Chapter-1: Where It All Begin

Characters –

Female leads : Min-seo,CEO of AJT; Ha-eun,Detector of AJT

Male leads: Ye Joon, CEO of TMP ; Le Jung, Detector of TMP

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Min-seo was walking with her best friend Ha-eun while casually talking.

Min-seo said, "Get me some ice cream."

Ha-eun handed her the ice cream and said, "Oh, didn't I tell you? TMP Company wants to do business with us… what do you think?"

Min-seo kept eating and replied, "Hmm… tell them to set a meeting. I mean, let's see what happens."

At the office

Ha-eun said, "Okay, I'll tell Zai. He'll contact them."

[2:00 PM]

Le Jung complained, "How long is this going to take? Waiting like this, the whole day will pass."

Ye Joon smiled slightly and said, "I'm ready."

In the car

While driving, Ye Joon said, "I heard the CEO of AJT has a very… unique attitude. She apparently doesn't like men at all."

Le Jung replied, "Don't be scared. Let's just go and see. I guess it won't be that bad. And we're gentlemen anyway, we shouldn't have any problems." (smiles)

At AJT

In the office, Min-seo, Ha-eun, and their assistant were discussing the meeting.

Ye Joon quietly said, "The atmosphere here feels… kind of friendly."

Le Jung ignored him and said, "Just walk faster."

Arrival

"May we come in?"

"Yes."

The assistant introduced both sides to each other.

Then they all sat down for the meeting.

The Meeting

The room went quiet the moment everyone sat down.

Min-seo leaned back slightly in her chair, calm but unreadable. Ha-eun sat beside her, quietly observing everything. On the other side, Ye Joon and Le Jung had just taken their seats.

The assistant quickly did the introductions, but Min-seo barely reacted. She just looked at Ye Joon for a second—like she was trying to read something he wasn't saying.

Ye Joon spoke first, voice steady.

"So… AJT CEO Min-seo. Finally meeting you in person."

Min-seo didn't smile.

"Meeting in person doesn't change anything," she replied. "Only results do."

A small silence fell.

Le Jung glanced at Ye Joon like, told you it won't be easy.

Ha-eun gently slid the file forward.

"Let's stay on topic. TMP's proposal is a long-term partnership deal, right?"

Ye Joon nodded.

"Yes. It's a merger-level collaboration. Both companies benefit equally."

Min-seo flipped through the file slowly.

"Equal benefit sounds nice on paper," she said. "Reality usually disagrees."

Ye Joon leaned forward a bit.

"That's why we're here. To make reality match the plan."

Min-seo finally looked directly at him.

"And what makes you think AJT needs TMP to 'fix' reality?"

That question hit the room differently.

Not loud. Not aggressive.

Just sharp.

Ye Joon didn't look away.

"I don't think AJT needs fixing," he said. "I think it's already strong."

A pause.

"But even strong companies don't survive alone forever."

Ha-eun raised an eyebrow slightly. Min-seo stayed silent for a moment.

Then she closed the file.

"Convincing speech," she said. "But AJT doesn't move because of speeches."

She leaned forward just a little.

"We move because of trust. And trust… takes time."

Ye Joon's expression softened slightly, but his eyes stayed focused.

"Then let us earn it."

For the first time, Min-seo didn't respond immediately.

The silence between them felt heavier than words.

Le Jung quietly muttered under his breath,

"…This is going to take longer than I thought."

Ha-eun almost smiled.

And Min-seo finally said—

"Fine. One trial meeting. Nothing more."

Ye Joon nodded.

"Fair enough."

But as both sides stood up, neither of them missed the way the air still felt unfinished.

Like something had already started… even though nobody agreed to it.

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End of Chapter 1

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