Chapter 4

Taein, who had been relaxed until now, let out a small laugh and straightened his posture.

“I told you. Since we’re in the same electronics industry, it’s only natural courtesy.”

“If it’s courtesy, then trying to take Gangsan Tech’s trademark rights doesn’t really fit, does it.”

Their eyes met across the space, Taein in the lounge chair and Jaei in her office chair.

Neither of them looked away.

Her eyes were wide, and she shot back answers to everything he said.

There weren’t many people who talked back to him like this. And one of those rare people was sitting right in front of him.

There weren’t many who held his gaze either.

“So our lawyer wants to stick to the law. That side, right.”

“…”

“Is that right, Attorney Yoon Jaei.”

“Ah, yes.”

Her response came a beat late.

His piercing stare had momentarily left her dazed, as if her soul had been pulled out.

She quickly snapped out of it and answered, but his expression had already returned to that calm ease.

Whether it was honesty or a crack in her armor, he wasn’t sure.

He actually preferred it to be a crack.

Because if it was honesty…

He remembered that moment when he first saw her smile at Junghoon. That eye smile that had somehow irritated him.

“Alright.”

“…”

“Let’s do it then.”

His clipped voice carried a faintly twisted undertone, something he was holding back.

Taein slowly rose from his seat and added,

“The TS Electronics legal team is more persistent than you’d think. Though I doubt Attorney Yoon Jaei cares.”

“…”

“But if you change your mind, you can call me anytime.”

He pulled a business card from his inner pocket and slid it across the desk.

Her gaze fell to the card, then rose again. He lifted his eyebrows slightly and turned to leave.

Jaei stared at his broad back until he left the office completely, then finally let out the breath she’d been holding.

She thought she might choke from the tension.

His sharp gaze and unwavering stare had felt like they were tightening around her throat.

Sora rushed in, worried.

“Attorney. Are you alright.”

“No. Sora, can you get me some water…”

“Cold water.”

“Cold water.”

Her legs felt weak and she couldn’t get up.

Only after downing the glass of cold water Sora brought did she start to feel a bit better.

“Are you sure you’re okay.”

At Sora’s worried voice, Jaei lifted her head. Her face was pale and drained of all energy.

“Do I look okay.”

“Not at all.”

“I think so too.”

“Maybe you should take the rest of the day off.”

Jaei shook her head. She had too much work, and Han Taein’s declaration earlier meant she couldn’t afford to rest.

“That man… he killed the room with just one look.”

Sora rubbed her arms as if she had chills just remembering it.

“I didn’t even stop him from barging in. And I couldn’t say anything. I’m sorry, Attorney.”

“It’s fine. I would’ve been the same.”

The oppressive gaze and overwhelming presence came back to her, and Jaei exhaled softly.

His eyes were strange. There was something dangerous about him.

While she reinforced her mental guard against Han Taein, Sora came back after taking a call.

“Attorney, the notice for the court-appointed case just came in. I’ll contact the defendant’s side and get back to you.”

“Alright. Thanks.”

Work. She had to focus on work.

But why did it feel like her energy had been completely drained.

Jaei leaned her tired body back against the chair.

* * *

The setting sun painted the sky red.

Taein stared blankly out the window, then tilted his head and let out a small sigh.

‘Is there a particular reason you have to do it this way.’

All day, her voice echoed in his head.

Yoon Jaei’s words had slammed the brakes on his carefully laid plan.

Lost in thought, he tapped his pen lightly against the paper on his desk.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized how sharply she had seen through him. It bothered him more than he liked to admit.

What should he do. How could he make her listen to him.

Then he remembered the home shopping broadcast he’d seen recently.

The rhythmic tapping stopped. Taein spoke.

“Secretary Lee.”

“Yes, sir.”

The secretary, waiting for documents to be signed, answered briskly.

“Find out Gangsan Tech’s home shopping broadcast schedule.”

“Ah, that’s not one of our affiliates so…”

His face showed hesitation, but Taein’s eyes stayed cold.

“Then set up a meeting with someone from their side. That’s not hard, is it.”

Finding out the broadcast schedule to apply pressure or setting up a meeting with their people were basically the same thing.

The secretary didn’t argue.

“I’ll arrange it.”

Hearing that, Taein straightened the pen in his hand and signed the documents without hesitation.

Simple. All he had to do was choke their main sales channel, home shopping.

He handed the signed file back to the secretary.

“Did you meet the person who reported the embezzlement case at TS Electronics.”

“Yes. It was someone from Taesan Trading.”

“Ah.”

Of course. Han Chaehee.

He made a tired face.

“Keep that information from leaking to them.”

“Yes, understood.”

The secretary left. Taein thought about taking a short break, but his phone started vibrating insistently.

Checking the caller, his eyes narrowed slightly.

An unwelcome guest.

The call cut off once, only to ring again.

In the end, he answered. Before he could say anything, a high-pitched voice came pouring through the speaker.

– Long time no see, my dear nephew. Still answering late, huh. How have you been. I heard you’re back in Korea. You didn’t even give me a heads up. You should’ve called. I heard you went to TS Electronics. How is it. Managing alright?

Once she finished, she added with a laugh, saying the place was a total mess.

“Our dear aunt is still the same. Only says what she wants.”

It was his aunt, Chaehee, only five years older than him. She was also the Executive Director of Taesan Trading, the very seat Taein wanted for himself.

– And my dear nephew is the same too. Never answers questions. Anyway. Did you replace the TS Electronics board.

“If I did.”

– Are you crazy. Everyone’s in an uproar because you fired all your uncle’s people. What were you thinking. What are you going to do with them.

“And why is that your concern.”

– Because your aunt is upset, that’s why. Right, sis. When I heard it from her, I couldn’t believe it.

He was the one who couldn’t believe it.

Taein let out a hollow laugh, stood, and moved closer to the window.

This was exactly why he disliked Chaehee.

Being vicious and petty was standard for her. She was cowardly and deceitful by habit.

“You must be with my aunt.”

– That’s right. Look at her face, all upset. You really shouldn’t be doing this.

“Does she even know. The real reason things ended up like this.”

Her mouth went silent for a moment at his low, cool tone.

She was trying to figure out his angle. Whether he knew about her involvement or not.

Chaehee spoke again.

– Do you even know what the real reason is.

“I wouldn’t ask if I did.”

He took a step back, and he heard a sharp breath through the phone.

– Ha. You don’t know anything, so why are you stirring things up. Your uncle’s furious. What are you planning to do.

The deception, mockery, and stupidity in front of him made him let out a quiet laugh.

– Oh my, he’s laughing. Sis, he’s laughing. Maybe he needs to get scolded by the chairman to come to his senses.

“Aunt, if you’re going to talk nonsense, hang up. I’m busy.”

– What. Nonsense.

“Either way, I’m hanging up. Like you said, the company’s a mess, so I need to fix it.”

– What. No, I didn’t. Sis, it’s a misunderstanding. I never said that. Hey, Han Taein!

He ended the call with an exasperated face and stared out the window again.

The red sky was fading, replaced by the dark night and the glow of city lights.

He finished up his work, and by late evening, he got into his car.

“I’ve arranged a dinner with the managing director of S Home Shopping. He’s the president’s son, set to be promoted next year. He’ll likely take the vice president position.”

“Good work.”

Even through his calm voice, fatigue seeped through.

Noticing quickly, the secretary leaned forward slightly and asked,

“How about getting a massage.”

Taein shifted his gaze toward the secretary.

“…Do I look that tired.”

“You started working before even adjusting to the time difference. You haven’t rested properly for days. You must be exhausted.”

He turned his gaze back out the window.

“You must be tired too, Secretary Lee.”

“Oh, that’s not what I meant…”

“I’ll be heading home alone for a while. Just so you know.”

The secretary looked troubled, but Taein had already closed his eyes. He only opened them when they arrived at his house.

“Have a good night.”

He waved a hand lazily at the politely bowing secretary in front of the luxury villa’s gate and walked on.

Massaging the back of his stiff neck as he crossed the garden, his steps came to a natural stop when a bright face entered his peripheral vision.

“Thank you for the lovely evening, ma’am.”

“Thank you for coming all this way. And for enjoying the food.”

“Of course. I couldn’t say no. The food was amazing.”

Under the streetlight, Yoon Jaei’s smile bloomed again.