The restaurant was an old landmark in the heart of Seoul, famous enough that tourists were usually lined up around the block. Tonight, though, every table sat empty except the one in the center of the vast dining room. A few staff moved quietly along the walls, setting down silver trays and cleaning tables that already gleamed.
Sunoo stepped out of the cab and tried not to stare too long at the brass letters over the entrance. He'd never imagined he'd walk into a place like this. His palms were so damp.
Manager Choi was waiting by the door. "You're on time huh," she said quietly. "Director Kang dislikes delays."
"I know."
The inside was quiet. No music, no chat. Only the quiet clatter of utensils lined perfectly. Soft light was cast over everything from a chandelier covering the table the size of Sunoo's whole living room.
Sunoo's throat felt tight as he walked toward the group already seated. A dozen men and women in expensive suits, each with a glass in front of them. At the head of the table, Kang Sunghoon looked up, his face impossible to read.
"Sit," Sunghoon said.
Sunoo bowed to all of them respectfully and slipped into the empty chair near the end. Directly across from him sat Mr. Han, whose small smile didn't quite reach his eyes. Sunoo dropped his gaze to the table and looked away.
Someone began presenting quarterly figures. Sunoo tried to focus, but he could feel Mr. Han's stare every so often, like a warning.
When the server came by to pour wine, Sunoo's stomach turned. He kept his hands in his lap.
"Lee Sunoo."
Sunghoon's voice cut into his thoughts.
"Yes—sir?"
"Your logistics summary."
Sunoo stood, his pulse jumping. He recited the numbers he'd practiced all afternoon. When he finally sat, there was a brief silence.
One of the older board members nodded. "Clear enough."
Another said, "Surprisingly thorough for someone new."
Sunghoon didn't respond right away. His gaze stayed on Sunoo a few seconds longer than felt comfortable, then dropped to the folder.
"It's nothing. Afterall, everyone here was once inexperienced," he said finally making Sunoo let out a shaky breath.
When the servers brought the next course, Mr. Han leaned forward just enough that only Sunoo could see the faint smirk on his face. He didn't say anything—he didn't have to. The look alone was enough.
The meal went on for what felt like hours. And at last, Sunghoon closed his folder.
"I expect the final numbers by Monday," he said. "No delays."
"Yes, Director," came the replies.
He shifted his gaze to Sunoo. "If you're going to sit at this table, you'll need more than a pretty face."
Heat crept up his neck and he nodded his head.
People gathered in little groups, collecting coats and exchanging polite bows as it was finally time to go. Desperate to get into the vehicle and breathe, Sunoo attempted to leave first.
Mr. Han stepped in front of him with a bland expression. "Here," he said, reaching out as if to straighten the collar of Sunoo's shirt.
"I can—"
But before Sunoo could finish, Mr. Han's fingers caught the seam near the second button. It happened so fast he didn't understand what he'd done until he heard the rip.
A jagged tear opened across the front of his shirt, gaping wide enough to show the pale skin of his chest.
For a second, no one spoke. Even the servers froze.
Sunoo's heart thudded against his ribs. He pressed the shirt closed with one hand, mortified.
One of the board members coughed uncomfortably.
"Be more careful," Mr. Han said, his voice mild but his eyes gleaming.
Sunghoon's jaw flexed. He took a slow breath and turned to Sunoo.
"Wah!!!, Don't just stand there, isn't he your employee?~" he said evenly. His expression didn't soften, but there was something strained in his voice.
He slipped out of his jacket and held it out.
"Take it."
Sunoo hesitated, humiliated, but he knew he couldn't refuse in front of everyone. He slid his arms into the sleeves. The lining was warm from Sunghoon's body.
"There," Sunghoon said gently. "You now don't seem like you walked in off the street."
Sunoo held his head down, gripping the jacket closed.
Pretending not to have seen anything, the other board members gathered their papers.
Sunghoon passed by him in silence as they left. Sunoo thought at one point that this was over.
Manager Choi walked and pulled right in front of him.
Her eyes moved over him, over Sunghoon's jacket, the ripped shirt underneath, the red face he could not quite cover.
"I don't understand how you manage it," she stated icily. "Messing up even the most basic things. I would have fired you the day you arrived if I were the CEO."
She said words that hit harder than he had anticipated making Sunoo to clench his jaw tightly.
She walked out, the door swinging shut behind her , before giving him one last disdainful gaze.
Sunghoon stopped and turned around.
He whispered next time, his voice pitched so no one else could hear, "don't let anybody put you in this place."
Turning and walking away, he kept his strides even.
Mr. Han followed the others out after meeting Sunoo's eyes with a little, pleased grin.
Sunoo just stood there holding the borrowed coat's edges for some time.
With the tables still shimmering under subdued lights, he felt something sharp penetrate his chest in the silence of the empty restaurant—a wordless agony he could not identify.
He just gathered the ripped shirt in his hands and walked toward the door, his expression totally neutral, when he finally walked out to the cab that brought him earlier.