The silence in the grand office was broken by the Chairman's wife. She was a woman of timeless elegance, her dark hair a perfect, neat bob framing a face that was both kind and shrewd. She wore a simple yet exquisite navy dress, the fine material suggesting a quiet confidence. She leaned forward slightly, her hands clasped gracefully in her lap.
"Mr. Walther," she began, her voice soft but clear. "We wanted to extend our most sincere appreciation and thank you for your bravery and what you did."
Alex gave a polite smile and a small, respectful nod. "Of course," he said, the words feeling utterly inadequate for the moment. He was keenly aware of the weight of their gaze, the three pairs of eyes assessing him, not as an employee, but as an individual who had done something remarkable.
The younger man, the Chairman's son and the Director of the company's tech division, now chimed in. He was a striking figure, lean and sharp in his tailored suit, with an intensity in his gaze that seemed to miss nothing. He had the same calm features as his father but with a youthful energy that buzzed just beneath the surface.
"Are you recovering well?" he asked, his tone professional yet genuinely concerned.
"Yes, thank you," Alex replied, nodding again. "I'm recovering much faster than I expected I would. I've had a great caretaker who is watching over me." Alex gave a slight smile thinking of Hana.
The Chairman's wife spoke again, her gaze unwavering. "We were uncertain about bringing you here, I understand. Past experiences with Americans not working out so well. The current political climate in America." A faint, apologetic smile touched her lips. "But I have been told you have fully embraced our culture, and are thought of very highly by your colleagues and superiors."
Just as Alex was about to formulate a polite response, the Chairman, a man of quiet authority, adjusted in his seat. The subtle movement was all it took to shift the attention of the entire room to him. He was a figure of immense gravitas, his presence commanding without a single raised voice. His gaze, calm and steady, was now focused entirely on Alex.
"Ask me what you wish," the Chairman said, his voice a low, resonant baritone. "And it is yours."
Alex's eyes widened, his carefully composed exterior cracking under the sudden weight of the statement. His mind, which had been racing a moment before, came to a screeching halt. "뭐 (Mwo)? What?" The offer was so vast, so sweeping, it was almost nonsensical. A million questions and desires mused through his mind; a new apartment, maybe a car, a promotion, a raise. He was an employee who had been thanked, not a fairy tale hero granted a wish. He sat there, frozen, the absurdity of the situation leaving him utterly speechless.
A low chuckle from the Director broke the tension. Noticing the obvious puzzlement in Alex's eyes, he smiled. "Perhaps we should explain."
The Chairman, however, held up a hand. His gaze became even more serious, piercing Alex as if he could read every confused thought swirling in his head. "What we are about to tell you is not to leave this room."
Alex, still confused and now feeling a new sense of unease, swallowed hard. "Yes, of course," he managed, his voice barely a whisper. He nodded his agreement, the word "yes" echoing in the tense silence.
The Chairman's wife, sensing Alex's confusion, unclasped her hands and leaned forward slightly, her expression softening into one of gentle understanding. "I apologize," she began, her voice a soothing balm in the tense room. "My husband can be rather direct. Let me try to explain."
She gestured toward the cityscape outside the window, her voice taking on a more intimate, reflective tone. "Our daughter… She was born into a very different world from yours. A world of expectations, of lineage, of predefined paths. She grew up with a great deal of privilege, yes, but also a great deal of pressure." She paused, her gaze now fixed on Alex, searching his eyes for comprehension. "After graduating from university, she found herself... tired. Burned out. The life she was born into felt like a cage, and she felt a deep need to prove her own worth, to find her own place without the weight of our family name."
The Chairman's wife smiled, a fond sadness in her eyes. "She came to us and said she wanted to take a simple role at the company. No one knew who she was. She wanted to work her way up, to prove she could succeed on her own merit, without any interference from us." A flicker of pride shone in her expression. "And she has done so beautifully. We have watched her thrive, make friends, and earn the respect of her colleagues."
As she spoke, Alex's mind, which had been in a state of bewilderment, began to connect the dots. The pieces of the puzzle he hadn't even known he was assembling clicked into place. A faint smile touched his lips as he realized the truth.
The Chairman, watching Alex's reaction, saw the moment of recognition dawn in his eyes. He leaned forward, his voice a low, gravelly counterpoint to his wife's softer tone. "You didn't just save Hana, Mr. Walther," he said, his words filled with a quiet, profound gratitude. "You saved my daughter."
Alex didn't jump or gasp. Instead, he let out a long, slow breath, a deep "ahhh" of genuine understanding. He leaned back in his chair, a small, knowing smile on his face, and simply nodded at them. His reaction was not at all what they had expected. The family had prepared for a moment of shock, of awe, of a gasp of recognition. They looked at each other, a shared look of confusion passing between them.
The Chairman's wife was the first to speak. "You don't seem surprised," she said, her eyebrows raised in genuine wonder.
Alex's smile widened as he shook his head slowly. "I guess... I guess there have been signs. It just wasn't important enough to me to notice." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I mean, whether she was wealthy or 'high-born,' I guess is the proper way to put it, or just any other person I work with... it didn't change anything for me. She's Hana. I didn't save your daughter," he said, the corner of his mouth twitching up. "I saved my friend."
His frankness, his complete lack of awe, seemed to disarm the family. The Chairman sat back in his seat, a flicker of what looked like pride in his eyes. The Director of Tech finally let out a low, disbelieving laugh, as if he had never witnessed such a thing.
The Director leaned forward in his seat, a flicker of excitement in his eyes. He pointed a slender finger at Alex, as if making a profound pronouncement. His usual cool composure had given way to an almost boyish enthusiasm. "I have a project I'm about to start," he said, his voice quickening with a sense of purpose. "And I would really like to have you as part of my team. It would be a promotion, of course..."
Alex held up a hand, a gesture of polite but firm interruption. He saw the Director's face momentarily tighten in surprise, his brows knitting together in a silent question. Alex offered a sincere, reassuring smile. "I sincerely apologize for interrupting," he said, his tone gentle and respectful. "But I'm not looking for a promotion."
The Director's jaw went slack for a brief second before he recovered, a look of utter bewilderment on his face. The Chairman's wife, her expression still soft from their previous conversation, now took on a maternal concern. "But this is a great opportunity," she insisted, her voice full of genuine pleading. "And we really want to show our appreciation."
Alex's smile remained, a genuine, warm expression that reached his eyes. He met her gaze with a calm, steadfast confidence. "Believe it or not," he said, his voice quiet but clear, "I am honored just to be here, right now, being recognized by you three."
A sudden, deep chuckle rumbled from the Chairman. He clapped his hands together once, a loud, resounding sound that echoed in the quiet room. A broad, delighted grin spread across his face, replacing the stoic authority he had worn moments before. "I like you, Alex," he said, the words full of a rare, heartfelt warmth. "I genuinely like your character even more now." He leaned forward, his elbows on the desk, his eyes sparkling with a new kind of respect. "I respect what you're saying. It's very rare to come across someone like you."
The Chairman pushed himself out of his chair and stood to his full height. He looked down at Alex, his expression a mix of authority and deep admiration. "Please remember," he said, his voice low and serious once again. "Not a word."
Alex stood as well, meeting the Chairman's gaze directly. He nodded once, a gesture that conveyed both his understanding and his resolve. "Believe it or not, I understand the desire to prove oneself, on one's own accord," he said, a quiet understanding in his voice. "I will not say anything to anyone. Not even to Hana."
The Chairman, his wife, and his son all rose from their seats. Instead of a simple handshake or a nod, they each bowed deeply from the waist, a gesture of profound and humbling respect. "Thank you for saving our Hana," the Chairman said, his voice quiet but full of emotion. "If there is anything you ever need, the offer will stand."
Alex, touched by the sincerity of their gratitude, returned his own bow. "Thank you for your gracious words," he said, the politeness in his tone genuine. "And thank you for taking the time to recognize me. It means a great deal."
The Director stepped forward, his earlier enthusiasm having been replaced with a more focused and professional demeanor. "I'll reach out to you next week about the project," he said, a determined glint in his eye. "I'm looking forward to it."
Alex smiled. "I look forward to it too."
With that, the secretary, who had been standing silently by the door, opened it with a quiet click. Alex walked out, the polished doors of the Chairman's office closing behind him with a soft swoosh, sealing him off from the incredible secret he now shared with three of the most powerful people in the company.
As Alex stepped into the elevator, the cool, sterile air of the descending cabin offered a moment of quiet reflection. He watched the numbers tick down on the display, his mind replaying the last few minutes. He thought about Hana. He had seen her almost every day for months, and he never once suspected she was the Chairman's daughter. He started to retrace the signs he had completely missed. Her quiet confidence, the way she wasn't impressed by the trappings of wealth, her seemingly endless patience. He smiled to himself, truly impressed by her resolve and determination to prove herself on her own terms.
Then, a new thought slammed into him, stopping his internal monologue in its tracks. Wait... Kiyo knows, of course.