It was an unusually candid response.
Where had the slippery, excuse-making halfwit gone?
Jaekyung genuinely wondered.
Can a person change this much?
To her, her younger brother had always been a useless burden.
Growing up together, she'd never seen Jaesung make a sincere effort.
He'd chased after parties and neglected his duties as part of the group's owning family.
To the diligent Jaekyung, despite her glamorous appearance, he was pathetic.
So what was this change?
She studied her still-smirking brother with fresh eyes.
Could she, perhaps, trust him?
A faint spark of hope flickered in her heart.
Just then, one of Jaekyung's secretaries approached, interrupting.
"Director, a moment…"
Whispering in her ear, the secretary caused Jaekyung's brow to furrow.
"Why are you telling me this now?!"
"I'm sorry."
Her sharp eyes grew even colder.
"What's wrong?" Jaesung asked, noting her sudden anger.
"It's not your concern—"
Jaekyung stopped mid-sentence, clamping her mouth shut.
Following her gaze, Jaesung saw a group entering the VIP lounge.
"Oh my," said a young woman, smiling brightly, flanked by men in black suits like retainers.
"Look who it is. Park Jaekyung."
Her heels clicked as she approached.
Wearing an open-side midi skirt and a tweed jacket draped over her shoulders, she greeted Jaekyung warmly, as if they were old friends.
"Son Ahyoung."
"Long time no see."
Ahyoung extended a hand, but Jaekyung snorted and turned away, ignoring it.
"Still so prickly," Ahyoung said, unfazed, as if used to it.
Jaesung observed the two women, marveling at their contrast.
Jaekyung was flashy, like a celebrity, while Ahyoung exuded refined elegance.
Lost in thought, he was pulled back by Ahyoung's voice.
"Oh, isn't that Jaekyung's brother?"
Glancing at the bristling Jaekyung, Jaesung greeted her.
"Been a while."
Perhaps because he was so different from what she remembered, Ahyoung spoke with curiosity.
"You've matured a lot. The rumors must be true."
She chuckled, and Jaesung responded smoothly, "I'm curious what rumors you've heard."
"Nothing bad, don't worry. Just that the troublemaking youngest son of Jeil Group, who only cared about partying, turned over a new leaf. They say you're doing great work."
"People change."
"True. Last year's gathering was the last time we met, right?"
"Think so."
As children of chaebol families, he'd known Ahyoung, daughter of Saseong Group's Chairman Son Museong, since childhood.
They weren't close, but familiar enough to exchange pleasantries.
Jaekyung, who'd been standing by with a displeased look, cut in.
"So? Why are you here?"
"To take care of business, obviously."
"What business?"
"Do I have to report everything to you?"
Ahyoung's sly smile provoked Jaekyung, who snapped, "Let me make this clear: Chairman Arno is here at our invitation. Don't even think about swooping in."
"Anyone would think the deal's already done. There's no Hermès in Jeil's airport duty-free yet, is there?"
"There will be soon."
"We'll see if it's that easy."
Both of similar age, running department store affiliates, they were clear rivals.
As Jaesung watched their sparring with interest, a staff member approached cautiously.
"Uh, Director…"
"What?!" Jaekyung barked, irritated by the interruption mid-battle.
The staff, shrinking, relayed the news.
"Chairman Arno's party just landed."
Jaekyung shot Ahyoung a glare and headed to the arrivals gate.
Ahyoung, leading her entourage, hurried off too, leaving Jaesung and Kwon in the lounge.
"Wow… that was intense," Kwon said, shuddering.
"Women's fights are always scarier."
Kwon shivered again, marveling at Jaesung's calm demeanor amid such fierce women.
"Let's go before we're late."
"Yes."
At the private gate, a group of foreigners soon appeared.
It was Chairman Arno's party.
Jaekyung, holding a large bouquet prepared in advance, approached with a radiant smile.
"Welcome to Korea, Chairman."
Her fluent French, needing no interpreter, delighted Arno, who accepted the flowers.
"Thank you for the warm welcome. We exchanged greetings at the Milan Fashion Show, didn't we?"
"You remember."
Arno smiled leisurely.
"How could I forget meeting such a beautiful lady?"
"Thank you for saying so."
Despite his white hair, his gentlemanly demeanor and soft tone were striking.
He's got a magnetic charm.
Even Jaekyung's eyes softened, suggesting he was popular with women.
"Impressive, right? Something to learn from," Jaesung said.
"Oh, come on. You're handsome too, Director."
"Not me, you."
Kwon coughed, caught off guard.
"Me?"
Those wronged eyes turned to Jaesung.
"There's a reason he's on his fifth marriage to a young woman at that age. Stop whining about wanting a girlfriend and take notes."
"But I—"
"I saw you begging Hyeonju for an introduction the other day."
"That was a joke!"
"Joke or not, Hyeonju looked horrified."
Speechless, Kwon looked away.
Then, Ahyoung, who'd been hanging back, stepped between Arno and Jaekyung.
"Chairman Arno, it's been a while."
"Oh! Angela, great to see you."
Arno hugged her warmly, exchanging light cheek kisses in the French bise style, showing familiarity.
Jaekyung's face stiffened at the clear difference in warmth compared to her greeting.
"You came to meet me at the airport?"
"Of course, when I heard you were coming."
"Haha, with such beautiful ladies waiting, I made the right choice coming to Korea."
Jaekyung grew irritated as Ahyoung kept interjecting.
But she couldn't snap here, so she suppressed it.
Trying to steer Arno away, she said, "We have a car ready outside. Let's go."
Arno looked slightly troubled.
"I'm sorry, but I have another appointment."
"…No way."
Turning, Jaekyung saw Ahyoung's smug smile.
"Oh, I forgot to mention we invited him for a meal at our hotel's Korean restaurant."
"Is that so?"
"Sorry for not telling you earlier."
Jaekyung couldn't scowl at Arno directly.
"Then it can't be helped."
Her forced smile trembled.
"I'll go ahead. This way."
"See you later."
Ahyoung, snatching the prey like a fox, flashed a victorious smile.
As she linked arms with Arno and walked away, Jaekyung bit her lip in humiliation.
"They're not pushovers," Jaesung said, sauntering over.
"Shut up."
Already stung, she didn't need her annoying brother's commentary.
"Don't snap at me. Take it out on them."
He glanced toward the departing pair.
"If Hermès gets snatched by Saseong Department Store, what then?"
"You think you have some brilliant plan?"
Jaesung gave her a sly smile.
"Of course."
"Hah, all talk and no substance."
"Just hear me out."
His confidence made her eyes waver.
"…If it's nonsense, you're dead."
"Let's move somewhere else."
Jaekyung spun around, her heels clicking as she led the way.
The next day, Chairman Arno visited Jeil Department Store as scheduled.
Jaekyung, who'd sent a limousine to fetch him from his hotel, guided him through the luxury wing.
"The architectural design was entrusted to Rodelio, a Spaniard. It took nearly a year of dedication to complete the building's design."
"Oh, I know him. Talented but notoriously stubborn."
Arno, intrigued by the familiar name, surveyed the building with interest.
"We aim to create Korea's largest and finest luxury wing. Naturally, the brands in the new Incheon Airport duty-free will be among the world's top."
"Including our Hermès, I presume."
"It wouldn't be complete without you."
Arno smiled at the subtle flattery.
Seeing so many top-tier brands, rare even in Italy or France, he nodded approvingly.
After touring the luxury wing, they moved to a prepared meeting room upstairs for negotiations.
Glancing at Arno's party across the table, Jaekyung whispered, "Can you really pull this off?"
Unlike her anxious tone, Jaesung was calm.
"You agreed to it."
"Saseong had Chairman Son Museong himself meet Arno."
"That's not nothing, but Arno's not so easily swayed. It'll come down to who offers better terms. Don't worry."
"You're right. Our card will surely tempt him."
"So hold your head high and act confident."
"Got it."
Calming her nerves, Jaekyung felt a strange reassurance from her once-troublesome brother.
As tea was served and the mood settled, Arno spoke first.
"Today's visit to Jeil Department Store was impressive. Especially the luxury wing, with over 50 world-class brands in a dedicated building—it's remarkable."
Unfazed by the praise, Jaekyung replied coolly, "Thank you for the kind words. We plan to make the new Incheon Airport duty-free just as impressive as our main store's luxury wing."
"That's exciting."
"With Hermès, it'll be even more prestigious and beloved by customers."
"I, too, want Hermès to reach more customers. But that depends on our terms aligning."
Hands on his knees, Arno wore a relaxed expression.
With Korea's top two department stores vying for him, he held the upper hand.
"If Hermès joins, we'll provide a prime location with heavy foot traffic and allocate 17,000 square meters—3% of the total duty-free space."
Pausing to gauge their reaction, Jaekyung continued, "We'll cover all store interior costs and set the sales commission at a low 7%, well below average."
It was a generous offer compared to other luxury brands.
But Arno and his team's response was lukewarm.
"This is a bit disappointing."
Leaning back, Arno continued, "With such an impressive luxury wing, I had high hopes, but this falls short of Saseong's offer."
Jaekyung's face stiffened, and she glanced at Jaesung.
He nodded.
Taking a deep breath, she faced Arno.
"I don't know what they offered, but this is the best we can do."
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