The Hales mansion in London. After a late dinner, a few maids quickly cleared away the plates and silverware.

Only Earl Rupert Hales and Isabella remained at the long table.

Winter rain fell outside the windows, and logs burned in the fireplace, giving off a gentle heat.

Cups of tea were set in front of them. Isabella added a little milk to her black tea.

Earl Rupert sipped his tea plain and set the cup down.

"The more I think about it, the more I like that young fellow."

"Who?"

Isabella knew exactly who he meant, but she played dumb.

"The one you call Bear. That young man, Ha Tae-ung."

Isabella's blue eyes sparkled.

"Do you really think so?"

"Pleased, are you?"

"Papa, you don't praise people easily."

"That isn't praise. It's a first impression."

"Then you're saying I chose right?"

"We'll have to watch a while longer yet. You can't know a man from a single meeting."

"Bear is far more impressive than you think, Papa."

"Defending him already?"

"I'm just stating a fact."

"Well. At the very least, he'll live up to the name you gave him."

A satisfied smile played on Isabella's lips.

When she'd said she would invite Bear to St Moritz, her father had been lukewarm. He'd even teased her about it.

By any measure, Bear was just a young investor who'd turned up from a small country in Asia. Rupert had written it off as his daughter's passing curiosity about an Asian man.

St Moritz was the first time Rupert had met Bear in person, too. Ha Tae-ung was young and couldn't have much experience, yet even in unfamiliar surroundings he hadn't lost his edge.

He had halted the auction of the painting China's Liang Jianguo had entered and put up a hundred million dollars to do it. Whether he'd planned it from the start or not, he had cut off his opponent's escape route too.

Through all of it, Rupert hadn't seen a trace of bluster or arrogance, no flaunting of wealth.

He had flipped the board in an instant, then taken every…