Chapter 10
Cha Ji-hoo and Claire talked late into the night.
Although the time they had spent together, even including when they first met in Japan, amounted to less than a full day, they somehow felt as close as if they had known each other for a long time.
Before they knew it, it was almost midnight as they continued their conversation, oblivious to the passing time.
“When are you leaving the country, oppa?”
“Two days after the exhibition ends.”
“So you’re not leaving right away the next day.”
“No. But I guess the company has some conscience—they’re giving me exactly one day of free time as a reward for my hard work.”
“Free time means you can have completely personal time?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
At those words, Claire’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as she asked.
“Then, could you possibly meet me that day?”
“I’d love to. As long as your schedule allows, Claire.”
“I’m actually free after that too, since I’ll be going home.”
“Perfect! Great. Let’s meet, then.”
“I’m so excited! I know Barcelona pretty well. I’ll show you around, oppa.”
“Should I take you up on that offer?”
“You can look forward to it, hehe.”
The two promised to meet again four days later and left the pub.
Because it was so late, Cha Ji-hoo felt worried about Claire. In Korea it would be one thing, but he wasn’t familiar with the late-night security situation in Spain.
Just then, a black luxury van glided up and stopped in front of the pub.
“I can take this. I called it in advance. Get in—I’ll drop you off at your accommodation, oppa.”
“No, it’s late—you should head home. I’m staying nearby, so I can walk there in no time.”
“Then be careful getting back, and I’ll see you that day.”
“Yes. Good night. Sweet dreams.”
“Okay!”
Cha Ji-hoo personally opened the car door and placed his hand above Claire’s head so she wouldn’t bump it on the doorframe. Claire’s heart thumped once more at his considerate gesture. She had never imagined that the same kind of courtesy could feel so different depending on who showed it.
‘I should act more thoughtfully toward him too.’
Her chest felt warm and fluttering all the way back to the villa. Her mind was completely filled with thoughts of Cha Ji-hoo.
The next day, upon arriving at the exhibition hall, Cha Ji-hoo realized he had become the center of attention and was taken aback. It was because of yesterday’s seminar.
Support staff from other teams who had never bothered to acknowledge him before came up to greet him, and foreigners who had attended the seminar waved at him warmly.
“Assistant Manager Cha, you became a total star with your performance yesterday!”
“Yoo Assistant Manager, you’re exaggerating again. What did I do that was so great? I just hosted and helped with the panel as the team leader instructed.”
“To say you just did your job is an understatement—you did so well and left a huge impact on so many people. If you say that’s not a big deal, I’m honestly baffled. Especially since the person who praised your performance was none other than the Vice Chairman himself, hehe.”
At that, Cha Ji-hoo looked embarrassed and ran a hand through his hair.
“Hah, I never dreamed the Vice Chairman was watching. Tsk.”
Just then, Team Leader Jang Ki-ho from yesterday came running up in a fluster, drenched in sweat.
“Assistant Manager Cha! Assistant Manager Cha!”
“Yes, Team Leader.”
“We need to prepare quickly.”
“Huh? For what?”
“The British Prime Minister is coming with Chairman Koo in 30 minutes.”
“Is that so?”
“So here’s the thing—I think you’ll need to escort them.”
“M…me? But you’re here, Team Leader, and the Global Marketing team members are too—that seems a bit…”
“I wanted to go easy on you today too, but the Chairman specifically pointed you out.”
“Huh? The… Chairman pointed me out?”
“Yes. I think it’s because the Vice Chairman saw you do so well yesterday. What can we do? It looks like the higher-ups have their eyes firmly on you now. Haha, congratulations!”
When the company’s top representative himself had singled him out, there was no reason or leisure to hesitate.
He thought he understood why Team Leader Jang was making such a fuss. The atmosphere made it clear.
‘Why is everything going so well in this life?’
Within a global conglomerate of Samel Electronics’ caliber, it was rare for a mere assistant manager to catch the attention of executives. The number of regular employees alone reached tens of thousands. If you expanded to the entire group, it would be dozens or hundreds of times that. Most of them were ultra-elite talents. Just being smart and skilled in foreign languages and speech was hardly enough to gain the notice of top management under normal circumstances.
In the end, one would need to either show overwhelming superiority or results in some field, or have incredibly good luck—only one of those two could make such a miracle possible.
And that miracle had happened to Cha Ji-hoo.
‘But in my previous life…’
He had kicked away opportunities like this because of his relationship and marriage with Ahn Ji-yeon.
Once again, he gave thanks to the deity who had granted him a second life.
Team Leader Jang patted Cha Ji-hoo on the back and continued.
“In the afternoon, the French Minister of Economy is also coming, so you might end up handling that too.”
“If you entrust it to me, I’ll do my best.”
“Haha, good. That’s reassuring. I’m telling you, I’ll do whatever it takes to bring you into our department! Even if I have to negotiate with Deputy Director Jo. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll fight a duel, damn it! I love you, Assistant Manager Cha! Haha.”
Team Leader Jang looked at Cha Ji-hoo with eyes burning with overwhelming intensity, almost drooling, before rushing off somewhere again. His greed for the rising star seemed to have already exceeded its limits.
“Does this mean Assistant Manager Cha will be transferring departments soon? I’d like to work with you longer.”
Yoo Ah-ri grumbled with wistful eyes.
“Department transfers aren’t that simple.”
“Either way, I feel like something big is going to happen for you because of this. Congratulations, Assistant Manager.”
“You’re exaggerating again. Oh, and no matter what, never tell our team leader what Deputy Director Jo said. Got it?”
“Yes, Assistant Manager.”
A short while later, Cha Ji-hoo received a call and headed outside the booth. There stood Team Leader Jang, Chairman Koo Hyun-mo, and Vice President Lee Nam-hoon.
“Oh, Assistant Manager Cha Ji-hoo!”
Chairman Koo greeted him warmly.
“Hello, Chairman. Vice President.”
“Haha, sorry for suddenly burdening you with such an important task. But still, there’s no one quite like you. Just do as well as you did at yesterday’s seminar.”
“Of course. I’ll give it my all.”
“Not only are you polite, but you’re so composed—I feel truly at ease. Haha.”
About ten minutes later, the British Prime Minister appeared at the ‘MWCS 2010’ exhibition hall with his entourage. This was the highest-level VVIP visit of the entire exhibition.
Straightening his attire, Cha Ji-hoo pulled himself together and escorted them, playing multiple roles as both guide and interpreter.
Since he was communicating with British people, he incorporated British intonation and pronunciation into his speech. Perhaps because of that, the Prime Minister and his entourage showed great favor and interest throughout their tour of the Samel Electronics booth, nodding frequently and asking many questions. Cha Ji-hoo responded in natural British English.
At the end of the booth visit, the Prime Minister smiled and asked Cha Ji-hoo.
“Did you study in the UK, by any chance? Or perhaps you hold British citizenship?”
“No, Your Excellency. I am Korean and hold Korean nationality. I am an employee of Samel Electronics.”
“Oh, but I wonder how your English sounds so familiar. And on top of that, you used sophisticated vocabulary and expressions that even most young Britons aren’t proficient in—it made our tour very comfortable and enjoyable. Thank you!”
“I am honored that you feel that way, Your Excellency.”
The British Prime Minister personally extended his hand to shake Cha Ji-hoo’s.
Koo Hyun-mo, the Chairman of Samel Electronics, puffed up with pride. It was clear that thanks to Cha Ji-hoo, the Prime Minister had gained an even better impression of the company and its products.
He beamed broadly and gave Cha Ji-hoo a subtle wink.
A villa located in Pedralbes, Barcelona’s wealthiest neighborhood.
At Claire’s call, Louis Roxburgh came up to her second-floor residence. He was one of the royal butlers.
“Princess.”
“Louis. I need to postpone my schedule to enter the palace by four more days.”
“Excuse me? Four days, not just one or two?”
“Yes. A sudden important matter has come up.”
“Hah, if that’s the case, His Majesty and Her Majesty the Queen will…”
“I’ll call them myself. That should be fine, right?”
“Understood, Princess.”
After leaving the room, Louis paused in his steps and tilted his head.
The princess’s attitude and behavior had been a little strange lately.
‘Should I escort her personally? I wonder what’s going on. Her face seemed a bit flushed too. The bodyguards are strictly prohibited from disclosing any details about her private activities, so I can’t even ask Jacques. This is frustrating.’
He scratched his thinning hair, which had been bothering him lately.
‘If I’d known this would happen, I should have brought Ena along and glued her to the princess’s side.’
After Louis left the room, Claire took a moment to steady her breathing and then called her mother.
“This is really important to my life. You’ve waited for months—please just give me four more days.”
After explaining the situation to her parents, who had been eagerly waiting for her, and receiving permission for the four-day extension, she began planning the day she would meet Cha Ji-hoo with excited anticipation.
Frantically surfing on her laptop and jotting things down in her diary, she suddenly stopped and turned her head toward the window.
‘But… is it okay for me to be doing this…’
A sudden wave of worry washed over her.
She was reflecting on herself, acting according to what her heart and soul dictated.
‘Have I ever been this drawn to someone before? It’s only our second meeting, and I’m already completely losing my heart.’
A hint of fear crept in.
For some reason, Claire had never felt strong interest in the opposite sex. She didn’t fully understand why herself. Perhaps it was a defensive stance unconsciously ingrained in her psychology from an early age due to her special status, or perhaps it was simply her innate caution. She had never felt any deep emotion toward the noble men she could have encountered in Mohena, or the many male students she had brushed past in American schools.
And yet, she was drawn to a man—an Eastern man from the opposite side of the globe. Even she found it strange.
‘At first, it was like some inexplicable gravity. But now I’m beginning to think it might be fate. The aura I saw at our first meeting wasn’t wrong.’
Watching his performance at yesterday’s seminar, and talking with him from the afternoon until late at night, her conviction about Cha Ji-hoo began to solidify. She had come to know that he possessed not only masculine charm but also wisdom, intelligence, prudence, restraint, gentleness, and a profound respect for courtesy.
‘This feeling is truly the first of its kind.’
Her heart was already burning.
She was surprised at herself for harboring such passion and desire for the opposite sex.
But ‘reality’ existed for her.
To openly reveal the feelings that had taken hold of her, she might have to overcome high hurdles. They were somewhat different from what other ordinary young people her age had to face—more conservative, more strict, and sometimes even harsher.
‘Can I really break through all of that without hesitation?’
After a moment, she shook her head and brushed away her thoughts.
‘This is still just my own feelings and desires. Let’s not worry or be afraid too soon. I’m fortunate to be far down the line of succession, after all.’
Claire threw herself back into planning her schedule.
