"You're really lucky," Jimmy, one of Rico's colleagues, said right after the introduction with the new CEO of MaC wrapped up. "I think your performance over the past year has made our new CEO place a lot of hope in you, Mr. Rico."

Rico let out a small chuckle, careful not to look too self-satisfied.

"You flatter me, Mr. Jimmy. I don't think I'm the only one who caught Mr. Josh's attention. You know he holds pretty high standards for his team."

"You're right."

The casual conversation flowed easily, with Rico and Josh at the center of it all. And it wasn't without reason-Rico had unexpectedly become the highlight of Joshua Miller's first appearance that afternoon. The strikingly handsome CEO had praised Rico's impressive work and expressed a desire to collaborate closely with him while leading MaC's Korean branch.

Rico felt all his efforts to climb the corporate ladder had finally paid off. He'd done everything-everything-to secure his position, even shamelessly courting Clara Jung, the daughter of one of MaC's board commissioners. In the ruthless game of corporate politics, especially in a company as massive as MaC, failing to play smart meant getting crushed or stuck in obscurity.

But that wasn't Rico's fate. He dreamed big. He wanted a title, a place high enough to command respect-from allies and rivals alike.

Clara walked into Rico's office moments later, her steps light, a smile she couldn't quite hide blooming on her face. Joy lit up her delicate features. The maroon business suit she wore stood out beautifully against the soft cascade of her dark brown hair.

"You were incredible," Clara whispered, awe in her voice. "Everyone was looking at you, Darling. Even Mr. Josh seemed to really take notice."

Rico glanced at her, still reclining in his chair. "They only saw what I wanted them to see."

Clara stepped closer, stopping right in front of him. Her gaze brimmed with admiration-like a girl head over heels in love. "But still, you stood out from everyone else. I've always known how brilliant you are, Rico. But seeing others acknowledge it... I felt so proud."

Rico offered a faint, knowing smirk. He was well aware of how deeply Clara loved him-and that made everything easier. Her feelings were a tool, and he intended to use them to their fullest.

"Then keep feeling proud, Clara. This is just the beginning," he murmured, gently pulling her closer to him.

Clara bit her lower lip. "My father's hosting a dinner tonight. Some of the board members and top execs from HQ will be there-including Mr. Josh. I want you to come with me."

Rico laughed softly, running his hand slowly down Clara's back. "Is that a request, or an order, hmm?"

Clara couldn't hide how flustered his teasing made her. Her cheeks grew visibly red. "A request. I want everyone to know who's by my side."

"You don't need to ask if I'll come," Rico replied without missing a beat. "I'm always by your side."

Clara looked relieved, glowing with happiness. She didn't realize that in Rico's mind, the only person who truly mattered... was himself.

"Since you're already this close to me," Rico murmured, his voice low and lazy, "could you help calm me down for a bit? Before I get to all the tasks Josh dumped on me?"

Clara let out a soft laugh but didn't object. "Alright." She leaned down-lower, and lower-until her face was level with the seat of Rico's chair.

"Should I start with my hands, or... my mouth?"

Rico licked his lips, impatient. "Whatever you do, I'll love it."

***

In his calm, minimalist office, Josh stood by the tall window, watching the Seoul skyline dim as night crept in. The sound of approaching footsteps broke the stillness, followed by a cautious voice.

"I've prepared a full report on Ricardo Dallas," Dylan said as he placed a tablet on Josh's desk.

Josh didn't take it right away. He kept his gaze fixed on the window, his voice cool and quiet. "Are you sure it's accurate this time, Dylan?"

Dylan hesitated. "I understand you're still upset about the Pamalove Bar incident. But I swear, I double-checked everything this time. It won't happen again."

Josh finally turned and picked up the tablet with deliberate slowness. His eyes scanned the screen sharply before shifting to Dylan.

"One mistake can be forgiven. Two means you didn't learn." His tone was cold, almost surgical. "Don't force me to consider a replacement. But... for now, I still trust you. For now."

Dylan bowed slightly, swallowing hard. "Thank you, sir. You won't be disappointed."

Josh opened the report. Photo after photo, financial records, promotion history, and a detailed list of Rico's business trips scrolled by. He flipped through each page with unshaken focus.

"Promoted too fast," Josh muttered. "His first three years were mediocre at best."

"He's close to Clara Jung. Their relationship goes beyond professional. And-"

"-backed by Jaeyoon Jung, one of the board commissioners," Josh cut in, his voice low but razor-sharp. "Clara's family has long-standing ties with MaC's central holding. No wonder their golden boy suddenly rose to the top."

Josh exhaled slowly and set the tablet down on the desk. "What's next on my schedule?"

"You've been asked to attend a formal dinner tonight," Dylan informed him. Josh gave no response. After a pause, Dylan added, "I've arranged everything."

Josh didn't respond right away. He kept staring out the window, as if calculating a deeper move behind his silence. A faint smile touched his lips-barely noticeable.

"If someone like Rico can rise through dirty tactics," he murmured, "let's see how high he can climb before he falls."

Dylan didn't fully understand what Josh meant, but as his most trusted man, questioning Josh wasn't in his job description.

"Keep a close eye on Rico, Dylan. If necessary, assign someone specifically to monitor him."

Dylan frowned. "Is... Rico really that much of a threat to MaC?"

Josh let out a short laugh. "No."

"Then why go through the trouble?"

"Because of a promise." Josh grabbed the blazer he had draped over the back of his chair. "Come on. Let's not be late for dinner. I'm hungry."

"Yes, Mr. Josh."

The Seoul sky was beginning to darken, and the city lights flickered on, casting a soft glow across the streets. Their reflections danced along the sleek surface of a black car cruising toward Gangnam. Inside, Josh leaned back in the rear seat, a wireless earbud tucked neatly in his ear. Jack's voice came through the call, smooth and familiar.

"So, how's Seoul?"

"Do I really need to answer that?" Josh replied with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

His brother chuckled on the other end. "Well, I haven't heard you complain since day one, so I'll take that as a sign you're settling in."

Josh let out a long breath. "You wouldn't be calling unless it was important. Just tell me-what is it?"

"I heard you're attending a dinner party tonight?"

"Something like that."

Once again, Jackson Miller laughed-carefree, as always. "Sounds like little brother is starting to understand the game. These dinners tell you who's loyal and who's quietly planning the downfall of the company Dad built."

Josh didn't respond to that.

"I heard it's at a restaurant in Cheongdam?"

"Yeah. Mr. Jung recommended the place. Dylan said it's popular with the exec crowd. Not exactly my scene."

"Well, if Dylan said it's worth it, you might as well enjoy it-even if it's reluctantly. After a week of reading reports, you deserve something decent to eat."

Josh offered a faint smile. "It's more than just reports. I've been studying the habits of the board members here. Some of them are way too comfortable... too powerful."

Jack chuckled again. "I figured. Each branch has its own culture. But MaC Korea has always had a reputation for being... a little closed off, hasn't it?"

"Closed off, and riddled with internal compromises. Too many decisions are made for political reasons. I want a system that's transparent, performance-based-not built on favoritism."

Josh heard Jack clear his throat briefly. "You're the CEO now. If you want to change the ship's direction, I'm behind you. Don't hesitate."

"Since when have I ever hesitated? But I won't move too fast. No need to stir the pot before I understand how deep it goes."

"When you're trying to fix a broken system like MaC Korea's, the ones who resist the hardest are usually the ones who've been feeding off the chaos. Don't overthink it."

Josh let out a short laugh. "Still the brute force type, huh?"

"I work at HQ. With Dad breathing down my neck, I don't have the luxury of playing nice. If I don't push hard, I get crushed."

The car slowed, then pulled to a stop in front of a restaurant marked by a sleek wooden sign that read Mingles.

"I've got to go," Josh said. "I'll keep you posted if anything comes up."

"Good luck, CEO."

The call ended.

Josh stared at the restaurant façade for a moment, already arranging the next steps in his mind.

"This way, sir," Dylan said, holding the door open.

The moment Josh stepped into Mingles, the chill of the evening melted away, replaced by the warm ambiance of wood-accented interiors and soft, golden lighting. The high ceilings were adorned with minimalist geometric chandeliers-elegant in their simplicity. A gentle stream of instrumental jazz floated through the air, subtle enough not to overpower conversation, yet present enough to ease the formality of the room.

A long dining table had been arranged in the private area of the restaurant. Around it, a mix of sharply dressed executives in tailored suits and women in graceful evening gowns began to rise as soon as Josh appeared at the entrance. Some of them had already been standing, waiting.

"Good evening, Mr. Miller."

"It's an honor to have you with us tonight."

"I've been looking forward to meeting you in person, Mr. Josh Miller."

Greetings poured in one by one.

With a faint, polite smile that barely curved his lips, Josh returned each of them with brief but courteous nods. Behind him, Dylan followed half a step behind, eyes scanning the room-marking who smiled too eagerly, who stared too long, and who looked just a bit too anxious.

As Josh made his way to the central seat at the long side of the table-the one clearly reserved for him-he noticed Rico and Clara were already there, seated across from each other, Clara's chair subtly angled toward Rico.

Clara stood quickly, offering a smile that was a shade too warm to be purely professional. "It's such a pleasure to finally have you join us, Mr. Miller. We've all been looking forward to this evening."

Josh gave a slight nod, his expression neutral-pleasant, but distant.

Rico quickly chimed in, raising his voice just enough to make sure those nearby could hear. "We're truly honored by your presence, Mr. Josh. Hopefully, this dinner marks the start of an even stronger collaboration."

"Let's hope so." Josh's reply was polite but detached, much like the way he glanced at Rico-briefly, without emotion-before turning his attention back to the wine glass in front of him.

A server appeared with the appetizers: delicate jeon filled with fresh oysters, paired with chilled mulkimchi elegantly plated in handcrafted ceramic bowls. The tang of fermentation and traditional spices filled the room, rich and unmistakably Korean.

"This is the finest hanjeongsik in Seoul, Mr. Josh. We thought you might miss the authentic flavors of home, considering you grew up overseas," said Commissioner Jaeyoon with an affable tone.

Josh simply nodded, disinterested. He had a feeling this dinner would drag on longer than he'd like.

"If I'm not mistaken, your mother is from Busan, isn't she? A daughter of the Choi family, if my memory serves me right?" This time, it was Commissioner Kwon speaking-his gaze sharp, as if what he'd just shared was some rare gem of insider knowledge.

"That's true. But I don't use that family name anymore," Josh replied flatly.

"Ah, what a shame. The Choi name is still quite respected-especially the branch from Busan," said Jaeyoon, quickly chiming in. "I actually knew one of your uncles back when I was studying at KAIST."

Josh resisted the urge to sigh. If there was one thing he hated, it was people bringing up his family. "A lot changed after our parents' generation," he said coolly.

The waiter returned just in time, placing the main course in front of them: slow-braised galbijjim, beef so tender it practically fell apart at the touch, and grilled deodeok drizzled with a sweet-spicy gochujang sauce.

Rico seized the moment.

"Mr. Josh, I hope you enjoy the galbijjim. Clara and I tried it yesterday and immediately thought you had to taste it."

"If it doesn't suit your palate, we can recommend someplace more authentic," Clara added with a carefully practiced smile.

Josh turned his head slightly, casting them a fleeting look that carried just the faintest hint of fatigue. Then he turned back to his plate. "Thank you. I'll give it a try."

There was no shortage of small talk-none of it meaningful. But for the sake of his position here in Korea, Josh kept his composure. He allowed himself to be the magnetic center of the table, receiving dishes and drinks as they came, politely engaging just enough to maintain appearances.

Until his phone rang.

The sudden sound broke the rhythm of the dinner, and to everyone's surprise, Josh actually smiled-genuinely, widely. It caught attention. Was it someone special? A lover, perhaps?

"Hey, sweetheart," Josh said brightly into the phone, rising from his seat. Then he gave the others a polite nod as he spoke, "I have to take this. Please, go ahead with dinner. Dylan will handle the bills. Good night."

There was a brief, stunned silence. By the time they remembered to respond with their own "Good night," Josh was already halfway out the door. Dylan quickly stepped in to take his place, wordlessly falling into the role of handling things in his boss's absence.

"Damn," Jaeyoon muttered under his breath. "Our CEO doesn't seem too fond of traditional Korean cuisine."

"You're right," added Kwon In-Hyuk, frowning slightly. "I thought he'd appreciate it more."

"Don't worry too much," Rico said smoothly. "There will be plenty more opportunities-especially with Mr. Jung and Mr. Kwon. I doubt Mr. Josh will turn those down."

Both Jaeyoon and Kwon exchanged knowing glances and chuckled in agreement.

"Your future son-in-law's quite sharp," Kwon commented with a nod of approval toward Rico, who responded with a humble smile.

"I wouldn't surround myself with fools, Mr. Kwon."

Their laughter returned, and the dinner carried on.

Meanwhile, outside the restaurant, Josh strolled casually, phone still at his ear.

"Would you quit starting conversations like that?" Ivy snapped on the other end. "I'm not your girlfriend."

Josh just chuckled, letting the sound roll off his lips as he walked, not bothering to speak until he was far enough from the sycophants still milling around inside the dinner party.

"So... what you call me?" he asked casually.

"Am I bothering you?" Ivy's voice came through the line, a little anxious.

"Not at all," Josh replied, loosening the knot of his tie with a relaxed motion.

"I made dinner. Will you... be home soon?"

His steps slowed. The cold night air in Seoul brushed against his face, but oddly enough, it felt warm-comforting. No one had ever called him just to say something like that. Not in his entire life.

"Yes," he murmured. "I'll be home soon."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Want me to bring you anything?"

"No need. I've already bought plenty of things using your card. That thing buys a lot, Josh," Ivy teased from the other end.

"Ouch. That answer wounds me."

"What do you mean by that?" Ivy asked, genuinely confused. "Could you just hurry up? It's best served hot."

"Do you miss me that much?" he asked playfully. "So much you can't wait to see me?"

A soft laugh slipped through the line. "Not even a little."

"You're sure you don't need anything else?"

"No, Josh."

That light, easy conversation lingered with him all the way to the black car waiting in the lobby. Dylan stood nearby, silently observing the exchange between Josh and whoever was on the other end of that call.

It was strange-no, it was borderline unsettling.

Since when did Josh speak with that kind of tenderness?

And since when did Josh Miller have someone in his life like that?

A few hours before Ivy called Josh...

"So, it's official? You're divorced now?" Luna asked while stretching out her stiff arms. They both worked at the same café, but on different ends of the operation-Ivy was on the floor, Luna in the kitchen.

Luckily, their shifts overlapped today, which meant they could grab lunch together.

"Pretty much," Ivy replied, mid-bite into her sandwich. The toasted bread filled with tender beef tasted even better than she expected, sliding down her throat with a warmth she hadn't felt in days. "Thanks for lunch, Luna." She grinned. "You saved me from starving to death."

"Idiot," Luna scoffed, smacking Ivy's shoulder with enough force to make her wince. She didn't care if Ivy complained-she still cared deeply for her friend. She shoved a bottle of water toward her. "You need to take better care of yourself, Ivy. No matter how strong you pretend to be, your body knows when you're faking it."

Ivy took the bottle with a small smile. "I'm fine."

"Liar," Luna said flatly. "No one comes out of a divorce untouched. Especially not after years with a guy like Rico."

Ivy didn't answer right away. She twisted the cap off and took a slow sip of water. "Sometimes I still think about it. Not because I want to go back... but because I feel stupid. For trusting him so blindly."

Luna rolled her eyes. "You loved him, Ivy. That's not a crime. But don't forget-love that isn't nurtured by both people only becomes a burden for one."

Ivy let out a tired laugh. "Thanks for the reminder."

"If you still need to cry, then cry," Luna said, leaning in a little closer. "But once you're done, let him go. Move on."

"Where are you living now?" she asked, lowering her voice as if to brace herself. "Don't tell me you've been sleeping at a public bathhouse?"

Ivy snorted with amusement. "Excuse me, rude. No." She lifted her chin slightly, putting on a confident front-more for Luna's sake than her own. "Relax. I've got my own place now."

"Alone?"

"Yeah. It's small, but it's clean and safe. That's all I need for now. I've got to start saving-there's still some student debt left. You remember, right? Rico and I took out that loan for his tuition back then."

Luna went quietly. Her face twisted into an expression somewhere between anger and pity.

"That asshole," she muttered eventually. "He wrecks your life, and you still have to carry the debt he left behind?"

Ivy shrugged, half-laughing at her own misfortune. "I agreed to it. So it's my responsibility too."

Luna let out a frustrated sigh but didn't say anything more. She knew Ivy-once she made up her mind, there was no shaking it.

"Sometimes I want to yell at you for falling for the wrong guy," Luna said after a pause. "But then again, I've never actually been in love. My life's boring-monotonous, even." She laughed at herself. "So who am I to judge, right?"

"You know," Ivy said as she finished the last bite of her sandwich, "your anger feels like love to me. Thanks for being my friend, Luna."

"Always," Luna said, giving Ivy's shoulder a firm pat. "Come on, we should get moving. Mr. Kim will have our heads if we take too long."

"You're right."

The two of them headed back to the restaurant, which rarely ever saw a quiet moment. Mr. Kim's bean sprout soup was famous for its rich, savory broth-a local favorite that drew regular crowds. But to Ivy, Mr. Kim was more than just her boss. Having lived most of her life without parents, she had come to see him as a father figure.

"Take this home, Ivy. You need to eat more meat," Mr. Kim said, his face flushed as he caught his breath after stirring a massive pot of broth. In his hand was a pack of thinly sliced beef, ready to be cooked any way she liked.

"But, Mr. Kim..." Ivy started to protest, but the look in his eyes made her swallow her words and take the bag with both hands.

"I don't want to hear that one of my employees passed out from poor nutrition!"

Luna and Haeon, another friend from the restaurant, burst out laughing.

"Thank you, Mr. Kim," Ivy said with a respectful bow. "I'll get going now."

"Yeah, yeah. Get home safe."

And it was because of that meat that Ivy figured-why not cook dinner for Josh too? After all, the weekend was just around the corner. She also wanted to ask him what came next in his plan to reclaim the house that Rico was still living in.

***

The dining table in Ivy's apartment looked like it belonged in a high-end hanjeongsik restaurant-bathed in warm pendant light and filled with the mouthwatering aroma of simmering broth. Ivy had chosen a simple menu, but every detail was thoughtful.

Thin slices of bulgogi beef, marinated in soy sauce, toasted sesame, garlic, and freshly grated Korean pear, then seared lightly to stay juicy. Japchae is made with glass noodles cooked just right, tossed with vibrant slivers of carrot, spinach, and shiitake mushrooms. Fresh kimchi in a small porcelain bowl, neatly placed beside perilla leaves. A bubbling pot of doenjang jjigae, Korean miso soup, served in a rustic clay pot still steaming on its wooden trivet. Even the warm white rice was shaped into a neat mound in a patterned ceramic bowl.

She added chilled slices of Korean pear for dessert, and a glass teapot filled with cold barley tea, beads of condensation forming on its sides.

When Josh stepped through the door, the scent of the meal greeted him instantly. He paused, caught off guard-there was something about it that felt... comforting. Familiar. Warm.

Without wasting another moment, he slipped off his jacket and set his briefcase down on the couch.

"Wow... did you plan a whole feast or something?" he asked, licking his lips as a sudden wave of hunger hit him.

Ivy stepped out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a towel. "I hope you like it."

Josh approached the table, his eyes lighting up in surprise. "I haven't even sat down yet and I'm already starving. Did you really make all this yourself?"

Ivy nodded. "If you don't like it-"

"Come on," he cut her off, pulling out a chair and sitting down. "What part of me looks like I wouldn't love this?"

A small smile curved Ivy's lip. "Enjoy."

The quiet clinking of spoons and chopsticks filled the room, occasionally punctuated by Josh's low murmurs of approval as he devoured the bulgogi with zero hesitation.

"If I'd known you could cook like this," he muttered, pouring himself some barley tea, "I would've come home early every night. Seriously."

When he noticed Ivy giving him a skeptical look, Josh leaned back with a lazy grin.

"I'm serious. This dinner just erased every trace of my crappy day."

Ivy smiled faintly, brushing off the compliment. "Don't exaggerate. Just think of this dinner as my way of saying thank you."

"For what exactly?"

"Letting me stay here temporarily," she said lightly.

"You don't need to thank me for that." Josh leaned back slightly, setting down his chopsticks. "Thanks for the meal, Ivy."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," she replied, glancing at the nearly empty dishes on the table.

"It'd be even better if you started making dinner for me every night."

"Can you promise not to come home too late? Eating that late isn't good for your body."

"Sure," Josh said with a casual nod. "I'll make sure of it." He relaxed more into his seat, his tone dropping a little softer. "So... you don't mind? Cooking dinner for me? Like you said that first day you came here?"

Ivy shook her head with a smile. "Alright then. I'll go shopping for groceries tomorrow."

Then she set her chopsticks down and looked at him more seriously. "Speaking of that house... Any updates? Is there any chance of getting it back soon?"

Josh let out a quiet sigh, leaning back and rubbing his temple for a second. "I've already spoken to my attorney-the one who usually handles cases like this," he said at last. "Unfortunately, right now, the house is entirely under Rico's name. Legally, there's no opening to reclaim it. Not unless there's paperwork proving your financial contribution."

Ivy's expression tensed for a moment. Her gaze dropped to her lap. The disappointment was subtle, but Josh saw it clearly. She didn't say anything. And the silence that followed... it got under his skin.

Josh reached for his glass of tea and leaned toward her slightly. "Are you disappointed?"

"A little," Ivy admitted with a bitter laugh.

"But... there's another way. A sneakier, more painful way. One that doesn't just get the house back-"

He paused, his voice low and deliberate. "-but makes him regret ever treating you like that."

Ivy looked up. "What kind of way?"

Josh gently patted his thigh. "Come closer."

Her brow lifted high. "Excuse me?"

Josh flashed a wicked grin. "Come here." He shifted in his seat just enough to make it clear what he meant. "You know what I want, don't you?"

Ivy held her breath, hesitating for a moment before rising from her chair. Slowly, she stepped closer. Tentatively, she perched on the edge of his seat-but Josh didn't let her stop there. His hand slid around her waist, pulling her onto his lap.

She let out a soft, frustrated groan, instinctively looping her arms around his neck to steady herself. "What do you want?"

"You haven't forgotten our agreement, have you?" Josh whispered, teasing her, his breath brushing her ear-already turning the tips of them a deep shade of pink. Whether it was embarrassing or heat, she couldn't tell.

"No." Ivy leaned back slightly to put some space between them. "But... can you at least tell me what your plan is?"

"You don't trust me to pull it off?" he asked, one brow lifted in mock offense.

She didn't answer. Instead, she tilted her head back just slightly as Josh pressed a few kisses to the slender line of her neck. She winced once when he bit down-just enough to sting. "Don't leave a mark, Josh."

He chuckled against her skin. "Come with me to this weekend's dinner party. As my date."

Ivy brows furrowed. "What does that have to do with that bastard?"

"You'll find out when you get there." Another kiss. Warmer this time. "So? Will you go with me?"

"Is Rico going to be there too?"

"Of course." Josh's voice grew lower, rougher with impatience. One of his hands slipped under her shirt, fingers brushing lightly against her skin.

Ivy still couldn't quite connect the dots, but she had a feeling Josh had his own ways of making things happen. Maybe it was time she stopped trying to figure everything out and just trusted him-for once.

"Can you at least wait a second?" she sighed. "I haven't showered, and I just finished cooking. Let me change, at least."

"No." His voice turned husky. "You smell delicious, Ivy."

"You think I smell like-"

Her protest was cut short with a startled gasp as Josh scooped her up effortlessly, cradling her against his chest like she weighed nothing. She clung to him, arms and legs wrapped tight like a koala hanging on for dear life. "Put me down, Josh!"

"Not until we're on my bed," he said with a wicked laugh. "Or yours. Take your pick. But hurry-I'm dying to devour you, Ivy."