TATMFL - 18

The place where Do-kyung parked the car was in front of a building Ra-on had passed by more than once. 

It was a hotel with the rather plain name “HAN,” and now she realized it must be one of the hotels Ji-an had mentioned, owned by Hanyoung Corporation. 

“…A casino?” 

As soon as they entered the building, Ra-on was greeted by flashy neon signs—something she never expected to see inside a hotel. 

Staring at the large sign hanging above, Ra-on’s mouth fell open in astonishment. 

“Have you been here before?” 

“…No.” 

How could she have visited when she didn’t even know there was such a large casino here? 

Seeing her shake her head, Do-kyung winked. 

“If you ever want to come, let me know. I’ll use my connections to help you win big.” 

“…Is that even allowed?” 

“Of course not.” 

At his straightforward answer, Ra-on’s expression turned sour. 

Do-kyung shrugged nonchalantly and resumed walking past the casino entrance. 

“This is where you’ll work from now on.” 

Taking the escalator up, the first thing they saw was the wide-open central area. Below them, the casino they had just passed through was clearly visible beyond the railing, while bar tables lined the walls all around. 

Under dim, seductive lighting, rhythmic music filled the space. Most of the patrons were dressed quite elegantly, exuding an air of seriousness that she would never see at the pub near her school. 

…It made her utterly unable to understand why he had shown up at the neighborhood pub. 

Ra-on’s gaze, brimming with suspicion, landed on the back of Do-kyung’s head. 

At that moment— 

“Welcome, sir.” 

One of the familiar men in a black suit approached Do-kyung with a greeting. Ra-on clamped her mouth shut and slowed her steps. 

The man with the scar on his jaw was someone Ra-on recognized well. His gaze shifted to Ra-on, who stood awkwardly behind Do-kyung. 

“Young Master, this person is…?” 

“My personal bartender.” 

“Huh?” 

Joon looked at Ra-on with disbelief. The unfamiliar and unexpected term left her equally flustered as she stared at Do-kyung. 

‘Young Master…?’ 

If one ignored the memory of him smashing two men to a pulp, Do-kyung’s appearance certainly fit the image of a “Young Master.” 

His sharp, jaded eyes dripped with ennui, and his delicate, refined features seemed meticulously crafted. Though he appeared somewhat aloof, even that aloofness carried an air of elegance. 

In other words, if one set aside prejudices about loan sharks or gangsters, he perfectly embodied the image. 

Then, suddenly— 

‘Hanyoung Corporation… didn’t it grow from a loan-shark business…?’ 

While Ra-on was piecing together the connection between Do-kyung and Hanyoung Corporation, the man with the scar on his jaw—Joon—extended his hand toward her. 

“My name is Kwon Joon.” 

“…I’m Yoo Ra-on.” 

Caught off guard by the exchange of introductions, Ra-on awkwardly shook his hand and quickly pulled hers away.

Joon glanced at Ra-on before asking Do-kyung, 

“So, was this the spot you asked to have cleared?” 

Do-kyung, seated and with a cigarette dangling from his lips, gave a slight nod of his chin. His gesture pointed toward the other bartenders serving customers nearby. 

“My personal bartender shouldn’t be treated the same as those others, right?” 

“I see. Understood.” 

Joon nodded knowingly as he smoothly lit Do-kyung’s cigarette, clearly accustomed to his ways. 

Meanwhile, Do-kyung turned his gaze to Ra-on, who was standing there blankly. 

“What are you doing?” 

Reacting a beat late, Ra-on looked at him, and he gestured with his eyes. 

“Go check it out. See if the bar height and shelves are adjusted properly for you.” 

“No, what do you mean? It’s not like I’m going to work here professionally…” 

With a bewildered expression, Ra-on scanned the rows of bottles on the shelves. Now that she looked closely, every bottle appeared brand-new, still sealed with plastic wrapping. Some hadn’t even been unboxed yet. 

“You might not be working here professionally, but when you do something, I expect it to be done right. That’s just how I am.” 

“…” 

“Go take a look. I tried to prepare everything as similarly as possible to what you’re used to at your previous workplace.” 

Encouraged by Do-kyung’s words, Ra-on hesitantly stepped behind the bar. She ran her fingers over the immaculately cleaned table and inspected the tools, all still wrapped in their original packaging. Only after confirming everything did she rub the bridge of her nose thoughtfully. 

It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling. After all, no one disliked being the first to leave their mark on something new. 

With a slightly excited heart, Ra-on reached out. Picking up a bottle of vodka from the appropriately placed shelf, its unexpected weight sent a subtle vibration through her wrist. 

[100,000 won per cocktail.] 

When Do-kyung had said those words, honestly, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t tempted. Especially since she had been worrying about the decrease in income after quitting the pub. 

So, whether he viewed her with interest or anything else, securing another job like this didn’t seem like such a bad deal. 

Ra-on calmly calculated in her mind as she expertly added ice to the shaker. 

It had already been ten years since she began living with Ji-an’s family. 

After her mother left home and her father collapsed from the shock, thirteen-year-old Ra-on had nowhere to turn but to her uncle. Thankfully, her aunt and uncle welcomed her and her father without hesitation, offering generous support. Thanks to them, Ra-on grew up without lacking anything, becoming as close to Ji-an as real sisters—without any discrimination. 

But she couldn’t rely on her aunt’s help forever. The material and emotional support she had received thus far was more than enough; accepting more would only weigh on her conscience. 

Even though her aunt insisted she owed nothing, repaying her little by little felt like the right thing to do—it eased her own mind too. 

Therefore, to move out of Ji-an’s house after graduation and care for her father, Ra-on needed sufficient savings for a security deposit. On top of that, considering the medical expenses incurred for her father’s treatment, working at the café alone wouldn’t be enough. 

‘So, let’s just work enough to repay what I’ve received and then leave.’ 

Making a single cocktail for one person wasn’t a difficult task, and it was far easier than catering to multiple customers’ preferences. Thinking this way made her feel much better. She realized anew how pragmatic people could become in the face of money as she picked up the shaker lid. 

While sealing the shaker, flipping it over, and going through the motions, Ra-on stole a glance at Do-kyung from the corner of her eye. He was intently watching her hands at work.

The moment Ra-on shook the shaker, the sound of ice clinking inside emerged crisp and pleasant. 

“Oh.” A low murmur of appreciation escaped Do-kyung’s lips. 

“That sounds nice.” 

Without sparing him much attention, Ra-on began pouring the martini into a pre-prepared glass. After garnishing it with an olive, she looked up as Do-kyung, cigarette still dangling from his mouth, exhaled deeply and smirked. He tilted his head slightly, resting his chin on his hand. 

“Did you stir it?” 

Handing him the martini, Ra-on shrugged indifferently. 

“You saw it yourself. Dry vodka martini, shaken, not stirred.” 

Ra-on’s deadpan imitation of the famous movie line made Do-kyung burst into amused laughter. 

“Haha! You’ve clearly done this more than a couple of times.” 

Her signature nonchalant expression seemed particularly amusing to him. 

Taking a sip of the martini, Do-kyung hummed in satisfaction and nodded. 

“It seems the ‘human touch’ really does matter when making cocktails.” 

“Does it suit your taste that well?” 

“Don’t get any ideas, Joon. She’s mine.” 

“Who said anything?” 

Joon shrugged, absently rubbing the scar on his jaw. Glancing at Ra-on, who had begun cleaning up, he muttered to himself. Ra-on already felt strangely familiar to him—or rather, he was unconsciously building a sense of closeness toward her. 

“I had my suspicions, but it seems she’s the one, alright.” 

“Hmm?” 

“The person holding the power over whether or not Young Master gets his diploma.” 

“‘Power over life and death’? Isn’t that a bit exaggerated for just a diploma?” 

Do-kyung downed the rest of the martini in one gulp and winced, his eyes narrowing. The sharp, bitter aroma stung his nose, devoid of any sweetness—it wasn’t entirely unpleasant. 

“But isn’t it true? The ‘interesting thing’ Young Master mentioned—it’s her, isn’t it?” 

Having said that, Joon continued observing Ra-on, who was rearranging items meticulously despite claiming to be tidying up. Her half-lidded gaze, focused on checking labels, appeared languid, almost drowsy. There was something about her tranquil demeanor that exuded a soothing yet captivating aura. 

That subtle charm caught the eye. 

Joon was certain that it was likely her face that first drew his Young Master’s attention. 

Moreover, though she responded whenever spoken to, her expressions barely changed—so slight they might go unnoticed if one didn’t pay close attention. 

“I understand now why Young Master is interested.” 

After only a brief observation, Joon had pinpointed exactly what had piqued Do-kyung’s curiosity. It was Ra-on’s seemingly world-weary attitude that intrigued him—a perfect match for Do-kyung’s twisted tastes, regardless of her outward appearance. 

His Young Master was a deviant who derived pleasure from watching his opponents crumble, their expressions breaking apart in despair. 

So this time would be no different. 

When that pretty face eventually became a mess, his Young Master’s interest would wane, and it would all come to an end. 

‘And with it, the diploma will slip away too.’ 

As far as Joon knew, Do-kyung’s interest rarely lasted longer than a month. 

Thus, it was safe to assume the diploma was already out of reach once again.

It was true that it was the first time they had gone so far as to reserve a spot for her in the hotel to observe her, but even this would surely be nothing more than a fleeting whim. 

If Ra-on’s cocktails truly suited Do-kyung’s taste— 

‘Then perhaps his interest might last a little longer than a month.’ 

Joon thought idly, his hands clasped behind his back. 

In that case, he wondered, when would be the right time to present the matchmaking profiles that Chairman Han had prepared?