Next Group Headquarters
At the top floor of Next Group Headquarters, Park Hyun Woo stood by the glass wall of his office, overlooking the city. The morning headlines scrolled across a screen to his side. Repeatedly for a week now, the event at the Gala has been on the top trending item. He could have stopped it. he could have contained it.
Or even clipped her wings and made it insignificant. But he did not. This is nothing but a molehill out of a mountain for him. But to her, its her rebellion. and he would rather let her rebel and have the last laugh than to contain her.
Ji Eun's face.
Ji Eun's words.
Ji Eun's rebellion.
Behind him, his secretary stood stiffly. "Sir… the board has requested clarification on the incident."
Silence.
"And several partners," she continued carefully, "have postponed their responses pending… further stability."
Still...
No reply.
Hyun Woo's gaze remained fixed on the skyline. Unmoved.
"Cancel nothing," he said finally in a calm and precise way.
The secretary blinked. "Sir?"
"Let them hesitate."
A slight pause.
"Doubt spreads faster than reassurance," he added quietly.
The secretary swallowed lightly.
Understood.
And left.
Once alone, Hyun Woo finally moved. Turning slightly, his gaze shifted to the single object resting on his desk. A small, old, silver pendant. Unremarkable, except, it wasn't something a man like him would normally keep.
He picked it up slowly. Turning it between his fingers. His expression softened, just slightly.
"…You don't even remember your promise," he murmured.