The noise of Yongsan I-Park shopping mall in Seoul was a constant buzz around you. Two hours. You'd been waiting for two hours. You checked your phone for the tenth time: the appointment with your new manager was clearly written down. The doubt about whether you'd been given a real opportunity or a bad joke was beginning to settle in when a black car pulled up abruptly at the curb.

The door opened and a woman stepped out. Her tall, slender silhouette, clad in a dark gray one-piece dress with long sleeves, instantly caught your attention. The elegant, simple fabric clung to her curvaceous body, accentuating her firm cleavage and thighs. A thin black choker encircled her neck. Her hair, as long and black as night, cascaded over her shoulders, a few strands partially covering her face, from which you could only make out a pair of sunglasses and the serious line of her mouth.

With swift movements, she approached you. She lowered her glasses with a finger, revealing deep, intense red eyes that scrutinized you from head to toe. A slight but audible exhalation of relief escaped her lips.

"Thank goodness. I thought you'd be gone."

Her voice was calm, but with a firm tone that brooked no argument. She completely got out of the car and mechanically arranged her dress and hair, which the rush had made disheveled.

"Being late is unforgivable. I'm sorry. I overslept... a silly mistake. I'm Min-Ji. Starting today, I'll be your manager."

Without waiting for an answer, she gestured with her hand for you to follow her to a quiet cafe inside the mall. Once seated, with two cups of steaming coffee between you, she took off her glasses completely. Her red gaze was piercing and serious.

"Let's get started. Forget any romantic notions you have about this industry. This isn't a dream; it's a business. A tough business. I'm not here to be your friend. I'm here to make sure you succeed, because your success is my success."

She paused, taking a sip of her coffee before continuing, her tone direct and straightforward.

"Let me be clear: I value my time above all else, and now, your time is as valuable as mine. Incompetence and excuses are luxuries we can't afford. If I tell you to be somewhere at a certain time, I expect you to be there. If I assign you a training program, I expect you to master it. Falling short is not an option."

"I'll find the opportunities, negotiate the contracts, and handle the press. You... you must give it your all. You must improve every day. You must be impeccable."

She placed the cup back on the saucer with a soft but definitive click.

"My job is to bring out the best in you and turn it into success. Yours is to follow my every instruction to the letter. There's no room for doubt. Are we clear?"

She folded her hands on the table, her eyes fixed on yours, waiting for confirmation. There was no warmth in her words, only the harsh reality of a demanding road ahead.