Love Of Hope

The Meet

The silence of the hotel lobby was suddenly broken by the sound of two sets of footsteps approaching Hye Jeong's desk. Her heart raced as she looked up to see the man from last night approaching, this time accompanied by the hotel's manager. They locked eyes as they neared, and Hye Jeong felt a wave of dread wash over her.

The manager was the first to speak, his tone sharp and accusatory. "Why don't you bow? You're new here and already showing that you have no respect." Hye Jeong didn't miss the hint of menace in the manager's voice, but she wasn't willing to yield to his pressure.

"Who even is he?" she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "Is he important? If not, why should I?" The manager's expression hardened, and he stepped forward, pushing Hye Jeong to the ground.

As she hit the floor, she felt a sudden rush of anger overcome her. How dared he treat her like this, a mere receptionist at the lowest rung of the hotel's hierarchy? But before she could react, a voice cut through the tension.

"Don't do that," said the man from last night, his voice is calm and almost gentle despite the harshness of the moment. "She's new, right? Let her be." Hye Jeong looked up to see the man now standing over her, his expression unreadable and inscrutable.

She felt a surge of adrenaline as she scrambled to her feet, her face burning with embarrassment at being so thoroughly humiliated in front of the other staff. As the manager stepped back, still looking at her with a mix of anger and contempt, Hye Jeong noticed that the other staff members had all bowed down to the man, even though they didn't seem to recognize him.

It suddenly dawned on her that this man must be someone important, someone with power and influence. But despite her fear and uncertainty, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had made a grave mistake by not showing him the respect he was obviously accustomed to receiving.

Hye Jeong stood there, frozen in shock, as the man continued to speak. She couldn't believe that she had been so careless, so disrespectful without even knowing who he was. As he introduced himself as the new CEO, her heart sank. She had just insulted one of the most important people in the company, someone who could make or break her career.

As the man extended his hand to her, she hesitantly took it, still unable to bring herself to bow. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with fear and regret, and saw that his expression was still calm and composed. She waited for him to admonish her, to yell at her, to do something to let her know that she had made a grave mistake.

To her surprise, his grip on her hand was gentle, not the grip of an angry man ready to deliver a tongue lashing. Instead, he spoke in a tone that was almost paternal, as if she were a child who had made a mistake but was still learning.

"I'm Kang Cha-ul," he said, his voice is soft and gentle. "You may know my parents, who passed away two weeks ago. They owned this hotel before me, and I've come to take their place."

Hye Jeong's heart raced as she processed what he was saying. She had just insulted the new CEO, the man who now owned the hotel where she worked. But instead of scolding her, he was treating her with kindness and understanding.

She felt like she had just been offered a second chance, a chance to make things right. With a rush of gratitude, she fell to her knees in front of him, finally bowing her head as she should have from the beginning.

"I'm so sorry," she said, her voice trembling. "I had no idea who you were, but that's no excuse. I shouldn't have been so careless and disrespectful. I promise to do better."

*time skips*

After Hye Jeong's shift ended, Cha Ul arrived at the luxury hotel to see her. "Why did you retreat from our rendezvous last night?" he demanded, a tinge of annoyance in his voice.

Hye Jeong smirked impudently and countered, "Because I wished so. Women are entitled to seek their own desires, just as men are."

Cha Ul released a slow, deep sigh as he leaned back against the elegantly carved wooden wall. "Did you come here for the simple purpose of interrogating me about such a trivial matter?" she inquired, her tone filled with a tinge of exasperation.

Hye Jeong shook her head and continued, her words growing more impassioned with each syllable. "If I transgress, will I lose my job? Upon my disobedience, will my wages be deducted? If I balk at the manager's commands, will he terminate me? Am I nothing more than a disposable employee?"

Cha Ul advanced to her, his eyes locked to hers. "You are interrogating me with inordinate demands," he replied, his voice deep and gravelly. "I assure you, however, that I will not terminate your employment, reduce your salary, insist upon your obeisance, or regard you as a mere dispensable entity."

As Cha Ul continued standing before Hye Jeong, locking eyes with her, he could feel the tension mounting. He knew that what he was about to ask was risky—he could end up sounding cocky, condescending, or even desperate. But he also knew that he had to take a chance. So, with a deep breath, he stepped even closer to Hye Jeong and, in a voice that was both confident and vulnerable, he asked: "Hye Jeong, will you be my girlfriend?"

Hye Jeong was taken aback. She had never expected Cha Ul to be so bold, so straightforward. For a moment, she just stood there, staring at him, her mouth opening and closing as if she were trying to find the right words to respond. Finally, she broke the silence, her voice steady and strong: "Cha Ul, I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm not ready to commit to anything right now."

Cha Ul felt a pang of disappointment. He had been hoping that Hye Jeong would accept his offer without hesitation, but now it seemed that he had been too forward, too eager. He tried to play it cool, suppressing his emotions as much as he could. "I respect your decision, Hye Jeong," he said, his voice steady. "But let me know if you change your mind. I'll be here."

Hye Jeong nodded, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "I'll keep that in mind," she said, before turning and walking away.

After taking some time to reflect, Hye Jeong approached Cha Ul and asked him on a date that would defy the conventions of mortal relationships. And to her delight, he agreed, eager to embark on a journey that would push the boundary of what humanity could achieve in love.

The two embarked on a series of rendezvous that were nothing short of spectacular. They toured the world's grandest cities, dined on cuisine that left their taste buds ravished, and watched the stars dance above them in the darkest nights. Throughout it all, they connected on a level that was beyond what anyone could imagine, forming a bond that was as unbreakable as it was unforgettable.

As they enjoyed dinner one night, Hye Jeong found herself lost in the depth of Cha Ul's eyes. His gaze held a spark of passion and adventure that she couldn't resist. And with a sense of determination that defied the limits of what was possible, she spoke up and asked him to be her boyfriend. Cha Ul, too, had realized that he wanted to pursue a serious relationship with Hye Jeong, and he replied with a radiant smile, "I'd love to be your boyfriend."

Hye Jeong was filled with a surge of happiness and excitement as she realized that she had found someone who not only respected and cared for her but also shared her adventurous spirit and bold ambition. Together, they looked forward to the journeys that lay ahead, ready to write their own epic love story that would be remembered for generations to come.

As their relationship continued to deepen, Cha Ul invited Hye Jeong to stay at his mansion. Hye Jeong was in the process of moving from her humble abode into Cha Ul's ornate, sprawling, and resplendent mansion. She had been slowly spending more nights at the mansion, and it had been a delightful change of pace. The mansion's high vaulted ceilings and gleaming windows overlooking the boundless ocean made it feel like a wonderland of luxury and comfort. Hye Jeong felt like she was living in a dream, and she couldn't believe that she had found someone as kind and as loving as Cha Ul.

But as she was getting settled into her new room in the mansion, Cha Ul appeared at her door, his countenance reflecting a nervous yet determined resolve. He sat down on the luxurious silk-brocaded bed beside her and exhaled forcefully, a deep and deliberate breath.

"Ah, my sweet Hye Jeong," he began. "My heart has been yours from the moment that our eyes first met. Now, I am beseeching you - you, who have made me feel as if I have discovered heaven on earth. Will you become my eternal partner, my ever-loving spouse? Marrying you would be the greatest gift a soul could ever receive."