WINTER SECRETS

MAPLESEOUL

The office was thick with silence, the only sound coming from Jae-wook as he flipped through papers. Across from him, Carrie sat comfortably on the couch, eyes glued to her phone as she scrolled through social media.

The peace was short-lived when the door suddenly swung open.

"Oh! Mr. Hamilton, you're here?" Ms. Kim said, settling beside Carrie without hesitation.

Carrie briefly nodded in acknowledgment, her posture relaxed.

"I've never seen you this at ease before," Ms. Kim teased, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Looks like Mr. Alex is going soft these days."

Jae-wook remained unbothered, his eyes never leaving the documents.

"So you're just going to ignore me?" she pressed.

"Just ignoring long and meaningless conversations," Jae-wook responded coldly, flipping another page.

Ms. Kim huffed but didn't let it faze her. "Well, I have something that might actually interest you. Mr. Hamilton, do you know Mi-nah, the influencer?"

Carrie gave a subtle nod.

Ms. Kim's grin widened. "Perfect! She'll be promoting our newest product, MapleXtreme, tomorrow."

Jae-wook's pen came to an abrupt stop. He finally lifted his gaze. "And who approved that?"

"I see I have your attention now," she said smugly. "Listen, from a business standpoint, this is a brilliant move. Mi-nah isn't just some influencer—she's the influencer. Global reach, unmatched engagement, and an unbeatable brand. Partnering with her? A win-win. She gets paid, we get more exposure, and—boom—our market value skyrockets."

Jae-wook exhaled sharply, clicking his tongue. "You should have run this by me first."

"Because you would have rejected it." Ms. Kim crossed her arms. "Besides, you're underestimating her loyalty. She's turned down multiple offers from TechCom just to work with us. That says something."

Jae-wook sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "This is just frustrating."

"You're the one who said personal matters should never interfere with business," Ms. Kim reminded him, standing up. "Make up your mind. She'll be here tomorrow." And with that, she strutted out.

Jae-wook leaned back in his chair, letting out another sigh.

"What's your problem?" Carrie asked, glancing up from her phone.

"You have no idea how much of a headache this is going to be," Jae-wook muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Carrie shook her head. "Relax you're just overreacting."

Jae-wook shot her a flat look. "You think so?"

---

THE NEXT DAY — STUDIO

Ms. Kim practically gasped when she saw Mi-nah walk in, looking effortlessly stunning in a neon blue techwear-style jacket. LED-accented clothing, fingerless gloves, futuristic sneakers, AR glasses—she embodied the perfect high-tech aesthetic. A sleek gaming headset rested around her neck, completing the look.

"Omo!! Mi-nah, you look absolutely dazzling!" Ms. Kim gushed.

Mi-nah's lips curled into a smile. "You think so?"

"Definitely! But then again, I did pick the outfit."

Mi-nah exhaled, glancing around. "It's been a while since I last stepped in here…"

"And we're honored to have you back," Ms. Kim said with a polite grin.

Mi-nah chuckled. "Flattery won't get you anywhere."

Ms. Kim laughed. "Alright, alright. Shall we get started?"

Mi-nah's smile faded slightly. "Not yet. Where's Alexander?"

Ms. Kim blinked. "He'll be here soon."

"Good," Mi-nah said, crossing her arms. "I'll wait."

"Pardon?"

"I said I'll wait for him. The shoot starts when he gets here."

Ms. Kim's face twitched. "Uhh… give me a second." She turned and immediately dialed Jae-wook's number.

He picked up on the first ring.

"Where are you?" she snapped.

"At the office. Why?"

"Mi-nah refuses to start unless you're here."

Jae-wook scoffed. "Am I the photographer now?"

Ms. Kim's patience was wearing thin. "Mr. Alex, it's basic courtesy to greet your client. Get. Down. Here."

Jae-wook sighed. "We'll be there in twenty minutes."

Ms. Kim nearly exploded. "TWENTY MINUTES?! Are you insane?! It takes five minutes to get here! She's already dressed and waiting!"

"Are you yelling at me?" Jae-wook asked, mockingly offended.

"I would pull your ears if I could! GET—"

The line went dead.

Ms. Kim stared at her phone in disbelief. "He hung up on me. That insufferable—"

Carrie raised a brow as Jae-wook grabbed his coat. "So… we're going?"

"If we don't, Secretary Kim's going to be on my case for the rest of my life," Jae-wook muttered.

Carrie smirked. "Wow. I never thought I'd see the day. You—scared of Ms. Kim?"

Jae-wook shot her a glare. "I'm not scared."

Carrie folded her arms. "Then why are we rushing over?"

Jae-wook groaned. "Because she's a total witch and even you should fear her. She gets on my nerves every time."

Carrie chuckled as they headed out.

---

STUDIO

The moment they arrived, the director called out, "The CEO is here."

Mi-nah turned, eyes lighting up. "Really?"

Jae-wook barely took a step inside before she rushed toward him.

"Oppa! It's been so long!" She threw her arms around him.

Jae-wook stiffened and quickly pushed her off.

Mi-nah pouted. "I'm sorry! I just… really missed you. You never reply to my messages."

Jae-wook remained indifferent. "Let's just get this over with. I have a tight schedule."

Mi-nah's smile faltered for a brief second before she spotted Carrie standing nearby. Her gaze flicked between them.

"Who's this?" she asked, curiosity evident.

"This is Mr. Hamilton, Alex's new bodyguard," Ms. Kim introduced.

Mi-nah's eyes glimmered with interest. "Ohh! Nice to meet you, I'm Mi-nah Jin." She extended her hand.

Carrie accepted it with a polite bow.

"You're not much of a talker, are you?"

Carrie shook her head.

Ms. Kim leaned in and whispered in Korean,"그는 말이 없어요.(He's mute.)"

Mi-nah's eyes widened. "Ahh! I'm honored to meet your acquaintance." She tilted her head thoughtfully. "Are you free tomorrow?"

Carrie blinked.

"I'd love to treat you to dinner," Mi-nah added with a bright smile.

Carrie hesitated, then bowed slightly again.

"Perfect! I'll text you," she chirped before turning back to the media team. "Alright, let's begin!"

As she walked off, Carrie stood frozen.

"Dinner?" she thought to herself. As if the meaning had just hit her.

Ms. Kim nudged her playfully. "Looks like Mi-nah likes you, Mr. Hamilton."

"That's impossible," Carrie muttered under her breath.

Jae-wook, meanwhile, smirked in satisfaction.

"This… this is the best day of my life."