The capital skyline stretched endlessly under the morning sun, but to Gu Soojin, the view that mattered was the empire she had quietly built. SJ Group, her real estate company, had grown to one of the top three real estate conglomerates in the country, dominating luxury urban developments, commercial complexes, and prime residential projects.
Yet SJ Group was only a branch of a much larger vision—her parent company, GS Holdings.
GS Holdings was her crown jewel, a multi-industry empire that spanned fashion, jewelry, entertainment, healthcare, and beauty. The difference was that outside of her family and a small circle of top-level managers, no one knew she was the woman behind the empire. She moved through the world like a shadow, powerful yet invisible to the public eye.
Gu Soojin walked through the private executive corridor of SJ Group headquarters, her steps confident and poised. Only the managers and senior executives knew she was the real owner; the rest of the company thought her role was symbolic, unaware that every decision she made shaped the empire's future.
She tapped her tablet, reviewing her holdings:
SJ Group (Real Estate) – the flagship branch, managing nationwide urban development projects.
GS Couture (Fashion & Jewelry) – luxury designer brand producing exclusive jewelry and high-end fashion lines.
Starlight Entertainment – managing actors, singers, and influencers, orchestrating events that dominated the entertainment world.
Miracle Medical Center – a hospital pioneering advanced treatments and healthcare innovation.
Aurora Beauty Parlour & Spa – luxury beauty services, catering to elite clientele and trendsetters.
Her two assistants coordinated the day-to-day operations across the empire:
Kim Haeun – her female assistant, meticulous, sharp, and efficient, handling communications, schedules, and high-level correspondence.
Lee Jisoo – her male assistant, strategic and resourceful, responsible for logistics, financial updates, and cross-company coordination.
Together, they ensured that only those who needed to know about her true role ever saw her as more than a symbolic figurehead. To the public, she was a mysterious name behind GS Holdings. To her family, she was the daughter, sister, and unstoppable force she had always been.
Her fiancé, Lu Seojeon, waited at the end of the corridor, a quiet smile on his face. "Every time I see what you've built, it amazes me," he said.
Gu Soojin's eyes softened briefly before returning to the tablet. "It's more than buildings and companies, Seojeon. Every branch, every project, every investment is connected. That's how an empire survives—and stays hidden until it's ready to strike."
Seojeon stepped closer, his voice steady. "And I'll be by your side for every strike."
For Gu Soojin, the world outside didn't need to know her power. Only her family and the trusted managers of her empire knew the truth—and that was enough. Her influence stretched far beyond the eyes of ordinary people. SJ Group might be visible to the world, but GS Holdings—her real empire—remained untouchable, secret, and entirely under her command.
The GS Holdings headquarters loomed above the capital like a glass and steel sentinel, a testament to Gu Soojin's empire.
Unlike SJ Group, this was the nerve center—the parent company, overseeing every branch from real estate to fashion, entertainment, healthcare, and luxury services.
Gu Soojin entered the building with Lu Seojeon at her side. His presence was understated but commanding, a subtle balance to her bold authority. He held 5% of GS Holdings, a stake that gave him a voice in board decisions, while Gu Soojin controlled over 70%, maintaining clear majority control.
"This is where the real work happens," she said softly, glancing at the lobby's sleek lines and the bustling employees moving with quiet efficiency. "Every branch, every company… it all converges here."
Seojeon nodded. "And we're walking straight into the heart of it."
Unlike SJ Group, where only senior managers knew her identity, at GS Holdings she operated openly as the owner, though the public remained unaware. Today, they weren't stopping at SJ Group—they were going directly to GS Holdings, the core of her empire.
Seojeon's own ventures complemented hers. He managed a private investment firm specializing in emerging tech startups, and he had earned a reputation for his sharp instincts and strategic mind. Their partnership was more than romantic—it was an alliance of equals, each with influence and resources that strengthened the other.
Her assistants were already coordinating schedules and reports:
They led the way to the boardroom, where senior executives awaited, each aware of Gu Soojin's presence but respectful of the power she wielded.
"Good morning, Ms. Gu," CEO Han Jihoon greeted as she entered, his tone a mixture of respect and slight awe. "And Mr. Seojeon. Welcome to GS Holdings."
"Good morning," Gu Soojin replied, her gaze sweeping across the room. "We're here to review the upcoming quarter and ensure every branch aligns with our strategy. SJ Group, GS Couture, Starlight Entertainment, Miracle Medical Center, Aurora Beauty Parlour—everything. Every company feeds into this network."
Seojeon placed a hand on her shoulder lightly. "And we'll make sure every piece of this empire works as it should," he said quietly, a reminder that they were partners in every sense.
Gu Soojin allowed herself a small smile. Her empire was vast, her strategy flawless, and with Seojeon holding a stake beside her and managing his own ventures, nothing could threaten the network she had built.
This was more than business—it was control, power, and legacy, all converging in the heart of GS Holdings.