Junho spent his Monday morning in a state of agitation. The aftermath of Friday night’s auction at Aphrodite Galleries loomed over him, his thoughts a tangled web of regret and frustration. His attempt to sabotage Yoona’s event to gain the upper hand had backfired spectacularly. He had anticipated a weaker response, perhaps desperation or compliance, but she surprised him with her unwavering defiance.
The memory of their heated exchange replayed in his mind, and he couldn’t shake the image of her fierce, determined eyes. It was unsettling, and he found himself questioning his own actions. Sabotaging her event had seemed like a necessary tactic at the time, but now it felt distasteful. Yet, he justified it with her refusal to return the Salvation Necklace that rightfully belonged to his family.
The morning passed in a blur of paperwork and meetings, but his mind remained fixated on Yoona. Despite his efforts to focus on the pressing matters at hand, the thought of her kept intruding. She had gotten under his skin, and he couldn’t figure out why.
Around mid-morning, he called his assistant, Mr. Jin Jung, into his office.
“Mr. Jung, I need you to arrange something for me,” Junho said, his tone brusque to mask his inner turmoil. “Send a congratulatory gift to Aphrodite Galleries—afternoon snacks for their entire office. Make sure it’s something high-end. I also want to include a personal note for Ms. Lim.”
Jin Jung looked surprised but nodded. “Of course, Mr. Lee. I’ll take care of it.“
As Jin left, Junho pulled out a pen and paper from his table drawer. He contemplated what to include in his note. He wanted to write something congratulatory but professional. Something that sounds cheerful but not overly so, apologetic without actually apologizing. And most importantly, it should convey that he wants to see her again—no, that he wants to discuss business further. Yes, that.
He leaned back in his chair, organized his messy thoughts and examined what he had just written. It was unlike him to be so preoccupied with a single person, yet Yoona Lim had a way of occupying his thoughts. He drafted the note several times before settling on the final version.
Dear Yoona,
Congratulations on the successful event last Friday. I hope these refreshments help keep your team motivated for future successes. Also, I’d like to discuss our business further at your earliest convenience.
— Junho Lee
The rest of the afternoon dragged on. Junho signed documents, attended meetings, and tried to immerse himself in work, but Yoona’s face kept appearing in his mind. Her angry, defiant glare as they parted on Friday night haunted him. He had never encountered someone so resistant to his charm and power, and it both frustrated and intrigued him.
By 5:30 PM, his workday was technically over, but his thoughts were still tangled with unresolved emotions. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he needed to make things right with Yoona, not just for the sake of retrieving the Salvation Necklace, but for reasons he couldn’t fully understand.
Junho grabbed his car keys and left the office, his mind still churning. As he drove through the city streets, he found himself heading towards an old, familiar place—the private estate where his grandmother used to live. It was a place filled with memories, many of them tied to the Salvation Necklace and the family legacy it represented.
He arrived after a 35-minute drive. He hadn’t been there in almost a year, not since his grandmother got sick and eventually passed, but something pulled him back now. Perhaps it was the need to reconnect with his roots, to find clarity amidst the chaos of his thoughts. Or maybe, just maybe, he hoped that returning to the estate would give him some insight into how to handle the situation with Yoona.
Junho wandered through the private estate, memories of his childhood and the legacy of the Salvation Necklace flooding his mind. For nearly an hour, he reminisced about his grandmother's tales of the heirloom, a symbol of their heritage and family pride. The serene surroundings contrasted sharply with his inner turmoil.
As the sun set, he decided to leave, feeling a newfound clarity. Climbing into his Aston Martin Vantage, he tapped the GPS screen, surprising himself as he entered "Aphrodite Galleries." He hesitated for a moment, astonished at his own decision, but then drove off, his mind racing.
The sleek car cut through evening traffic, his thoughts fixed on Yoona. Her fiery eyes and unwavering determination had left a mark on him. He realized he needed to make things right, not just to retrieve the necklace but to understand the woman who had challenged him so profoundly.
As he neared the office building, his resolve hardened. The night was far from over, and Junho was determined to see it through.
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