When Jinhyuk Park first visited Cheongwoo Art Center, the staff didn’t think much of it.
However, when he came a second time without notice, acting as if he were visiting a close friend, the employees began to whisper as they watched the door he had entered.
“Didn’t you say that wasn’t the case?”
“That’s what I heard, but maybe it’s not true? There was a rumor. I didn’t see it myself, but based on what I heard… the story makes it seem impossible. What’s going on?”
“What story? Tell me too.”
The woman poked her colleague in the side, asking about the rumor.
Worrying that someone else might hear, the colleague whispered in a tiny voice.
“They say CEO Park and the Deputy Director met while they were studying abroad. They didn’t go to the same school, but they knew each other from living in the same area… It seems CEO Park hit on the Deputy Director once. They say she humiliated him thoroughly. From what I heard, he wandered around the middle of New York in nothing but his underwear for quite a while…”
“What? Who? CEO Park, who just went in there?”
The colleague quickly covered the woman’s mouth as she was about to scream in surprise and whispered in her ear.
“Keep it down. What if someone hears you?”
Only then did the woman realize her voice was too loud. She hurriedly lowered her volume and asked, “Those two have that kind of history, and they’re together like that now?”
“Exactly. That’s what I’m saying. I heard the adults, who didn’t know about this, set them up on an arranged date. I heard it ended without a second meeting because neither had good memories, but how are they getting along so well now? It’s fascinating.”
“Maybe the truth is different from the rumors? What if there’s something between them?”
“That can’t be… If there was something, they’d meet privately. I’ve never heard anything about them meeting separately.”
“If they meet behind the scenes, we wouldn’t know, right? Anyway, it doesn’t seem like a normal relationship.”
Among the whispering staff were the Director’s people.
From the moment they heard Jinhyuk had arrived at the Art Center, they stood in front of Han Ji-yeon’s office, waiting for him to emerge.
After about 30 minutes, the door opened. As Jinhyuk walked out, they rushed toward him.
“CEO Park. The Director is waiting for you.”
Jinhyuk silently looked down at the hand gripping his arm.
It was only after meeting Jinhyuk’s gaze that the man realized he was grabbing his clothes. He let go, startled.
“The Director is waiting for me?”
“Yes. She was very disappointed that you left without a word last time.”
“Is that so?”
Jinhyuk smiled and looked back.
Han Ji-yeon was walking out to see him off.
Jinhyuk glanced at her and then spoke to the man standing beside him.
“Very well. Let’s go.”
Han Ji-yeon frowned upon hearing Jinhyuk speak with the Director’s close aide.
Just as she approached Jinhyuk to say something, he spoke to her first.
“The Director called for me, so I’ll stop by for a moment before I leave. Don’t bother coming out. Manager Kim, let’s go.”
Jinhyuk called for Junwoo Kim, who was standing a step away, and followed the aide toward the Director’s office.
Junwoo stood still for a moment, looking at Han Ji-yeon, who was scowling at Jinhyuk.
Seeing that she was clearly offended by the situation, Junwoo approached Jinhyuk and whispered.
“CEO Park. Is this all right? Didn’t you say you needed Deputy Director Han’s help? If you go to the Director like this, she’ll be upset.”
“It’s fine. I intended for that to happen.”
“Pardon?”
“I need to let her know that she isn’t the only card in my hand.”
Junwoo looked at Jinhyuk, who wore a faint smile.
That smile suggested he had anticipated this entire situation when he came here unannounced.
Showing the Director, who wanted to meet him, to Han Ji-yeon right after meeting her—all of this seemed to be part of Jinhyuk’s plan.
“Welcome. I was quite disappointed that you left so abruptly last time.”
As soon as Jinhyuk entered the Director’s office, she greeted him with a welcoming face.
Jinhyuk returned the smile.
“I was a bit busy last time, so I had to leave without saying hello.”
“Then do you have some time today?”
“Yes. That’s why I’m here.”
“Hohohoho.”
The Director and Jinhyuk maintained a friendly atmosphere as they talked.
They exchanged personal questions and discussed the general economic structure within the current climate.
While the Director didn’t possess enough deep knowledge for a profound discussion, she didn’t seem like the low-class woman Han Ji-yeon had described either.
She maintained the position of a neighborhood lady with a keen interest in the economy.
The people who had been gathered in front of Han Ji-yeon’s office a moment ago were now gathered in front of the Director’s office, whispering among themselves.
“I guess the talk about something going on with the Deputy Director was wrong.”
“Yeah. It doesn’t seem like that’s the case. It looks like he really just came here on business.”
“Then does he have business with the Director too?”
“If not, why else would he go to see her now?”
“I have no idea what’s what. Oh my. Deputy Director.”
Han Ji-yeon, who rarely set foot near the Director’s office, was drawn there for the second time because of Jinhyuk.
Surprised by her appearance, the employees quickly scattered.
Han Ji-yeon stood hesitant, her gaze fixed on the Director’s door for a while.
Last time, the Director had intercepted Jinhyuk while he was there to see her, giving her a valid reason to barge in.
But this time, he had already finished meeting with her.
She lacked the justification to storm into the Director’s room and drag him out.
Han Ji-yeon bit her lip, lost in thought for a moment before turning around.
No matter how she looked at it, there was no way to get him out.
She glanced at the door one last time and walked away.
Watching this from the side, Junwoo Kim recalled what Jinhyuk had said earlier.
‘He definitely let her know he holds another card.’
Junwoo felt that Jinhyuk’s message had been properly conveyed to the retreating Han Ji-yeon.
***
It was three days after the visit to Cheongwoo Art Center that Han Ji-yeon contacted him, saying she had arranged a meeting with Jeonghwa.
Han Ji-yeon informed him that she had told Jeonghwa she was interested in Baselitz’s work and wanted to see more if they had any.
She added that she had secured an opportunity to view the Baselitz pieces because of it.
After receiving the call, Jinhyuk went to the Hilton that weekend with Han Ji-yeon to meet Jeonghwa.
Without any subordinates, the two of them headed to the Hilton Hotel alone.
Despite it being the weekend, the hotel was quiet.
“I heard our hotel was having staff rotate shifts and downsizing, but seeing this… it’s no wonder. Why is it so deserted?”
Han Ji-yeon looked at Jinhyuk with a puzzled expression as he scanned the empty hotel.
Jinhyuk turned his head toward her.
“What is it?”
“It’s just that you, of all people, are acting as if you’re seeing this for the first time.”
“Me? Well, while Korea Hotel is an affiliate of our group, I don’t interfere in its management. I only hear about it in passing.”
“I wasn’t talking about management… Never mind.”
Jinhyuk watched Han Ji-yeon, who seemed to be talking to herself and reaching her own conclusions, with narrowed eyes before continuing his walk.
Arriving at the duplex suite where the meeting was to take place, Jinhyuk and Han Ji-yeon rang the bell and stepped back.
Before long, the door opened, and a woman in her 30s with her hair up came out, greeting them warmly.
“Oh, welcome, Miss Han. I’ve been waiting.”
She seemed familiar with Han Ji-yeon, but she looked at Jinhyuk with a wary expression when she saw an unfamiliar face.
Han Ji-yeon introduced Jinhyuk to her.
“He’s here with me to see the items. Actually, this gentleman is more interested in them than I am.”
Only after hearing Han Ji-yeon’s introduction did the woman begin to scan Jinhyuk from head to toe.
She took in his clothes, shoes, and even the watch on his wrist in a single glance.
His expensive clothing, watch, and shoes, which didn’t quite match his age, seemed to prove that Jinhyuk was no ordinary young man.
Based on the value of his items, she decided it was safe to let him inside.
“Welcome. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Amelia, the manager of the Jeonghwa Art Museum.”
“Nice to meet you, Amelia. I’ll… let you know who I am later, after we look at the items and if a deal is made. Just as you don’t trust me, I don’t trust you either.”
Amelia’s face stiffened at Jinhyuk’s words.
She couldn’t say anything in response to his comment, which clearly referenced her wary appraisal.
However, she couldn’t simply send him away just because she didn’t like his attitude.
Cheongwoo was an important client to them, and Han Ji-yeon was the legitimate heir of Cheongwoo.
She wasn’t of a side bloodline; she was the daughter of the Cheongwoo Chairman and the only child from his first wife.
Amelia couldn’t afford to get on her bad side.
“I see. Please, come in. Once you’ve seen the pieces, let me know if you like them.”
Amelia tried her best to calm down and smiled at Jinhyuk.
If he was a man of the same age brought along by Han Ji-yeon without any subordinates, it meant he was at a similar level to her.
Since he could be a good client in the future, Amelia made an effort to leave a positive impression.
The duplex suite, the best room in the Hilton, had been renovated at the request of the Jeonghwa Art Museum.
The furniture had been moved elsewhere, and the living room had been arranged with only sofas and spaces for the artwork.
Individuals who appeared to be museum staff were standing in front of pieces covered in cloth, wearing white gloves, waiting for Jinhyuk and Han Ji-yeon.
“Sit down.”
Han Ji-yeon, seemingly accustomed to such settings, sat down naturally and spoke to Amelia.
“Are we the only ones here today?”
“These pieces are special, so we only intended to invite a few people. I wanted to show them to you first, Miss Han, and if you like them, we’ll end it here. If not, then we’ll look for others.”
“Did you happen to contact the others at my house?”
At Han Ji-yeon’s words, Amelia carefully glanced at Jinhyuk.
He was sitting casually, looking as if he were waiting for the cloths to be lifted.
She turned her gaze back to Han Ji-yeon.
Knowing the inner workings of Cheongwoo, she began to grow curious about the man’s identity, seeing as she brought up her family matters so nonchalantly.
“Yes. We contacted both the Senior Madam and the Junior Madams. However, they all said they weren’t interested.”
“Is that so? They weren’t interested?”
“Yes.”
Han Ji-yeon looked at Amelia for a moment before turning her gaze to Jinhyuk.
Jinhyuk’s expression hadn’t changed since they entered the hotel.
She had felt it before, but his emotions were so consistently calm that she wondered if he even had emotional swings.
It felt as if the person she had met in the United States in the past was a different person entirely, despite looking the same.
In the car on the way to the hotel, she had told Jinhyuk ahead of time.
She mentioned that since they contacted her, it seemed Jeonghwa had skipped over her mothers and reached out to her directly.
Georg Baselitz was one of the most popular artists recently.
Moreover, the three women at her house were obsessed with Baselitz.
If they knew a Baselitz piece had hit the market, they wouldn’t have stood still. The fact that they contacted her suggested they had skipped everyone and came to her first.
Han Ji-yeon watched Jinhyuk, who remained expressionless despite knowing the situation, and spoke.
“Shall we begin right away?”
“Let’s do that. We both know what’s going on and what’s being offered here, so there’s no need to waste time, right?”
At Jinhyuk’s words, Han Ji-yeon nodded to Amelia, who signaled the staff to remove the cloths covering the artwork.
Jinhyuk fixed his gaze on the work revealed beneath the cloth.
To be precise, it wasn’t the work itself but the value floating above it.
That was where Jinhyuk’s gaze was locked.
**[200,000,000]**
It was a painting that had been hanging in the hallway of the CEO’s office at DS Telecom until recently.
Dark colors with lines drawn here and there.
To an amateur like Jinhyuk, there was no discernible difference between this one and the previous one.
Even the frame surrounding it looked identical, but the biggest difference was clear to Jinhyuk’s eyes.
Jinhyuk looked at Han Ji-yeon with a satisfied smile.
“It’s good. It feels like a piece I just saw yesterday.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I’m certain. I couldn’t be happier to encounter a work that feels so familiar.”
“I’m glad to hear you like it.”
They held a conversation that only Jinhyuk and Han Ji-yeon, who knew the details, could understand.
Amelia simply thought they were sharing their impressions of the Baselitz work.
Jinhyuk, his expressionless face now replaced with a smile, spoke to Amelia first.
“Are there other pieces? Since we’re both busy, let’s look at them all at once. If they’re good, I might take them all.”
“All of them at once?”
Amelia looked back at Han Ji-yeon.
It was rare for someone to buy paintings worth hundreds of millions to billions of won all at once.
Han Ji-yeon nodded, signaling to Amelia that Jinhyuk was someone capable of doing so.
Trusting Han Ji-yeon, Amelia raised her hand.
“Very well. Then I will show them to you all at once.”
At Amelia’s command, the cloths were removed simultaneously.
And there, the pieces that had occupied DS Telecom until recently were revealed.