Chapter 1: The Great Comet

The Great Comet ‘Julius,’ expected to be the brightest comet of this century, is approaching Earth. Having already passed through the orbit between Mars and Earth last month, the comet is expected to make its closest approach to Earth in three days, on the night of October 3rd. Julius boasts a magnitude of -12, significantly brighter than Venus, the brightest planet. This level of brightness allows for direct observation with the naked eye even in urban areas during daylight hours, making it the brightest in recorded astronomical history. With an orbital period of 5,000 years, public anticipation is soaring for this rare phenomenon, and Seoul is planning large-scale observation events….

A comet, my a**.

A white finger gripping the steering wheel tapped the screen. The frequency shifted, and the voice of a different anchor took over the radio. Only then did news worth listening to begin to flow.

Beauty Cube, South Korea’s largest cosmetics company, has been sold for what is essentially a bargain price. In a press release distributed this morning, Beauty Cube announced that it has successfully completed its merger and acquisition with the global private equity firm, Goldstone.

Junhan, sitting in the passenger seat, let out a snicker as if he had expected this. A pale, cold face slowly glanced back at him. Her expression held a silent protest, asking why he was laughing.

“Not interested? They say it’s a once-in-a-five-thousand-year opportunity.”

It was a frivolous comment.

Hyeonseo, her glossy brown hair swaying, returned her gaze to the road ahead. It was rush hour, and she was barely navigating an eight-lane boulevard packed with cars. She wondered if she should be this happy to see that loathsome yet familiar building after an hour of traffic.

The signal changed, and her slender fingers turned the wheel with relief.

“No. Not interested.”

“Of course you aren’t.”

“But, I do have to see it.”

“Why? Did Jo Inho ask to watch it together?”

“No. I’m the one who suggested it.”

To be precise, it was Sol’s idea.

“Getting married is hard work, really.”

Junhan shook his head as if he understood perfectly.

She wholeheartedly agreed with that sentiment. Killing time while staring at falling stars was definitely not her style.

Screech. The SUV slid smoothly down the underground ramp and parked neatly within the lines.

5:30 PM. It was a much later return than expected. She hurried out of the car. There was a mountain of work waiting back at the office.

“When we get up, send me those materials we got earlier right away. The JK Secretary’s Office has been calling since yesterday saying the amendment to the articles of incorporation is urgent.”

“I’ll send it to Lawyer Ahn. It’s only two lines for the procedural clause; an associate can handle it.”

“No. Send it straight to Sol. The Chairman asked me to oversee it personally.”

Pressing the elevator button, she checked the backlog of messages on her phone. Though she knew Junhan was staring at her with reproach, Hyeonseo tapped away at the screen, pretending not to notice.

“Do you know?”

“Know what.”

“There’s a competition going on among the associates. Everyone is vying to be Cha Hyeonseo’s associate.”

“Why? Do they all want to work under a brilliant lawyer for once?”

“Of course. You’re brilliant. Where else can you find a partner who guarantees getting off work on time?”

At her flat, indifferent response, Junhan nodded exaggeratedly and joked.

“There are only two people in this law firm who leave on time. The CEO and Associate Cha Hyeonseo.”

“I don’t like other people touching my work. I don’t trust them.”

“I can imagine. By your standards, you probably wouldn’t even trust the CEO.”

Only then did a dry, short laugh escape Hyeonseo’s icy face.

“I’m heading out first.”

The elevator doors opened, and Junhan vanished with a wave. She slid her phone into her pocket and stepped out of the elevator.

Click, click. As she walked, she happened to look down at her calf and saw a sharp scratch. The stockings she had already changed once on her way to work had run again.

She thought about going down to the convenience store on the first floor to buy a new pair but decided to just endure it for a few more hours. Since she’d be holed up in her office working overtime anyway before heading home.

She entered her office immediately. Before she could even set her bag down, Sol peeked through the door and followed her in.

“Lawyer Cha. Um, there’s a guest waiting for you in the conference room.”

An unscheduled client? Seeing Sol’s somewhat awkward expression, Hyeonseo asked back.

“Who is it?”

“Goldstone.”

“I told the branch manager I’d visit him personally tomorrow?”

“No. It’s not the branch manager.”

“Then who?”

“The Director. The Asia Director, Ryan Seo.”

“Who?”

Her thoughts stalled for a moment at the appearance of someone so unfamiliar and unexpected.

“The Director came personally? Why?”

Sol shook her head, indicating she didn’t know.

It felt unpleasant. While the Beauty Cube merger was quite large and successful, would a global figure who handles several international M&As a day really come to this humble place just to meet a single partner lawyer? Her intuition was screaming that something was off.

She headed straight for the main conference room. Hearing that the Goldstone Director had arrived, it seemed the CEO had given up the largest meeting room instead of a standard consultation room.

Knock, knock.

She gave a brief knock and opened the door, catching sight of a man’s back as he stood looking out the window. Her gaze fixed on him instinctively. His physique was more than just handsome; it was overwhelming.

Staring at his broad shoulders and long legs, she tried to recall his image from economic journals or internet articles she might have skimmed. However, the only thing in her head was Junhan’s cynical comment about how ‘that vicious bstrd is actually good-looking.’ She couldn’t remember his face at all because she had never cared to look.

Was he American, or of European descent? His threateningly sturdy silhouette was distorting even her faint memories.

The vast, desolate conference room was already filled with the deep shadows of evening. Sensing a presence, the man slowly turned around. Hyeonseo lowered her head slightly to offer a greeting. Lightly, so as not to be too loud or too rude.

“Hello. I am Cha Hyeonseo.”

Tap, tap.

The sound of leisurely footsteps approached, and as the man stood before her, a subtle, heavy scent of cologne wafted over. Entranced by the unfamiliar fragrance, she found herself staring up at him blankly.

His face, which had been submerged in the blueish darkness, was gradually revealed under the soft halogen lights.

Straight, dark eyebrows and beneath them, eyelids that moved slowly. A deep gaze and a bridge of a nose as sharp as if it had been sculpted. Even his jawline looked masculine and solid, despite its sharpness. He was handsome to the point where one couldn’t look away.

In fact, the common and simple expression ‘handsome’ felt insufficient. His face was one where not a single flaw could be found. For some reason, it felt hard to breathe.

Had he even heard her greeting? After staring at her face for quite a while, the man leisurely opened his lips.

“We finally meet.”

“…”

“The famous Lawyer Cha Hyeonseo I’ve heard so much about.”

What did that mean? What had he heard that made him stare so rudely? His gaze was as overbearing as a predator observing its prey.

“Nice to meet you.”

He smiled silently, extending his hand.

“Yes. Nice to meet you.”

His hand, which touched hers briefly, was large, firm, and hot.

“This last case was quite impressive. That’s why I wanted to come and see you in person.”

It didn’t exactly sound like a compliment. Rather, it sounded more like the tone of someone who had been waiting to catch her.

“Please, sit.”

He invited her to sit while he leaned back in the head seat first. Somehow, the roles of host and guest had been reversed.

The line between politeness and rudeness was blurred. No. It wasn’t that he had a malicious intent to intimidate her and gain the upper hand; it was simply that this insolent attitude was ingrained in him. The relaxation and arrogance he displayed suited him like his own clothes. Throughout the meeting, she suffered under the illusion that the very density of the air around him was different.

She felt uneasy for some reason. She wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with people of this disposition, but the man before her was more unsettling. Aside from the fact that he was blatantly arrogant and rude, his eyes—which made it impossible to read his inner thoughts—added to her sense of foreboding.

A strange man.

“You said you were looking for me.”

When she asked for the main point, he crossed his long legs in a rather rebellious manner.

“Looking at it, I think the saying that Koreans have a lot of ‘jeong’ is true. Even when picking a thug, they tend to choose one that is familiar and recognizable.”

The face that slowly pulled up the corners of its mouth was overflowing with leisure. Whether he was innocent or devilish—this, too, was an unclear boundary.

“For quite a long time, HHR alone has been preempting the massive market that is Korea. In terms of capital recovery and profit margins, they fall far behind our Goldstone. And they are even quite inhumane over there.”

She swallowed a faint, mocking laugh. Whatever else might be true, was Goldstone really in a position to discuss ‘humane’ management?

“And yet, strangely, Koreans only look for HHR, to an embarrassing degree.”

She guessed he was probably about to go on about how they were going to jump into the Korean market and start tearing things up. The stock market rumors that Goldstone would begin a full-scale entry into Korea if this M&A ended successfully weren’t entirely wrong.

So, what do you want to say to me?

She stared quietly into his eyes, which were difficult to read, as if asking him to continue.

“I would like you to help me, Lawyer Cha.”

Their eyes met again. She felt as though she might be sucked into those black abysses forever. His gaze, tangling with hers without providing an exit, was unyieldingly firm.

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

“How much do you get paid here?”

Finally losing her words, she let out a hollow breath. It was too blunt a question for someone so mysterious, making it even more absurd.

“Are you offering me a job right now?”

“I’m not sure if the word ‘offer’ is appropriate. You probably won’t be able to refuse.”

Was the source of this confidence also power? He was acting as if he were genuinely concerned for her. It was breathtakingly arrogant.

“I appreciate the offer.”

The man, who read her intent to decline politely, tilted his chin to the side and smiled as if he already knew what she was going to say next.

“However, I don’t think I can give you the answer you’re looking for.”

She spoke firmly, as if the proposal wasn’t even worth considering.

“If the ‘unrefusable condition’ you’re referring to is my salary, I’m already being paid at the highest level in Korea. Furthermore, for me to leave the relatively stable fence of ‘Cheongsong’ to join Goldstone, which has only just entered Korea, would be too much of a gamble.”

To be honest, she added those words out of a strange sense of spite. She felt an inexplicable dislike for this relaxed, overconfident man.

“You’re quite confident. Without even hearing the amount.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have much desire for material wealth.”

One side of the man’s mouth quirked up. It was a clear sneer.

“Lawyer Cha Hyeonseo.”

She bit her lip at the sound of his low voice calling her name so smoothly.

“You want to clear your debt. That 5 billion.”

The man tempted her, smiling like a snake.

As expected, it was a main point she had never anticipated.