Chapter 3

In the quiet office, the steady sound of paper being turned filled the room.

Yoon Jaei. Thirty years old.

After working for two years at a major law firm, she resigned when her mother passed away and opened her own practice six months ago to stay by her father’s side.

As Taein’s eyes skimmed through the basic information, they paused for a moment on one line, and he spoke.

“Who came up with the name Moderato.”

“It was Ms. Yoon Jaei’s late mother.”

“…Ah.”

A sigh slipped through Taein’s lips.

So that was why the president had been so firm.

If the factory held traces of his late wife, the chances of him agreeing to move it were slim.

He tapped the documents against the desk and pressed his temple with his fingers.

This was going to be a headache.

“What will you do.”

The secretary asked cautiously, but Taein didn’t reply.

In this kind of situation, there were only two ways.

Either they give up, or I do.

“Sir.”

When he was called again, Taein lifted his eyes sharply.

“Set up a position with the legal team. Something decent.”

No. There was only one way.

He would make them give up.

That was how he had gotten to where he was now.

* * *

A small car pulled up in front of a modest building.

“Thanks for the ride.”

“Ha. Seriously, can’t you drive your own car. Am I your chauffeur. Are you planning to let that car rot in the garage.”

Her hand paused on the seatbelt at the grumbling voice.

“What did you say.”

“Huh.”

When his irritated face met Jaei’s blank expression, his bravado vanished immediately.

“N… no. I just meant I didn’t want you to get tired…”

“Our Junseo’s really grown up. Snapping at his noona now.”

“Noona, my girlfriend gets the wrong idea when she sees us.”

“She can misunderstand all she wants. Me. With you.”

She let out a disbelieving puff of air. She didn’t even want to imagine it.

Her face twisted in disgust, and Junseo yelled.

“Ugh. Stop thinking about it. I hate it more than you do.”

She had known Park Junseo, Section Chief Park’s son, for over twenty years now.

Back in college, Junghoon and Park had grown close while working together after being senior and junior. Their families had become like siblings, so this kind of banter was natural.

With a click, the seatbelt came loose, and Jaei stepped out of the car. She handed him an envelope.

“What’s this.”

“I heard you’ve been working part-time to pay tuition.”

Junseo, who had just finished his military service and was preparing to return to school, replied with a disinterested look.

“That news got to you too.”

“Consider it your chauffeur fee for today.”

As soon as he peeked inside the envelope, his attitude changed completely.

“Jeez, noona, you should tell me this stuff in advance. I’d have sprayed some cologne and put on some good music.”

“Forget it. Section Chief Park still isn’t going home, right.”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“It’s because of the home shopping business. Take care of him. Stop by and bring him some supplements on your way.”

“Alright, alright. Anyway, if you ever need a driver again, call me. Anytime. I’m your guy.”

“What are you talking about. Go.”

Jaei replied curtly and stepped out of the car. Junseo waved enthusiastically for her to go in first.

She gave him a short wave, and her long hair swayed as she turned. Her confident steps echoed on the pavement until she disappeared into the building. Then the small car drove off.

Watching that scene from inside his car, Taein spoke.

“Who do you think that is.”

“Probably just an acquaintance.”

Despite the secretary’s response, Taein’s gaze remained suspicious.

It had been faint, but it was clearly a cash envelope that Yoon Jaei handed over.

“Is there anything unusual about Yoon Jaei’s finances.”

“She’s clean. Even when she opened her law office, she signed the lease with money she had saved up.”

No debts. Law school, training institute, law firm experience. Her reputation was solid.

And on top of that…

Taein’s eyes slowly lifted to the sign that read “Attorney Yoon Jaei.”

She had opened her office in a neighborhood she had no personal ties to, and even there she’d earned a good reputation through word of mouth.

It seemed she’d led quite a proper life.

“Shall we go in.”

The secretary asked, and Taein straightened his clothes.

“Let’s go.”

The infamous Han Taein planned to visit this well-lived life, just for a little while.

* * *

Ding.

As the bell chimed, the smell of freshly brewed coffee spread through the office.

“Smells good in here.”

“Oh, Attorney, you’re here. Would you like a cup. Or some tea.”

The woman greeting her with a cup of chamomile tea was Sora, the sole employee at Yoon Jaei’s law office.

“I’ll take tea. Thanks.”

Jaei passed the neat reception desk and stepped into her personal office.

Unlike the other spaces, her desk was piled with documents showing traces of a hectic day’s work.

Setting her bag down, she immediately began sorting through papers.

Then there was a knock, and Sora entered, carrying the chamomile tea. The scent spread through the room.

“Sora, where’s the file with the trademark lawsuit precedents I asked you to print.”

“It’s in the right drawer of your desk.”

Her gaze fell to the right drawer.

“Ah, thanks. And what time is the hearing for the forged insurance documents case. I think it’s today.”

“Yes, two o’clock. I’ve organized your schedule and I’ll head out on time.”

“Good. Thanks.”

She pulled out the stack of printed cases and flipped through them slowly. Her side bangs kept falling into her face, so she gathered her hair up into a high ponytail with the black hair tie around her wrist.

Just as she started focusing again, another knock sounded.

“Come in.”

She answered without looking up. She heard the door open.

Of course, she thought it was Sora.

“Let’s see your face.”

The heavy voice made her head snap up.

“Huh…?”

She blinked, her expression clearly saying, ‘What are you doing here.’

Her eyes darted to Sora, who stood nervously outside the office, then to the secretary beside her, and finally back to Taein.

He sat down in the lounge chair in front of her desk, his gaze falling on the scattered papers.

Taein, who kept his own office spotless, frowned slightly.

“You must be busy.”

“Yes. As you can see. What brings you here.”

“You told me that day to go through Attorney Yoon Jaei if I had anything to say.”

“I expected you’d send a lawyer.”

“Our head of legal is very busy.”

Even lounging comfortably, his gaze didn’t waver.

Her hair was loosely tied this time, unlike earlier, revealing her pale neckline.

“So here’s what I’m thinking.”

He broke off mid-sentence and locked eyes with her, his gaze openly observing every tiny reaction.

“How about joining TS Electronics’ legal team.”

“…TS Electronics’ legal team.”

“I’m trying to scout you, Attorney Yoon Jaei.”

His gaze was unusually persistent. Each glance felt like it was probing for weaknesses.

Jaei calmly set down the stack of papers in her hands.

“No, thank you.”

Her face showed nothing but indifference, as if to say, Is that all you came here for. Taein’s eyes stiffened slightly.

“Let’s not make this difficult.”

“You’re the one making it difficult. Why bring up something that’s already settled. If you keep this up, we’ll have no choice but to file a lawsuit.”

Why didn’t they just sue from the start instead of dragging this out.

Annoyance flickered across her face, then disappeared.

“Gangsan Tech may hold the Moderato trademark, but you haven’t launched anything under it for three years.”

Her lips pressed together. She could tell exactly what he planned to hold on to.

“In the meantime, we launched our own Moderato and established our position.”

Even if TS Electronics was a neglected subsidiary, it was still part of Taesan Group. It wasn’t hard for them to secure a place in the market.

“Once we verify the facts and file a petition, things will go smoothly. You know that as well as I do, don’t you.”

“Then you should’ve just done that.”

“Despite that, I came to negotiate face-to-face. Common courtesy.”

The real reason was that an invalidation lawsuit could take six months to a year, longer than the six-month timeline he had set.

So this was the side he needed to target.

A faint smile flickered in his eyes, and Jaei met it with a calm, unwavering expression.

“Is there a particular reason you have to do it this way.”

The faint smile vanished, and the relaxed look in his eyes began to fade.

Taein tilted his head slightly.

What is with this woman.