Beneath the Seoul Sky"

Chapter 1: The Girl with the Coffee Stains

The buzzing streets of Gangnam reflected the energy of a city that never rested. Among the rushing crowds, a young woman hurried across the crosswalk, clutching a messenger bag and dodging every suited figure in her path. Her name was Ha-eun, a spirited 25-year-old with a dream bigger than the skyscrapers towering around her.

Ha-eun wasn’t just strong physically—though years of helping her father with his small family construction business had made her sturdier than most—she had an indomitable will. After her father fell ill, she took on the mantle of responsibility, juggling odd jobs while finishing her degree in architecture.

Her morning routine included delivering coffee orders from the café where she worked part-time to various offices. Today, however, fate had other plans.

As she rushed into the glittering lobby of SkyOne Corporation, she barely noticed her reflection in the polished surfaces. She only had one thing on her mind: delivering the towering tray of iced Americanos before her shift ended. But destiny had its way of catching people off guard.

She turned a corner sharply and—smack!—collided with what felt like a brick wall. Or, as she quickly realized, a man in a crisp navy suit. The tray slipped from her hands, sending ice and coffee cascading down his designer blazer.

“Oh no! I’m so sorry!” Ha-eun exclaimed, bowing repeatedly while scrambling to pick up the empty cups.

The man looked down at her, his expression unreadable. He was tall, his sharp jawline and striking features enough to make anyone do a double-take. But it was his eyes—cold, calculating, and intense—that left her momentarily speechless.

“Do you even watch where you’re going?” he asked, his voice as smooth as silk but edged with annoyance.

Ha-eun flushed. “I-I didn’t mean to—”

Before she could finish, another man in a suit approached, his demeanor formal. “President Seo, are you alright?”

President Seo? The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. This wasn’t just any office worker; she had just spilled coffee on Seo Min-jae, the CEO of SkyOne Corporation, one of the youngest and most successful businessmen in Korea.

“I’m fine,” Min-jae replied, brushing off his suit, though his gaze lingered on Ha-eun. “Just... make sure she doesn’t make a habit of running into people.”

Ha-eun’s initial embarrassment flared into irritation. She stood up, her chin lifting defiantly. “I said I was sorry. It was an accident. Maybe if you weren’t standing in the middle of the hallway like a statue, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Min-jae’s eyebrows shot up. Few people dared speak to him that way. Before he could respond, the assistant stepped in, attempting to diffuse the tension. “Miss, perhaps you should leave now.”

Ha-eun huffed, muttering an apology under her breath before walking away. She didn’t turn back, even though she could feel Min-jae’s piercing gaze following her.

Chapter 2: A Second Encounter

Two weeks later, Ha-eun found herself at SkyOne Corporation again, but this time under very different circumstances. After submitting her portfolio to dozens of architecture firms, she’d received a surprise callback for a junior designer position at SkyOne’s new innovation center.

As she waited nervously in the meeting room, the door swung open, and in walked Seo Min-jae. Ha-eun froze, her heart sinking.

“You!” they said in unison.

Min-jae’s lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smirk. “So, you’re the applicant.”

Ha-eun straightened her shoulders, refusing to let her nerves show. “I didn’t expect to see you here, President Seo.”

“Well, I own the company. Did you think I wouldn’t be involved in hiring decisions?” he replied, his tone teasing but sharp.

The interview began, and Ha-eun was determined to prove herself. Despite Min-jae’s occasional challenging questions, she held her ground, showcasing her skills and passion. By the end, even he seemed impressed, though he didn’t say so outright.

Later that day, Ha-eun received the news: she got the job.

Chapter 3: Clashing Worlds

Working under Min-jae was both a dream and a nightmare. He was brilliant but demanding, pushing Ha-eun to her limits. Their interactions were often laced with banter and tension, but beneath the surface, something deeper began to brew.

One late night at the office, Ha-eun caught Min-jae staring out the window, his usual stoic mask replaced by something softer.

“Long day?” she asked hesitantly.

He glanced at her, surprised. “You could say that.”

For the first time, he shared a piece of his world—a glimpse of the immense pressure he carried as a young CEO. In turn, Ha-eun opened up about her father’s illness and her struggles to balance work and family.

Their connection deepened, and soon, what began as clashes turned into stolen moments of understanding.

Chapter 4: The Scandal

Just as Ha-eun and Min-jae’s feelings began to bloom, a scandal erupted. Photos of the two sharing an intimate moment on a project site were leaked to the press. Rumors swirled, painting Ha-eun as an opportunist trying to climb the corporate ladder.

Min-jae’s board of directors pressured him to distance himself from her, threatening his position if the company’s reputation was tarnished. Ha-eun, unwilling to jeopardize his career, decided to resign without telling him.

But Min-jae wasn’t one to back down.

Chapter 5: Fighting for Love

On the day of her resignation, Min-jae confronted her in the lobby.

“Why are you running away?” he demanded, his voice filled with frustration.

“I’m not running. I’m doing what’s best for both of us,” Ha-eun replied, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“And who gets to decide that? You?” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Ha-eun, I’ve fought my entire life to build this company, but for the first time, I have something worth fighting for that isn’t just business.”

Her resolve crumbled, and she allowed herself to fall into his embrace.

Epilogue: Building Their Future

Months later, with the scandal behind them and Min-jae’s support unwavering, Ha-eun flourished in her career, and their love only grew stronger. Together, they learned to navigate the challenges of their different worlds, proving that under the vast Seoul sky, love could conquer all.

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