The sliding doors of the airport parted, and a warm, salty breeze swept through the corridor. Olivia adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder, following close behind Aiden as they stepped out into the bustling arrivals area of Seoul. The day was already half gone; the sun hung low, painting golden streaks over the glass panels.
A black sedan waited by the curb, sleek and polished enough to reflect the whole airport. A driver in a crisp black suit approached immediately, bowing slightly.
"Mr. Ashford, Ms. Bennett—welcome. I'll be taking you to Euphorian Maison Headquarters first. Mr. Han is expecting you for the project meeting."
Aiden gave a short nod, always composed, his tone low and controlled.
"Thank you. Let's head there."
Olivia slipped into the back seat beside him, resting her head lightly against the seat. The hum of the city blurred around them as the car pulled away from the airport. Her eyes traced the skyline—tall glass towers, animated billboards, and narrow streets buzzing with life. She'd traveled for work before, but this trip felt different. Bigger. More demanding.
Or maybe it was just the man sitting beside her.
Aiden's focus was on his phone, his sharp features softened by the afternoon light filtering through the window. Olivia tried not to stare, tried not to notice the way his sleeves were rolled up just enough to reveal his wristwatch and veins, tried not to think about how his quiet presence filled the car entirely.
She turned her gaze back to the city.
Focus, Olivia. Work, not wonder.
The drive didn't take long. Soon, the car slowed in front of a tall, elegant building that towered over the nearby blocks. Sleek black glass reflected the fading sky, and gold letters at the top read: EUPHORIAN MAISON.
"Looks impressive," Olivia murmured under her breath.
Aiden only hummed in agreement, already stepping out of the car. Inside the lobby, marble floors gleamed, and a chandelier of frosted glass petals hung like frozen rain. A man in a tailored grey suit approached them almost immediately.
"Mr. Ashford?" the man asked, extending his hand with a polite smile. "I'm Adam, assistant to Mr. Han. He asked me to personally escort you both upstairs. Welcome to Seoul."
Aiden shook his hand firmly. "Thank you, Adam."
Adam gave Olivia a courteous nod before gesturing toward the elevator.
"If you'll follow me, please. Mr. Han and your teams are waiting on the top floor."
Inside the elevator, silence settled except for the soft hum of machinery. Olivia's pulse ticked faster with each passing floor number. When the doors finally opened, they stepped out into a wide hallway lined with frosted glass walls.
"This way," Adam said, leading them toward the end of the corridor. "This is the main conference room. Mr. Han is already inside."
He opened the door, and a wave of conversation halted instantly.
Inside, a tall man with an easy smile—Han Daejin—stood beside a woman typing on a tablet, his secretary, Sophia. There team turned in unison as Aiden and Olivia entered. Chairs scraped lightly against the floor as everyone rose to greet them.
"Mr. Ashford, Ms. Bennett," Daejin said warmly, extending a hand. "Welcome. I hope your flight wasn't too tiring."
"The flight was smooth," Aiden replied, his voice even but polite. "No difficulties at all. Thank you for asking."
"Excellent. Then let's get started."
The meeting stretched for hours. They discussed campaign launches, logistics, and international branding strategies. Olivia's brain worked on autopilot—jotting notes, analyzing market reports, occasionally presenting insights that earned impressed nods from the Korean team. But as the hours passed, the weight of travel began to press down on her shoulders like lead.
When the meeting finally adjourned, the sky outside had already darkened into shades of deep indigo.
Olivia glanced at her watch—5:07 PM.
Her eyes ached. Her throat was dry. And if someone offered her a pillow right now, she'd probably marry them.
As they exited the building, she let out a small yawn she couldn't suppress. Aiden noticed.
"Jet lag?" he asked, his tone softer than usual.
"Just a little," she admitted, clutching her bag. "I think I could sleep standing up right now."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Let's get to the hotel before you try."
The car ride to the hotel was quiet. Olivia leaned her head against the window, watching the blur of neon lights. When they finally arrived, the elegant hotel façade gleamed under warm yellow lighting, exuding quiet luxury.
Inside, Aiden strode confidently to the front desk. The receptionist, a young woman with perfectly pinned hair, looked up—and her professional smile faltered for just a second when she saw him.
"Good evening, sir," she said, voice a touch too breathy. "Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes," Aiden said, setting down his card. "Under Aiden Ashford."
The receptionist typed quickly, then smiled again. "Yes, Mr. Ashford. We have your reservation here. Room 206, fifth floor."
Aiden nodded. "And the second room?"
Her fingers paused. She blinked at the screen, then looked back up, confused.
"Sir… there's only one room under your name."
Olivia frowned. "That can't be right. We booked two rooms."
The girl double-checked, scrolling through the database, her blush deepening. "I'm very sorry, ma'am, but there's only one room listed."
Aiden exhaled slowly, jaw tightening a little. "There must be some mistake."
Olivia immediately pulled out her phone. "I'll call Grace."
Within moments, Grace picked up.
"Hello,Miss Bennet! Did you reach safely?"
"Yes, but quick question," Olivia said, trying to keep her tone even. "Who booked the hotel?"
"Claire did. Why? Something wrong?"
Olivia closed her eyes for a second. "Apparently, only one room was booked."
A pause. Then Claire's voice, hesitant.
"Wait—what? I definitely booked two rooms. Hold on."
There was frantic typing on the other end, followed by a soft gasp.
"Oh my god… I accidentally confirmed only one instead of two. I'm so sorry! I must've clicked the wrong box."
Olivia sighed, rubbing her temples. "It's fine, Claire. Just… double-check next time."
After ending the call, she turned to Aiden. "She accidentally booked one room."
Aiden pinched the bridge of his nose, visibly restraining a sigh. "All right. We'll just book another one."
The receptionist nodded, already typing. But after a minute, she bit her lip and looked up again.
"I'm really sorry, sir. There are no other rooms available. The hotel is fully booked."
Olivia blinked. "None at all?"
"It's peak tourist season," the girl explained apologetically. "Most hotels nearby are also full."
Olivia's shoulders slumped. She looked at Aiden, silently pleading for a miracle.