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CH216 | GSI
🕑 Added 2025-03-14 04:00:06 +0000 UTC"Thank you for taking the time to do this interview despite your busy schedule."
Debra’s face was slightly flushed, likely from the excitement of landing an unexpected exclusive.
"Jan, the recording went well, right?"
"Of course."
Jan pulled his eye away from the camera’s viewfinder and made an "OK" sign with his fingers.
Turning back to Seok-won, who was still seated with one leg crossed over the other, Debra hesitantly asked,
"Revealing that you’re holding short positions could cause trouble. Are you sure you’re okay with that?"
If word got out that Eldorado Fund was shorting certain stocks or assets, others might try to trigger a short squeeze by artificially driving up prices to force them out of their position.
That’s why maintaining secrecy was crucial when shorting the market.
But Seok-won, looking completely unbothered, picked up his coffee, took a sip, and set the cup back down before answering.
"It doesn’t matter. If they come after me and the crash happens as expected, the panic selling will only intensify, pushing prices down even further than I originally anticipated."
His confidence reassured Debra—there was no need to edit out that part of the interview.
"So, you’re certain the market will crash."
Her question carried a hint of skepticism, almost as if she was testing him.
"I wouldn’t be betting a fortune if I wasn’t."
"I suppose you won’t be disclosing just how much you’ve shorted?"
Seok-won simply responded with a faint, knowing smile.
Debra hadn’t expected him to answer anyway, so she wasn’t particularly disappointed. Instead, she nodded politely.
"Well, I hope it works out in your favor."
Just then, Baucus, who had been standing at a slight distance, stepped forward and handed Seok-won a phone.
"Boss, it’s Landon."
Still seated, Seok-won took the phone.
"It’s me."
[Did the interview go well?]
"More or less."
[I was surprised when you suddenly agreed to an interview with CNBC, considering how reluctant you usually are about media exposure.]
"It’s not that I dislike it—I just never saw the need. It’s a hassle."
[So, have you changed your mind now?]
"No. If it's necessary, I’ll do it, but I have no intention of going out of my way."
[Then I’ll continue handling media requests as we have been.]
"Sounds good."
[Oh, and just a reminder—you’re attending the NRDC’s annual charity gala tonight, right?]
The NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) was a nonprofit international environmental organization headquartered in New York.
Founded in 1970, it had offices in major cities like Washington, D.C., and Chicago, with a membership of over 2.4 million people worldwide—an organization with considerable influence and scale.
Each year, they hosted a year-end charity gala to raise funds, attended by celebrities, Wall Street executives, and political heavyweights alike.
Eldorado Fund had been making sizeable donations to various organizations for tax benefits, and NRDC was one of the recipients.
Normally, Seok-won would have simply sent the donation without attending.
But this year, he happened to be in New York, and it was a prime opportunity to network with key figures in different industries. He had planned to bring Kinsley as his partner for the event.
"Ah, right."
Remembering it belatedly, Seok-won asked,
"This is a partner event, isn’t it?"
[It’s not mandatory, but most people bring a partner. Attending alone might feel a bit awkward.]
"That makes sense."
[Is there a problem?]
"Well..."
Just then, Seok-won’s gaze landed on Debra, who was helping Jan pack up the equipment.
"Never mind. It’s nothing."
[Alright, then I’ll confirm your attendance as planned.]
"Yeah, go ahead."
Ending the call, Seok-won handed the phone back to Baucus.
Then, shifting in his seat, he turned toward Debra and asked,
"When can I expect the edited version?"
"You’ll have it within two days at the latest."
Hearing her promise to work quickly, Seok-won gave a small nod.
"Don’t forget—you agreed to cut out any parts we find problematic."
"Of course."
Knowing he would likely be meticulous about it, Debra smacked her lips in anticipation of the inevitable nitpicking.
Then, unexpectedly—
"Do you have plans this evening?"
"Huh?"
Debra froze and looked at him, wide-eyed.
Beside her, Jan, who had been putting away the camera, stopped mid-motion, glancing back and forth between them with an equally stunned expression.
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Taking a second to compose herself, Debra asked in as neutral a tone as she could manage,
"Uh… why do you ask?"
"It’s not exactly a thank-you for the interview, but if you’re free, I’d like to borrow your evening."
Jan’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
The way he was looking at them practically screamed: Wait, did something happen between you two?
And in Debra’s head, one thought echoed loudly—
‘Wait… is this a date invitation?!’
Debra struggled to suppress her racing heart and replied with feigned indifference.
"Sorry, but I have a rule about not meeting interview subjects in a personal capacity."
"I see. I was just looking for a partner to accompany me to the NRDC’s annual charity gala. If I overstepped, I apologize."
"…!"
Debra’s eyes widened in surprise.
"Did you just say the NRDC’s annual charity gala?"
"Yes. I was originally going with a partner, but something came up, and now I’ll be attending alone."
At that, Debra instinctively swallowed hard.
The NRDC gala—attended by powerful figures from finance, politics, and Hollywood—was the kind of event she never even dreamed of stepping into.
The opportunity to network with key players in those circles would be a massive boost to her journalism career.
And if she was lucky, she might even stumble upon an exclusive scoop from overhearing high-stakes conversations.
"But since you’re not interested, I’ll just have to manage on my own."
"W-wait!"
Debra hurriedly stopped him before he could dismiss the idea entirely.
So much for maintaining her professional image—it was crumbling fast. But the bait was just too tempting to ignore.
What kind of man asks only once and gives up so easily? At least ask twice out of courtesy!
But with an invite to the NRDC gala at stake, she had no time to be picky.
Putting on her most charming smile, she said,
"Since you seem to be in a bind, I suppose I can make an exception this time."
"If you’re not comfortable, you really don’t have to."
"No, no! I was rude to you this morning, so let me make it up to you by being your plus-one."
Seok-won could immediately see through her act—the eagerness in her eyes completely betrayed her words.
Suppressing a smirk, he nodded.
"Then, I’ll count on you."
"Great!"
Debra barely managed to contain a victorious cheer before turning to Jan, who stood awkwardly beside her.
"You heard that, right? Sorry, but can you handle the rest of the packing?"
Jan shot her a look that screamed Are you serious right now? before letting out a deep sigh.
"Fine."
He slung the camera bag over his shoulder and leaned in to whisper,
"Enjoy your date."
Debra immediately shot him a glare and jabbed his ribs with her elbow.
"It’s not a date."
"Yeah, sure."
Chuckling mischievously, Jan finished gathering the gear and exited the penthouse.
Once he was gone, Debra turned back to Seok-won, now seated on the couch, and asked with newfound enthusiasm,
"So, what time is the gala?"
"It starts around six."
Glancing at her watch, Debra murmured,
"Hmm… that doesn’t leave much time to get ready."
Her outfit was professional and neat, but definitely not suitable for a high-profile gala.
As if reading her mind, Seok-won spoke casually.
"You don’t have to worry about that."
Debra frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
As Debra looked at him in confusion, Seok-won gestured with his fingers, calling over Baucus, who had been standing nearby.
"Call the concierge."
"Yes, sir."
Before long, the dedicated concierge—responsible for fulfilling any service request from penthouse guests—arrived.
Since VIP penthouse clients demanded the utmost precision and attention to detail, even the concierge was an experienced, well-groomed middle-aged man.
His name tag read Brandon Wright.
With a respectful bow, Brandon inquired, "How may I assist you?"
"I’m attending the NRDC annual charity gala this evening with this lady here. But as you can see, she’s not properly prepared."
At that, Brandon turned his gaze toward Debra, who was seated on the left-side sofa.
His sharp eyes quickly assessed her outfit and hairstyle before he nodded and asked,
"How extensive would you like the preparations to be?"
"Everything. From head to toe."
Brandon checked his watch and gave a slight nod.
"Time is a bit tight, but I’ll make sure everything is perfect."
"I’ll leave it to you."
"Any specific preferences?"
Seok-won paused for a moment, then casually added,
"Ah, if possible, I’d like the dress and bag to be Gucci."
Even in this situation, he wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity to promote his own brand.
Brandon smiled slightly.
"Luckily, there’s a Gucci boutique inside Bergdorf Goodman right next to the hotel. That won’t be a problem."
"Perfect."
"Since we’re short on time, shall we begin right away?"
At Seok-won’s nod, Brandon excused himself and stepped out of the room.
"Um… is all of this really necessary?"
Having watched the conversation unfold, Debra tilted her head slightly in uncertainty.
"A simple evening dress should be enough, don’t you think…?"
"You do realize that, while this is technically a fundraising event, it’s really just an exclusive social gathering for high-profile figures."
"Yes, I know."
"I can’t speak for the men, but every woman attending as a partner will go all out with their look. If you show up looking unprepared, you’ll stand out in the worst way."
That much was true.
It was easy to imagine the women at the event draped in shimmering gowns and dazzling jewelry.
The thought of standing among them, looking completely out of place, made her instinctively squeeze her eyes shut.
"Besides, since you’re accompanying me as a favor, I don’t want you feeling self-conscious the entire night."
Debra blinked.
He actually has a thoughtful side?
Feeling a newfound sense of motivation, she nodded.
"Alright. If that’s the case, I’ll do it."
Moments later, Brandon returned—this time leading an entire team of hair and makeup artists into the suite.
"We’ll start with hair and makeup."
A woman with bright red hair flashed Debra a confident grin before guiding her into an inner room.
"Leave everything to me. By the time I’m done, you’ll be flawless!"
Introducing herself as Sally, the stylist wasted no time.
She sat Debra down in a chair and immediately instructed her to take off her clothes.
"We’ll store your current outfit safely for you."
Before Debra could even react, one assistant slipped a hotel robe onto her, another started a foot massage, and yet another handed her a detox drink with a straw.
"W-wait a second—"
"Relax! You’re in good hands!"
Debra had no idea what was supposed to be "okay" about any of this, but as people bustled around in a frenzy, she found herself swept up in the chaos.
"You have such lovely hair! Adding some waves will make it look even more stunning!"
"Oh… is that so?"
Just then, there was a knock at the door, followed by yet another group of people pushing in rolling racks filled with clothes.
The sheer amount of outfits—practically an entire store’s worth— left Debra visibly overwhelmed.
"We brought everything we could on short notice!"
"Good. What about the bags and shoes?"
"Right here!"
Within moments, Gucci-branded boxes filled the room.
"We’re short on time. Just pick out the ten best options to start with."
"Got it!"
At that, Debra’s eyes widened in shock.
"Wait— I have to try on ten different outfits?!"
"Don’t worry! You can do it!" Sally reassured her cheerfully.
"No, I really think that’s going to be—"
Debra started to protest, but Sally’s booming laughter drowned her out.
And so, while Debra sat helplessly in the chair, getting her hair styled and her nails done, the staff huddled together, debating which dress would be best.
After careful deliberation, Sally narrowed it down to five final choices, neatly hanging them on a rack before spreading them out in front of Debra.
"Which one do you like best?"
They were all exquisite and outrageously expensive-looking, making it difficult for her to decide.
Sensing her hesitation, Brandon—who had been silently observing—offered a gentle suggestion.
"Since this is an event attended by distinguished guests, perhaps something elegant rather than overly flashy would be ideal."
"Y-yes! That sounds perfect!"
"Oh? In that case, this black dress would be a great choice… but the blue one suits you as well. Hmm."
After some thought, Sally pulled out three final dresses and nudged Debra toward them.
"Try these on and see what you think!"
"Wow. This is amazing!"
She had only changed her clothes, yet the transformation in the full-length mirror was astounding.
"Not bad, but it feels a bit too modest."
"I think we can afford to show off the shoulder line a little more."
Brandon and Sally exchanged remarks before diving back into another round of dress selection.
Though initially overwhelmed by the process, Debra soon found herself getting caught up in it as well, commenting that a dress that sparkled under the lights would be even better.
After trying on a few more options, they finally settled on an elegant black dress.
It had a graceful neckline that accentuated her shoulders and collarbone, and the fabric, adorned with delicate crystals, shimmered like stars with every movement.
With a lineup of heels that easily outnumbered the pairs in her own closet, Debra took her time trying them on, extending the process even further.
After picking the perfect pair of heels to complement her dress, she moved on to the final step—hair and makeup.
By the time everything was complete, the afternoon had slipped away, and evening was fast approaching.
"Is this really me?"
Debra gasped, twisting and turning in front of the mirror, unable to believe her own transformation.
"You look absolutely stunning! You’ll definitely stand out at the party!"
"Phew… That was cutting it close, but we managed to finish on time!"
Sally clapped her hands, repeatedly complimenting how well the look suited her, while Brandon smiled in satisfaction.
"The CEO is waiting. Shall we head out?"
Still feeling a bit nervous, Debra took a deep breath and nodded before following Brandon into the living room.
"It’s done."
Sitting on the sofa with the backdrop of the sun setting over Central Park, Seok-won lifted his gaze.
As Debra stepped out cautiously, his eyes widened in surprise, a look of genuine admiration crossing his face.
"You look absolutely breathtaking."
At his broad smile of satisfaction, Debra blushed slightly, feeling self-conscious.
"You’ve done a great job."
"I’m glad it meets your expectations."
Brandon gave a respectful bow.
"But… something still feels missing."
"Huh?"
Before she could process what he meant, she noticed a luxurious velvet case in his hand.
When he opened it, a dazzling diamond necklace and matching earrings sparkled under the light.
"A beautiful lady deserves jewelry to match."
"This must be ridiculously expensive…"
The thought of wearing such a luxurious piece made her hesitate.
Seok-won simply shrugged with a light chuckle.
"It’s not that extravagant, so don’t worry."
Before she could object further, he gently took the necklace and placed it around her neck himself.
As his fingers lightly brushed against her skin, Debra felt her heartbeat skyrocket.
It was almost too much to handle.
"Perfect. It suits you beautifully."
"…Thank you."
Debra stared at her reflection, her face still flushed.
Just then, their eyes met through the mirror and her heart skipped a beat before pounding uncontrollably.
Comments
Ishan Agarwal
Rizzler
