Flashy gift.

Seol Yoon-ah barely had time to take off her sneakers before she heard her mother's sharp voice echo through the grand foyer.

"You got a job?"

She winced as she froze mid-step. The house was as pristine and imposing as ever—towering ceilings, polished marble floors, and an atmosphere so heavy with wealth it was almost suffocating. The kind of place where nothing went unnoticed. News travelled fast in this house.

Her mother appeared at the top of the sweeping staircase, arms crossed, dressed in an elegant cream-colored suit that probably cost more than Yoon-ah's entire annual salary. A second later, her father emerged from his study, sliding his phone into his pocket as his sharp gaze landed on her.

Both of them looked pleased. And annoyed.

"You got a job," her father repeated, his voice measured. "Without telling us."

Yoon-ah exhaled, stepping out of her shoes. "Yes. That's usually how job applications work, I even start next week."

".. but how did you find out?" She questioned.

"I have my ways, Yoon-ah. You should know this if you will inherit my business one day.." Her father replied offhandedly. She groaned, she had forgotten what her father was like. She wouldn't have asked him that question.

Her father nodded approvingly. "Galaxy Corporations is indeed a solid choice. I know the CEO–" He stopped himself abruptly, as if reminding himself that his daughter had refused to take the easy route into any company, even his own. His expression darked slightly. "–but you didn't use any connections, did you?"

"No I didn't" Yoon-ah breezily replied, lifting her chin, "but you would know that, with your connections and all.."

Her mother descended the stairs gracefully, her heels clicking against the marble. "Darling, we have been waiting for you to come to your senses. Why go through all that effort when you could've had a position in our company from the start? You wouldn't have had to struggle."

"I didn't want a position in our company," Yoon-ah said, rolling her shoulders as if shaking off the weight of this conversation. "I wanted to earn something on my own."

"I didn't struggle." She countered.

Her father scoffed. "And you believe you've done that? You may not have used our name, but you're still who you are, Yoon-ah. You think people don't recognize that?"

Yoon-ah clenched her jaw. "I didn't use my name. I applied like any other candidate. And guess what? I bombed the interview. Spectacularly."

Her mother's eyebrows shot up. "You… failed the interview?"

"Oh, completely." Yoon-ah sighed. "Spilled water everywhere, ruined documents, had an ink explosion—truly, a disaster of epic proportions."

Her father frowned. "And yet, they still hired you?"

"That's what I said!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up. "I had an... unfortunate interview, but I got the job anyway!"

Her parents exchanged a glance—one of those silent, loaded looks that drove Yoon-ah crazy. Then, her mother smiled. A knowing, almost smug smile.

Her stomach sank. "What?"

Her father shook his head. "Nothing."

"No, what?"

Her mother reached out, brushing a strand of hair from Yoon-ah's face like she was still a child. "Nothing, darling. Just that… well, some people recognize value even in chaos."

That made her bristle. "Don't tell me you had something to do with this?"

Her father actually laughed at that. "If we had, you wouldn't have suffered through an interview in the first place."

Her mother hummed. "Though, if they hired you despite such a catastrophe… well, I'm sure the CEO had his reasons."

A chill ran down her spine. She had never met the CEO of Galaxy Corporation, but something about her mother's tone made her uneasy. And now she would be working for him as his secretary. Honestly that... didn't sound like an easy job. At all. She would cross that bridge when the time comes though.

She shook off the feeling. "Well, I don't care what their reasons are. I got the job, and I'm keeping it."

Her father frowned. "Instead of working with your family, you're choosing to build someone else's emipre."

"I'm choosing to build my own career." She corrected.

Her father sighed, rubbing his temple. "You're just like me."

Her mother smiled. "Stubborn to a fault."

Pride in her gaze despite her frustration.

"I prefer 'determined,'" Yoon-ah muttered.

Her father scoffed. He was stubborn and so was she.

Her father exhaled. "Fine. You want to do this your way? Do it. But don't expect us to sit back and watch if things go south."

"I wouldn't expect anything less."

A moment of silence stretched between them—half tension, half reluctant respect. Then, her mother clapped her hands together.

"Well, since you insist on being independent, at least let us celebrate your first job properly."

Yoon-ah narrowed her eyes. "No extravagant parties."

Her father smirked. "We'll see."

She should have known that was a losing battle. At least she had won the other battle.

"Get ready, we're going out" her mom smiled as she said this.Yoon-ah belatedly noticed the clothes her parents were wearing. She laughed.

"Your brother would be showing up any moment from now."

A gust of cool air followed as Seol Hyun strode in, duffel bag slung over his shoulder, his tracksuit slightly damp with sweat.

"There he is"

"I'm back," he announced, kicking off his sneakers. His gaze flickered over the three of them—Yoon-ah standing with her arms crossed, their mother looking exasperated yet pleased, and their father with that unreadable expression he always wore when he had plans.

Hyun arched a brow. "What did I miss?"

"Our dear Yoon-ah has finally found a job," their mother said, the amusement in her voice betraying the fact that this wasn't the simple congratulations it should have been.

Hyun snorted. "Took you long enough, Noona"

Yoon-ah shot him a glare. "Shut up."

Their father, who had been silent for a moment too long, suddenly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black leather pouch. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it toward her. Yoon-ah caught it instinctively, frowning at the unexpected weight.

Curious, she unzipped the pouch. The second she saw what was inside, she stiffened.

A Bentley key fob.

Not just any Bentley key—this one was custom-made. Wrapped in soft white leather, with rose gold accents and the iconic Bentley wings emblem gleaming in the dim light. Her initials, "SYA," were engraved elegantly on the metal side, and the buttons—lock, unlock, and trunk release—had tiny diamond accents embedded around them.

It was excessive. It was obnoxiously luxurious.

And it was exactly the kind of thing her father would give to her.

"A new car?" she asked suspiciously.

"A car befitting an Oxford graduate," her father replied smoothly. "Just take it, it's my gift to the Oxford graduate who has now gotten her first job"

"Honestly you needed a new ride" Mom replied, her hand on her own face. She looked happy about the idea.

Yoon-ah glanced at the key, then back at him. "I don't need this."

"No" she exhaled sharply as she walked to her dad, shoving the pouch back into his hands.

"Yes" her father said, completely unfazed, pushing it back into her hands.

"You have a job now," he said, completely ignoring her protest. "You'll be driving to work. And I won't have my daughter pulling up in something modest."

Her lips parted. "You mean something normal?"

He gave her a look that said, Don't be ridiculous.

Hyun whistled, peeking at the key fob. "Oh wow! Noona! That's a custom made bentley, you better take it before I do" Hyun was a bit obsessed with cars.

Yoon-ah rolled her eyes. "be my guest," she muttered, still holding the key fob like it would burn her hands.

"Yoon-ah. Accept it." Her father sighed, rubbing his temple.

"I don't want a flas–"

"Accept it."

"My Oxford graduate deserves this kind of car."

Her jaw clenched. He said it so simply, like it was the most logical thing in the world. Like rejecting it was never an actual option. She knew this game—her father never forced things outright. He just presented them as inevitable.

She stared at the key again. The white leather. The rose gold. Her initials, carved in with precision.

A car that wasn't just a car—but a symbol. A reminder.

".. but I don't want a flashy car.." she wanted to try pushing her luck.

"Well, you have one now," he said simply. "That's it."

Yoon-ah sighed. There was no winning against him when he used that tone. He wasn't asking her to accept it—he was telling her. And if she refused, she knew what would happen. The car would still be parked in the driveway tomorrow, waiting. Her mother would act like it was already hers. Hyun would take it for a spin just to annoy her.

She exhaled. "Fine."

Her father smirked. "Good."

Hyun nudged her. "You could at least pretend to be happy. Most people would kill to get a car like that."

Yoon-ah shook her head, slipping the key into her pocket. "I just got a job. And suddenly I'm driving around in a car that screams 'rich parents'? I'll look ridiculous." and strange too.

Her mother patted her cheek, smiling. "Darling, everyone already knows where you come from. You might as well enjoy it."

"I don't think they do mom, you know how I avoided those get togethers back then" she reminded.

Yoon-ah groaned. Hyun laughed. And their father, satisfied, returned to his study to get some things, Seol Hyun trailing behind him "Dad you know how much I wanted that–"

"Yoon-ah! You're driving us" he told her. Completely ignoring and interrupting Hyun.

It was just her mom and herself left in the living room. "Mom can't you get me another ca–"

"Don't push it. You either take it or you won't be resuming work on Monday"