Within a few hours, Koharu had every piece of information about the interviewer. However, by the time her security team reached his apartment, he had already fled the country.
"He left this morning," one of the investigators reported.
Koharu's expression remained unreadable.
"So he was warned."
She immediately contacted a few trusted friends who worked in international entertainment companies and asked them to keep an eye out for him.
By evening, one of them finally called.
"We found him."
Koharu's eyes narrowed.
"Location?"
The answer made her pause.
It was the same country where she was scheduled to attend a business meeting the following day.
Perfect timing.
---
Before leaving, Koharu only told Sakura, "I have an important meeting in France. It'll only take a few days."
Sakura nodded without suspecting anything.
"Don't overwork yourself."
Koharu smiled softly.
"I won't."
Only Rinn knew the truth.
As she watched Koharu board the private jet, she sighed.
"...I hope that interviewer survives your anger."
Koharu simply adjusted her coat.
"I'm calmer than I used to be."
Rinn raised an eyebrow.
"That's exactly what worries me."
---
The meeting in France ended successfully by the afternoon.
The moment it was over, Koharu got into another car.
No detours.
No delays.
She headed straight to an abandoned office building on the outskirts of the city, where her security team had already located the interviewer.
When she entered the room, the man looked up in panic.
"You..."
Koharu stood in front of him, her expression completely emotionless.
For a brief second...
she wanted nothing more than to punch him.
To make him understand how terrified Sakura had looked during that interview.
But she slowly clenched and unclenched her fists.
She controlled herself.
Instead, she asked in a cold voice,
"Who sent you?"
The man swallowed nervously.
"I... I don't know."
Koharu didn't react.
He hurriedly continued,
"I swear! Someone contacted me anonymously and offered me a huge amount of money if I kept asking those personal questions. I never saw their face."
Koharu's eyes sharpened.
"...Someone?"
He nodded repeatedly.
"It was a woman."
"A woman?" Koharu repeated quietly.
A female...
Someone who wanted to target Sakura.
Someone who wanted to create another scandal.
For a moment, countless possibilities crossed her mind.
The interviewer lowered his head.
"I was just following instructions."
Koharu looked at him for several silent seconds before speaking again.
"You know you've already been blacklisted from the entertainment industry."
His face turned pale.
"No... please..."
"You chose money over professionalism," Koharu said coldly. "From this day forward, your reputation will follow your actions."
She turned toward the door.
"And the person who hired you..."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"They won't be able to hide forever."
Without another word, Koharu walked out.
Outside, the cool evening air greeted her as she got into the waiting car.
There was no satisfaction on her face.
Only determination.
Someone had tried to hurt Sakura from the shadows.
And now—
Koharu had decided to find the person standing behind the curtain.
Later that night, she returned to her hotel room.
She looked at the photo of Sakura on her phone and smiled faintly before sending a simple message.
> Meeting finished. Good night, my kitten. Don't stay up too late.
Then she placed the phone on the bedside table.
Tomorrow, she would return to Korea.
But the search...
Had only just begun.