Luca, a junior IT consultant, sat across from his client in a quiet café, his laptop open and fingers hovering over the keyboard. He listened patiently as the woman spoke, jotting quick notes between her sentences.
After several minutes of discussion, the client—Mrs. Helga, a businesswoman from a large electric car company—concluded with a confident smile.
"That's about it, Mr. Luca. I know this website will be complex to build, but we have faith in your team."
Luca nodded, his tone calm yet assured, "Thank you for your trust, Mrs. Helga. I understand the scope of this project, and I can assure you my team is both skilled and dedicated. We'll do everything we can to exceed your expectations."
Her lips curved with satisfaction, "That's what I like to hear," she said, tapping her manicured nails against the table. "We've dealt with too many contractors who promised the moon and delivered nothing. But you … you seem sincere."
A faint smile crossed Luca's face, "For a project of this scale, it will take some time," he explained. "to maintain both quality and efficiency, I'd appreciate a bit of flexibility with the timeline."
"Of course," Mrs. Helga replied, nodding thoughtfully. "We value quality over speed. Just make sure the result meets our expectations."
"You have my word," Luca said, his gaze steady. "our goal is a website that's both visually stunning and functionally flawless."
She chuckled lightly, "I like that confidence," she said, before adding with a wry smile, "just don't forget about the budget. No hidden costs, please."
Luca glanced down at his notes, "Everything we discuss here will be the fixed price—unless you request new features later. This project is too large to handle in one go, so we'll divide it into four to six phases. Each phase will be reviewed and adjusted with your feedback."
"Six phases?" she echoed, arching a brow. "That's ambitious—but I see the logic. Phased development is more manageable in the long run. I just want transparency all the way through."
"That's exactly why we use phases," Luca replied. "they make progress measurable and allow you to evaluate each stage before we move forward. You'll always know where your money goes."
Her expression softened, "Your approach sounds reasonable and well-organized," she said approvingly. "How long will each phase take, roughly?"
"The first phase will take about four weeks at most," Luca said, closing his laptop. "once that's done, the next phases will be shorter—we'll already have the foundation."
Mrs. Helga smiled, clearly satisfied, "That sounds fair. I look forward to seeing the results of Phase One."
She extended her hand across the table. Luca took it firmly, sealing the deal.
"We won't disappoint you," he promised before gathering his things and rising from his seat.
Outside the café, he pulled out his phone—no new messages. Still nothing from Seo-in.
His brow furrowed briefly before he shook it off, convincing himself she was probably still in class.
***
The bar was alive with the low hum of laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the faint haze of cigarette smoke curling toward the ceiling. At a corner booth, Hyun-wook leaned back against the leather seat, one arm draped lazily over the backrest as if he owned the place.
At twenty-eight, he carried himself with the kind of confidence that didn't need to be announced. His shirt sleeves were rolled up just enough to reveal strong forearms, his tie loosened carelessly as though he'd only half escaped the suffocating world of boardrooms and endless meetings.
"Come on, CEO-nim, drink with us," one of his friends teased, pushing a glass toward him.
Hyun-wook chuckled, low and warm, the kind of sound that made people lean closer without realizing it. He picked up the glass, twirling it between his fingers before taking a slow sip.
"You're all terrible influences," he said, voice smooth, a hint of mischief glinting in his eyes.
Despite the playful words, his presence wasn't overbearing. He laughed at his friends' stories, ruffled one of their hair when the teasing went too far, and slid his own jacket across the seat when someone complained of the chill.
Gentle gestures, subtle but effortless—things he did without needing to prove anything. But when a waitress passed by, Hyun-wook caught her eye with a smile that lingered a second too long. Not crude, never disrespectful—just enough to leave a faint blush on her cheeks before she hurried away.
That was Hyun-wook, manly in the way he moved, gentle in the way he cared, and just the right amount of trouble to keep everyone guessing.
His phone buzzed just then:
[Father] 23:48 "Son, we need to talk abou marriage prospect."
Hyun-wook's expression darkened further the moment he read his father's text. He had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, knowing exactly where this conversation was heading.
"Marriage. It was always about marriage with his father."
He sighed deeply, running a hand through his carefully styled hair.
[Hyun-wook] 23:49 "Be there soon."
He typed back, irritation already seeping into his words.