Zeris World
TL – Nyxx
PR – Nyxx
Episode 1. Who was that in the hotel room?
Hanil Hotel
As befitting Korea’s top 5-star hotel, the glossy marble floors glistened under the reflected lights, enhancing the hotel’s grandeur. Amid the excitement of guests arriving with anticipation, a man and woman sat sunken in silence at a corner column outside the hotel.
“Yoon Jihoo.
What did I just see?
Who was that woman…
Why were you coming out of a hotel room together?!”
At the woman’s sharp voice, the man grimaced and dug a finger in his ear like it was all too much trouble. He yawned, answering lazily.
“You saw it right. That’s what happened. It just did.
I met her during new employee training. We just clicked.
Not just with words—physically too. Unlike with you.”
Smack—
A dull slap rang out. The man’s face twisted, and his eyes turned cold.
“Hey. Jang Iseo! You think hitting someone’s okay now?
God, you’re ridiculous.
Did you really think I was going to marry you or something?”
The woman trembled all over, unable to speak for a moment. After a shaky breath, she finally managed to speak.
“We’ve been together… over eight years.
I waited while you did your military service,
I helped you until you got that bank job…
You have no idea what I went through…”
Her words, now sounding like a tired script, only made the man grow more irritated.
“Yeah, sure, twenty… I was a kid then too.
All those idiot guys were falling over themselves saying you were pretty.
I got swept up in it. Wanted to see what it’d be like to have you in my bed.
But after five years? I realized this wasn’t it.
And just the thought of your mom washing dishes on those worn-out legs made my head spin.
So what if you work for a big company?
All that money’s just gonna go straight to her anyway—”
As the woman raised her hand again, this time the man grabbed it roughly before it could land.
Then—thud. A solid noise from below.
The man groaned and collapsed.
“You crazy bitch…”
“Hah… I’m… an only son…”
The woman turned without another word, spine straight as she walked away.
Her shoulders shook, but there was no hesitation in her stride.
Just then, from the other side of the wall—a third person.
Someone who had been there the whole time.
When the woman kicked the man, they quietly muttered, “Nice shot.”
The glimpse of their profile, the voice, and those black flats with a little ribbon stuck vividly in memory.
It was already a rough Monday morning.
Even the department head was running around unusually, fussing about the state of the cleaning.
“I think the new Executive Director is arriving today.
And apparently, it’s Chairman Kim Doil’s son. That’s why everyone’s in a frenzy.”
Maybe it was the lack of sleep from the night before,
but all the commotion felt strangely distant, like it wasn’t happening around her.
Iseo gave her desk a quick tidy-up when she heard the department head’s booming voice from down the hall—accompanied by several sets of dress shoes.
A man in a tailored gray suit, about 185 cm tall, completely flawless—
like he’d just stepped out of a luxury fashion magazine.
He was clearly the one behind today’s commotion.
Maybe it was yesterday’s emotional wreckage, but…
He seemed like someone who’d been born with everything.
Someone who had never known even a moment of unhappiness.
And it made her uncomfortable.
“This is the marketing team, Director.
It’s where our company’s top brains are gathered. And over here is Team Leader Seonho, who also attended—”
“Hello. I’m Kim Jaehyun.”
His voice cut through the department head’s babbling, clearly annoyed.
He offered a brief greeting and turned to leave—
when he spotted a familiar pair of shoes.
Black flats with a ribbon.
Jaehyun looked up at Iseo’s face.
It seemed like the same profile he caught a glimpse of yesterday.
But once again, the department head jumped in.
“Oh! This is Deputy Manager Jang Iseo.
We wanted her to model for the company’s new employee PR campaign, but she declined.
Anyway, she’s incredibly sharp.”
One of Jaehyun’s eyebrows twitched at the comment.
“‘Sharp,’ huh?”
“Pardon?”
“No, nothing. Looking forward to working with you.”
In the executive office with a panoramic view of Seoul—
Jaehyun didn’t spare a single glance for the scenery as he sat down.
“Secretary Park. Bring me Deputy Manager Jang Iseo’s résumé.”
“Excuse me?”
Secretary Park looked confused, prompting Jaehyun to repeat:
“I’d rather not have to say things twice.”
“N-no, sir. I’ll bring it right away.”
Name: Jang Iseo
Age: 29
Education: K University, Business major, full scholarship for 4 years
Family: Mother only
“Sir, you don’t have to wait. There’s an executive-only elevator.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about me.”
Despite the suggestion, Jaehyun insisted on taking the regular employee elevator.
Secretary Park kept her thoughts to herself but smiled tightly, clearly uneasy about the choice.
Ding—
On the third floor, the elevator doors opened.
Someone was already inside.
The woman gave a small nod when she saw Jaehyun.
Her brief discomfort at the surprise meeting flickered across her face before she masked it again, eyes forward.
“You’re Deputy Manager Jang Iseo from Marketing, right?”
“Ah… yes.”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
At his sudden question, her eyes widened, and her brow furrowed slightly.
“Yes.”
The answer was swift, like a blade.
With her striking looks, she’d no doubt attracted all kinds of childish interest from men over the years.
She was clearly used to fending off unwelcome attention.
Ding. The soft chime rang again, and Iseo stepped off on the 13th floor with a polite nod.
Jaehyun kept his eyes on her until the elevator doors closed.
Meanwhile, the department head rushed to the 8th-floor office shared by Marketing, Design, and Sales.
“Team Leader Han, did you prepare the marketing report for the past year like I asked?”
“Yes, sir. Is this for the Executive Director?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Seems like he’s really particular about the marketing budget.”
When Seonho tried to hand over the documents, the department head waved him off.
“No, no, no need for a full briefing.
He just wants to take a look…
Actually… he asked specifically for Deputy Manager Jang to bring it.”
His voice faltered at the end, testing the waters.
Seonho’s expression instantly cooled.
“I’ll bring it to him and answer any questions he has.”
The department head awkwardly adjusted his glasses, fumbling for words.
“…Thing is, he said he’d really prefer if Jang did it. That okay with you?”
“Ah… yes. I’ll take it to him.”
She pretended to be unfazed, but her ears turned red.
She couldn’t shake that split-second memory—
the playful, audacious look in his eyes.
And the wave of humiliation that came with it.
“Deputy Manager Jang, I can go.”
Seonho offered gently, but she shook her head.
“No, it’s fine. I’m the youngest on the team—it makes sense I go. I’ll be right back.”
She didn’t want any more eyes on her.
So she answered briskly, forcing a bright tone,
and grabbed the stack of documents.
Thanks for Reading…
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