Chapter 5

“Are you sure you’re okay. Your face looks a little flushed. Maybe I shouldn’t have opened the wine…”

At the worried tone, Jaei laughed brightly and waved her hand.

“I’m fine. My face always gets red easily. I’m completely sober right now, so don’t worry.”

“Should I call my son to give you a ride.”

“I can go by myself. It’s not even that late.”

“Anyway, thanks to you I was able to wrap everything up well. If I run into any more problems, I’ll call you again.”

“I’ll drop everything and come, so contact me anytime.”

“Alright. Take care.”

Jaei bowed politely to the client as they turned away. Her neatly tied hair fell forward.

As she fixed her hair and turned around, she felt the faint warmth lingering on her cheeks.

Ah, maybe I shouldn’t have drunk it. I couldn’t even refuse when it was offered…

She told herself it was too late to regret it and started walking. But after only a few steps, she stopped again.

Beyond the well-kept flowerbed, she found herself face-to-face with Taein.

It was late in the evening, the surroundings dim. She only recognized him under the soft glow of the lights.

“What a coincidence, Attorney Yoon Jaei.”

“…Ah, yes. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

The faint smile on her lips slowly faded.

She was surprised to run into him, but it wasn’t someone she’d ever be happy to see. Especially not someone who’d walked in to declare a legal battle.

“Well then…”

As she tried to walk away first, Taein spoke.

“Do you make house calls for your clients too.”

Her eyes turned back toward him.

His gaze was steady, like he genuinely wanted to know.

“Yes. If needed.”

“Ah, if needed…”

He repeated her words and stared at her quietly, as if lost in thought.

The way he looked at her made her uncomfortable, so she tried again to put some distance between them.

“And you drink too.”

At his added words, her eyes narrowed. For some reason, his tone sounded almost like he was picking a fight.

“Yes. If needed.”

“Doesn’t it bother you. Going around like that.”

“What do you mean.”

“Meeting clients and all. Not every case is clean.”

When he quickly added, ‘Not that I mean right now,’ she met his gaze head-on.

“TS Electronics’ legal team isn’t like that, I suppose.”

“You don’t need to be like that, Ms. Yoon.”

“I still won’t join. Tell your legal team to proceed with the lawsuit quickly if that’s what you’re going to do.”

Her firm refusal reminded him of Junghoon. The moment he hinted at terms, he was rejected just as sharply.

Like father, like daughter. That saying fit here.

“Well then.”

Would he try to stop her again. She hurried away before he could say anything else.

Watching her small figure retreat, Taein felt an inexplicable irritation rising inside him.

Did Yoon Jaei even realize how much she kept getting under his skin.

His steps grew larger. He walked quickly, but he easily matched her pace from the other side of the long flowerbed.

Jaei flinched, sensing his presence beside her, and glanced sideways.

He’s walking so casually, so why am I out of breath. And why is this garden so damn big.

Her eyes shifted to the end of the flowerbed. Once she passed through the main gate, she’d be outside the villa.

But he reached the gate before she did. She stopped a short distance away.

“Do you have something to say.”

“You plan to go home looking like that.”

“What’s wrong with how I look.”

Her face was flushed and her steps slow, though her eyes still sparkled.

“Anyone can tell you’ve been drinking.”

There was a hint of mischief in his voice.

“I haven’t. I’m not that drunk.”

“You are.”

Getting a signature from someone drunk was always easy. A bit underhanded, but effective.

He stared at her quietly, debating whether to coax her a little, and she immediately grew more guarded.

That reaction twisted something inside him again.

No, this time it wasn’t irritation. It was disbelief.

Forget coaxing. He suddenly wanted to ask her.

“There’s something I’m curious about.”

“Go ahead.”

Even as she said that, she glanced at her watch.

“Why are you so wary of me.”

She had been friendly enough with that client earlier.

But Jaei found his question ridiculous.

“Are you planning to steal Moderato.”

When Taein fell silent, she continued as if she’d expected that.

“See. You’re not even denying it. You know as well as I do that this isn’t exactly a relationship that’s going to get friendly.”

With that indifferent remark, she started walking past him. Taein grabbed her bag.

Her body tipped slightly from the pull, and he caught her to keep her from falling.

“What… what are you doing.”

“Isn’t it a bit far to walk home alone.”

His tone was casual, and she looked up at him.

He didn’t seem to have any hidden motives, but his sudden action caught her off guard.

“No. I’m fine.”

“I’ll give you a ride, so wait a second.”

“Why would you…”

As her wary gaze intensified again, he answered flatly.

“Be wary if you want. Or don’t.”

Still holding her bag, he pulled out his phone. Jaei spoke quickly.

“No. Someone’s coming to pick me up.”

“Who.”

“I don’t see why I should tell you. Just let go.”

Though clearly unconvinced, he released her bag.

She hugged it close and glared at him.

“There’s someone waiting for me out front. So I’ll be going now. Don’t try to stop me.”

She spun around. Her hair swayed with the motion before settling again as she walked away.

The moment she stepped outside, a car that had been idling quietly switched on its lights.

Ah. That car.

He watched intently as he dialed his secretary’s number.

“It’s me. Proceed with the Gangsan Tech lawsuit. I’ll pick the lawyer.”

When money didn’t work, the next step was to shake their security.

If he stirred things up around Moderato from all sides, how long would they be able to hold out.

And what else could be Yoon Jaei’s weakness.

His sharp gaze followed her until she got into the small car.

* * *

Late at night, in a mostly empty café, Manager Kim walked in. He glanced around, then sat across from the man waiting alone.

“Thank you for meeting me like this.”

Taein handed him a drink with a cool expression.

“I only came because you kept pestering me. Don’t get the wrong idea.”

“I asked you respectfully. I hope it wasn’t inconvenient.”

“You’re a good driver.”

He gestured toward the secretary waiting outside, then turned back to Taein.

“So why exactly did you call me here.”

Though he knew perfectly well why, Manager Kim played dumb, and Taein answered with a smile.

“I heard you’ve been getting your youngest son into sports.”

Manager Kim’s eyes narrowed. Taein continued as if it were nothing.

“Baseball, right. I heard he’s already made a name for himself in the youth amateur league.”

“Well, my boy’s got talent.”

“With sports, the more support the parents give, the higher the kid flies.”

“That’s true everywhere.”

“Don’t you need a pillar to support him. Even with talent, someone has to help bring it out.”

“What exactly are you trying to say.”

Leaning back comfortably, Taein spoke with ease.

“I know people in the professional league. If you give a heads-up to my driver here when your son has a game, I’ll come watch.”

He was the CEO of TS Electronics. Meeting him separately like this was already surprising. But the idea that someone like him might come see his son play baseball, possibly with pro team owners, was staggering.

Manager Kim replayed the words in his head several times to make sure he’d heard correctly.

“What is it you want from me.”

“Nothing much. Next time I visit Gangsan Tech to see your president, I’ll be coming alone. When that happens, I’d like you to support me. That’s not too hard, is it.”

This was a recruitment meeting. TS Electronics’ CEO Han Taein was trying to win over Manager Kim, a key figure at Gangsan Tech.

“Did you approach anyone else.”

“You were first.”

That meant he would approach others too.

Manager Kim fell silent, thinking. Taein pressed on.

“I know you’ll need time. It might feel like betraying your company, but it’s not. It’s a chance for growth.”

“…”

“I know you care about this company. That’s why you should make the best decision you can. In a better environment.”

Watching Manager Kim hesitate, Taein’s lips curved slowly.

Section Chief Park had debts. Executive Director Baek’s wife was ill.

Whatever the reasons, they needed money. And money was weakness.

Everyone had one. Except…

He didn’t know what Yoon Jaei’s weakness was.

“By the way, Manager Kim.”

“Yes.”

Startled by the sudden address, Manager Kim responded quickly.

“I mean Attorney Yoon Jaei.”

“…Why bring her up.”

Jaei?

Seeing his suspicious look, Taein asked casually,

“What kind of person is she.”