Chapter 1
Gangnam K Hotel.
As the man walked into the hotel café, all eyes naturally followed him.
Nearly 190 centimeters tall, with Western features and a sharp jawline.
Tae-seok’s striking looks, especially his dark, intense eyes, were enough to make anyone pause in admiration.
Even the glimpse of his collarbone, visible beneath his loosely undone tie, exuded an indescribable beauty and allure.
Not long after he took a seat in the café, a woman, guided by the manager, began walking toward Tae-seok. As the distance between them narrowed, the rich scent of pheromones from the woman lightly brushed against his nose.
“Mr. Han Tae-seok?”
Tae-seok naturally turned his gaze toward her at the light, slightly high-pitched voice.
“I’m not late, am I?”
Was this the tenth time? Or maybe the twentieth.
He had been through so many blind dates, he’d lost count.
He had no interest or hope in marriage.
This was simply another meeting arranged by Pil-soon, the obsessive and forceful chairwoman of Ganghwa Group. Nothing more, nothing less to Tae-seok.
It was a meeting arranged under the promise that he wouldn’t be forced into any more for the time being.
Pil-soon had pressured him, saying she might die any day now, and this was his last chance.
The woman sitting across from him had striking looks.
As she scanned Tae-seok up and down quickly, a strange smile curled on her lips.
“If you’re not in the mood for coffee, how about a light drink instead?”
Her nasal tone and crescent-moon-shaped eyes were overflowing with charm.
The two moved to the bar in the hotel basement.
Top-shelf whiskey and snacks were laid out on the table, but the woman’s gaze was fixed solely on Tae-seok.
She studied his face with a slanted smile as he sat with a somewhat bored and stoic expression.
“How’s the whiskey?”
“Up to you.”
Leaning back into the long sofa, Tae-seok exuded a sensual, sexy, and uniquely charismatic aura that the woman couldn’t tear her eyes away from.
“I know we both came here knowing what this is about, but shouldn’t we at least exchange names? I’m Kang Hye-mi, CEO of NY Entertainment.”
She extended her hand first.
“Han Tae-seok, CEO of Ganghwa Group.”
This meeting was arranged through a well-known madame in Gangnam selected by Pil-soon herself.
Tae-seok had built Ganghwa Group into one of the top five conglomerates in Korea.
Despite being a chaebol, he had never been involved in scandals or affairs, making him an extremely coveted prize for matchmakers hoping to secure a prestigious marriage.
“You really are as handsome as they say.”
“I’m not sure what you heard, but I didn’t realize I was someone to be reviewed like a product.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I meant it as a compliment.”
Kang Hye-mi, the only daughter of NY Group and CEO of an entertainment company, had a love life as flashy as her looks. Among third-generation chaebols, her name was well known.
She went through so many short-term relationships that she barely remembered the names of the men she dated.
Tae-seok had heard the rumors about her, but like every other time, he planned to get through the meeting politely and reject her afterward. So it didn’t matter to him.
Despite the gossip, the reason Pil-soon had chosen Kang Hye-mi was because of the grand plan to merge NY Group and Ganghwa Group to establish a new hotel.
“Judging by your expression, you don’t seem thrilled about this meeting… Am I not your type?”
“You’re right. I’m not thrilled about this meeting, and yes, you’re far from my type.”
“You were pushed into this, weren’t you?”
“I won’t deny it.”
Unlike other men who would fall over themselves at her words, Tae-seok’s impassive face intrigued Hye-mi. His disinterest only sparked her curiosity and desire to conquer him.
Wearing a dress with bold colors and a revealing neckline inappropriate for a blind date, her voluptuous cleavage was fully exposed.
She filled her glass with whiskey.
“It’s fate that we met, so let’s have a drink.”
Tae-seok let out a dry chuckle at the word fate.
“On a day when both sides come prepared to weigh and judge the other, calling this fate feels like a stretch.”
Tae-seok, touching his glass, continued in a low, heavy voice.
“What made you come today, Ms. Kang?”
“Do you not know the purpose of a blind date?”
“If you’re hoping for what blind dates are typically for, then I’m afraid you’ve come in vain.”
As Tae-seok downed the whiskey in one gulp, his throat bobbed visibly.
“What do you mean by ‘in vain’?”
“Forgive me for saying this upfront, but I don’t like wasting time or sugarcoating things.”
“Are you saying you’re not thinking about marriage?”
With a deep breath, Tae-seok looked at Hye-mi with an indifferent gaze.
“It’s true that I’m not thinking about marriage. And even if I were to consider it, the bride wouldn’t be you.”
“Why not? You can’t know the future. How can you be so sure?”
“I might consider someone else, but definitely not you.”
The air between them turned heavy. One of Hye-mi’s eyebrows arched upward.
“Seems like we came with very different intentions. If you were expecting marriage, then I apologize.”
“You know just as well as I do that this meeting isn’t only about marriage.”
“Which is exactly why I can’t accept this blind date. Because it’s not just about marriage.”
“With your looks and abilities, you have everything. And yet, you reject me so easily? Me?”
“Your narcissism is overwhelming.”
Hye-mi’s eyebrows began to twitch with irritation.
“I have no intention of expanding my business through marriage. And I don’t need to. There’s no reason for two busy people to waste time. If there’s nothing more to say, I’ll be leaving now.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Han Tae-seok.”
As he stood, Hye-mi’s face hardened.
Gone was the nasal coquetry; her voice was suddenly cold, her gaze sharp.
“What should I do now? Seeing you like this… is making me want you even more.”
She stepped closer to him, hot breath slipping through her clenched lips.
“Do you know what my nickname is in this industry?”
“Should I?”
“The hunting dog. No—mad hunting dog. Whether it’s a thing or a person, once I lock on, I never let go.”
“Sounds about right.”
A short laugh escaped Tae-seok.
“Sorry I can’t give you what you want. Let’s end this here.”
“Let’s end it for today. But you’ll soon realize… this isn’t the end.”
In the heavy atmosphere, only the sound of her high heels echoed through the room.
After Tae-seok left, Hye-mi’s face twisted in anger as she made her way to her car.
Who the hell does he think he is? How dare he reject me?
The memory of his emotionless face and noble air kept resurfacing, twisting her insides.
* * *
A luxury sedan pulled up to Tae-seok.
Once in the car, he pulled at his tie and sighed heavily.
As the car started moving and stopped at a signal, Tae-seok looked out the window.
A long line of people stood in front of the department store next to the hotel.
It was packed so tightly that there was barely any space to move.
“Looks like something big arrived today.”
The driver commented while glancing at the crowd.
“Whenever there’s a hot item, people line up at dawn just to be first in line. I once did that too, to buy a bag for my girlfriend’s birthday. I waited all night. Guess not much has changed.”
Tae-seok didn’t respond, his eyes fixed on one spot.
A woman in jeans and a white shirt with long, wavy hair tied up in a high ponytail stood out in the crowd.
Among the much larger men around her, she stood out for her small frame and confident posture.
With one hand on her waist, she faced a man and spoke assertively. Tae-seok couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“This guy just doesn’t get it.”
“W-What?”
“You think people are standing here for fun? Everyone came at dawn to get in line, and you want to cut in just because you’re late?”
“You done talking? How do you know I’m an old man or a young guy? Huh?”
“I don’t care if you’re old or young. Go to the back. No one’s here because they have time to waste.”
Her words drew sharp glances from everyone toward the man.
“You didn’t hear me? Move to the back, now.”
Only when the light changed did Tae-seok finally look away, his brows slightly furrowed.
