Chapter 5: The Unraveling
The investment event was held at a hotel in Gangnam, all crystal chandeliers and champagne towers. Seo‑ah had never been to anything like it. She stood near the bar in a simple black dress she had bought that morning—her first non‑work purchase in years—and watched the crowd.
Min‑joon spotted her within minutes.
He was across the room, drink in hand, laughing at something Han Ji‑woo had said. When his eyes landed on Seo‑ah, his smile didn't just falter. It disintegrated.
He excused himself and walked toward her with the forced casualness of a man trying to contain a disaster.
"Seo‑ah." His voice was low, urgent. "What are you doing here?"
"I was invited." She took a sip of her champagne. "You look well, Min‑joon."
His eyes darted to her neck. The silver star caught the light. His jaw tightened.
"Who gave you that?"
"Does it matter?"
"Are you seeing someone?"
She smiled. It was the kind of smile that gave nothing away. "Why would that concern you?"
He stepped closer. Too close. "Listen. Whatever you think is happening between me and Ji‑woo—"
"I don't think anything." She set her champagne down. "But I do think you should know that I've been invited to speak with the compliance department at Hana Securities. About the investment model you've been using."
The color drained from his face.
"What?"
"You heard me." She picked up her purse. "Enjoy your evening, Min‑joon."
She walked away, leaving him standing in the middle of the crowd with his mouth open.
The viewership counter jumped to 52%.
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Across the room, Ju‑hyuk was watching.
He had arrived separately, in a charcoal suit that made him look like he belonged on the cover of a magazine. He was talking to Han Ji‑woo's father, his expression pleasant and engaged. But his eyes tracked Seo‑ah's movement through the crowd.
When she reached the exit, he was already there.
"That was well done," he said.
"He looked like he was going to be sick."
"That's the idea." Ju‑hyuk opened the door for her. "The compliance department meeting is scheduled for Monday. By Friday, he'll be under formal investigation. The firm will distance themselves immediately."
They walked out into the cool Seoul night. The city glittered around them, neon and steel.
"And Director Cha?" Seo‑ah asked.
"Tomorrow." Ju‑hyuk hailed a taxi. "The Ministry of Employment and Labor has completed their preliminary review. They'll be at the office at 9 AM. I've made sure the CEO will be there to witness it."
He opened the taxi door for her. Seo‑ah hesitated.
"You're not coming?"
"I have one more thing to handle tonight." His face was unreadable in the streetlight. "Get some rest. Tomorrow will be… eventful."
She got into the taxi. As it pulled away, she looked back through the rear window. Ju‑hyuk was already walking back into the hotel, his figure swallowed by the revolving doors.
The viewership counter read 58%.