who called it too dull."
A small smirk appeared on Su-mi's lips. She knew her friend was referring to Hyun-woo.
They began walking inside the building lobby.
Ye-jin tilted her head, studying Su-mi's face carefully. "Huh?"
Su-mi glanced sideways. "What?"
Ye-jin narrowed her eyes playfully. "What's this new glow today?"
Su-mi frowned. "What glow?"
"What did you do last night?"
Su-mi suddenly coughed. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Ye-jin gasped theatrically. "Ooooh. That means I'm definitely talking about something." She leaned closer, eyes sparkling with mischief. "But what could the innocent Su-mi have done that she suddenly looks so guilty about?"
"I'm not guilty," Su-mi said quickly. "I just—"
Ye-jin raised a finger. "You just woke up this morning in bed with a complete stranger."
Su-mi froze.
"And now you're surprised at yourself," Ye-jin continued calmly, "but you don't want to regret it or feel guilty… because it actually felt really good."
Su-mi gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
Ye-jin burst out laughing.
By then they had stepped into the elevator. The doors slid shut.
Su-mi turned to her, completely stunned. "How did you know?"
Ye-jin shrugged. "A woman gives off a certain glowing aura when she's been treated well overnight."
For a brief second, a memory flashed through Su-mi's mind.
Last night, she had felt appreciated, not treated like she was at anyone's mercy. Strong yet gentle, warm hands at her waist. A pair of lips dangerously close to hers.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Ye-jin nudged her. "Ooh, the memories are rushing back. So," she said casually, "did you get his number?"
Su-mi lifted her chin. "If you're so perceptive, why don't you answer that question yourself?"
The elevator doors opened.
Su-mi stepped out first, clearly ending the discussion.
But Ye-jin simply grinned behind her.
"See you at the interview room by ten!" she called after her.
_______________________________________________________________
The interview had dragged on far longer than Su-mi had expected. Candidate after candidate had sat across the table from her. None of them were what she was looking for. Most of them spoke confidently. Some of them had impressive resumes. But none of them had that spark.
Su-mi barely noticed when the latest candidate finished speaking and exited the room.
Director Park Min-jae, the head of Human Resources, leaned back in his chair.
"It's time for our last candidate," he said, sounding optimistic. "I actually have high hopes for this one. I've heard quite a lot about him from friends in the industry."
Su-mi absent-mindedly filled her glass with water.
Across the room, her secretary, Shin Yeon-ah, stepped out to call the final candidate.
As Su-mi lifted the glass toward her lips, the door opened. The man stepped inside.
And Su-mi froze.
That smile.
That charming, familiar grin.
Her fingers went slack. The glass slipped from her grasp and clattered loudly against the table, water spilling across the surface.
Su-mi stared in shock. How come?
Ye-jin and Yeon-ah immediately rushed toward her.
"Gwaenchanha?" Ye-jin asked quickly, grabbing tissues and dabbing at the spilled water.
Su-mi could only stutter in response.
The stranger gave a polite bow.
"Good morning," he said calmly. "My name is Lee Jeong-woo."
Eventually, the small chaos settled. Yeon-ah placed his résumé neatly on the now-dried section of the conference table.
Su-mi dared to glance up at him again. But his expression remained perfectly neutral.
No recognition.
No reaction.
Maybe he doesn't recognize me, she thought. Or are my eyes deceiving me? Am I seeing the stranger everywhere now?
But another thought followed quickly.
Or maybe… he planned this.
Her suspicious instincts immediately flared.
What if he was expecting her to favor him because of last night?
Su-mi quickly buried her attention in the résumé.
And almost immediately, her eyes widened slightly.
Impressive.
The innovations he had introduced during his time at Hwabon were bold—and successful. His strategies had dramatically improved Mami Foods' growth during the last seven years.
Su-mi remembered the company well. It had suddenly risen as one of JGo's strongest competitors in South Korea. So it's because of this man, she realized.
Director Park turned toward her eagerly, breaking her out of her thoughts.
"CEO Jang," he said with a wide smile, "it's your turn to question him."
Su-mi slowly lifted her gaze. The entire room was waiting.
She closed the résumé.
Then she stood.
"Send the others home," she said calmly, already turning toward the door.
She walked out without another word. She did not need to say much, she knew her secretary understood her very well.
Silence filled the room.
Jeong-woo blinked. What just happened?
Yeon-ah smiled, "Our CEO approves of you."
Director Park laughed, "You got the job."
"Really?" Jeong-woo's eyes lit up. "Yes!"
_________________________________________________
Outside the conference room, Ye-jin quickly caught up to Su-mi.
A mischievous grin was already forming on her face.
"So…" she began casually. "I guess that's the hunk you snagged last night?"
Su-mi stopped walking immediately.
Ye-jin's grin widened. "Oh my. Oh my."
Su-mi shot her an annoyed look.
"Don't worry, sis," Ye-jin said lightly. "My mouth is sealed."
Then she paused."But I do have one question, though."
Su-mi narrowed her eyes.
"Why did he get the job?" Ye-jin leaned closer. "Was it because he truly deserved it…?" Her voice dropped to a teasing whisper. "…or because you want a rematch?"
"Ya! Woo Ye-jin!" Su-mi shouted suddenly.
Several employees in the hallway turned to stare. This was out of character for the stoic CEO they were familiar with.
Realizing this, Su-mi immediately straightened and continued walking, her composure returning.
Behind her, Ye-jin followed—laughing the entire way.