How on earth did the Boss manage to win over a fashion giant in New York?
He didn't know the reason, but bowing respectfully, Ralph Warren greeted Jo Soo-deok with utmost courtesy.
His subtle gaze and careful words were filled with deep affection.
Jo Soo-deok was once again impressed by the Boss's resourcefulness.
"I apologize for dropping by unexpectedly without prior notice."
"No need to notify someone like me. Feel free to come by anytime."
Ralph Warren soon offered a drink.
"Would you like some coffee?"
"Y-yes, of course."
He brewed it himself.
It was premium Hawaiian Kona, worth well over two hundred thousand won per cup.
As the coffee level gradually decreased, the two slowly exchanged pleasantries.
Mostly, Ralph Warren talked about his daughter, while Jo Soo-deok listened attentively.
"To be honest, I was half giving up on my daughter's education."
"…?"
"But since she enrolled in a royal academy, and more precisely, since she got acquainted with Park Ji-hoon, things have changed a lot. Because of that, I started to have ambitions too."
"What kind of ambitions?"
"I hinted at her pursuing Oxford. I told her, 'Park is likely to enter a prestigious university, so you should study too.'"
It sounded almost as if Ralph was considering CEO Park as a potential son-in-law.
Realizing this, Ralph Warren seemed slightly self-conscious.
"I've been going on about myself, holding up a busy person like you."
He quickly tried to change the topic.
"Now, I'd like to hear from you, Professor."
"Well, actually, I came to ask for a favor."
"A favor?"
"Yes. I came to New York on the Boss's behalf, but I seem to be falling behind schedule due to my lack of ability."
"Feel free to speak up. I'll help as much as I can."
Thanks to this, Jo Soo-deok spilled all the information he had.
New York, skateboarding, and a young talent with a sharp sense.
The expected response should have been something like, "Is that all?"
Surprisingly, though, Ralph Warren lifted the corners of his mouth into a broad smile.
***
In a moving taxi.
Jo Soo-deok repeatedly mulled over Warren's words.
"I've been eyeing someone already, but they don't quite align with our brand. There's a surf shop on the outskirts of SoHo, New York. Inside, there's a young man selling T-shirts in a shop-in-shop concept. You'll know right away, 'This guy's something special.'"
No wonder he had been impossible to find until now…
"I thought it was a skateboard, but it turned out to be a surfboard!"
Still, it was a huge relief to realize it, even if belatedly.
Moments later, the taxi dropped him off in front of an old, shabby surf shop.
Not the West Coast, but in the middle of New York City… what kind of place is this?
As Jo Soo-deok was pacing in front of the shop, the glass door opened, and a young man suddenly poked his head out.
"Age doesn't matter when it comes to riding waves."
The young man glanced at Jo Soo-deok's face and continued.
"Of course, if you've weathered the waves of life, the ocean is no big deal."
His tone was quite brazen.
But more important than his words was the black T-shirt he was wearing.
"Impressive."
"Right? Surfing is originally…"
"I meant the T-shirt you're wearing."
"…?"
"Is it something sold in the store?"
"Oh, this one was made by my brother."
Wow!
They said you'd recognize it at once, and it turns out they were right!
"Could I meet your brother, by any chance?"
"He's in California right now."
"Cal-California? Why?"
"Why else? He went surfing, of course."
At the man's words, Jo Soo-deok's throat bobbed visibly.
***
That evening, at the Royal Academy.
"You're asking for an outing pass?"
Gary Pink narrowed his eyes at my request.
"There's not much time left until the weekend; why not wait until then?"
"I know that I can go out with a valid reason."
"And what would that reason be?"
"I want to find an office."
"…?"
"I'm thinking of starting a business."
"Hmm."
Gary Pink leaned back in his chair.
It wasn't the outing pass he was pondering over, but rather his curiosity about what kind of business a wealthy freshman was planning to start.
"Do I have to submit a business plan, too?"
"Of course not."
Gary Pink soon straightened his posture.
"But you'll need to provide a brief summary of what you did outside."
"If that's the procedure, I'll do it, of course."
"Alright then. From after school today until 10 PM…"
He seemed ready to write the outing pass, rummaging through his desk drawer when I made another request.
"Please write one more."
"…?"
"I have someone accompanying me."
"Who?"
"Olivia."
The teacher seemed to be imagining the combination of Olivia and me in his head.
Then he reached a conclusion.
"Are you two partners in business?"
"No, I just need some consultation."
"If it's about business, I'd be a better advisor than Olivia…"
"It's related to fashion."
"Oh, fashion."
Gary Pink, dressed in nothing but expensive-looking clothes, without any real sense of style, recoiled slightly at the word "fashion."
"So, you'll write one more outing pass, right?"
***
After school, Olivia and I left the campus.
She seemed pleased by the unexpected outing.
At her age, most people would be wondering what to have for dinner, but she started talking business right away.
"You're planning to start a fashion business?"
"I'm thinking of creating a base first."
"A base?"
"I want to build a place that any man would dream of."
Every business needs a story.
And since this is where the legend of a fashion empire will be born, it needs a special beginning.
"It may look like a classic British suit shop from the outside, but as you go further in, an entirely new atmosphere will unfold."
A question mark seemed to pop up over her head.
"You come in as a British aristocrat, but leave as a free-spirited American college student."
The suits of British gentlemen would transform into the casual attire of American Ivy League students.
The speakers that once played classical music would boom with electronic beats.
After passing sections lined with famous paintings, you'd suddenly find yourself surrounded by game and anime posters.
The concept must have intrigued her.
She asked with shining eyes, "Like a secret space?"
I nodded.
"Like in a spy movie, where pulling out a book makes the bookshelf swing open?"
"Bingo."
What man wouldn't love a secret hideout?
"So, you're going to create a gentleman's suit shop and set up a separate shop inside it?"
"No, I'm planning to enter an existing store with a shop-in-shop concept."
"Where?"
"A place you know."
***
"It's been a while."
The store that inspired the movie Kingsman.
What better place to build a hideout for men than this?
"It's where we got our uniforms made, right?"
Olivia recognized it immediately.
"Do you think it's possible?"
"What?"
"The master tailor who's been knighted by the Queen… There's no way he'll accept your proposal…"
"I still need to try."
With that, I boldly entered the store.
Fortunately, Sir Lewis welcomed me.
"Long time no see, my friend."
He flashed a smile.
It must have been right after we had discussed art.
I recalled Sir Lewis's words back then:
'What does age matter? If we can look in the same direction, we are friends.'
It was a moment that revealed Sir Lewis's character.
I was grateful for the sentiment.
I bowed politely.
"Is it unwise to have an old man as a friend?"
"Of course not."
"Then, from now on, why don't we just shake hands lightly, instead of making such formal greetings?"
Right after I replied with a bright smile, he said:
"But I thought students weren't allowed to go out on weekdays?"
"Yes, usually that's true, but they make exceptions for special purposes."
"What sort of purpose?"
Sir Lewis scanned me up and down, checking if there was an issue with my uniform.
"You seem to be fine."
"Could we have a private conversation somewhere quiet?"
Ten minutes later, after hearing my proposal, Sir Lewis asked with wide eyes:
"So, you want to open a small shop inside our store?"
"Yes."
"Haha."
"It's not about making money. For now, I won't even disclose the location, so it won't inconvenience the store."
Sir Lewis leaned back in his chair, resting his chin on his hand.
He pondered for a while before asking cautiously:
"Why did you think of our store?"
"Because of its symbolism."
"Symbolism?"
"This place represents the pride of British tailor shops. I want to embrace the heritage of traditional clothing here…"
"And prepare for a new era in your secret base?"
I nodded.
Sir Lewis seemed to be carefully mulling over my words.
It was a proposal that could easily offend some.
"Hmm."
Fortunately, he didn't seem suspicious of my intentions.
"I knew you were different from the moment we talked about art."
Our conversation had essentially been a quiz—just recognizing the artist of the painting displayed in the store.
But it seemed to have left quite a positive impression.
Sir Lewis leaned toward me and said:
"I figured you'd walk a different path, but I didn't expect you'd need my help this soon, and in this way."
"Are you taken aback?"
"Halfway, I suppose."
"And the other half?"
Just as I did, he responded with a smile.
It might seem like a vague reaction at first glance.
Grin.
When you deal with people, you get a sense of things.
Sir Lewis has a significant interest in me.
And an intense curiosity, too.
Proving this, he spoke up first.
"Creating a secret space would require suitable renovations, wouldn't it?"
"Yes."
"We'd probably have to close the shop for a while, too."
Of course, I would cover the lost profits during the closure.
Not only that, but while our shop was housed here, I planned to pay the full rent for the entire tailor shop.
But it seemed that Sir Lewis had something more important than money in mind.
"As you know, this place is a store chosen by the royal family."
I nodded.
"That doesn't mean they interfere with our operations, but I still need something to report to Her Majesty."
At this point, he looked at me intently and asked:
"You said you'd embrace the heritage of traditional attire while preparing for a new era?"
"Yes."
"I'd like to see that sincerity for myself."
Sincerity, he said.
Then Sir Lewis continued.
"Do you have an answer that could truly surprise me?"
Instead of answering, I simply responded with a confident grin.