The next morning, Seo Joo-won arrived at work earlier than usual, his mind a swirling storm of unresolved thoughts. He had barely slept after his late-night encounter with Kim Joon-ho, and every time he closed his eyes, he could see the CEO's intense gaze, hear his cryptic words echoing in his mind.
"You'll need to show me."
What did Kim mean? What was the next step in this unspoken game they were playing? And most importantly, how far was Joo-won willing to go to meet Kim's expectations?
Joo-won shook his head as he entered the office building, forcing himself to focus. Today was important—a major presentation was scheduled, one that would determine the direction of a key project for Hanlim Corporation. He had spent hours preparing his part of the presentation, determined to prove himself not only to Kim but also to the senior staff.
As the interns gathered in the conference room, there was an air of nervous anticipation. Park Min-seo, Joo-won's fellow intern and occasional rival, leaned over to whisper, "You ready for this? If we mess up, the whole team's going to hear about it."
Joo-won nodded, offering a small smile. "We'll be fine. Just stick to the plan."
The meeting began, with executives filing into the room one by one, their presence adding to the pressure. Finally, Kim entered, his commanding aura silencing the room instantly. His gaze briefly met Joo-won's before he took his seat at the head of the table.
As the presentation unfolded, Joo-won felt the weight of Kim's attention on him. Every word he spoke, every slide he presented, was met with an intensity that both unnerved and motivated him. When it was over, the room erupted into applause, and Joo-won felt a surge of relief.
But Kim remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Later that day, Joo-won was summoned to Kim's office again. This time, he felt more prepared—more determined to confront whatever awaited him.
"Come in," Kim's voice called from behind the door, and Joo-won entered, his heart steady but his mind racing.
Kim was seated at his desk, reviewing a stack of documents. He didn't look up as Joo-won entered, but his presence filled the room nonetheless.
"You did well today," Kim said after a long pause, finally meeting Joo-won's eyes. "Your part of the presentation was solid. Impressive, even."
"Thank you, sir," Joo-won replied, his voice calm despite the tension in the air.
Kim leaned back in his chair, studying Joo-won with a faint smile. "But I'm curious. How far are you willing to go to ensure your success here?"
The question caught Joo-won off guard, but he quickly composed himself. "I'll do whatever it takes, sir. I want to prove that I belong here."
Kim's smile widened slightly, and he stood, walking around the desk to stand closer to Joo-won. "Ambition is a double-edged sword, Joo-won. It can drive you to greatness, but it can also destroy you if you're not careful."
Joo-won swallowed hard, the tension between them palpable. He could feel the unspoken challenge in Kim's words, the way the CEO was pushing him to the edge of something he didn't fully understand.
"You said actions speak louder than words," Joo-won said, surprising himself with his boldness. "What kind of actions are you looking for?"
Kim chuckled softly, his gaze never wavering. "That's for you to figure out. But remember—there's a thin line between proving yourself and losing yourself. Be sure you know which side you're on."
With that, Kim dismissed him, leaving Joo-won more confused than ever. The encounter had raised more questions than answers, and Joo-won couldn't shake the feeling that he was being drawn into something much bigger than himself.
As he left the office, his mind raced. What did Kim truly want from him? And was Joo-won willing to cross the line to find out?