A week had passed, and everything was running smoothly. What had I been up to? Well, let me tell you.
My daily routine went like this: I'd wake up around 12:00 PM and have a late brunch. Then, I'd play games from 1 PM to 3 PM. Afterward, I'd head out to explore Seoul on my own, taking in the sights and sounds. I'd return around 6 PM, pick up some soju and food, then dive back into gaming until 3 AM. By 4 AM, I'd be in bed, scrolling through TikTok until I finally fell asleep at 5 AM.
That was my life—just enjoying myself, slacking off, and doing whatever I pleased, until something inevitably interrupted it. But there was one thing bothering me: Mr. Park hadn't reached out yet. Eh, whatever.
"PUSH, PUSH, WE CAN WIN THIS OMAYGHAAAAAAAAAD!" I shouted as my team lost again.
"F****CK, WHY DID WE LOSE THAT?! ARGH!!! HAYSHHHH!" Frustrated, I threw my mouse down and checked the time on my phone.
"Oh, it's already 3 PM. I'm bored…" I glanced around; the house was buzzing with activity in the condo. It seemed like everyone was busy with something. I tried to sneak out of my room, but, of course, Hyun-Jin caught me almost immediately.
"Ms. B? Where are you going?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Oh—uh, I'm just going out to get some fresh air." I told him awkwardly. While grabbing the jujube tea that I made, I already put them in a bottle and I just remembered that In-Hyeop is working hard. He's just like me, he wants to overworked himself a lot to the point where he doesn't sleep. That also applies to Do-Hyun.
"I can come with you." He suggested.
"Oh, no, no. It's alright, you don't need to. Just help out here," I replied casually. I picked up my bag, and put the jujube tea in a tumbler inside.
Hyun-Jin exchanged a glance with In-Hyuk, and they both turned to look at me, eyebrows raised.
"Are you sure, Miss B?" In-Hyuk asked, concern creeping into his voice. "Sure!" I simply nodded in response.
"Alright, if anything please call us Miss B." Hyun-Jin said. Though the look in his eyes was a bit worried and sad when he said it. I just smiled then I proceeded to leave the Condo.
This day felt... off. You know the saying, "the calm before the storm?" Well, that's exactly what it felt like. Nothing was happening, and for some reason, I had this nagging bad feeling.
"Hmm... whatever. I'll just grab some books and comics to read... I can't stand seeing a day go to waste," I muttered, walking along the sidewalk.
"I could go shopping, too. But then Jun-Ho will catch me spending money again," I sighed. "He and Jane will just scold me for unnecessary expenses..."
I paused for a moment, thinking, then shrugged. "Hmm... let's see where my day takes me."
An idea sparked in my mind: the mall. I hadn't had the chance to explore the malls around here yet. It would be a nice change of pace. Luckily I still have that money from Miss Shane's client, so I could spend it.
"Well… I should take the bus going there. It'll be fun!" I said to myself, jumping a little in excitement as I continued walking.
Korea's transport system is actually well laid out, if you read and follow the directions it will be easy. If you have a knack on this then better. Then a little later, I arrived at the mall, and OMG, I was immediately amazed by how Korea has so many stalls and stores—like, a ridiculous number of them.
To be honest, we have a lot of malls in the Philippines too, and huge ones at that. But lately, the malls and luxury hotels in Cebu City have really leveled up. Still, this was on another scale. I couldn't help but get sucked into the shopping vibe as I wandered around, checking out the stores.
I made my way to the department store to see what was trending today.
Then I saw it—the labeled section, or what you called the branded and luxurious items. Just the name alone screamed expensive. A lot of people would probably snatch up these pieces without a second thought. But when I took a closer inspection, I could tell immediately—they didn't put much effort into it.
If I wore something like this at the meeting, Min-Young would curse me to high heaven. Her eyes have a weird sensitivity to poor quality. It's almost like a form of OCD or something.
As Hyo-Seop always says, there are specific markets for different spenders. The enterprise I've built caters to everyone—from the budget-conscious to the high-end luxury crowd.
Our promise is simple: to make high-quality clothing accessible to everyone. I want our customers to feel like they're always getting their money's worth. Aside from being a haute couture house, that's for people with deep pockets.
That's why the brand is so beloved by the masses. We only release seasonal collections, but people keep coming back because they know our quality is unbeatable. It's the loyalty of our customers that makes everything worthwhile.
The runaway creations that I make are always kept safe in the vault. People are always eager to buy them, or borrow, or like me to dress them on that. But, they'll need to earn my trust before I'll let them wear it or design a dress/clothes made for them. Sometimes, the final decision isn't even mine—it's made by all the Directors. We call it "The Deliberation."
"I won't pay this much for this fabric. This is a rip-off," I muttered quietly to myself.
Just as I was about to walk away, a tall man approached me, the store clerk.
"Hello, ma'am. Can I interest you in something?" he asked with a polite smile.
I panicked for a second, flustered.
"O-OH, NO, NO THANK YOU! I can't afford it, I'll just leave—bye—" I stammered, trying to make a quick exit. But then, as I turned, I froze.
The same man held me, and I looked at him. To my shock, I recognized who he was immediately.
It was The Wraith, In-Hyeop. A ghost in human form—silent, precise, and utterly unreadable. He had an uncanny ability to materialize out of thin air, a skill that never failed to send a shiver down my spine. If there was one person who could slip past security, extract information from the unlikeliest sources, and vanish without a trace, it was him.
"Ma'am, please follow me to our VIP room. We have several new matters to discuss." His voice was steady, composed—deceptively calm, yet carrying an undercurrent of something far deadlier.
His second-in-command, Do-Hyun, stood at his flank, silent but hyper-aware, his sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings like a predator assessing potential threats.
I exhaled slowly. There was no point in resisting. When The Wraith called, you followed. Cause I already know, that he had something important to tell.
As we stepped inside, the shift in atmosphere was immediate. The air felt heavier, more controlled. The doors sealed shut behind us with a quiet finality, secured by The Blackout Division's operatives—ghosts themselves, blending seamlessly into the dimly lit room.
This wasn't just a meeting.
This was an extraction point. A war room. A space where shadows whispered and secrets unraveled.
And I had just stepped into their domain.
Do-Hyun handed a slim black folder to In-Hyeop, who barely spared it a glance before passing it to me.
"Ms. B, out in the open. That's rare." His voice was smooth, neutral—neither a greeting nor an observation, just a fact stated with the usual detachment.
I arched an eyebrow, smirking. "I'm impressed. The directors were in a frenzy—it's your first time not attending the meeting." My tone was light, teasing, but I knew better than to expect a reaction.
"And seriously," I added, flipping through the document, "stop with the surprises. One of these days, you're going to give me a heart attack."
In-Hyeop remained unmoved, as always. Instead, he cut straight to business.
"Multiple incidents over the past month. Connected to a case involving a surplus." He paused, studying my reaction.
I frowned, setting the folder aside and reaching for my tea. "Go on."
With a brief nod, In-Hyeop continued. "Someone has been acquiring large quantities of our merchandise from different locations—deliberately avoiding patterns—then laundering them through unregistered resale channels."
Do-Hyun handed me a tablet, the screen lighting up with a series of images—side-by-side comparisons of our original designs and their altered, inferior knockoffs.
"As you can see," In-Hyeop said, "they've been downgraded—fabric quality stripped, stitching altered—then rebranded under our label. We've intercepted most of the compromised stock, but some remain in circulation."
I exhaled sharply, my fingers tightening around the tablet. Someone was bold—too bold.
"Have you contacted The Feet and The Nose?" I asked, my gaze still locked on the images.
"Already in motion," In-Hyeop confirmed. "The Moles are tracking internal leaks, and The Bloodhounds are sniffing out distribution points. The Blackout Division is working to eliminate the source."
"Luckily for us this didn't explode that much as Shade and Luminary handled the social media articles perfectly." He added. Efficient. Precise. As expected.
Still, something about this didn't sit right. Whoever was behind this wasn't just running a counterfeit operation.
They were sending a message.
I muttered under my breath, "After all these years, they're still on our tails. Unbelievable."
In-Hyeop remained impassive. "Indeed, Ms. B. The Eyes has deployed The Oculi to keep a constant watch. The Ears already had their agents—The Echoes—working on intercepting any leaked intel. We'll know soon enough if this is a coincidence or a coordinated attack."
His tone was calm, but there was an unmistakable urgency beneath it.
"That concludes my report, Ms. B."
I nodded, appreciative of his efficiency. "Good work, In-Hyeop. You've done well." Then, with a slight smirk, I added, "Want to grab a bite? My treat."
He gave the faintest shake of his head. "I appreciate the offer, but there's still too much to be worked on."
I exhaled softly, unsurprised but still mildly disappointed. "Ah well, another time, then. I'll hold you to it."
As I rose from my seat, I shot him a knowing look. "Take care of yourself, In-Hyeop. I'll be off now."
Without another word, he inclined his head in acknowledgment, already turning back to his work—silent, efficient, and ever-watchful.
"Oh, take this." I handed In-Hyeop and Do-Hyun the tumblers of jujube tea I had brought with me.
"I've been meaning to give you both some jujube tea. It's great for helping you sleep. I made it myself!" I said proudly, watching their surprised expressions.
"You both have been working so hard, but please, take care of your health. The two of you haven't had any proper sleep yet, and I'd be really sad if you got sick," I added, my voice laced with genuine concern. In-Hyeop especially had a habit of pushing himself too far, always going beyond his limits.
"You too, Do-Hyun! If you want more, I've got plenty at home," I smiled warmly, making sure to offer them a little comfort.
I leaned in slightly, signaling for both of them to listen closely.
"Here's some confidential info…" I whispered, with a playful grin. "I'm making my most anticipated cakes. I bet you don't want to miss that."
Their eyes immediately lit up, and both of them broke into wide grins, practically jumping with excitement.
"Alright, I'll leave you to it. Take care now, bye-bye!" I waved as I made my way out of the room, heading for the exit.
_______________________________________________________________________________
I've always had a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, the kind that's made with genuine love and care. There's something about seeing a product that's been created with heart that really moves me. Honestly, I'd pay a hefty sum for something if I knew it was made with that kind of attention to detail.
A long time ago, I even used to thrift clothes and reconstruct them myself. I'd modernize them, giving them a more current, aesthetic vibe. That's actually how my passion for fashion started. It was where I discovered my own creative talent and love for design.
I remember telling Jane I'd continue doing it—just for fun, you know—but she insisted we focus on custom designs. Not much I could do about that, but I can't help feeling a little nostalgic about those days.
While strolling around I walked into a bookstore, I couldn't help but smile. There were so many books here I hadn't read before. I'm a huge fan of fantasy and fiction, but I rarely dip into more practical, logical books.
"Oh, more tailoring books. It never hurts to have more of these," I mumbled to myself as I grabbed one from the shelf.
As I browsed, I realized I had a ton of books on tailoring, pattern making, and even human anatomy. I chuckled softly, thinking, Maybe I need to get myself checked. This obsession might be turning into a compulsive disorder.
But who cares, right? It's just my thing.
"Oh, a book on finances… and this one's about business. There are so many interesting books here. Hyo-Seop and Jun-Ho would probably love this. Maybe I should get it for him." I mumbled to myself as I scanned the shelves, still pondering the possibilities.
Suddenly, a tall, handsome guy appeared out of nowhere and handed me a book. Damn, what in the hot nerd is this?
I then noticed that the book he handed to me was a business book, which in my case will not gonna work.
"Uh, n-no, I really don't think I'm meant for books like those. My brain probably can't handle it," I stammered, trying to decline politely.
"I'm dumb... hehehe..." I laughed awkwardly, hoping I didn't sound as ridiculous as I felt.
The guy just stared at me for a second, then smiled. Woah. That smile... I almost got enchanted by it.
He seemed unfazed by my awkwardness. "No one's dumb. Everyone's just… learning at their own pace. Some develop quickly, others slowly." He said it so confidently, it almost sounded like he was giving me a motivational speech.
I muttered under my breath, "I think he just called me stupid and sugar-coated it."
"What was that?" He asked, his eyes narrowing slightly. He'd caught my whisper.
"What? Oh, nothing! Don't mind me," I quickly responded, trying to cover up my blunder. I grabbed a nearby book and pretended to read it, flipping through the pages just to avoid any more awkwardness.
"Here, this is interesting. You can have it. I'll pay for everything you buy here." He handed me the book with a confident smile, then immediately walked away.
"Wa-wait! Excuse me, sir! You don't have to!" I called out, but he quickly distanced himself from me. His entourage followed closely behind him, so he must've been pretty famous.
I turned my attention back to the book he'd handed me and froze when I saw the title:
Business for Idiots.
I stared at it in disbelief.
"Oh—he's a jerk," I muttered, not wanting to say it in my native language, but the frustration slipped out.
"Gwapo unta, boang-boang lang," I grumbled to myself, shaking my head in annoyance as I placed the book back on the shelf.
(A/N: Translation – Literally means that he is a handsome man but mentally unstable jerk.)
I went to the counter to check out the books I wanted to buy. As I reached for my credit card, one of the bookstore workers approached me.
"Hi, Miss. I believe you left this book back there," the worker said, holding up the book I had carelessly abandoned earlier.
"O-Oh, that book? It was recommended by the guy I was with, but I left it because I didn't think he'd actually pay for it. I thought he was just messing with me," I explained awkwardly.
"Ma'am, he actually said he'd pay for everything you pick out today. So, all the books you will pick are already paid for." The cashier added.
I froze. I didn't know what to say. That jerk really did it, huh? I felt a mix of surprise and annoyance. There I was, thinking he was just playing around, and now I was holding all these books without having to pay a single cent.
I've already cashed out all the books that I picked and I called Hyun-Jin to help pick me up.
I was still in shock when Hyun-Jin showed up a little later. He took the stack of books from my hands and placed them in the backseat of the car.
"Thanks, Hyun-Jin. I'm so sorry I had to call you for this," I apologized, feeling a little guilty.
"It's part of my work, Ms. Jovy. You don't have to worry." I was relieved he didn't use "B" out on the streets.
"How about that one?" he asked, pointing to the paper bag I was carrying. "Should I put this in the backseat too?"
"It's alright. I can carry it. I want to read this one anyway," I insisted, holding onto it as we continued our drive. IT's the book that the guy gave me.
As we made our way through the streets, I suddenly spotted a street vendor selling something that made my mouth water.
"Uhm, Hyun-Jin," I began hesitantly, "could we stop by that place? I want to grab some tteokbokki and fish cakes, please." I gave him my best pleading look, hoping he'd give in.
He smiled at me, clearly entertained by my request. "Of course," he said, looking for a parking spot.
"YAY!" I shouted with excitement, nearly hopping out of the car before Hyun-Jin could even finish parking.
"Miss B, please be careful!" he called out, his voice filled with concern.
"It's alright!" I laughed, brushing off his worry as I dashed out of the car. I strolled around, grabbing some of my favorite tteokbokki and fish cakes from the vendor.
"Wahhh, this is so good!" I exclaimed, savoring each bite. "Craving satisfied." Honestly, I could eat this every day, but my mom and Jane would never allow it.
Although, I'll admit, I secretly indulge every now and then. I cook a lot of Filipino food at home, but nothing beats street food like this.
"Why wouldn't you eat? Don't let this offer pass! It's my treat!" I said to Hyun-Jin, waving the food in front of him.
"I'm not hungry, Ms. Jovy," he politely refused, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Are you sure? No taking back?" I teased, raising an eyebrow.
He just smiled and nodded, his way of saying no in the most polite way possible. I think he wasn't mad at me now.
My phone kept ringing, but I ignored it until it eventually stopped. Of course, the universe had other plans. Just then, Hyun-Jin's phone rang, pulling me back into the real world.
This day is about to be a mess. I can already feel the headache creeping up on me.
He answered the call, listening for a moment before responding. "Yes, she's with me. We'll be there." He hung up, turning to me with a serious look in his eyes.
"Ms. Jovy, Mr. Cha from the Cha Group is in the office. He's looking for you. They're waiting,"
-End-