The First Commission

Suddenly she had no idea where to rest her gaze. Sensing her fluster, Mo-jun turned his head fully toward her.

"We should check the office, then get straight to work, I suppose."

He had looked straight at her for several full seconds, yet there was not a single impure intention in his eyes.

Feeling oddly guilty for no reason, Do-yeon fidgeted with the bag on her lap. Ah, and here I was thinking…

"As it happens, a VVIP wedding has just come onto the schedule."

"Really?"

The brief embarrassment swelled almost at once into anticipation.

Her first commission. It was the most welcome news she could have heard.

—These are the materials forwarded by the wedding division.

From what she had learned last month through Secretary Kim, Muyoung Hotel had no in-house flower team. There were a few florists on staff, but they belonged to the facilities department and handled only indoor and outdoor landscaping.

Instead, Muyoung outsourced wedding flower direction to eight designated partner companies. During wedding consultations, clients reviewed each company's portfolio and chose the one they preferred.

—If Atelier Blanc joins as a new partner, won't the existing firms push back hard? After all, I'm the CEO's family.

—You needn't worry about that part.

It had been unavoidable from her side, yet Do-yeon still fretted that her condition—insisting they entrust her with VVIP weddings—might put Mo-jun in a difficult position.

—Recently two of the existing partners got tangled in tax-evasion and workplace-abuse scandals, so Muyoung conducted a full re-evaluation of every partner contract.

—Ah…

—Atelier Blanc bid properly at that time, so there won't be any issue.

Fortunately, Do-yeon's new beginning had been blessed with extraordinary luck. Almost as if someone had prepared the ground for her on purpose, the process by which her brand secured a fresh contract with Muyoung had been ridiculously easy.

She could not claim there had been zero preferential treatment as the CEO's family. Yet Mo-jun had also scored a win under the banner of "streamlining partner management," so Do-yeon did not feel unbearably uncomfortable about it either.

At first people will gossip that the madam muscled her way in through connections, but I'll just prove myself with skill.

Whatever else she might lack, Do-yeon possessed enormous pride in her own ability. She had carved out a place for herself in France on pure merit and had never once lost a competition against local florists.

When her eyes sparkled with fighting spirit, Mo-jun offered a fleeting, slightly awkward smile.

"The schedule will be rather tight."

"When is the ceremony?"

"A month from now."

The moment she heard the timeline she understood exactly why he looked that way.

They had not even held a single client meeting yet, and there was only a month left?

Do-yeon unconsciously tightened her grip on her bag. It was not an impossible schedule, yet she could not help feeling the pressure mount.

"It was originally handled by one of the existing partners. They got cut for tax evasion, so things became complicated."

"Ah—that one."

"The general manager asked the clients for their preference, and the bride-to-be strongly requested Atelier Blanc."

There was no choice in the matter.

Moreover, a brand that was brand-new and had no track record in Korea was being trusted with the job. Do-yeon had no grounds to refuse the offer.

Flowers that are easy to source in May…

The pressure was real, yet her mind was already spinning at full speed. She genuinely loved this work, and she wanted results no matter what.

Besides, Do-yeon no longer wished to be dragged this way and that by Mo-jun's relatives. The chairman himself believed that if you had ability you should go out and use it, and the best way to avoid every unpleasant scene was simply to stay busy.

Interpreting her silence however he chose, Mo-jun continued his explanation without pause.

"The groom is a high-school classmate of mine. Given how short the timeline is, and the fact that you're my wife, coordinating everything shouldn't be too difficult."

"That's fortunate."

"I'll make every convenience available, so tell me whenever you need anything."

"Yes."

It was a little overwhelming, yet every piece of news was welcome. And with the hotel's CEO solidly on her side, what difficulty could there really be?

"You'll hear the details from Team Leader Lee and the general manager. If the situation allows, I'll also—"

She turned toward him with bright anticipation, only for a low vibrating hum to sound from somewhere. Mo-jun broke off mid-sentence, drew his phone from the inner pocket of his suit jacket, and a faint crease of fatigue appeared on his smooth forehead.

"We'll continue the details once we arrive."

Recovering his composed expression in an instant, he fixed his gaze on the phone screen and simply ended the conversation.

"Yes, this is Kang Mo-jun."

At the deep, weighty voice, Do-yeon's eyes traced the line of his lips.

"This way."

Team Leader Lee, walking ahead, opened the glass door and stepped aside. Do-yeon stopped at the threshold and slowly surveyed the interior.

—I'll look over the office myself.

—The calls keep coming, as you can see.

She had parted from Mo-jun in the lobby. Throughout the entire ride to the hotel, an endless stream of calls had poured in.

True to the title of CEO, Mo-jun looked extremely busy. Only today did Do-yeon learn that he had forcibly cleared his entire weekend schedule for the wedding.

—Please take good care of President Baek.

—Yes, sir.

That was why, even while wearing a faintly displeased expression, he had entrusted her to Team Leader Lee and turned away. They were only going to be in the same building, after all—yet he still made a point of it.

In any case, Do-yeon was thoroughly pleased with the office Mo-jun had provided. It was large enough for seven or eight staff to work comfortably, and it even boasted floor-to-ceiling windows that commanded a sweeping view of the city.

Furniture and fixtures had not yet been brought in, so holding a conversation inside the office itself was impractical. Following Team Leader Lee's suggestion, they settled in the hotel lounge, where Do-yeon proceeded to fire off an endless stream of questions.

"What happened to that tax-evasion company, by the way?"

What weighed on her most was the people who had lost their jobs. The whole mess was entirely the owner's fault, yet the timing felt delicate enough to trouble her.

"I understand they're currently going through the process of closing the business."

Not a downsizing—an outright closure. That meant no hope for anyone. Her heart grew heavy, as though she had swallowed a stone.

"What was the reputation of that firm like?"

"Aside from the occasional slip of the tongue from the owner, I believe there were no major problems."

Team Leader Lee gave her a faintly surprised look at the question, yet still answered diligently.

Although she had not yet officially started, Atelier Blanc currently had six employees on the books: Do-yeon herself as representative and overall director; Seulgi, her junior from floral school and now chief florist; one purchasing manager; and three junior florists to handle the practical work.

—We can limp along with what we have for now, but aren't we still a little short?

—We'll have to keep looking. The real problem is the missing middle layer.

Throughout March, while preparing for the wedding, Do-yeon had read countless résumés and squeezed in interviews whenever she could, yet finding people to work with had not been easy.

In particular she desperately needed a project manager who could handle communication among the hotel wedding team, the banquet team, and the clients. The fact that she did not yet fully understand Korean industry practices only made the need more acute.

And then, right on cue, one of Muyoung Hotel's partner companies had disintegrated into thin air.

"Please find out where the PMs and coordinators who worked there have gone."

"Yes, President."

Then I can simply scout the talent that used to work there, can't I? Do-yeon felt not the slightest reluctance about reaping an unexpected windfall.

Her coffee cup had somehow reached the bottom.

"I wonder if the meeting is over."

"Yes. I just received word that he left the conference room a moment ago."

Even to her absent-minded mutter, Team Leader Lee returned a prompt, solid answer.

It still felt a little strange, yet not at all unpleasant. She was beginning to understand why people hired personal secretaries.

"…"

A discreet glance at the wall clock showed five-forty. An awkward evening hour, with quitting time right around the corner.

Do-yeon fell quietly into thought. She had more or less finished her business here; if she left now she would hit peak traffic. Yet if she stayed and ate dinner in the hotel, word would almost certainly reach Mo-jun. She also disliked the idea of it being read as a desire to dine together.

Ugh, why did we have to put that clause in the contract about eating together once a day?

She regretted sleeping in. Even if she had been a little tired, if she had gotten up and shared breakfast with him she would not now be fretting over such trivialities.

"He's quite busy, isn't he?"

"He usually is."

Even though she had casually omitted the subject, Team Leader Lee answered without a single second of buffering.

Should she call, or leave a text? Do-yeon was tilting her head at the phone lying on the table when—

"I have enough time for dinner, at least."

Speak of the devil—the enormous man lightly rested a hand on her shoulder from behind. Having sensed no approach whatsoever, Do-yeon could only widen her eyes.

"Shall we go up? The main restaurant does Chinese cuisine particularly well."

Mo-jun extended his hand gently, wearing a smile calibrated to perfect precision.

In a somewhat dazed state, Do-yeon rose from her seat.