Corporate Cupid

Chapter 6: The Contract and the Concert

The morning sun barely peeked through the curtains as Hari sat at her small kitchen table, staring at the contract in front of her. After much internal debate, she picked up a pen and, with a deep breath, signed her name. This marked the beginning of her role as Kim Sari, the fabricated girlfriend of one of Korea's most eligible bachelors, Kim Wonho. She knew this was no ordinary arrangement, but with the debt looming over her, she couldn't refuse the offer.

Wonho and Hari met to discuss the details of their plan. He made it clear that while she would be introduced as Kim Sari, they needed to fabricate a background that would make her seem like the perfect match for him in the eyes of his influential grandfather, Chairman Kang. Wonho handed Hari a carefully prepared slideshow, detailing facts about his life—his achievements, his tastes, his family history. Hari was to memorize every detail, to ensure their story was convincing.

As Hari immersed herself in the material, she noticed a brief mention of Wonho's parents, who had passed away in a tragic accident. This piqued her curiosity, and she brought it up with Yuna. Yuna recalled hearing rumors that someone had been responsible for the accident, and that the tragedy had caused Chairman Kang to fire all blood relatives from the company to protect Wonho. The weight of the family's tragic past added a layer of complexity to her new role, making her realize just how important it was for her to get everything right.

Despite her efforts, when Hari went over what she had learned, Wonho criticized her for relying too much on rote memorization. He reminded her that to truly impress his grandfather, she needed to embody her role, not just recite facts. To this end, Hari tried to create a romantic backstory for their relationship, inventing a scenario where they met on a rainy day in New York. Wonho, however, found her story utterly ridiculous and dismissed it with a scoff, leaving her feeling somewhat defeated.

Later, as Wonho dropped Hari off at home, Woozi, who had accompanied them, observed Hari's earnest yet slightly quirky nature. He remarked to Wonho that Kim Sari was "oddly endearing," though he left it at that, merely offering a faint smile.

Despite the rocky preparation, Hari's presentation in front of Wonho went surprisingly well. She wore a face mask, claiming she was sick, partly to cover her nervousness and partly to hide her true identity from him once more. Buoyed by her success, she decided to share the good news with Minwoo, the man she had always secretly admired. However, when she arrived at his restaurant, her heart sank. Minwoo was on a date with his ex-girlfriend, Soojin—who also happened to be one of Hari's old friends.

Crushed, Hari fled the restaurant, her vision blurred by tears. In her haste, she dropped her belongings, and her phone slipped through a sewer grate just as Wonho called. He heard her sobbing on the other end, but when he realized she hadn't meant to answer, he hung up, unsure of what to do.

The next day, Hari and Wonho met with Chairman Kang. Despite her anxiety, Hari managed to charm the elderly man as Kim Sari, making a strong impression. Their original plan was only to have dinner, but Chairman Kang noticed a pair of MeloMance concert tickets sticking out of Hari's bag. They were a gift from Minwoo for her birthday, and the date on the tickets was that very day. Insisting that they go, Chairman Kang dropped them off at the concert venue himself, leaving Hari and Wonho no choice but to attend.

Hari: (nervously clutching the tickets) I can't believe this is happening... We were supposed to have dinner, not go to a concert!

Wonho: (sighing) Chairman Kang is persistent. Once he makes up his mind, there's no changing it.

Hari: (glancing at the concert venue) But these tickets... they were a birthday gift from a friend. I didn't plan for this at all.

Wonho: (looking at her) Who's the friend?

Hari: (hesitating) It's Minwoo... He's just a friend, I swear. He had these tickets and thought I'd like to go.

Wonho: (smirking) So now I'm third-wheeling on your birthday gift?

Hari: (blushing) No, it's not like that! I didn't expect to end up here with you... and definitely not under these circumstances.

Wonho: (teasing) Well, Chairman Kang sure knows how to turn a simple dinner into an adventure.

Hari: (laughing nervously) This is more like a nightmare. I'm not even a big fan of MeloMance.

Wonho: (raising an eyebrow) You're not?

Hari: (shaking her head) Minwoo loves them. I was just going to go with him because he's so excited about it.

Wonho: (thoughtful) Then why don't we make the most of it? Pretend you're a fan for the night, and maybe we'll both end up enjoying it.

Hari: (sighing) I guess we have no choice. It's not like we can just leave.

Wonho: (smirking) Exactly. And who knows? Maybe you'll discover something you like.

Hari: (reluctantly smiling) Maybe... But let's just try to get through this without any more disasters, okay?

Wonho: (grinning) No promises, Kim Sari. But I'll do my best.

Hari: (laughing) You're impossible, you know that?

Wonho: (with a playful smile) So I've been told. Now, let's go enjoy the concert.

At the concert, the situation became even more complicated. MeloMance read out a song request from Minwoo, who dedicated it to his "friend" for always being there for him, adding that he hoped she had brought a boyfriend. The song they played was one that Hari and Minwoo had cherished together, a melody filled with memories of unspoken feelings. As the music filled the venue, Hari couldn't hold back her tears, overwhelmed by her emotions and the stark contrast between her reality and her wishes. Quietly, Wonho handed her a handkerchief, his usual aloofness softened by an unexpected moment of empathy.

After the concert, they wandered the streets, grabbing some street food to lighten the mood. But just as Hari was about to take a bite, a baseball flew out of nowhere and hit her squarely in the eye, adding physical pain to her emotional turmoil.