The dinner table was a grand, formal affair, with fine china, crystal glasses, and a crisp, white tablecloth. The room was dimly lit, with soft, golden lighting that seemed to dance across the walls.
Kim Ha-Joon, Tae-Hyun's grandfather, entered the room a few minutes later, his eyes twinkling with warmth as he greeted his family. Ji Sui-Hui, Tae-Hyun's stepmother, and Kim Tae-Ho, his stepbrother, arrived shortly after, their faces smiling and polite.
As they sat down to eat, the dinner conversation was stilted and formal, with everyone making polite small talk. Tae-Hyun, however, remained silent, his eyes fixed on his plate as he ate his food with methodical precision.
Ji Sui-Hui and Kim Tae-Ho, on the other hand, seemed determined to goad Tae-Hyun into a reaction. They made snide comments and jokes at his expense, but Tae-Hyun refused to rise to the bait.
His father, Kim Tae-Sung, must have been watching the exchange from heaven, with a mixture of discomfort and disinterest. He had married Tae-Hyun's mother, Lee Ha-Na, despite her humble background, and had loved her deeply. But after her tragic death in an accident, he had married Ji Sui-Hui, a wealthy and well-connected woman, in an attempt to secure his family's financial future. (Full details for another day, stay seated)
As the dinner drew to a close, the maids came in to clear the table and carry away the plates. The family stood up, and Tae-Hyun followed them into the sitting room, where coffee was served.
Tae-Hyun declined the coffee, his eyes scanning the room with a mixture of disdain and boredom. Ji Sui-Hui and Kim Tae-Ho chatted and laughed, trying to draw Tae-Hyun into their conversation, but he remained aloof, his expression unreadable.
Kim Ha-Joon, however, watched his grandson with a keen eye, his expression thoughtful and introspective. He knew that Tae-Hyun was a complex and troubled young man, and he wondered what the future held for him.
"How is your company going, son?" Kim Ha-Joon asked, his eyes twinkling with interest.
Kim Tae-Hyun nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Everything is fine, grandfather. We've been experiencing steady growth, and our latest collection has been well-received by the fashion community."
Kim Ha-Joon nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I'm glad to hear that, Tae-Hyun. However, I think I can help you take your company to the next level. Have you considered collaborating with Shin Ha-Rim Fashion?"
Tae-Hyun's eyes narrowed slightly. Shin Ha-Rim Fashion was one of the most prestigious fashion companies in Seoul, known for their exquisite designs and high-quality materials.
"What makes you think they would be interested in collaborating with me?" Tae-Hyun asked, his tone skeptical.
Kim Ha-Joon smiled, a cunning glint in his eye. "Leave that to me, Tae-Hyun. Just sign the contract, and I'll take care of the rest. Trust me, your company will grow higher than it is right now."
Tae-Hyun raised an eyebrow, his mind racing with possibilities. He had built his fashion empire from scratch, without anyone's help. But if collaborating with Shin Ha-Rim Fashion could take his company to new heights...
Kim Ha-Joon seemed to sense Tae-Hyun's hesitation, and he smiled again. "Sign the contract, and thank me later," he said, pulling out a small photograph from his pocket.
Tae-Hyun's eyes widened as he took in the image of a beautiful young woman with long, curly black hair and piercing brown eyes.
"Who is this?" Tae-Hyun asked, his voice low and husky.
"That is Won Ji-Na, the daughter of Shin Ha-Rim, the CEO of Shin Ha-Rim Fashion," Kim Ha-Joon replied, his eyes glinting with amusement. "She's the one who will be handling the collaboration between our companies. And I think you'll find her... quite charming."
Tae-Hyun's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. Was this why his grandfather had wanted to see him? To set him up with some rich girl?
"Fine, thank you, sir," Tae-Hyun said, standing up. "I'll take care of it."
Kim Ha-Joon smiled, satisfied. "I knew I could count on you, Tae-Hyun. Now, go home and get some rest. We'll discuss the details of the contract tomorrow."
Tae-Hyun nodded, and with a brief farewell, he left the mansion. As he drove away, he couldn't shake off the feeling that his grandfather was playing matchmaker.
When he arrived at his house, Tae-Hyun showered and changed into comfortable clothes. He then grabbed his laptop and opened the browser, typing in Won Ji-Na's name.
The search results yielded a plethora of information about the young woman. According to her bio, Won Ji-Na was a graduate of the prestigious Seoul National University, where she had studied fashion design. She was currently working as a designer for Shin Ha-Rim Fashion, and was known for her stunning beauty and sharp business acumen.
Tae-Hyun's eyes scanned the articles and images, his mind racing with thoughts of the upcoming collaboration. He couldn't deny that he was curious about Won Ji-Na, and he wondered what it would be like to work with her.
But as he delved deeper into the search results, Tae-Hyun's expression turned skeptical. Won Ji-Na seemed too perfect, too polished. He wondered if there was more to her than met the eye.
Kim Tae-Hyun sat in front of his laptop, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he composed an email to Won Ji-Na of Shin Ha-Rim Fashion. He kept the message brief and to the point, inquiring about the possibility of a collaboration between their companies.
As he hit send, Tae-Hyun closed his laptop and leaned back in his chair, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over him. He stood up, stretched his arms over his head, and made his way to bed, where he quickly fell asleep.
The next morning, Tae-Hyun woke up early, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. He got dressed and prepared for work, calling his chauffeur to come and pick him up.
As he sat in the back seat of the car, Tae-Hyun pulled out his iPad and began to browse through his schedule for the day. Suddenly, an email notification popped up, and he smiled to himself as he saw that it was from Won Ji-Na.
He opened the email and read through it quickly. Won Ji-Na was accepting his proposal for a meeting, but she wanted to discuss the details in person before agreeing to sign a contract. Tae-Hyun's eyes narrowed as he thought about the meeting, but a faint smile played on his lips before he quickly suppressed it.
When the car arrived at his company, Tae-Hyun stepped out and was immediately greeted by his employees. However, he ignored them, striding past them without a word.
As he entered his office, his secretary, Ok Ja-Yeon, greeted him with a bright smile. "Good morning, sir!"
Tae-Hyun didn't respond, instead walking straight to his office. Ja-Yeon tried again, "Good morning, sir! Did you have a good night's rest?"
This time, Tae-Hyun looked up at her, his expression unreadable. "Prepare a meeting with the design manager of Shin Ha-Rim Fashion. Cancel any other appointments I have today. I'll only be attending only this meeting."
Ja-Yeon nodded, her smile faltering for a moment before she regained her composure. "Yes, sir. Right away, sir."
Tae-Hyun dismissed her with a wave of his hand, and quickly entered his office. Tae-Hyun spent the next few hours reviewing reports and signing documents, his mind focused on the upcoming meeting with Won Ji-Na.
As the clock struck 1 pm, Ja-Yeon knocked on the door and entered the office. "Sir, you have a meeting with Shin Ha-Rim Fashion at 2 pm. Shall I have the car ready to take you there?"
Tae-Hyun nodded, his expression still unreadable. "Yes. I'll be ready."
With a nod, Ja-Yeon turned to leave, but not before casting a curious glance at her boss. She wondered what was going through his mind, and what the outcome of the meeting with Shin Ha-Rim Fashion would be.