"Let them talk. You and I—we've already lived what they only dare to whisper about."
🧿 The Whisper Before the Storm
Claire's fingers brushed the edge of the wine glass beside her bed. It was nearly untouched. The room around her smelled faintly of the lavender oil she always used to calm her mind. But her eyes didn't reflect calm—only thoughts spiraling, looping, circling one name:
Leo.
His voice from the night before still echoed in her ears."Thank you."
Such simple words. But they'd landed like fire against her skin. Gratitude, gently spoken by a man who rarely gave any emotional leeway. She had replayed that scene countless times, imagining what would've happened if she had leaned in just a little closer… if he hadn't pulled away so quickly… if—
The door suddenly burst open.
"Unnie!"It was Jisoo.
Claire sat upright immediately, startled. She pulled her blanket up, still wearing her silk robe, the glow of morning barely spilling in from the blinds.
"What's wrong?"
Jisoo's expression was wide-eyed with disbelief and mischief. She was holding her phone like it was on fire.
"You need to see this now. You're viral."
Claire blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Not just viral. Blown up. Trending. People are tearing the internet apart because of your little visit to that 'cheap coffee shop,'" she said with sarcastic air quotes.
Claire reached for her own phone. Notifications exploded across the screen.
#ClaireHanCoffeeScandal#HanHeiressDatingBarista#HanEnterprisesContractLeaks
"What... the hell?" she muttered, scrolling past blurred screenshots of her at Leo's café, pixelated images of her waiting outside on his bike, even a recording of her brushing hair out of his eyes from the night he brought her home.
Her face turned cold.
"You didn't even kiss him," Jisoo muttered. "And people are acting like you eloped with a local waiter in Vegas."
Claire stood up, robe flowing behind her like a stormfront. "Let them. But this isn't about coffee anymore."
🌫️ In the Eye of the Storm
Meanwhile, across the city, the espresso machine hissed at Leo like a grumpy old man.
He stood behind the counter, sleeves rolled up, focused on the next customer's cappuccino, when he noticed someone circling around the front of the counter like a bored kitten.
"Jiwon?"
She blinked at him innocently. "You're busy."
"Obviously. Can you wait just a second?"
She nodded, pretending to be casual, but the nervous energy around her said otherwise.
After finishing the order and sending the couple off with a tired smile, he walked over and leaned slightly on the counter.
"What's going on?"
She turned her phone toward him."Look."
Leo's brows furrowed as he scrolled. Posts, tweets, clips, articles. The image of Claire smiling beside a coffee cup was everywhere—captioned in a hundred different ways. Conspiracies, scandalous assumptions, even talks of bribery and misuse of power within the Han company.
"This—this is insane." His voice was tight. "They think we're... involved?"
"Well, are you?" Jiwon said quietly, looking up at him.
He didn't answer. His jaw tightened as he immediately reached for his own phone and tried calling Claire. It didn't even ring. Straight to voicemail.
Again.And again.
He shoved the phone in his apron and stormed to the back, pulling off his gloves.
🔥 Boardroom Blitz
At the Han Enterprises skyscraper, the temperature inside the boardroom could've cracked glass.
Claire sat at the head of the table. Around her were men in suits—graying, clean-cut, uptight. The board members. Investors. Legal consultants. All looking at her like a princess gone rogue.
A senior advisor finally spoke, carefully:
"Miss Han... these reports of you associating with a local coffee shop employee—while charming in a rom-com sense—are not helpful for company optics."
Another joined in.
"And what about the leak about the new supplier contract? They're saying you used insider information to favor a company that your... friend owns?"
A third leaned forward."Are you dating this man?"
Claire didn't flinch. Her gaze was sharp as steel.
She reached forward slowly. Slid a thick file across the table. It landed with a soft thud. Every eye locked onto it.
She opened it. Page after page of documents, legal notices, timestamps, proposals.
And then her voice rang out—clear, steady, professional.
"The decision to approach Wild Oak Café for product testing was made weeks before any personal association. Here are the emails and call logs. The supplier contract? That was evaluated by procurement and confirmed by three departments before I even approved the signature."
She looked up.
"As for whether or not I'm dating a man who makes better coffee than any overpriced executive here—irrelevant."
Gasps. Shuffling.
She leaned back, crossing one leg over the other.
"If we're done playing paparazzi, can we get back to discussing the IPO and market expansion into Singapore?"
Silence.
A beat.
Then she clapped the folder shut and looked toward the digital screen.
"Next company. Show us your work."
đź–¤ The Knock at the Door
Claire returned to her office, heels echoing with power. She tossed her clutch on the couch and sank into her chair, rubbing her temples.
Jisoo appeared again, breathless.
"Someone's here to see you."
"Tell them I'm not—"
"It's Leo."
Claire froze.
The air shifted.
She stood. "Don't let him wait."
🌧️ Words Like Rainfall
He was standing just past the glass doors of her private floor. Hair slightly tousled. Eyes unreadable.
Claire walked out slowly, her heels tapping like warnings.
He didn't say anything at first.
Then—
"Stay away from me."
It landed harder than she expected.
"Excuse me?"
"This isn't just about us. Or you. Or whatever it is you're trying to prove. You've dragged Jiwon into this. Yourself. Me."
She took a step closer, her voice low.
"I didn't drag anyone. The world followed me."
"I don't care. Just stay away."
He turned, already walking toward the elevator.
She stood frozen for a moment. Then called out.
"Leo."
He stopped but didn't look back.
"Do you know what hurts more than losing you again?"
Silence.
"Being told I'm not even worth the fight."
He left.
She stood there, her hands clenched, nails digging into her palms.
🧿 A New Proposal
Back in her office, Claire stared out the window.
Then picked up her phone.
"Jiwon?"
Her voice was softer now.
"Do you want to work with me?"
There was a long pause on the other end.