Min Jae arrived outside the hotel.He stopped his luxury car in front of the entrance and picked up the bag lying next to him — the one filled with cash — and began walking toward the hotel.
At that moment, he was wearing a black suit with a long black jacket — he looked exactly like a powerful mafia member. His aura was intense, and every step he took radiated a confident, cold attitude.There was no expression on his face.
Before entering the hotel, he sent a short message to his team:"I've reached the hotel."
After updating the team, he walked straight toward the reception without stopping.
A staff member standing at the hotel reception secretly made a call upon seeing him:"Sir, Beast's second-in-command, Min Jae, is currently inside the hotel."The call was immediately cut after that.
From the outside, the hotel looked like an ordinary luxury hotel.But behind it — accessible only to VIP guests — everything was different. Private pools, high-end bars, underground clubs, and discreet casinos — all extremely exclusive.
As soon as Min Jae crossed the polished front section of the hotel and moved to the back area,he saw a private party going on — probably for some celebrity. The area was crowded — loud music, an active dance floor, guests relaxing by the pool, and clubs and bars in full swing. Only selected individuals were allowed here — mostly VIPs.
Many people in the VIP section recognized Min Jae.He was a well-known and powerful businessman in the city. His face often appeared at high-society events, and his connections were no secret.
To avoid too much attention, he took a side path toward a quieter bar. There weren't many people there.Once inside, he picked a corner table and sat down.He said just one word to the bartender, short and direct:"Scotch."
He quietly waited for his drink. Internally, he was preparing himself to meet Mr. Han — thinking about what to say, what tone to use, and how much to reveal.
That's when his eyes landed on a woman — or rather, it was her eyes that had already been on him.
She looked to be around 38 or 39. A slim, toned figure in a perfectly fitted bold dress that highlighted every curve of her body. Her face carried confidence — and her eyes, a calculated softness.
When she entered the bar, it seemed like she was waiting for someone else —but the moment Min Jae walked in, her gaze had locked onto him.She kept watching him for a while, like she was trying to recognize him…or maybe test him.
After a while, she gracefully got up from her seat and, with confident steps in high heels, walked toward Min Jae.
"Hello," she said softly, with a gentle smile.
Min Jae glanced at her with a cold look. Without any emotional expression, he replied in a flat tone:
"Hello."
"May I sit here?" the woman asked, leaning in slightly.
Min Jae, showing no interest, replied in the same low voice:
"You can."
She sat down across from him. In her hand was an elegant wine glass, which she was casually stirring.
"I'm Soojin," she introduced herself. "A businesswoman. Logistics and luxury imports. This isn't the first time I've seen you, Min Jae–"
Min Jae simply lifted his drink and took a light sip — without giving any reply.His expression remained cold and uninterested.
"You're looking handsome, as always," Soojin said, leaning forward slightly.
And as she spoke, she gently placed her hand on Min Jae's thigh.
Min Jae immediately removed her hand — still without any expression.
"Don't."Just one word, but his tone carried a clear warning.
Before Soojin could say anything bolder, her phone began to ring.She glanced at it and saw it was an important call. With a frustrated expression, she stood up and walked out of the bar to attend it — like someone had ruined her moment.
As soon as she left, Min Jae let out a silent sigh from within.
"Finally…"He took another sip of his drink and drifted back into his thought process.
One of the waiters present in the bar also called Mr. Han and informed him that Min Jae was currently in the bar.
Min Jae, meanwhile, was doing fast calculations in his mind.This was no place to trust anyone.Everything seemed according to plan, but somewhere… some game was definitely being played.
That's when a voice came from behind him:
"Hello, Sir."Min Jae instantly shifted his expression. He turned to see — Mr. Han was standing there.
Min Jae looked at him just once — didn't respond. Just a cold glance, then turned back toward his drink.He asserted his presence through silence alone.
"Sir, you were going to come here… if you had informed me earlier, I could've made some special arrangements for you,"Mr. Han said with a smile, in a flattering tone. There was a fake warmth in his smile, but every word felt like poison to Min Jae.
His heart wanted to knock all of Mr. Han's teeth out with a single punch. But he controlled his anger — his face stayed stone cold, just like always.
Min Jae, with sharpness in his eyes, said:
"Why? Can't I come here without informing you? This is my place, isn't it? I can come whenever I want."His tone was rude, cold, and cutting.
Mr. Han immediately showed submission and said:
"Of course, Sir. You may come whenever you want… but usually you come with the Boss, right? Since you came alone today, I thought I'd ask…"
Min Jae paused for a second — and then, as if he got the perfect chance, he said in anger, mocking the name Joon Hyunk:
"Don't even say his name in front of me. Right now, I don't even want to hear his name."His voice carried anger — and years of buried frustration.
Mr. Han looked carefully at his face and understood — there was a deep rift here.
"Sir… why are you saying that?"He asked in a calm, soft tone, like he wanted to open an old wound further.
Min Jae placed his glass on the table, and in his eyes was the kind of burning only betrayal in friendship can leave behind.
"Because I don't want to work with him anymore. He's always been unfair to me. I'm an equal partner in his company, yet it's always him first — and me after."