**"An officetel?"**
"We got an urgent call saying we violated the Housing Construction Act."
"A violation? That doesn't make sense. Didn't we already get full approval from the Ministry of Land and Transport?"
"Yes, of course. But it turns out the officetel client suddenly decided to add a balcony that wasn't in the original plan. Because of that, it's now being treated as an illegal modification."
Unlike Secretary Min, who was speaking quickly, Taeseok, who calmly tapped his long fingers as he listened, showed no sign of being surprised.
"How could we have installed a balcony when we didn't even do it?"
"It seems they signed a second, secret contract with another company."
Taeseok frowned slightly at the words "second contract."
"Then isn't the answer already clear?"
"Excuse me?"
"We follow the law."
"But won't that make things worse?"
"No exceptions. You know that."
Taeseok was always calm and exact when it came to work.
Correcting unfair practices and promoting transparency was both Ganghwa's policy and Taeseok's business philosophy.
"Understood. Shall we head to the office then?"
"Isn't that why we came?"
Just then, as they were about to start the car—
Taeseok clearly saw Iseo rush out of a taxi and run into the hotel. He immediately remembered the wallet she forgot to leave at the front desk.
"I have something to take care of. You can either wait or go back to the office."
"Sir, where are you going?"
"It'll just take a moment."
"Sir!"
Without answering Secretary Min's calls, Taeseok quickly walked into the hotel.
As he searched for the owner of the wallet—
He suddenly heard a sharp woman's voice coming from the lounge.
---
**"What the hell?"**
Taeseok quickly grabbed the woman's wrist as she reached toward Iseo.
"Enough. Don't go too far."
Surprised by the calm voice, Iseo turned around. As soon as she saw the man holding the woman's wrist, she recognized him—it was the same man who helped her in the lounge earlier.
"Let go of me."
"What if I do? You gonna hit me?"
The woman's face twisted in anger as she glared at Taeseok.
"Who the hell are you? Oh, I see. You're with this pretty-faced girl, aren't you?"
"People only see what they are themselves."
"What? Are you calling me trash?"
"Maybe."
Taeseok's cold eyes held an icy chill as he stared at the woman.
"I said let go of me!"
Taeseok forcefully let go of her wrist, then stood in front of Iseo and moved her behind him.
Kim Dooshik stood by, anxious, biting his lip as he walked over.
"Ma'am, please calm down—"
"Calm down? You think I can calm down right now? Forget that. Call the police. I'm not letting these two off the hook!"
She rubbed her red wrist and angrily spat out harsh words.
"See? I knew it. Pretending to be proper and all about principles—people like you are worse. I thought you were just good at stealing, but turns out you're good at seducing men too."
Her sarcastic laugh irritated Taeseok. His eyes, already cold, sharpened.
"That's the level of your thinking?"
"What's wrong with my level?"
"The filth coming out of your mouth—that's exactly your level."
"You don't even know who my husband is. I'll make sure you two end up in jail!"
"Jail food, huh…"
Taeseok let out a dry laugh and brushed off his jacket.
"Sir!"
Secretary Min had just arrived, panting after parking the car and rushing inside.
The woman smiled crookedly when she saw him.
Secretary Min quickly stood beside Taeseok and assessed the situation.
"What's going on? You said it would only take a minute, why are you here?"
"I told you to go ahead. Why did you follow me?"
"I couldn't leave you alone."
As the two men exchanged words, the woman gritted her teeth in frustration.
"CEO? Ha! What a joke. What kind of scam is this? Wait—are all of you in on this?"
Her anger continued to rise.
"Lower your voice."
"Scam? So this guy's the CEO, you're the secretary, and this woman must be the CEO's mistress? Or maybe his side chick?"
Secretary Min's face turned pale with shock.
"I can't listen to this anymore."
Taeseok frowned deeply and stared coldly at the woman.
It was a tense moment, like something could explode at any second.
Secretary Min quickly handed the woman a business card.
"What's this?"
"Just read it before you speak."
As she read the card, her face turned ghostly pale.
"What? Is this card real?"
"For someone with a husband in the legal field, you really don't know who you're talking to."
Suddenly, the woman remembered seeing Taeseok at a business event last year. The image of him at the time flashed clearly in her mind.
The stronger the memory, the paler her face became. Even her eyes trembled.
The wild anger she had moments ago disappeared, and she bowed her head.
"I-I'm so sorry. I didn't realize…"
"Do you still think I'm just a 'so-called CEO'?"
Taeseok's stare grew even colder.
"I got too emotional because of an unexpected situation. I'm really sorry."
Just then, the hotel manager came into the lounge and recognized Taeseok right away, bowing respectfully.
"Sir, what's going on here?"
"I'd like to know that myself."
As someone who knew Taeseok—the hotel's founder and an award-winning architect—the manager's gaze moved back and forth between Taeseok, Iseo, and the woman.
Iseo's eyes stopped on Taeseok as he calmly pushed back the hair from his forehead with his long fingers.
She quickly stepped in.
"I'm sorry for the disturbance. There was a misunderstanding."
Taeseok raised an eyebrow at her words.
"A misunderstanding only ends when it's cleared. If not, it becomes the truth."
"Excuse me?"
"As I understand, there are CCTV cameras everywhere here except the bathroom. Is that correct?"
"Yes, sir."
As soon as the manager confirmed, Taeseok walked straight to Kim Dooshik, whose face had turned pale.
"Were you planning to steal and sell this necklace?"
"What… what are you talking about?"
Taeseok held up a necklace case, and Kim Dooshik's pupils widened in shock.
"I stopped by the bathroom for a moment and saw something I wasn't supposed to see."
Everyone turned their eyes toward Taeseok.
"This man here—he dropped a necklace while trying to steal it in the bathroom. He looked like he was being chased. He didn't even notice it fell and ran out."
A crooked smile appeared on Taeseok's lips.
"Stuffing the necklace in his pocket and running—he must've been in such a rush he didn't notice anyone else around. If I had known, I should've just reported him then."
Kim Dooshik trembled, unable to move.
"What is going on? Did you really put the necklace in your pocket? Kim Dooshik, explain yourself right now!"
The woman shouted at him, her eyes bloodshot.
"Explain! What is this?"
"M-Madam…"
Taeseok stepped in and spoke to the manager.
"He went into the bathroom with a shopping bag, so it should be on the CCTV. Get the footage. I can testify too."
The woman looked like she might collapse at any second. Taeseok's voice stayed low and cold.
"I'll take responsibility. Call the police."
"Answer me! Why can't you say anything? Is it all true?"
The woman stepped quickly toward Taeseok.
"There must be a misunderstanding. My secretary wouldn't do that."
"Then what's this necklace case I'm holding?"
"Maybe he dropped it by accident after using the restroom…"
Taeseok laughed coldly.
"For someone so forgiving, you were quick to falsely accuse others. Should I check his pockets too?"
Before he could finish, Kim Dooshik dropped to the floor and bowed deeply.
"Madam, I've committed a terrible sin."
"What? Kim Dooshik… you really did this?"
"I was blinded by money. I did something I shouldn't have."
Secretary Min walked up beside Taeseok and asked,
"What should we do, sir?"
"Secretary Min, do we have a law firm called BL under contract?"
"Yes, sir."
"I only attended that party out of respect for the chairman and her husband. But it was a waste of time. Cancel our contract with BL today."
"I'll take care of it."
At Taeseok's cold words, the woman shook in fear. Her red, teary eyes filled with rage.
---