Kim Min-Joon stood rooted in the hallway of K.M. Holdings, his analytical mind battling a bewildering array of illogical data. The woman—Hae-Rin—had vanished as silently as she had appeared, leaving behind only the lingering scent of something akin to mountain rain and a profound, unnerving sense of peace.
He shook his head, running a hand through his hair. He was the Chairman, the architect of a financial empire. He did not engage in cryptic conversations about 'broken threads' or 'true hearts' with strangers in his corporate hallway. Yet, the anxiety that had been clawing at him since waking up was now completely absent. Her presence had acted like a divine sedative on his traumatized soul.
He walked into his office, a cavernous space of glass and steel. He stared out at the city, the view usually his source of strength, but today, a reminder of the false security he had clung to in his nightmare.
"The dream," he muttered, "it felt too real. The betrayal... the strategic marriage."
He pulled up his schedule for 2017. He was set to meet the Chairman of Hanwha Group next week for a strategic investment discussion—a meeting that, in his nightmare timeline, had led him directly to his first introduction to Kang Seo-Yun. The memory of the metal chain and the look of cold malice in Seo-Yun's eyes was still too sharp. He couldn't risk repeating the mistake.
He immediately called his Chief of Staff, Secretary Kang, a woman whose efficiency was legendary.
"Secretary Kang," Min-Joon's voice was sharp, professional. "Find the woman who just left the hallway. Mid-twenties, sky-blue dress, carrying a white stone. Her name is Hae-Rin. I want to know who she is, and I want her back here within the hour."
Secretary Kang, accustomed to the Chairman's sudden, demanding requests, didn't question the bizarre description. Within forty minutes, Hae-Rin was escorted back to the top floor. She was found sitting serenely on a bench in the lobby, drawing curious smiles from everyone who passed her.
Min-Joon met her in his private meeting room.
"Hae-Rin," he began, adopting his standard cold, interrogative tone. "I need facts. Are you seeking employment? Do you have a CV? Because your conversation about 'threads' and 'Pyar' is highly unconventional."
Hae-Rin sat across the expansive table, her posture perfect. She looked less like a job applicant and more like a benevolent observer.
"Chairman Kim," she replied, her voice maintaining its melodic calm. "I have no CV, as my qualifications are not of this world. And yes, I am seeking a position—one that requires me to be near you, to guide your heart."
Min-Joon leaned back, crossing his arms. He should have called security. But the overwhelming sense of peace he felt in her presence made his professional judgment falter.
"Let's be pragmatic," Min-Joon countered. "My life is about data, stability, and structure. If you are to 'guide' me, you need a function. You have no experience. I will create a position for you. You will be my Special Projects Liaison—a role with no fixed duties, reporting directly and only to me. Your primary task will be to ensure my 'personal well-being and stress management.'"
This was Min-Joon's cynical, corporate way of accepting her mission. He was justifying her presence by giving it a function—a function that, ironically, perfectly described her divine task.
"Excellent," Hae-Rin agreed instantly, her smile broadening. "I accept. My salary need only cover my living expenses. The true payment is the successful completion of my mission."
Min-Joon blinked. "Mission?"
"To prevent the severance of your thread," Hae-Rin explained simply. "To guide you away from the path of strategic marriage and towards the woman who will truly save your life."
He dismissed her words as romantic delusion, but he accepted the premise. He needed the calming influence she provided. The moment he had woken up, his body had been screaming for the peace she offered. He needed her near to ensure the nightmare stayed in the past.
"Fine. You start immediately," Min-Joon concluded. "But understand this: my life is governed by logic. Your guidance must manifest in tangible, logical ways. Start by ordering a different tea than my usual blend. Change something small, something logical."
Hae-Rin nodded, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "As you wish, Chairman Kim. My guidance will always appear logical, though the cause will be divine."
Min-Joon watched her walk out. The entire exchange was absurd, yet he felt a profound relief. He had secured the source of his peace. He didn't know he had just hired the Goddess of Love to save him from himself.