I stared at all the executives in the meeting sternly, and looked back at the screen, "We'll focus on our roots this quarter. Seoul isn’t just a location; it’s our DNA. And we're going to remind the world that Elyvion didn't come from Paris or New York. We were born in Apgujeong and raised in the streets of Garosugil." I glanced around the table, and the Director of Marketing nodded and looked down at his tablet.

I flipped the screen and gave the board accurate data about our ROI projection.

After an hour, the meeting ended, and I stepped out of the boardroom as Taeho followed behind me.

"Sunjae--"

"What's my next schedule?" I asked, and he gave me a concerned look but caved in. "You have lunch with our investors."

I nodded and headed to the elevator.

After making my way out of the headquarters, I entered my car and waited for Tae-ho to start the engine, but he only stared at me, that look of concern still plastered on his face.

"Did something happen yesterday?"

I shook my head and stared at my tablet, "No."

"You're lying. Whenever you're stressed about something, you drown yourself in work. You called in a meeting with the Directors three days earlier."

I didn't reply.

He sighed, "This isn't the first time you've behaved like this after meeting with your family. But don't stress yourself over what they do or say."

"Don't I have a meeting with the investors?"

"There's still two hours left before the lunch mee--"

"Then I'll do whatever is scheduled after before going there."

He sighed again, this time in defeat, "Sunjae, you're the only family I have as an orphan. Stop keeping everything to yourself when you have me."

My eyes remained glued to my tablet, "I decided to contact an actor who starred in a Historical film. Although Elyvion currently focuses on Modern Hanbok, the actor can be used to remind people that they can relate to our brand beyond prizing. Can you send me a list of potential actors we could contact?"

He furrowed his brows, and I sighed in defeat, trying to find the right words.

Clearing my throat, I started, "Chairman Lee announced something..."

"Well, we expected that--"

"That's not it..." I said and told him everything. By the time I was done, his jaw was wide open.

"Sunjae... that's good news, isn't it?" he beamed with joy. "Not only will you be announced as the heir, but you'll be so powerful that your stepmother will have no power over you ever again. In fact, no one will have any power over you. Additionally, you've known Chaewon all your life, so you won't be marrying a stranger. Sunjae, this is the best news I have ever heard!"

I tilted my gaze, "If you are this elated, then perhaps you don't know me at all."

His smile instantly dropped as he narrowed his gaze, "What do you mean?"

I glanced down at my watch, "I will explain everything later. Get back to work."

He shrugged and started the car.

After meeting with the investors, we returned to the headquarters. I spent the remaining time in my office brainstorming for the campaign. After a few more hours, I realized that it was late.

Taeho opened the door to my office. "I've sent you a list of your requests. I'll be taking my leave," he said, and I nodded.

"You should leave, too. You've done enough for today," he said, and I nodded my head as I stood up.

"First, I need to go to my office in Apgujeong. I left a folder there. You can go home." I said.

He nodded and left.

Juri

My eyes started stinging as I read through the profiles of local elite buyers.

I was fixated on understanding our clientele because Mrs. Min revealed the branch's secret: we outperformed everyone because we knew our buyers' secrets, and we used that intimacy to curate experiences money couldn't buy.

Realizing how stiff my neck had become from all that strain, I paused, closed my eyes, and slowly rotated my neck from side to side. As I did so, there was a soft knock on my door. It was Mrs. Min.

"We're all heading home now. Are you closing up the store again?" she asked, and I nodded.

"There are still a few things I need to do." I said, and she narrowed her gaze and folded her arms, "You know, you remind me of Mr. Lee," she said, and my brows lifted.

"He usually stays behind like this, too. Are you trying to impress him even though he isn't here?"

I forced an awkward laugh. To be honest, I thought I would be relieved at his absence, but I ended up missing his presence, even if it was intimidating and cold. Perhaps it was because he was the only one who knew about Juwon and Nari, and sharing that knowledge with a stranger kept me sane. Even if that stranger was my boss.

In the end, I decided to drown myself in work to push the words Nari told me to the furthest part of my brain. However, I felt even more sick in the end.

Mrs. Min smiled warmly, "Don't push yourself too hard, Juri. You're still young, don’t lose yourself to work.”

I bit my lip so hard the color fled, trying to remain composed as her words threatened to strip away my defenses.

I cleared my throat, "I am almost done."

My voice ended up cracking in the end. I've only known her for two days, and yet it felt like she already knew me. I understood why she seemed close to Mr. Lee.

Suddenly, I remembered something.

"Oh, about our clientele, do you have the Secret VVIP List you told me about earlier?" I asked.

Her forehead creased with sudden, sharp interest.

"Why are you asking?”

"It's for the upcoming campaign. I just thought that since I'm already trying to understand our clients, then I might as well help out with the VVIP list, don't you think? I have a knack for things like that, especially with my background in sales."

She narrowed her gaze in concern, "It's a global campaign, Juri, and Mr. Lee knows marketing inside out. Are you sure you want to do it?" she said, and I nodded confidently.

Her arms folded, "Is it because of his skepticism towards your background experience?

My lips curled into a wide smile as my excitement bubbled to the surface, "Not completely. It's just that the fact that the CMO of Elyvion worked at this branch meant we had direct access to the C-suite. Isn't it fascinating that we get to bypass the usual corporate ladder?"

Mrs. Min's shoulders shook as a sudden laugh rippled through my office. She pressed her hand over her mouth, a polite but useless attempt to compose herself. After a long moment of laughing, she finally calmed and looked up to lock eyes with me.

"It's been way too long since I've seen someone so passionate about what they do," she said. "I'm glad to have you on our team. And Mr. Lee will be too...soon enough."

With that, she turned to leave, and I attempted to stop her, "Wait. What about the report?"

Her lips twitched to a smirk, "It's on Mr. Lee's desk."

Before I could say anything more, she had left.

Sighing, I cleaned up the spread-out sheets of paper on my desk and stood. I guess I'll take it myself.

I took a deep breath as my hand slowly rested on the door handle. The idea of entering the CMO's office without his knowledge terrified me even in his absence. After gathering my courage, I opened the door and stepped in after switching the lights on.

As I made my way to his desk, I couldn't help but glance around. I'd already had a good look at the place the first time, but it was still a pleasure to revisit. He certainly had a keen eye for interior design...if he decorated it himself, that is.

Although he was absent, the scent of a rain-drenched cedar forest gently filled the room.

Focus Juri.

My gaze fell on his desk, and I started looking through the files until my eyes landed on a black leather binder. There was a Project Heritage: VVIP Gala invite list.

I flipped it open. My eyes scanned through the column of names of the corporate headquarters that have been selected for the new collection launch. A cold spike of adrenaline hit me. They left out Mrs. Kang. Or should I say, Madam Kang?

But that made no sense. There wasn't a single person who didn't know Mrs. Kang in my field. The list only included generic socialites who borrowed the clothes a few times. They barely appeared on the list I was reading earlier for the last six months!

Elyvion is known for putting its clientele first, but this list said otherwise. If they hosted the gala without Madam Kang, it would be an insult not only to her but to their actual local buyers.

Another wave of adrenaline hit me as an energetic smile plastered on my face. I just need time to research more on--

"What are you doing?" a stern voice asked from behind, and my heart jumped to my throat. Gasping, I whipped my head to the door.

It was Mr. Lee.