As we stepped out of the tailor shop, Olivia let out a long, suppressed sigh.
"Whew."
"This is hard, really hard."
"Why?"
"Because nothing seems to come easy."
Even though it was just a workshop, we had to rent a part of the store. It'd be strange if they agreed right away.
"So, did they give you permission?"
"On certain conditions."
"Hmm."
After a moment of thought, she looked back at me.
"You do want me as the director, right?"
I nodded.
"Then, if you think about it, this is kind of like a partnership, isn't it?"
I nodded again.
"But, you know…"
"…?"
"I feel like I haven't heard the answer to the most fundamental question."
"The most fundamental question?"
"I mean, this secret hideout-cum-concept store. Why are you doing it?"
"It's a long story."
"I'd like to hear it, even if it's long."
Seeing is believing.
Instead of answering, I took her to Harris Department Store. I'd always thought I should visit someday, and since it came up, we hailed a taxi and headed straight there.
'Isn't this supposed to be the largest in Europe?'
Maybe that's why.
It felt like facing a massive castle. Being in the heart of London, the foot traffic was a given, and being one of the wealthiest areas meant that purchasing power was top-tier. Thanks to that, there was even a separate section for luxury brands of grand proportions. The congested roads were filled with Bentleys and Rolls-Royces. It was like a scene from a royal school interview day.
"Let's go in."
"Why here?"
"You'll understand once we're inside."
Most of the men wore bespoke suits, while the women wore dresses with plunging necklines, draping jackets over their shoulders. Luxuries were the baseline, with many people adorned in layers of jewelry. So, of course, when a customer showed any interest, staff had no choice but to step into the hall to assist.
"There's nothing suitable to buy here."
Pretending to give in, the customer stepped inside. With various installations, it was hard to peek into the store from the hallway.
'It must be to protect the customers' privacy.'
Despite the glass walls, you couldn't see inside. It wasn't suffocating; rather, it allowed for complete focus on the products, a result of meticulous planning. A temple of consumption, meticulously calculated and built layer by layer.
Am I standing like Don Quixote before this massive fortress?
But that thought lasted only a moment.
'The works of a master artisan are not displayed in department stores.'
Tennessee's words echoed in my mind.
I smirked.
Yes, it was just a place showcasing expensive items in a dazzling manner. No story existed here.
While I was lost in thought, Olivia continued walking calmly. Was it her striking appearance? Or maybe it was the royal school uniform? Either way, just making eye contact was enough for the staff to approach her. Each time this happened, Olivia had to lower her head awkwardly.
After we had toured the luxury section, I asked her, "What do you think?"
"A department store is just a department store, I guess."
She already seemed tired of it.
I then said to Olivia, "I want to beat it."
"Huh?"
"I want to challenge this place, Harris Department Store."
"What do you mean?"
As she stared intently at me, she soon seemed to grasp the intent behind my words.
"Don't tell me the reason for opening the concept store is…?"
I nodded.
"Does that even make sense? How could such a small space compete with this massive department store…?"
"A new era will begin."
And Hyungang will be the ruler of that new era.
'Because that's the only way I can gain my freedom.'
I swallowed the words lingering in my mouth and, instead, said something else.
"Let's go."
"Where to?"
"We should have dinner before heading back."
Fortunately, there was a Michelin two-star restaurant nearby. Usually, you'd need to book a week in advance for a place that upscale, but given the situation, we had no other choice.
As we stepped inside, a staff member greeted us warmly and asked, "May I have your name?"
"I don't have a reservation," I replied.
The staff bowed courteously, seemingly about to say that service was unavailable.
"One moment, please."
High-end restaurants often keep one or two tables available just in case of unexpected VIPs.
"I'm fairly new to England, so…"
"…?"
"I keep forgetting about tipping. Would it be alright if I gave it in advance?"
I was just offering the tip that I'd have to give anyway, but since the amount was roughly twice a day's wage, the staff quietly scanned the restaurant and said, "Ah, one of the parties just left earlier than expected."
It was an elegant restaurant. You know the type—walls and even ceilings adorned with intricate paintings, creating an old-fashioned atmosphere. Silver cutlery was a given, and the plates were Hermes. The dinner course started at 200,000 KRW (approximately 200 USD), and if you ordered wine, it would easily exceed 1,000,000 KRW (approximately 1,000 USD) per person.
"This is a bit much."
Despite being from a wealthy family, Olivia didn't seem to enjoy this kind of dining.
"I actually prefer hamburgers with fries."
"McDonald's?"
"Yep."
"Should we change places?"
She shook her head quickly at my suggestion.
"If a business partner is treating, I should eat happily."
A grin spread across my face.
Well, if I'm going to spend money, I'd be happy if she enjoyed it.
She finished everything from the appetizer to the first and second main courses neatly. Though the portion sizes were small, it was nice to see her eat without any pretense.
During a longer break between courses, she wiped her mouth and said, "Can I ask you something?"
Nod, nod.
"You said you're creating a concept store to challenge the department store, right?"
I nodded again.
"Then why do you want to compete with a department store?"
"There are a lot of complex reasons."
"You said it was too long to explain before; now you're saying it's complicated?"
Since she's my business partner and we have time, I might as well tell her. From what Peter went through because of me to finding out that the Harris family was behind the law firm I was up against—I explained the whole process as simply as I could.
After listening to me, she offered a brief comment.
"I'd better get along with you."
"Huh?"
"No, not just you, but your people too. It would be quite tiring to make enemies out of you all."
"If it only ended in exhaustion, that'd be fortunate."
She shook her head as if to say she couldn't believe me.
"Still, you're loyal."
"It's not just about loyalty."
"It's related to your future, isn't it?"
"Of course."
"So, you fight for your people, but you also consider the costs, huh? Because you're a businessman?"
The word 'businessman' felt a bit off, but aside from that, her assessment was mostly correct.
"Do you have a plan?"
"It's hard to surpass the department store's sales right away."
"Obviously."
"But I'm confident I can sharply reduce their profits."
"And in the long run?"
"Of course, I'll crush them."
"How exactly?"
Just then, a server arrived with a cheese cart. Naturally, Olivia's face showed a hint of disappointment.
I chuckled.
Our focus shifted to the cheese cart. There was one wheel as big as a millstone, two pieces about the size of baguettes, and about five pieces the size of a slice of cake. There were around ten flat, pancake-sized ones.
"Which would you like to try?"
Olivia looked at me, signaling for me to choose first.
"The only cheese I know is mozzarella."
She adjusted her posture and spoke.
"It's not difficult."
"…?"
"Just start by choosing the flavor intensity."
Despite her casual demeanor, she was the daughter of a tycoon. While she might enjoy McDonald's, she had plenty of experience with places like this—Olivia's strong suit! I waited quietly for her next words.
"Strong or mild. Which do you prefer?"
"Mild."
"Next is the texture: hard, soft, or creamy."
"Soft."
"Are you okay with aged cheese?"
"Yes."
She turned her head, and the server selected a suitable cheese and placed it on my plate.
"And for the lady?"
"I'll have Roquefort, please."
"An excellent choice."
After the server left with the cart, the distinct scent of cheese filled the table, and Olivia spoke up again.
"About what we were discussing earlier…"
"…?"
"You mentioned having a long-term plan. Could you tell me about it?"
In my mind, the detailed plan was clear. The concept store is just the beginning. The goal is to acquire and modernize brands that have a solid foundation but are weakened by lax management, thereby creating a kind of fashion empire to challenge my competitor.
Why is the concept store necessary for this? Think of it like acquiring a gaming company. It's one thing for Hyungang, who knows nothing about gaming, to acquire Nintendo, but it's another thing entirely if JH, known for producing innovative games, takes over Nintendo. Fans would clearly prefer the latter.
In the same way, I need a breakthrough in the fashion industry, similar to the distinct success of "Dragon Ball."
"It's a tough path."
But for someone like me, who knows the future, it's not impossible. Still, I couldn't reveal all these plans to her.
So, I subtly expressed my reluctance.
"How long have we known each other?"
"Why the sudden question?"
The question lingered only briefly.
"Ah, so we're business partners, but not close enough to share the grand plan?"
The only person I can fully confide in is Jo Soo-deok.
Did she read my thoughts?
"You're pretty cold."
"…"
"You remind me of my dad."
"That's quite a compliment."
"It is."
"…?"
"My dad has many secrets too. I used to resent that as a child, but now I understand."
"Why?"
"Because that's what leaders do."
Sitting at a desk pretending nothing's wrong while burdened by responsibilities.
Yes, my father, Vice Chairman Park Jong-in, was like that too.
As we silently ate the cheese, the final dessert, sherbet, arrived.
While Olivia was looking down at the dainty plate, I spoke.
"About the concept store—I'd like you to take full charge of it."
Usually, people would grumble, asking why I'd assign such a task while not even sharing the full plan. But Olivia, with a serious face, quietly nodded.
"Should I start from the weekend?"
"Yes."
"What's the budget?"
"Don't worry about it. Just focus on creating the best space possible."
"Are you serious?"
"I am."
"Then, can I buy a 1930s vintage Rolex?"
"If necessary, buy as many as you want."
"Do you even know how much that is?"
"No idea."
Even if it's old, a watch is just a watch, right?
"You're not asking why I need it?"
"If I were going to question your reasoning, I wouldn't have given you full authority."
"You're being bold, huh?"
She chuckled.
While I was smiling, she added an explanation.
"Department stores always showcase new items. We're doing the opposite—we'll focus on old ones."
"You mean, only items that can't be found at Harris?"
"Yes."
Now that's a solid concept.
'She's definitely worthy of full authority.'
That being said…
"If we're going for vintage, isn't sticking to the 1900s a bit limiting?"
"What?"
"If we're going all in, I think aiming for 1800s Patek Philippe would be better."
She shook her head quickly at my suggestion.
"Remember what I told you before? My dad buys anything old on impulse. So, I know a bit about that field too."
"…?"
"Items from the 1800s aren't even available on the market, especially from major brands like Patek Philippe."
"Then we just have to acquire them."
"No, I mean, they're not for sale, even if you offer money."
It's fine. I'm not planning to buy them with money anyway.
Maybe it was my confident expression, but a large question mark seemed to appear above her head.