The soft chime of the elevator echoed through the sleek marble lobby of Hyun Group's headquarters, a towering monument to South Korea's thriving business elite. Seol-A adjusted the collar of her blouse, nerves jangling in her chest like a jangly symphony. She glanced at her reflection in the glass walls, checking that her hair was neatly pinned back and that her makeup was subtle but confident — the look of a capable assistant, not someone who was about to step into the middle of a personal storm.
The elevator doors opened, and she stepped out, mentally bracing herself for what lay ahead. The hushed murmurs of the office hushed as she walked towards the corner office, all eyes discreetly following her. It wasn't every day that CEO Hyeon-Woo requested to see his assistant this urgently — and personally.
She knocked softly on the frosted glass door, then pushed it open. Hyeon-Woo was there, his tall frame turned toward the floor-to-ceiling window that framed Seoul's glittering skyline. His sharp features were set in a contemplative frown, his brow furrowed.
"Ms. Kim," he said without turning around, his voice as smooth and controlled as always, but there was an edge of tension that made Seol-A's stomach tighten.
"Yes, Mr. Cha? You wanted to see me?"
He finally turned to face her, his eyes scanning her face with an intensity that made her feel as if he could read every secret she had. Hyeon-Woo was handsome in a way that was almost unfair — tall, with a strong jawline and deep, dark eyes that seemed to pierce through anyone he looked at. He was also notoriously difficult to please, known for his high expectations and relentless pursuit of perfection.
"I have a proposition for you," he began, his tone measured. "It's unconventional, but it's also urgent. My grandmother — she's insistent that I settle down and get engaged, and she's threatening to interfere in the company if I don't comply."
Seol-A blinked, her mind racing. Was he asking her to find someone for him? "I see… Do you need me to arrange a meeting with a suitable match?"
"No," he replied swiftly. "I need you to be the match. I need you to pretend to be my fiancée."
The words hung in the air like an unexpected slap. For a moment, Seol-A wasn't sure she had heard him correctly. She felt a rush of confusion, then disbelief. "Me? Your fiancée?"
"Yes. It would only be temporary, just long enough to satisfy her demands and buy me some time. In return, I'm prepared to offer a substantial increase in your salary and a promotion after this is over."
Seol-A stared at him, trying to gauge his seriousness. His face was a mask of calm determination, but there was a flicker of something — vulnerability, maybe? — in his eyes. "Why me?"
Hyeon-Woo hesitated, just for a second, before his expression hardened again. "Because I trust you. And because you're one of the few people who isn't enamored by my family's wealth or power. You're straightforward, and you can handle pressure. It's just a business deal, Seol-A. A transaction. Nothing more."
Her heart pounded in her chest, the air suddenly feeling too thin in the spacious office. A fake engagement with her boss? The CEO of one of the largest conglomerates in South Korea? It sounded absurd — and yet, she couldn't deny the lure of the offer. She was drowning in student debt, stuck in a dead-end position, and desperately in need of a break.
"Just a business deal?" she repeated, her voice steadier than she felt.
He nodded. "Just a business deal. But it will have to look convincing. We'll need to be seen together, attend events, play the part… convincingly."
Seol-A took a deep breath, weighing her options. The risks were huge — but so were the rewards. And perhaps, just perhaps, this was her chance to change her life for the better.
"I'll do it," she said, feeling a strange mix of fear and exhilaration. "I'll be your fiancée."
For the first time, Hyeon-Woo's lips curved into a faint smile. "Good. Then let's make it believable, Ms. Kim."
As she left his office, her mind buzzed with what she had just agreed to. Seol-A had no idea just how tangled things were about to get — or how much her own heart would become entangled in the deception.
Seol-A steps back into the elevator, her thoughts in turmoil. As the doors close, she catches a glimpse of Hyeon-Woo's grandmother stepping into the lobby, her sharp eyes scanning the room. Seol-A's heart skips a beat. The game has begun — and she's already in deeper than she anticipated.