Jun-ho trudged back to the service corridor, water squelching in his shoes. His shirt was still soaked, and the damp air clung to his skin, making him shiver. The moment he stepped into the staff lounge, his manager nearly exploded.
"Lee Jun-ho!" the older man snapped, eyes widening at the sight of him dripping wet. "What the hell happened to you?!"
Jun-ho froze. His mouth opened, instinctively ready to tell the truth—but Ha-eun's voice echoed in his mind.
No one hears about this.
He bowed his head. "I… slipped. Fell in the pool."
The manager's face reddened. "The pool? What business did you have near the pool?!"
Jun-ho swallowed. "I—needed a break. Sir. I'm sorry."
The manager groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "shit… Do you think this is some part-time job at a convenience store? This is a black-tie gala! You embarrass me like this again and I'll have you thrown out before the night ends. Go change into dry clothes. Now."
"Yes, sir," Jun-ho muttered, keeping his head low as he ducked away.
---
An hour later, the ballroom glittered with laughter and music. Crystal glasses clinked; chandeliers glowed. Jun-ho moved quietly between tables with a tray of champagne, his face blank, his body stiff from exhaustion.
The announcer's voice cut through the crowd:
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the representative of Yoon Group, CEO Yoon Ha-eun to give her speech."
A ripple of applause spread instantly, and heads turned toward the grand staircase.
Jun-ho stilled. His mind replayed her pale face, her trembling lips whispering don't tell anyone. He thought for sure she had gone home, broken and shaken.
There's no way she's here, he told himself. Not after that.
But when he turned, he nearly dropped the tray.
There she was.
Walking with measured steps into the ballroom, dressed in a new gown that shimmered with muted elegance, her hair fixed perfectly, not a trace of what had happened left visible. Her chin was high, her shoulders squared, her very presence demanding respect.
Guests stood straighter. Staff bowed their heads.
Jun-ho instinctively shifted aside to make room, bowing slightly as she passed in front of him. But as he lifted his gaze, her eyes met his.
For a moment, the noise of the room dimmed.
A flicker of something—acknowledgment, gratitude, maybe even apology—passed through her features. She gave him the faintest, awkward smile, and a small nod.
Then she moved on, the applause swelling as she approached the podium.
Jun-ho's chest tightened. He hadn't expected her to look at him. Not here, not like this.
And as she took the microphone, the room fell into silence.
"Good evening, everyone.
Thank you for being here tonight, not only to celebrate our success but to remind us of what it takes to achieve it.
When I look around this room, I don't just see partners or clients—I see people who believed in vision when it was only a blueprint, who invested when there were more risks than promises. And because of that faith, Yoon Group has grown into what it is today.
But growth is not the end of the road. It is a responsibility. To our families, to our employees, and to the communities that trust us. Tonight is not about luxury—it's about reminding ourselves of the work still to be done.
So let us raise our glasses—not only to success, but to perseverance, to integrity, and to the courage it takes to stand back up, no matter how many times we fall.
Thank you."
_____________________
The event slowly wound to an end. Soft music played as guests made their way out, glasses clinking, voices low with laughter and parting words. At the grand entrance, Ha-eun stood with her family, smiling gracefully, bowing politely, offering thanks as each guest departed.
"Oh, Director Park." Her lips curved into a practiced smile as the tall man approached.
"CEO Yoon," Park Jun-ik returned warmly, his eyes crinkling. "An incredible evening. I must say, I enjoyed myself greatly."
"I'm glad to hear that," she replied smoothly, her voice as steady as it had been at the podium.
He hesitated for a beat, then leaned slightly closer. "Will you be free for lunch tomorrow?"
Se-mi, ever alert, was already glancing at her tablet. "We'll go through her schedule and get back to your secretary," she said politely, her tone clipped and efficient making director Park turn to her.
Director Park chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah, the famous wall of a secretary. You're well known in our world, Miss Oh." His eyes flicked back to Ha-eun. "But I meant what I said. I'd like to have a meal with you. Just you and I. To get to know you."
Ha-eun blinked, caught off guard. "Director—"
He raised a hand slightly, apologetic. "Forgive me. I know how your father presented me to you… and I understand why you might think I had a hand in it. But truth be told, our parents still live in the old age. They think introducing children like business partners is enough. I don't."
Her polite smile faltered just slightly, her gaze flicking to Se-mi.
From his inner pocket, he drew out a sleek business card. "I'd like to know you for who you are. Not as someone's daughter. But as the great engineer who stunned us all in construction."
Se-mi instinctively reached to take the card, but Park Jun-ik pulled it back, his eyes never leaving Ha-eun's. Slowly, he extended it again—directly to her.
For a moment, she considered brushing it off. But the weight of expectation, of courtesy, pressed down. With a soft sigh, she accepted it.
His smile widened. "Thank you. Have a good evening, CEO Yoon." With a bow, he took his leave.
Hours later, Ha-eun finally slipped out of her gown and into the quiet of the suite she'd booked for the night. As the door closed behind her, she exhaled a long, weary sigh and collapsed onto the bed, her limbs heavy.
"Ugh—finally," Se-mi groaned, flopping onto the bed beside her with just as much drama.
They both lay there in silence, staring at the ceiling. Then Se-mi rolled her head toward her. "I'm starving. I swear I didn't get a single bite all evening."
Ha-eun's lips twitched. "Neither did I. Order something. Anything."
That was all the permission Se-mi needed. She perked up instantly, rushing to the phone like a child at a candy store, rattling off a list of food before bouncing back to bed.
When she settled down again, her eyes stayed fixed on Ha-eun. "So… what happened tonight?" she asked softly.
Ha-eun's breath hitched. Her throat tightened at the memory—the stranger's hands, the weight pinning her down, the panic that clawed at her chest. Her body shuddered before she could stop it.
"If not for…" she whispered, then trailed off, biting her lip.
Jun-ho. The memory of his shirt covering her, his hands lifting her from the water, his steady voice telling her she was safe—flashed too vividly.
Her eyes widened suddenly. She pushed herself up from the bed. "Se-mi."
"Hm?"
"Call the manager. Ask if the waiters are still around."
Se-mi sat up, brows furrowed. "What? Why?"
"Just do it first," Ha-eun insisted, her voice sharper than intended.
Her secretary blinked at her tone, but picked up the phone again. "Fine. But you're going to explain yourself once I make the call."
---
The call ended with a short reply from the manager: all the workers had already been dismissed for the night.
Ha-eun sank back onto the bed, a soft sigh slipping past her lips. "He's gone…" She turned onto her side, staring at the dim ceiling. "I didn't even get to know his name."
Se-mi frowned, hanging up the phone and sitting beside her. "What happened tonight, Ha-eun? Really?"
For a moment, Ha-eun said nothing. Her hand clutched the sheets tightly. But then, haltingly, she explained everything—from the hand over her mouth, to the fog clouding her brain, to the desperate escape that ended at the pool. By the time she finished, Se-mi's eyes were glistening.
Se-mi pulled her into a fierce hug. "I'm so sorry. If I had been paying attention, if I had done my job properly—he wouldn't have gotten the chance to touch you."
Ha-eun hugged her back, her own throat tight. "Don't say that. Don't you dare blame yourself. Just… just help me find out who he was, who put him up to it. That's what matters now."
Se-mi nodded against her shoulder, but her arms tightened all the same, as if silently vowing never to let such a thing happen again.
---
Across the city, Lee Jun-ho's shift at the small convenience store dragged on. He stacked bottled drinks onto shelves, restocking the cooler, his mind wandering despite himself.
Without meaning to, his thoughts drifted back to her. The half-dazed girl trembling in his shirt. The way her voice cracked when she screamed. The raw panic in her eyes when she fell into the pool.
He cursed under his breath and shoved the last row of bottles into place. "Get a grip, Jun-ho."
But the itch wouldn't leave him. With a sigh, he dropped onto the stool behind the counter and pulled out his phone. His thumbs hesitated, then typed the words into the search bar:
CEO YOON HA-EUN.
The results flooded in.
> Yoon Ha-eun (b. July 1, 1997)
Age: 28
Oldest grandchild of the Yoon Foundation.
Daughter of Vice President Yoon Tae-han. Mother: recorded as "a maid" in public documents, name unlisted. After her mother's passing, Ha-eun was brought back to the Yoon home at age 5 by Chairman Yoon Dae-han.
His brows furrowed at the line. They really erased her mother's name?
> Educated abroad; graduated from high school with honors at 17.
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Imperial College London, age 22.
Master's and Doctorate in Structural Engineering from MIT, completed while serving as Director of Yoon Engineering & Construction.
Appointed CEO of Yoon E&C at 26, replacing her father on Chairman Yoon's orders. Since then, she has expanded the company nearly twofold.
Widely respected in the engineering and construction industry. Though often criticized for her illegitimate birth, her achievements are recognized globally.
Known philanthropist, donating generously to education and healthcare projects.
Not associated with any scandals. No public record of dating history.
Jun-ho leaned back in the stool, staring at the glowing screen. For a long moment, he was silent.
"…Damn," he muttered finally. He hadn't expected all this. He was impressed despite himself. Strong, smart, respected—why harm her?
His grip on the phone tightened. But who would want to hurt someone like that?
Almost immediately, he scoffed. "Don't be stupid. People like her… they pay millions to make themselves look perfect. Someone probably wrote all this for her while she stepped on people to climb up."
He tossed the phone onto the counter just as the bell over the door jingled. A customer walked in.
Jun-ho pushed himself to his feet with a sigh, shoving Ha-eun out of his mind—for now.