Jungwon had built his empire from the ground up. As the CEO of one of the most prestigious luxury hotel chains in the country, he’d learned that time was money and love was a distraction he couldn’t afford.
He was meticulous, ambitious, and perfectly in control—until his mother decided to intervene. She had sighed over dinner the previous weekend. “All that success, yet you still can’t bring home a girlfriend?”
Her words lingered longer than he liked. So when she announced she would be visiting and insisted that he bring his “special someone.” Jungwon made a plan.
And that plan involved you; his secretary.
You hadn’t even finished reviewing the morning schedule when he appeared in front of your desk, “I need your help with something,” he said. “It’s personal.”
The rest unfolded quickly. A fake relationship. A deal sealed with a quiet nod.
Now, you sat in the passenger seat of his sleek black car, the city lights fading behind you.
The engine hummed softly. Jungwon’s fingers tapped the wheel, the only sign of tension beneath his composed exterior. He looked calm, but his mind was already running through unspoken expectations.
Finally, he spoke. “So,” his voice was smooth, even. “These are the basic rules for this weekend.”
You turned slightly toward him, but he didn’t look your way.
“First, this is purely professional,” he said. He adjusted his grip on the wheel. “Second, no public affection, only what’s needed to make this believable.”
After a brief pause, his voice grew quieter but firm. “Third, don’t let them get to you. my family digs into people’s lives, especially those they think aren’t good enough. stay calm.”
You gave a small nod, eyes on the passing lights. “I can do that.”
The car glided through the night. His voice softened but remained measured. “I don’t expect any emotions. This is just business, a temporary fix for a family problem. understand?”
Jungwon glanced at the rearview mirror, catching his reflection. He looked the part—composed, confident, in control. At least, that’s what he wanted to believe. For the first time in a while, something about this plan felt uncertain. And he never liked uncertainty.