WWBU - 24

Hotel Onyx Seoul.

Perched prominently on one of the most expensive plots of land in Seoul, the building stood out as a well-known landmark. True to its reputation, the hotel was impossible to miss even from afar.

“There’s more traffic than usual today.”

“Yeah.”

“Whenever I come around here, it’s always chaos. All because of that damn hotel.”

The taxi driver’s complaints earned a brief smile from Hyun-soo. She knew he was right—she could feel it too. The smooth ride had turned into a crawl due to heavy congestion just moments ago.

Checking the time, Hyun-soo confirmed she still had some leeway before her appointment. Turning her gaze toward the window, she spotted the towering structure rising above the surrounding buildings.

Her attention shifted back to her phone, where the Hotel Onyx website she’d been researching during the ride remained open.

Hotel Onyx, part of a globally renowned chain, consisted of a sleek 48-story main building and an adjacent Suvine Hall for weddings, banquets, and events. The Seoul branch visible outside was the flagship location of the international chain, with eight other branches scattered across major cities in Korea.

It was also famously the only hotel to receive unanimous five-star ratings from four prestigious domestic and international review platforms. In short... it was an incredibly famous and luxurious establishment. Feeling a growing sense of nervousness, Hyun-soo turned off her phone screen.

She had stayed at hotels a few times before, usually for trips or similar occasions, but never at such a high-end place like Hotel Onyx. Her heart raced uncontrollably, but she didn’t want to appear awkward or unsophisticated, especially not in front of Yoon Guk.

By the time the taxi pulled up to the entrance of Hotel Onyx, Hyun-soo had already prepared her card and gotten ready to step out.

“Have a great day!”

“Thank you. You too.”

As the car came to a stop and she paid, a bellboy approached to open the door for her. Unaccustomed to being escorted, Hyun-soo stepped out awkwardly and nodded in thanks. Glancing around discreetly, she noticed no one else seemed as flustered as she felt; everyone else exuded poise and elegance.

Adjusting her handbag, Hyun-soo entered the lobby with determination: Don’t act provincial. Don’t embarrass yourself.

“Wow.”

But all her resolve crumbled the moment she stepped inside. A magnificent chandelier immediately caught her eye. Made of thousands of crystal balls, it resembled less a light fixture and more an art installation.

Hyun-soo wasn’t alone in her admiration. The dazzling beauty of the cascading glass-like waterfall elicited continuous gasps from guests passing underneath. Entranced, Hyun-soo couldn’t help but glance back several times as she walked away, reluctant to take her eyes off it.

In truth, Hotel Onyx itself felt like one giant work of art. From the chandelier to the unique objets d’art scattered throughout, everything radiated elegance and sophistication—even someone like Hyun-soo, who knew little about art, could appreciate it.

“Does he really mean to meet here...?”

Had he simply chosen this as their meeting spot? Or was he staying here? Either way, it seemed Guk had done quite well for himself financially.

Unable to help herself, Hyun-soo wandered around until she finally spotted a café and made her way over. It was still early, so there weren’t many people inside.

“Can I take your order?”

“I’m waiting for someone. I’ll order later.”

“Of course.”

Once the polite server left, Hyun-soo finally felt some of the tension ease. She realized how stiff she must have been without noticing.

Taking a sip of water, Hyun-soo checked the time again and glanced toward the café entrance. The moment to face him once more was drawing near.

A short while later...

Her restless hands stopped tearing apart a napkin when she spotted a somewhat familiar figure approaching from afar.

Sure enough, he strode confidently toward her, clad in a sharp black suit that fit him perfectly. Behind him trailed a group of people ranging from older individuals to those closer to his age—all following him silently.

Raising his hand slightly, he signaled for the entourage to halt. He exchanged a few words with them, received a response from the woman directly behind him, and then dismissed them with a nod. They bowed respectfully before dispersing. Without hesitation, Guk continued walking toward the café.

Seeing him approach, Hyun-soo instinctively rose from her seat. Entering the café, Guk spotted her immediately and headed straight over.

“You’re early. There’s still time.”

“Oh, yeah. That’s right.”

“Sit down.”

“Huh? Okay.”

At his gesture, Hyun-soo awkwardly sat back down. For some reason, being in front of him made her movements clumsy, as if something inside her had broken.

“How did things go last night?”

“Last night?”

Yes, last night—their first meeting in over ten years. After spending hours lost in thought, it felt strange to think they’d only met yesterday. And though his casual concern surprised her—it wasn’t exactly what she expected—it was oddly comforting.

Hyun-soo gave a vague nod.

“Excuse me.”

Just then, an employee arrived unbidden with a cup of coffee. Clearly not an ordinary server, the steaming drink was placed directly in front of Guk.

“This is today’s special blend. A mix of five beans creates a bittersweet yet sweet flavor profile, with a rich body. Quite exquisite.”

After listening to the explanation, Guk lifted the cup, inhaling deeply before taking a sip. He savored another sip, breathing in and out slowly as if absorbing the aroma fully.

“Very good.”

“Ah, thank you so much.”

Guk’s simple praise visibly delighted the employee, who looked as though she’d just passed a significant test.

Still holding her tray, she lingered nearby, lips pressed tightly together to suppress a growing smile, clearly hoping for more words of approval. But...

“As you can see, I’m in the middle of a conversation.”

“Oh! My apologies. I’ll leave now. Have a great day, Vice President.”

That was all the praise Guk offered. Flustered, the employee bowed deeply and retreated.

“Aren’t you going to take my order?”

“Huh? Oh! Right. What would you like?”

Startled by his voice calling her back, the employee spun around, realizing her mistake. Watching her flustered state made Hyun-soo feel equally embarrassed, prompting her to hastily request anything quick.

“Whatever’s fastest, please.”

“Fastest? Like what?”

Coincidentally, Hyun-soo’s eyes landed on a leftover juice glass at a neighboring table. Perfect.

“Juice works. Any kind of juice.”

“Then perhaps our popular orange juice...?”

“That’s fine.”

“I’ll bring it right away.”

Finally, the employee departed, leaving Hyun-soo and Guk alone. While Hyun-soo fanned herself nervously, Guk calmly leaned his chin on his hand, observing her coolly.

“You sure know how to make interesting orders.”

“I wanted juice.”

“Sure you did.”

“Haha... Why are you picking on me again?”

“You ordered based on what you saw at the next table. You could’ve asked for a menu.”

How did he notice? His perceptiveness was unnervingly sharp. Avoiding further comment, Hyun-soo fanned herself harder, pretending to be distracted.

“Why is it so hot in here? Fancy decorations don’t mean much if they can’t get the air conditioning right.”

“Who said the AC isn’t working properly?”

“It’s not about anyone saying it—it’s evidence. Can’t you feel how hot it is right now?”

“Are you implying I’m the only one overheating?”

“What?”

Guk lifted his cup and took another sip. Frustratingly, every move he made looked like it belonged in a magazine spread or a painting—a perfect composition.

“I’ve seen deficits, but customer service and operations here are impeccable.”

Hyun-soo stared blankly at him, puzzled by his words. Saying it like that almost implied...

‘Have a great day, Vice President.’

Vice President. Yes, the employee had called him that earlier. Come to think of it, people had followed him in a line before entering the café, just like CEOs or executives in dramas or movies.

So was Yoon Guk really the Vice President of Hotel Onyx? At twenty-nine? The same Yoon Guk she used to know?

The realization sent her mind spiraling into chaos. Sure, Guk had always excelled academically and in various fields, but this was on a completely different level. Academic success alone wouldn’t land someone a VP position at such a young age in a prestigious company.

What exactly are you? What happened to you over these ten years?

“So, have you made up your mind?”

“Huh?”

His sudden question caught her off guard. Meeting her bewildered gaze, Guk spoke plainly.

“No need to beat around the bush. Let’s cut to the chase.”

“Huh? Uh, okay.”

“I’m asking whether you’re willing to work under me.”

“Oh.”

“And confirming your decision.”

His words snapped Hyun-soo back to reality. Somewhere along the way, the server had returned, placing a tall glass of orange juice in front of her.

Decision, huh? Decision. Whether she was willing to follow his lead, stay by his side—or rather, beneath him.

“As I said, opportunities like this don’t come often.”

Hyun-soo hesitated briefly. But deep down, she already knew her answer—it had been decided the moment she showed up at the designated meeting spot.

With difficulty, she nodded. A faint smile crossed Guk’s lips as he lifted his teacup once more.