The night of the Aphrodite Galleries Autumn auction arrived with an air of anticipation. The grand hall of the auction house was impeccably decorated, a testament to Yoona’s exquisite taste and attention to detail. Guests milled about, sipping champagne and admiring the array of art pieces on display. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement and sophistication.
Yoona was stunning in an elegant, high-slit, navy halter gown that hugged her figure perfectly and accentuated her grace and poise. She was engaged in conversation with a group of influential patrons when she spotted him.
Lee Junho.
He arrived fashionably late again, making an entrance that turned heads. Dressed in a meticulously tailored navy tuxedo that highlighted his broad shoulders and lean frame, he exuded an aura of confidence and charisma. His perfectly styled hair and the glint in his eyes only added to the magnetic allure that seemed to draw people in effortlessly.
She saw him navigate the crowd, his eyes scanning the room as if looking for someone. Yoona realized that it was her he was searching for all along because when his eyes landed on hers, he started making his way purposefully in her direction.
Yoona’s expression shifted momentarily—surprise, followed by a glimmer of recognition and then a guarded look. Dutifully doing her role as a good host, she excused herself from the group with a polite smile and began to meet Junho halfway. Her stride was confident, each step radiating poise and self-assurance. As she moved through the crowd, her presence commanded attention, making it clear that she was a woman in control.
“Mr. Lee,” she greeted, her voice cool but polite. “Good evening. We were looking forward to your presence tonight.”
“Good evening, Ms. Lim,” he replied, matching her tone. “One of your board members, Mrs. Kwon, is our close family friend. She was gracious enough to extend us an invitation, so of course how can San-San Group miss an event as prestigious as this. Besides, I’m always interested in seeing what new pieces Aphrodite Galleries has to offer.”
“I just want to know,” he continued, “does this venue have a pool?”
“Look, Mr. Lee. I—“
“I’m just joking, Ms. Lim. It’s all in the past. Look, I got a new phone now,” he said, waving his new phone.
Yoona’s eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of suspicion crossing her features. ‘What is this act, now? I am sure this is just part of the game he is playing,’ she thought.
“Yah, all in the past,” she said, as if convincing herself.
Junho politely excused himself when he saw Mrs. Kwon who just came in.
“I’m hope you enjoy the evening, Mr. Lee,” Yoona said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.
“Thank you,” Junho responded, his gaze lingering on her lips for a moment longer than necessary. “I very much intend to.”
As Junho walked away, Yoona couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. After the incident at the pool last time, she had expected only sour interactions with him tonight. He still annoyed every cell in her body, but she had to mask it well to ensure the success of tonight’s event. She didn’t know what new game he was playing tonight, but if there was anything on, she was determined to play it well.
Throughout the evening, Yoona observed Junho from a distance. He appeared to be networking solely with key figures, showing no interest in approaching her or subjecting her to his cringey pickup lines. Good. She kept him at bay while she mingled with the guests, effortlessly commanding the room. It was always known that she was not just a pretty face but a formidable force in the art world.
As the program commenced, Junho took a seat in the front row, his presence unmistakable. Yoona took the stage, her poise and confidence shining through as she opened with a welcome message then introduced the auctioneer. The crowd hung on her every word, the energy in the room palpable.
Even with the lights dimmed, she felt Junho’s gaze still on her, a constant, unnerving presence. She refused to let it affect her. Instead, she continued with the auction at hand, her intelligence and charm captivating everyone.
The bids started and Yoona felt a surge of pride. But she noticed something odd. The items were not fetching impressive amounts, and the energy in the room was rather dull. When the main event—a 5-foot tall antique vase from the Romanov dynasty—finally came up for auction, the room fell into a hushed anticipation. Yoona held her breath as the bidding began. To her dismay, the initial bids were lower than expected. She glanced towards Junho, who wore a satisfied smirk.
When the auction had finally come to an end, the grand hall was still alive with the buzz of conversations of the guests who dispersed into their own little cliques, discussing the evening’s events and the items they had successfully—or unsuccessfully—bid on. Yoona moved through the crowd with a practiced smile, but inside, she was seething. The auction hadn’t been a disaster, but it hadn’t quite hit the figures they had targeted either.
As she exchanged pleasantries with the departing guests, Yoona’s sharp eyes caught sight of Junho. He was making his way towards the exit, a smug smile playing on his lips. Her heart pounded with a mix of frustration and determination. She had a strong suspicion that he was somehow involved in the night’s less-than-stellar results.
With a deep breath, Yoona excused herself from the group she was speaking with and hurried after him, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor. She reached him just as he was about to step outside.
“Junho,” she called, her voice firm and commanding.
He turned, that infuriatingly charming smile still in place. “Yoona. I guess we’re on a first-name basis now?”
She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. “We need to talk. Now.”
Junho raised an eyebrow but didn’t protest. He followed her to a more secluded corner of the hall, away from prying eyes and ears. As soon as they were alone, Yoona’s composed facade slipped, revealing the simmering anger beneath.
“I know you had something to do with tonight’s outcome,” she said, her voice low but filled with accusation.
Junho’s smile didn’t waver. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. The auction seemed quite successful to me.”
“Don’t play dumb, Junho,” Yoona snapped. “The bids were lower than expected, and I saw you talking to the bidders, sowing seeds of doubt.”
He shrugged, feigning innocence. “I was just having conversations. Can I help it if some people found my perspective enlightening?”
Yoona took a step closer, her eyes blazing. “You were right. It was unprofessional and very tacky of me to talk shit about you behind your back during the SM ball. I should have been candid to your smug face,” she said, not mincing her words. “But this is my livelihood, Junho. You cannot just come in here and undermine everything I’ve worked for out of some petty vendetta.”
His smile finally faded, replaced by a more serious expression. “I’m not the one who made this personal, Yoona. You refused to return my family’s heirloom. That’s on you.”
She crossed her arms, her voice steady despite the fury coursing through her. “That heirloom was legally donated. I’ve offered you a deal, but you refused. Now you’re trying to sabotage my business because you didn’t get your way!?”
Junho’s eyes darkened, and he stepped closer, a little too close now, the tension between them could be cut with a knife. “This isn’t just about the heirloom, Yoona. It’s about principles. And you should know, I don’t back down easily.”
Yoona’s breath caught, not from fear, but from the intensity of their proximity. Despite the anger, there was an undeniable spark between them that neither could ignore. She held her ground, refusing to be intimidated.
“Neither do I,” she said firmly. “And if you think you can bully me into submission, you’re in for a rude awakening.”
Yoona stood firm, her glare piercing through Junho as if she could burn him with her eyes alone. The intense moment between them crackled with unresolved tension, each refusing to back down. Junho, for the first time, felt a flicker of uncertainty. He had underestimated her strength, her resilience.
“Ms. Lim,” a voice interrupted the charged silence. It was Hana, Yoona’s assistant, appearing slightly hesitant as she approached. “The chairwoman wants to see you.”
Yoona didn’t break her glare immediately. She held Junho’s gaze for another three seconds, making sure he understood the gravity of her determination. Then, without a word of farewell or even a goodnight, she turned on her heel and followed Hana out of the hall. Her departure was as commanding as her presence, leaving Junho standing there, momentarily stunned by her ferocity.
Yoona felt Junho’s gaze boring into her back as she walked away, her confident strides echoing in the now-quiet space. She knew he had expected her to crumble, to be desperate and compliant after his manipulative interference in the auction. Instead, she had faced him with unyielding defiance.
Her mind raced. She realized Junho had thought his strategy of undermining the auction would bring her to her knees, pushing her to agree to sell him the heirloom necklace to salvage her business. But his plan had backfired spectacularly. Rather than weakening her resolve, it had only seemed to fortify her position.
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