CHAPTER 5 –  Heritage (Part 2)

It’s 8:40 PM now. Dojun had contacted her at 8:00 PM saying he would come directly to the store. The employee who had been held up late bowed to Seo-yeon and Dojun before leaving for home.

Seo-yeon gave a light smile to the employee and then walked towards the VIP room beyond the space displaying clothes, shoes, belts, etc., saying to Dojun.

“I’ve got it ready for you over here.”

There was a soft sofa, and a table that looked more like a piece of art than furniture. On it were placed a glass of mineral water, a glass of orange juice, and two cookies on a tray.

Set next to the juice was a small USB in a velvet box about the size of a palm. It was laid out as carefully as if presenting a multi-million watch. Dojun sat down on the sofa and said.

“I’ll look at the file later. I’m going to look at some ties today.”

Seo-yeon’s painted smile faltered slightly. Dojun clasped his hands together.

“Maybe Manager Yoon can recommend one.”

So many to choose from.

Seo-yeon clenched her jaw and pulled the ties off the shelf one by one. Dojun had never personally visited the Heritage store before.

Dojun’s call came when she stopped by the hotel’s deli on her way home, intending to grab a sandwich or something to eat for dinner.

Receiving a call from an unknown number, she held a sandwich in one hand and answered the phone with the other. Trying to recall what she had ordered for delivery.

‘This is Hwang Dojun.’

It’s really quite odd. Most people who act high and mighty just state their name and pause.

What’s this? Hwang Dojun, what about him?

‘About 30 minutes? Let’s meet at the store.’

After tossing out the purpose of the call curtly, Dojun hung up. With that one call, Seo-yeon had to toss the sandwich into her bag, brace herself, and head back to the store.

After finishing up the last tasks and catching the youngest employee who was about to leave, Seo-yeon quickly changed into the clothes worn during work.

Up to that point, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It wasn’t like engaging in social activities for a day or two, and whenever the hotel CEO needed files, Seo-yeon could prepare them at any time.

Moving in a five-minute waiting line for people who handle unimaginable amounts of money every minute. That’s why employees like Seo-yeon get paid their salaries.

But what’s this? Look at the file later? Let me recommend one?

Dojun’s clear intention, not even giving a glance at the USB right in front of him, was too obvious. They call it arrogance. Usually referred to as a whim. That was the reason for Hwang Dojun’s visit.

A true tormentor.

Despite cursing under her breath, Seo-yeon placed the tie flat on the tray. She was too flustered to ask what it was for or when he was going to wear it. Asking again would admit to making a mistake, so she chose various colors and patterns and placed them neatly.

“I’ll show you the ties.”

Still, Seo-yeon had the skill to speak kindly without hesitation.

Whether it was the fickle chairman or the conglomerate heirs who tried on all sorts of clothes and found nothing to her liking, or the congressman who demanded everything be packaged as if to show off in front of his lover, to Seo-yeon, they were all just ordinary customers.

It was Seo-yeon’s job to accept them without any annoyance and to make them come back again. Even though Hwang Dojun barged in, ignoring working hours, he was just another customer.

He might say something like, “Why are these like this? I don’t like any of them,” and Seo-yeon can just smile and ask him to come back next time.

Seo-yeon set the tray down on the table and asked Dojun.

“May I ask when you usually wear your ties, Sir?”

The man’s eyes scanned the ties. Waiting for some response from Manager Yoon’s perspective, Dojun abruptly stood up and stood in front of Seo-yeon.

Seo-yeon’s head lifted, forcing herself to make eye contact with the customer. She knew Hwang Dojun was tall, but she hadn’t expected him to be so intimidating.

“Now.”

He said, looking down at her.

Dojun took off his coat and tossed it onto the sofa. He threw his jacket as well. He pulled the knot in his tie to loosen it and threw it away. Seo-yeon looked at Dojun with a calm expression.

“Do you have a particular color you prefer?”

Dojun didn’t answer. It’s like saying, “You pick.” Seo-yeon’s pale, slender fingers picked up a navy tie. Stepping closer, Seo-yeon held the tie over Dojun’s shirt and said.

“This is a tie with a deep blue tone and Heritage’s initial ‘H’ pattern embroidered on it. You’ll be able to wear it with just about anything.”

“A deep blue tone.”

Dojun’s resonant voice fell over Seo-yeon’s head. Even though he didn’t say anything more, Seo-yeon felt a sense of mockery. But as if she didn’t hear Dojun’s voice, Seo-yeon smiled calmly and said.

“This one also belongs to the deep blue range, but it has a refreshing orange pattern, so it can complete a youthful look.”

“A youthful look.”

Dojun repeated once again. Seo-yeon responded without any hesitation.

“Yes.”

“Let’s see if it looks youthful.”

Dojun bowed his head. It meant he wanted to wear the tie. Seo-yeon paused for a moment.

They didn’t do this much at the store. When handing over ties to customers, it’s usually up to them to put it on themselves, but Dojun didn’t even move, keeping both hands in his pants pockets.

Seo-yeon stepped forward with the tie in hand. A chilly scent wafted from Dojun. It was the kind of scent that reminded her of a cold winter night, sleet, and wet asphalt roads.

Seo-yeon looked up to gauge the distance between her and Dojun. Her gaze locked with his brown eyes.

One thing she was sure of was that she couldn’t reach Dojun’s neck to tie the tie with her own height. She could manage it if she tried, but she would have to show a somewhat aggressive side.

“CEO, if you could lower your head a bit more, I’d appreciate it.”

The cold outside scent got a little closer. She thought he would lower his head, but he didn’t. Dojun sat casually on the armrest of the sofa. Then, he stretched out his long legs next to Seo-yeon and said.

“Shall I lower it further?”

Maybe it was the proximity, but his low voice seemed to absorb into her skin. Seo-yeon replied with a professional smile.

“No, that’s enough.”

Seo-yeon stepped between Dojun’s spread legs. Their eyes met at the same level, and their shoulders aligned.

When he lowered his head a little more, his face was close enough to touch her shoulder. If she let her guard down for a moment, she felt like he might bite her shoulder, so she chose to breathe lightly so he wouldn’t notice.

Being in the profession she was in, she had seen many models and celebrities. She was past the age to act coy in front of men.

With a calm hand, Seo-yeon lifted the collar of his shirt and wrapped the tie around his neck. She made a loop and tied a knot. With a gentle touch, she lowered the collar of his shirt, raised the knot, and smoothed out the wrinkles.

“Would you like to take a look?”

Seo-yeon stepped aside. Dojun looked into the mirror opposite him.

“Do you like it?”

“They all look the same to me.”

Dojun loosened the tie knot. Then, he looked at Seo-yeon’s eyes in the mirror and said.

“I’m color blind.”

A moment of silence passed. Seo-yeon replied softly.

“I’ll remember that.”

Dojun chuckled slightly. He finished loosening his tie and held it out to Seo-yeon. As she reached out to take it, Dojun let go of the tie. The silk tie lightly brushed against Seo-yeon’s fingertips and fell to the floor.

When Seo-yeon looked at Dojun, he nodded slightly. Shouldn’t you pick it up? She thought she heard a voice. Seo-yeon takes a deep breath and thinks.

It’s only for the moment. If I let it pass, it’s nothing. Let’s not be provoked.

Seo-yeon tucked her skirt between her knees and bent her leg. Picking up her tie lightly as it coiled like a snake, she asked.

“Would you like this one?”

“Let’s go with that.”

Though she felt an impulse to throw the tie she was holding at the man’s impassive face, Seo-yeon lowered her head slightly and said,

“I’ll prepare a new item for you.”

Seo-yeon exited the VIP room. Even the density of the air seemed to change once she was out of Hwang Dojun’s sight. It felt like a breath of relief.

Though she managed to control her rising emotions, the urge to curse still lingered at the back of her throat. Seo-yeon tightly closed her eyes to rein in her surging emotions. Clenching her fists and releasing them, she murmured inwardly,

Don’t get involved.

Her instinct sensing danger was sending signals. The reason why Hwang Dojun had come, why he insisted on her putting on the tie, why he deliberately let it fall to the floor, why he toyed with Seo-yeon without a mocking word – she wasn’t so naive as to not understand his intentions.

Hwang Dojun had come to assess Yoon Seo-yeon.