INT .The Corporate Cafeteria –LUNCH TIME
(The scene cuts to a relatively quiet corner of the busy corporate cafeteria. Lee, Eun, and Won are sitting together at a table. Won eagerly leans forward across the table, unable to contain her curiosity any longer. Eun nervously holds her chopsticks, her eyes completely vacant, still deeply lost in her thoughts about Kang and his intense behavior inside the cabin.)
Won: (Lowering her voice, her eyes widening) Eun! Seriously, you still haven't told me exactly what happened inside that 'Grumpy Kangaroo's' cabin. You went inside, and suddenly we could hear the loud sounds of things crashing and breaking... and the moment you walked out, your face was completely flushed red! Did he say something terrible to you?
Lee: (Frowning deeply, cutting into the conversation) What? Kang called you into his private cabin? Why?
Won: (Turning to Lee) We don't even know! But the second you left the office floor, loud noises of things being thrown around started coming from his room.
Lee: (A bitter, cynical smile touching his lips) Yeah, I should have known. He absolutely despises the fact that I joined this company, so he's throwing a pathetic tantrum. But Kim, what was the reason? What was so important that he had to pull a dramatic stunt like that?
Won: Well, right after that, Mr. Park came out and specifically sent Kim inside.
Lee: (Turning his intense gaze directly back to Eun, his voice dropping into a serious tone) What happened in there, Kim?
Eun: (Taking a deep, shaky breath, her fingers tightly intertwining) ...Well... Mr. Kang wants me to step down from my position as the Team Leader for this project. He strictly doesn't want me working alongside you, Lee. When I flatly refused to give up my leadership, he completely lost his temper. He slammed his hand against the glass window right next to my head so hard that it terrified me. He... he came incredibly close to my face.
Lee: (The moment he hears this, he slams his chopsticks hard onto the table, his eyes blazing with instant rage and jealousy) He is completely crossing his boundaries! How dare he corner you and get that close to you? Just because he holds the CEO title doesn't mean he has the right to intimidate his employees like that. Eun, you do not have to tolerate his unhinged madness. (His jaw tightens) If he has a problem with me, why the hell doesn't he come say it directly to my face?!
Won: (Seeing Lee's explosive anger rising, she quickly motions for him to calm down and turns back to Eun) Hold on, Mr. Lee, please let her finish first. Besides Eun, the senior staff members, Sung and Yoona, were whispering about some really strange things on the office floor earlier. They said Mr. Kang has been incredibly short-tempered ever since childhood. Apparently, he met with a horrific accident back then. Right after that tragedy, his relationship with his mother—Ms. Chairman—completely shattered. The psychological trauma of that accident made him so gravely ill that his family had to send him all the way to Paris for medical treatment!
Eun: (Completely stunned, her eyes widening as she looks at Won) What? Paris? A tragic accident? I... I had absolutely no idea about any of this. Is that dark past the reason why he is always consumed by so much anger?
(The exact second Eun utters the word "Past," the expression on Mr. Lee's face shifts drastically. His eyes narrow sharply, and a wave of pure panic surges deep within his chest. He realizes that if Eun starts digging into Kang's history, the fragments of her buried memories might violently resurface.)
Lee: (To himself, thinking frantically and maliciously) No... Eun cannot find out a single thing about Kang's past or what happened on that cliffside. If she learns about Hanu, she will remember that she IS Hanu! She can never find out the truth, or she will run straight back into his arms. I must keep her completely blind to that reality at all costs.
Lee: (Instantly forcing a fake, relaxed smile onto his face, smoothly cutting into their conversation) Eun, Won... why are you both wasting your energy paying attention to these baseless, ridiculous office rumors? Just leave it. Completely ignore this nonsense. People in corporate offices love to invent wild stories. Eun, you don't need to involve yourself in these dark histories. Just focus entirely on your new project.
Eun: (Hesitating slightly, her voice unsure) But Lee, the sheer intensity of his rage...
Lee: (Softening his tone with deep empathy, gently tapping the thick folder Eun had given him earlier) Eun, look at the project files you handed over to me. I went through the blueprints, and the specific designs you created are absolutely phenomenal. You are incredibly talented and capable. So please, don't let that man ruin your peace of mind or destroy your mood. Trust me on this—just let your brilliant work do all the talking and answer him back.
Eun: (Feeling a wave of relief wash over her due to Lee's reassuring words, she nods gently) You're completely right, Lee. I shouldn't lose focus. I need to dedicate all my energy to my work. Thank you.
(While Eun readily accepts Lee's logical reasoning, Won's incredibly sharp, observant eyes instantly catch the sudden shift in Lee's behavior. Won, who still possesses a burning desire to uncover Kang's mysterious history, notes how deliberately Lee tried to bury the topic the moment the accident was mentioned.)
Won: (To herself, staring at Lee with deep suspicion) There is definitely something fishy going on here... Why is Lee trying to sweep this under the rug so aggressively? It feels like he is actively trying to hide a massive secret from Eun. There is something seriously wrong with the way Lee is behaving right now.
(The heavy tension at the table barely begins to settle when suddenly—the heavy double doors of the cafeteria swing open with a violent force. This time, it isn't a dead silence that takes over the room, but a restless, suffocating, and highly chaotic atmosphere that floods the entire space.)
(Kang Ha-joon steps onto the cafeteria floor, his face completely flushed with a volatile mix of raw fury and blinding jealousy. Walking frantically right behind him is Mr. Park, trying his absolute best to hold him back but failing miserably. Kang's piercing, bloodshot eyes scan the room and lock cracks directly onto the corner table where Eun and Lee are sitting close together. He begins marching directly toward them, completely shattering the peace of the cafeteria.)
Kang:(Stopping directly at the table, staring down at Eun with a heavy, resonant voice) You lucked out... Dad completely refused to remove you from this position.
Eun:(Taking a deep breath, looking up with sudden confidence) I told you before, and look what happened.
Kang:(Leaning forward slightly, narrowing his eyes) Yes, but hear me out completely. You will remain the Team Leader, but from now on, I will personally assist you on this project. Every single minor detail of this project must be reported directly to me as well.(The entire table freezes in sheer shock.)
Won:(Eyes wide, whispering) What?
!Lee:(Slamming his hands down and standing up instantly, his face turning red with rage) What kind of nonsense is this, Ha-joon?! This is a joint partnership project between our firms. You can't just suddenly step in out of nowhere and interfere like this!
Kang:(Turning slowly toward Lee, a cold, lethal smirk on his face) I am not interfering, Mr. Lee. I am simply making it clear that you will not be handling this project alone. From this moment on, I am part of this project too. Every single file, every meeting, and every final decision will require my involvement.(Lee freezes as the ground slips from beneath his feet. Panic and absolute fury consume him internally.)
Lee:(To himself, trembling with hidden fear)Does Kang actually like Eun now? How can he forget Hanu so quickly?! If these two work together every day, it won't be long before Eun remembers her past... and she will leave me forever! I cannot let this happen. Fine, if he wants to work together, let him. I will see how he plans to take her away from me!
Park:(Sensing the danger, quickly stepping in with a forced, nervous laugh) Mr. Lee! It's actually wonderful news that Mr. Kang is getting personally involved in this project! Alright, bye Eun, bye Won. Let's go, Mr. Kang, we have our corporate meeting right now.
(Kang casts one final, heavily warning glance at Lee, then locks eyes briefly with Eun, who stands completely paralyzed by the sudden turn of events. Eun's gaze drops to his hands, noticing how tightly his fists are still clenched.)
Eun:(To herself, watching his hands)He constantly inflicts pain on himself when he is angry..
.(Kang turns sharply on his heel and strides out of the cafeteria, with Park following closely behind.)
Won:(Watching Lee's pale face and tense posture, thinking suspiciously)What exactly is Lee's problem? The moment Kang joined the project, the color completely drained from his face. He is desperately trying to keep Eun away from Kang... there is definitely a massive secret here. But if Mr. Kang works with us, he and Eun might actually end up coming closer... and that is clearly Lee's biggest fear.