The morning after the dinner felt deceptively ordinary. Sunlight leaked through the blinds in thin, pale stripes, cutting across Claire's kitchen counter. The coffee machine hummed softly, filling the air with the scent of brewing beans. It should have been a calm start to the day. But the stillness pressed against her like a warning.
Her phone lit up before she even touched the mug. A notification from the business news app flashed on the lock screen.
HAN GROUP RUMORED TO CONSIDER YOO INDUSTRIES FOR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
Her stomach dipped. She hadn't signed anything, hadn't agreed to anything, and yet her name was already sliding into someone else's narrative.
Before she could process the headline, Kangwoo's name appeared on the incoming call.
"Miss Yoo," his voice was steady but quick, "Chairman Han was impressed last night. Impressed enough to move faster than we anticipated."
"I didn't agree to anything," she said.
"You didn't have to. Your presence was enough."
Her grip on the phone tightened. "Where's Evan?"
"In his office. He's expecting you."
Claire glanced at the coffee, then turned off the machine entirely. Whatever game Evan had played last night was already moving without her consent, and she wasn't about to let it spiral while she stood still.
By the time she reached Lee International's headquarters, the tension was visible before she even entered the building. In the lobby, staff moved faster than usual, voices pitched low. A security guard she didn't recognize stood by the elevator, scanning everyone who passed.
Kangwoo was waiting upstairs. "He's in the conference room."
She stepped inside and found Evan seated at the head of the table, sleeves rolled up, a file spread open in front of him. He didn't look up immediately.
"You should have told me," she said.
"I just did," he replied without missing a beat.
Her nails bit into her palm. "Han is making public moves based on a dinner conversation. My name is already out there. Do you know what that means for me?"
Evan leaned back, studying her. "It means you were effective. He's not an easy man to sway."
"It means I'm being used."
His gaze sharpened. "Everything we're doing is about positioning. Last night positioned you where you need to be."
She almost laughed. "Need to be? In a room full of men who think I'm a bargaining chip?"
"That depends," he said, "on whether you act like one, or prove them wrong."
Before she could respond, the door opened and one of Evan's assistants slipped in with a sealed envelope. She placed it on the table between them. "From Chairman Han's office. He said it's urgent."
Evan broke the seal, scanning the contents. Claire watched his expression shift, only slightly, but enough to know the message was serious. He slid the paper toward her.
It wasn't a letter. It was a list. Names, numbers, and what looked like account details. Some she recognized instantly, long-standing Yoo Industries partners. Others were strangers.
"What is this?" she asked.
"Han's offer," Evan said. "Or more accurately, his leverage."
Her eyes narrowed. "Leverage for what?"
"To ensure that when we make our move, your side of the table is already secured."
"And if I say no?"
He met her gaze without flinching. "Then these names won't stay on a list. They'll start disappearing from your father's company, one by one."
The room felt colder. She set the paper down carefully, as if handling something toxic. "So now it's blackmail."
"It's business," Evan said. "Han is just playing his part."
"And you?"
His jaw tightened. "I'm making sure you're not blindsided."
She stood, her chair scraping softly against the floor. "You're making sure I'm trapped."
Evan's voice followed her toward the door. "You're already in it, Claire. You can either fight from the inside, or lose from the outside."
The hallway felt suffocating, every step echoing too loudly. She didn't stop until she reached the balcony at the end, the cold air cutting through the heat in her chest.
Her phone buzzed again. This time it wasn't Kangwoo, or Evan, or a news alert. It was her father.
"Areum," his voice was tired, weaker than she remembered from even a week ago, "Han called me this morning. He says you made a strong impression."
"That's one way to put it."
"I know you don't trust them. But if this is the path, we need to take it before it's gone."
She stared out at the skyline. "And if it's a trap?"
"Then we walk carefully," he said, and she could hear the weight of years in his tone. "But we walk. Standing still won't save us now."
The line went quiet. She stood there for a long time after, the wind tugging at her coat.
When she returned to the main floor, Kangwoo was waiting by the elevators again. "Mr. Lee said you'd want this." He held out a small black card, no name, just an embossed address and time.
"What is it?"
"A meeting," he said. "Off the record. Tonight."
"With who?"
Kangwoo's eyes flickered, just enough to betray that he knew more than he was saying. "Someone who can answer the questions you haven't been able to ask."
Claire took the card. The weight of it felt heavier than paper.
"Tell him I'll be there," she said.
For the first time that day, Kangwoo's expression shifted, a ghost of something between surprise and respect.
As the elevator doors closed, she looked at the address again. She didn't know what she would find there, or who exactly was waiting. But one thing was certain—tonight, she wasn't going as a pawn.
She was going to find out how deep this game really went.