When the presidents' meeting was over, Seong-ho Kim went back to the Vice-Chairman's office.

"How did it go?"

Gyeong-eun Lee was waiting for him there.

"Fine. It all went smoothly."

"Maybe I should have just gone in after all."

Gyeong-eun had risen to greet him. Now she followed him back to the sofa and sat down again.

"The hotel's and the department store's seats must have been empty, right?"

"You didn't come, so they were empty."

"That's what I mean. Everyone else came, and only the hotel and the department store had empty seats. It doesn't look good."

She'd had the office to herself the whole time he was in the meeting, and she'd thought it over. This was her conclusion.

"Next time I'll go in too."

She looked him straight in the eye.

But Seong-ho shook his head.

"You can't."

"I can't?"

She hadn't expected him to say no, and she looked taken aback.

"Why can't I go in?"

"Because you're the owner of the company and I'm a salaried manager. If the owner is seen in a meeting taking orders from the salaried man, what will people think of you?"

"What does that matter?"

As far as she was concerned, it didn't matter at all.

"You're the Vice-Chairman and you're the one running the company, so of course everyone listens to you. And you and I are husband and wife. What's the harm?"

She couldn't see why he'd worry about something so obvious. Seong-ho smiled quietly at her.

But the smile soon left his face.

"Even so, you can't."

Gyeong-eun gave him a sad, pleading look.

Seong-ho didn't budge.

"Watching you take my word, some people might start looking down on you."

"I don't mind."

"I do."

Seong-ho shook his head at her.

"Seeing that, someone will start whispering behind your back that Ilhyeon's real owner turns out to be Seong-ho Kim. I won't stand for that."

"But I don't mind…"

Gyeong-eun pouted.

"If I had my way, I'd honestly give it all to you."

Seong-ho broke into a smile.

"The thought is more than enough. You have…