Mina Park stood behind the register at the supermarket in a bustling town in the USA, scanning customers' groceries with automatic motions. As she checked the prices, she reflected on how her life seemed the same every day. The only thing that brought her comfort was the Korean dramas she watched during her breaks and her daydreams of a more glamorous life.
"That'll be sixty dollars," Mina said, staring at the register screen. "Would you like to pay with cash or card?"
The customer in front of her, an elderly woman who looked confused, anxiously rummaged through her wallet. "I think I only have fifty dollars here. Can I pay less?"
Mina smiled patiently. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but we can't accept anything less than the total due. Perhaps you could go back to your car and look for the rest of the money?"
The woman sighed deeply and dug back into her wallet, finally finding the missing cash. "Oh, thank goodness. Thank you, dear."
As the elderly woman finally left, Mina glanced at the wall clock and frowned. "Just a few more hours until my shift ends," she murmured to herself.
Suddenly, her cellphone vibrated in her pocket. Mina pulled it out to see Ji-eun's name on the screen. She answered with enthusiasm. "Hello, Ji-eun! What's up?"
"Hey, Mina! I need your help," Ji-eun's voice came through the line. "There's an important event tonight, and I need you to deliver food to a restaurant. Please?"
Mina felt her heart skip a beat. "A restaurant? I've never been to a fancy restaurant before. What do I need to do?"
"It's nothing complicated," Ji-eun replied. "Just deliver the food. I know you might be busy, but I really need your help. I promise I'll treat you to dinner afterward!"
Mina laughed softly. "Okay, then. I'll come. Don't forget to treat me!"
A few hours later, Mina exited the supermarket, carrying a bag of prepared food. She headed to the upscale restaurant located downtown.
Mina Park was living her familiar routine at the supermarket. Her days were filled with answering questions about prices and dealing with customers who forgot how much money they had. This daily grind had become incredibly monotonous, and Mina often daydreamed about a more glamorous life—perhaps becoming a movie star or simply getting a big discount at an expensive restaurant.
So, when Ji-eun, her friend who worked at the fancy restaurant, asked Mina to deliver food tonight, she felt like she had received an invitation to join a VIP celebration.
Even though she had to step out of her comfort zone, Mina was excited to imagine what it would be like to sneak into a world filled with luxury and glamorous fashion.
"Don't forget, Mina!" Ji-eun reminded her over the phone. "I need this food for private VIP meeting tonight. Don't be late!"
"Don't worry, Ji-eun, I'm all set!" Mina replied, checking her bag to make sure the food containers were secure.
She nodded to herself with determination and ended the call, thinking about how spectacular tonight would be. With the bag of food in hand, Mina stepped out toward the restaurant. However, as soon as she walked through the door, the glamorous atmosphere she had envisioned seemed to transform into a battlefield.
Tables surrounded by patrons in evening gowns and expensive suits created a serene ambiance that suddenly erupted into chaos as Mina looked around.
"Yikes," she thought, "did I walk into a fashion gala or a mafia meeting?"
As she arrived, the restaurant's atmosphere was a stark contrast to her everyday life. The waitstaff dressed in all black and the luxurious-looking guests made Mina feel as if she had stepped into an entirely different world.
"Excuse me," Mina said to a waiter standing near the entrance. "I'm here to deliver food. I'm looking for Ji-eun."
The waiter shot her a somewhat cynical glance. "Oh, you must be Mina. Ji-eun is over there, in the corner."
Mina tried to avoid bumping into other guests and carefully made her way toward Ji-eun. However, disaster struck when she stumbled over the edge of a slightly protruding table.
"Oh no!" Mina cried out as the bag of food slipped from her hands and slid toward the main table occupied by the infamous mafia boss, Leo Salvatore.
"Whoa!" Mina exclaimed as the food flew into the air and landed messily on the main table.
And who was sitting at that table? Leo Salvatore, the mafia boss known for his impressive reputation, sat calmly in his chair.
The food splattered onto Leo and his entourage, staining their expensive suits with tomato sauce and pasta.
Leo, a man with a chilling gaze and an intimidating aura, quickly stood up, staring at Mina, who was frozen in shock.
"What's going on here?" Leo asked, his tone furious. "Who's responsible for this mess?"
"I-I'm sorry…"
In an instant, Ji-eun bolted the moment she saw Mina causing a ruckus with the Mafia Boss.
"Is this some kind of joke?" Leo asked in a cold voice, standing tall as he glared at Mina with an expression that could freeze flames.
Mina stood paralyzed, unable to look away from Leo in fear.
"I-I'm sorry! This… This is my fault!" she stammered, her voice trembling. "I was just delivering food and—"
"Fault?" Leo's tone dripped with icy impatience. He stepped closer, the weight of his presence pressing down on her. "You're right about that. I had an important meeting tonight—a very important meeting—and you storm in here like a hurricane, destroying everything. Do you work at this restaurant? Are you looking to be fired?"
Mina's breath hitched as she glanced at the mess she had caused. Tomato sauce and pasta clung to Leo's expensive suit, a stark crimson stain spreading across the dark fabric. The sight of his enraged expression made her stomach twist into knots.
As Mina opened her mouth to apologize again, one of Leo's men leaned in and whispered something to him. The man's words were low and quick, but Mina caught fragments of it. "Boss, maybe we can turn this around. She's mixed Asian, similar to Miss Sato. She could—"
Leo's eyes narrowed as he listened, his jaw tightening. His gaze flickered to Mina briefly, studying her as if she were a piece of a puzzle he hadn't considered before. The seconds dragged on like hours before Leo finally straightened and nodded slightly.
"Right," he muttered, almost to himself. Then, with a dramatic gesture, he pointed directly at Mina. "You. Girl."
Mina flinched, startled. "Y-yes, sir?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Leo stepped closer, his intense eyes locked onto hers. "Tonight, you're going to be my fiancée."
The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Mina stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Your… your fiancée?" she repeated, her voice cracking.
Leo nodded, his expression calculating. "Exactly. My real fiancée, Mia Sato, is missing, and I can't afford for anyone to notice. You've already disrupted this meeting, so you're going to fix it by filling in for her tonight."
Mina's heart raced as her mind struggled to process his words. "But… I don't know anything about being someone's fiancée!" she protested, her voice shaking.
Leo's eyes narrowed, his tone firm and unyielding. "You don't need to know anything. Just follow my lead. Smile, nod, and keep your mouth shut. No one will question it."
"This is crazy!" Mina exclaimed, taking a step back. "I'm just a supermarket clerk! I can't—"
Leo cut her off, his voice sharp and final. "You can, and you will. This isn't up for debate. You've already caused enough problems tonight. Consider this your chance to make up for it."
Mina opened her mouth, trying to find the right words. "But—"