Jean sat at the head of the table in the private dining area of the hotel, her fingers lightly drumming against the polished wood. Around her sat Emma, Rosalie, Sasha, and Ganga… all waiting for her to speak.
Her mind is running in circles. Mr. Kim's expression from last night was burned into her memory… displeasure, irritation. She groaned and rubbed her temples.
"This is bad. This is really bad. We need to be careful today," Jean began, exhaling slowly. "I have a feeling Mr. Kim is upset after what happened last night."
"Okay, let's not be dramatic," Emma said, lounging on the couch with a cup of coffee. "It's not like we burned his house down. We just... mildly inconvenienced his drunk son."
Jean shot her a glare. "We humiliated his drunk son."
Emma leaned forward, brow furrowed. "You think it's about Junho?"
Jean nodded. "Possibly. We embarrassed him, and as much as I'd love to say he deserved it but Mr. Kim might not appreciate how we handled it."
Rosalie smirked, swirling the tea in her cup. "I'd say we did the world a favor."
Sasha snorted. "Right? That man was one 'no' away from making things really uncomfortable. So, what's the plan?" She asked, crossing her arms. "Do we grovel?"
"Absolutely not," Jean shot back, firm. "We need to regain his favor, but without looking weak. We stick to professionalism, highlight our strengths, and show him why we're the right choice. If he's hesitant because of personal reasons, we counter it with solid business logic."
"I agree with Jean," Ganga chimed in, adjusting her glasses. "If Mr. Kim is displeased, it could cost us the deal. We need to play this right at the yacht gathering."
"Agreed," Rosalie said, tapping a pen against her notepad. "Maybe we subtly acknowledge the party without directly addressing Junho?"
Jean nodded. "Exactly. We play it smart. Focus on the business."
Emma sighed and set her coffee down. "Fine, let's strategize. What's the plan?"
Jean took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "First, we stay professional. We're there to strengthen our connection with Mr. Kim, not to party. No wild antics."
Emma grinned. "So, no revenge plans this time?"
"Absolutely not."
Rosalie pouted. "Boring."
Jean ignored them. "Second, I'll personally apologize to Mr. Kim if I sense he's truly upset. But we keep the conversation light… business, family, cultural respect."
Sasha nodded. "We should also subtly emphasize our values. Show him that we're serious, respectful, and the better choice."
Emma leaned forward. "And what about Logan?"
Jean stiffened at the mention of his name. "What about him?"
Emma smirked knowingly. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe the fact that he always finds a way to be near you? Or that he'll definitely try to one-up you tomorrow?"
Jean rolled her eyes. "He's a non-factor."
The entire team stared at her blankly.
"Fine," she sighed. "We'll handle him if necessary. But first, we focus on Mr. Kim."
Ganga smiled. "Then let's make sure we turn this yacht gathering into our win." smirked. "And look absolutely stunning while doing it."
Emma chuckled. "Now that's something we can all get behind."
Jean took a deep breath and nodded. "Let's do it."
With their strategy settled, they moved on to details, ensuring they were prepared for whatever awaited them on the yacht.
Meanwhile, in another part of the hotel, Logan sat with his own team…Henry, his assistant, his lawyer, and his product manager.
"We need to use last night to our advantage," Logan said, swirling the black coffee in his mug. His expression was sharp, calculating. "Jean's team made a mistake humiliating Junho. Mr. Kim may act neutral, but no father enjoys seeing his son made a fool of."
Henry leaned back, considering. "So we capitalize on that?"
"Exactly," Logan confirmed. "Subtly, of course. We present ourselves as the more stable, professional option. Reliable. Trustworthy. No unnecessary drama."
His lawyer adjusted his glasses. "That's easy enough to spin. We emphasize how Kingsley Corp. operates with precision and discipline—qualities Mr. Kim respects."
"And if Ms Adams tries to do damage control?" the product manager asked.
Logan smirked. "We let her try. But we steer the conversation. If she brings up business, we match it and exceed her. If she brings up last night, we act as if it was nothing to us. That way, we remain in control of the narrative."
Henry let out a low whistle. "You're really going all in."
Logan's smirk deepened. "Jean thinks she can play in my arena. It's time to remind her who she's dealing with."
Junho leaned back against the railing of the yacht, the sea breeze ruffling his neatly styled hair. A slow smirk played on his lips as he swirled the golden liquid in his glass, watching the guests mingle and enjoy themselves, unaware of the storm he was about to unleash.
Farah, his assistant, stood beside him, her arms crossed as she observed the crowd with calculating eyes. "Public humiliation isn't the answer," she said, her voice as smooth as the waves beneath them. "It'll only make your father suspect you. If you want to strike, you need to do it smartly."
Junho chuckled, taking a slow sip of his drink. "I don't just want to strike, Farah. I want to make sure Jean Adams remembers this night forever."
Farah arched a brow, intrigued. "And how do you plan on doing that?"
He pulled out his phone, his fingers gliding over the screen before he sent a single message. "Rumors are a powerful thing," he mused, his smirk deepening. "People love scandal, and what better scandal than a secret affair between two rival CEOs?"
Farah's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Jean Adams and Logan Kingsley… A forbidden romance?"
Junho nodded. "Exactly. A little whisper here, a well-placed comment there… Before the night is over, everyone will believe they've been sneaking around behind closed doors. And knowing Logan, he'll hate every second of it. Jean, on the other hand... She'll be too busy trying to clean up the mess."
He looked out at the lavish party, his eyes scanning for his target. The yacht gathering was just beginning, but the real game was about to start.