"I KNOW that you're not interested in me as a romantic partner," Nikolai said in an attempt to save his face. "I was just wondering why you agreed to publicize your divorce. That was so unlike you since you enjoy your privacy."
"I'm making a circus show out of my divorce for our sake, Nikolai-ssi."
"For 'our' sake?"
"Your mother wants me to marry into your family so that the Moonasterion Group can absorb the Empress Telecom."
The Empress Telecom was the biggest wireless telecommunications operator in Korea. It belonged to the Lennox Group– the company that Juliet's chaebol family owned.
"The Moonasterion Electronics is the number one manufacturer of smartphones in the country while the Empress Telecom is the best telecom operator to have as a partner," Juliet continued. "Because of that, our companies often collaborate for big projects. But it seems like your mother is no longer satisfied by just simply collaborating with my company."
"My mother's greed knows no bounds."
"I can tell," Juliet Hwang agreed while nodding. "But I have no intention of letting the Moonasterion Group swallow up the Empress Telecom. It's mine and mine alone. That's why I decided to publicize my divorce."
He knitted his eyebrows. "I still don't understand."
"My ex-husband is not a good guy," Juliet said. "I bad-mouthed him during my interview with the press. I'm sure he's going to retaliate later."
Ah, that also happened in the future.
[The reason why my engagement with Miss Hwang got delayed in the future I came from was because her ex-husband refused to sign the divorce papers.]
It was a messy process back then, too.
"Once my ex-husband started smudging my reputation out of spite, I'm sure even your mother will hesitate to proceed with the marriage talk between our families," Juliet said, smiling as if she was proud of herself. "Won't that be the best scenario for the two of us?"
"I'll admit I'll benefit from it," he said while nodding. "But how will that benefit you, Miss Hwang? Your reputation will hit rock bottom. Forget about finding a new husband– your position as the heiress of Lennox Group might get jeopardized, too."
"Are you worried about me, Nikolai-ssi?"
"You're the most sensible person in your family, and the most capable president in Empress Telecom. And we work best together, Miss Hwang."
"Precisely why our families think we're better off married."
"I love my wife."
Juliet Hwang laughed and leaned against her chair. "And I love my freedom."
"I can see why you publicize your divorce, and I understand why you let the reporters think we're getting engaged soon," Nikolai said, frowning. "However, I'm in the middle of groveling to my wife. If we don't release an article denying the fake news about our engagement, then I'm afraid I might really get divorced at this rate."
"Your wife is Mona Yeon, right? The famous screenwriter?"
"Don't even think about messing with my wife, Miss Hwang."
Juliet Hwang laughed softly, then she stood up while grabbing her expensive purse on the table. "Let's go, Nikolai-ssi."
"The paparazzi tailed me earlier, Miss Hwang. I'm not stepping out of this hotel with you just to have our pictures taken by those pesky reporters."
"Then I'll go and meet your wife alone."
"Huh?"
Juliet Hwang wore her branded sunglasses.
Yes, it was already evening. But the lights in the hotel were bright. Hence, the heiress didn't look that strange while wearing sunglasses indoors.
[And whatever Miss Hwang wears gets viral since she's pretty much a fashion icon.]
"I'll ask your wife to borrow your name for my selfish goal," Juliet Hwang said. "And I'll make it clear to Mona Yeon that I have no intention of marrying you even if you were the only man left in the world, Nikolai-ssi."
Nikolai immediately stood up. "Fine. Let's go."
***
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