Chapter 20
“President.”
The general manager, who had been restraining the woman, looked at Seungwoo with a relieved expression.
Seungwoo could immediately tell what even this 30-year veteran of the hotel couldn’t figure out just by assessing the situation.
“Do you want to reveal the information?”
“We shouldn’t make things more chaotic than they already are.”
Revealing information about a No Info customer went against the hotel’s principles. But if they didn’t handle it now, incidents like this could happen again at any time.
“Honestly, I can understand her feelings.”
“You can’t let someone’s emotions sway you, General Manager.”
Seungwoo smiled coldly and then approached the woman.
Jia looked as if she were about to cry.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. We…”
“Speak! You came here, I know everything! Is this a meeting place for affairs? Do you cover up infidelity?”
“Ma’am.”
Seungwoo called to her, his posture perfectly composed.
Startled, she turned to look at him. She froze, unsure why such a model-like man standing like a statue had called her.
Seungwoo smiled gently at her.
“This lobby is crowded. If possible, shall we move to my office for tea and talk?”
His demeanor was completely different from when he was working. Others nearby held their breath. Whispered comments floated: “Who is he?” “The president… of this hotel, isn’t he?”
The woman nodded, drawn in, and at that moment, the man whose tie she had been holding released her hand with a heavy sigh.
“She’s revealing everything herself.”
“What?”
“Ma’am, you don’t have to come along.”
As the two began to argue again, Seungwoo skillfully interrupted. His expression briefly turned cold as he looked at the man, then softened again.
“No, this is happening because of my husband. How can I just let it go?”
The woman flared up, and Seungwoo’s lips curved into a faint smile. He spoke to her gently, soothingly.
“I fully understand your position, ma’am. But whether your husband is present or not, the situation doesn’t change. In fact, having him here may only make things more uncomfortable for both parties.”
His words carried weight and seemed persuasive to her.
“Alright, then… what?”
“What would you discuss without me?”
The man shouted as if defending his innocence, but the woman lightly pushed his chest without hesitation.
“Stay still. I’ll be back shortly.”
Following a hotel staff member, the woman was guided to Seungwoo’s office.
In the reception area of his office, he asked his secretary to prepare tea and sat down.
“First, I sincerely thank you for taking the time to come here. Was your trip here comfortable?”
“Yes… it’s fine.”
She scratched her head, unsure what else to say.
Seungwoo calmly offered tea and lifted his own cup. She raised hers only to look blankly at him.
He seemed like a man with overwhelming presence, yet elegant and attractive at the same time.
In this neatly arranged office, his presence completely dominated her. His tone and manners remained polite and courteous.
“To be clear, our hotel prioritizes the safety and privacy of our guests, not exposing the truth or enforcing fairness for everyone.”
Seungwoo put down his teacup and began explaining slowly.
“Ah, so you’re saying you won’t tell me?”
The woman’s expression, briefly swayed by his polite manner, crumpled again. Seungwoo lifted the corners of his mouth gently.
“I am explaining the hotel’s position. Every hotel has its principles. What happens if these principles are ignored in specific situations? Guests will lose trust in the hotel. If that happens, the hotel’s very existence is at stake.”
“So you’re defending my husband’s affair to protect the hotel!”
She jabbed a finger toward him as if to poke him.
“I’d appreciate it if you hear the conclusion first.”
Seungwoo’s expression changed. The gentle, polite attitude he had maintained earlier now carried a slightly arrogant and commanding air.
Yet even this made him appear more attractive.
“There are many ways to discover a spouse’s infidelity. But if you insist on using the hotel to do so, I must explain that we cannot provide that information. And the staff you are angry at today—they are someone’s family too.”
The woman’s expression twisted with conflicting feelings.
“We can assume that you’ve been hurt and frustrated. But taking it out on innocent staff will achieve nothing except deepening the wounds between people. Just because you are hurt, it doesn’t mean everyone around you should suffer as well.”
His tone was calm and composed, but the meaning of his words struck her deeply, leaving a heavy impact she couldn’t resist.
“Alright… I see your point,” she said, defeated.
“I’m sorry, but we cannot offer further assistance in this matter.”
Seungwoo’s smile remained gentle as he spoke, comforting her.
“I understand. I still need to find out about the affair somehow. There are plenty of ways to do that these days.”
She twisted her head and avoided meeting his gaze, quietly replying.
Seungwoo didn’t answer but subtly nodded, as if to say, figure it out in your own way.
After directing the secretary to accompany her, he picked up the phone. Fatigue showed in his eyes as he blinked slowly and spoke in a low voice.
“Tell Kwon Jia to come to where I am right now.”
Jia bit her trembling lips as she entered the office.
Seungwoo now stood by the window, clearly angry.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t handle it properly.”
Jia bowed deeply.
Seungwoo was like a god to her. She had only been in the same room with him once before—during new employee orientation when he gave the opening speech.
She had heard countless stories about him, though. Recently, she had even grown closer to his wife. Bringing desserts to Yunseo had required tremendous courage on her part.
“Kwon Jia.”
Seungwoo turned to her. Her flushed face seemed on the verge of tears.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Huh?”
“The No Info customer. You were supposed to report directly to me.”
All front desk staff were aware of and shared this information.
“I did report it, sir.”
Even trembling, she had to say it. She never missed a step. A meticulous new employee, she checked everything off her list each day.
“That’s impossible. I haven’t received any information.”
“I really did. To Team Leader Park Chiheon.”
Park Chiheon, the front desk team leader, oversaw all the front desk staff.
Jia’s face contorted further. Her fists clenched in frustration.
“Huh?”
Seungwoo raised one eyebrow.
“I reported continuously without omission. So I naturally assumed you knew as well…”
She had reported to her superior, so she assumed the president would know.
“Are you sure?”
Seungwoo looked her directly in the eye. Cold, sharp, almost paralyzing—but Jia did not look away.
“Yes. Of course. How could I lie? That customer… is habitual…”
“Watch your words.”
“Yes.”
She bit her lip and lowered her head. She hadn’t been scolded, yet it felt like she had been. Better to have been yelled at by the team leader. Two more trips like this, and her heart might not survive.
But why didn’t the president know what had been reported? She thought he remembered all important matters affecting hotel service.
“From now on, No Info customers report directly to me. No need to go through the team leader. Contact me personally.”
Seungwoo handed her a business card with his personal phone number on the back. Jia looked at him in surprise, then quickly looked down.
“Understood.”
“Go home early today. I’ll handle the front desk staff myself.”
Then she heard words she couldn’t believe.
“Huh?”
She looked at Seungwoo again. His expression was as stern as before—still intimidating.
“This could leave lasting trauma. Don’t take it lightly. If possible, check with a psychiatrist. There will be countless situations like this in the future.”
But the intent behind his words was different. He was concerned about the staff, not the task.
Jia’s mouth fell open. She felt like receiving a warm hand in the middle of freezing cold. Warmth spread through her chest.
“Thank you.”
She bowed, and Seungwoo nodded at her with a thoughtful expression.
After Jia left, Seungwoo sat for a moment, then walked to his desk.
He turned on the computer, opened files, and checked everything one by one. At one point, he narrowed his eyes and stared intently at the screen.
‘Was it from this point?’
He immediately picked up the phone.
“Team Leader Park Chiheon, please connect me.”
Yunseo lay on the hospital bed with mixed feelings.
Haejin told her the hotel had been in chaos. Seungwoo had stepped in to handle the situation.
The woman who had marched up to Seungwoo’s office had returned surprisingly meek, almost like a lie.
But afterward, the atmosphere Seungwoo radiated was extremely cold. Haejin had sensed it and left after work.
‘What on earth was discussed in his office?’
Yunseo glanced at her ringing phone. As if reading her thoughts, it was Seungwoo calling.
