### Chapter 110: **Uncovering the Culprit**
The sun hadn't yet fully risen when I found myself back in my office, a steaming cup of coffee in hand and a stack of papers spread across my desk. The scent of the strong brew did little to soothe the tension coiling in my gut. The note from the previous evening kept replaying in my mind, its message a taunting reminder that I was being watched. That someone was trying to scare me off. But fear wasn't something I entertained, especially not when my work—my dream—was on the line. Whoever was behind this was about to face a side of me they'd regret ever provoking.
I leaned back in my chair, letting my eyes drift over the blueprints of the new branch. My fingers traced the outlines of the plans absently as my mind worked through the puzzle before me. It was time to dig deeper. Someone close to the project was betraying me, and I had a strong suspicion that the rot ran deeper than I initially thought.
I thought back to the workers at the site, replaying each interaction, each word exchanged. One person stood out in particular—one of the contractors. A man named Park Joon. He'd always seemed a bit too jittery around me, too eager to please yet hesitant at the same time. It was like he was hiding something. And after what I'd seen yesterday, I was almost certain he was involved.
"Park Joon..." I muttered under my breath, his name rolling off my tongue like a curse. "Let's see what you're up to."
I grabbed my phone and quickly dialed the number of one of my most trusted employees, Kim Seok-jin, who'd been overseeing some of the deliveries. The phone rang twice before he picked up, his voice gruff with the remnants of sleep.
"Morning, Seok-jin. I need a favor," I said, not bothering with pleasantries. There was no time for that now.
"Of course, Ms. Jiyeon. What can I do for you?" he responded, his tone instantly alert.
"I need you to look into a man named Park Joon. He's a contractor on the new site. I want to know everything—his work history, any recent contacts, financials, anything that looks suspicious."
"Consider it done. I'll get back to you as soon as I have something," he replied without hesitation.
"Good. And Seok-jin? Be discreet. I don't want him knowing we're onto him."
"Understood."
I hung up the phone and exhaled slowly, feeling the familiar burn of determination in my chest. If Park Joon was the one screwing with my project, then I would make sure he knew exactly who he was dealing with.
A few hours later, I was pacing the length of my office, my patience thinning with every passing minute. Finally, my phone buzzed on the desk, and I snatched it up, seeing Seok-jin's name on the screen.
"Tell me what you've got," I demanded, my voice sharp.
"Park Joon has been in contact with someone—a rival restaurant owner, Choi Min-seok. They've exchanged several calls and texts over the past few weeks, mostly during off-hours. And it gets worse. I managed to pull some records. It looks like Min-seok has been paying Park Joon under the table. The amounts aren't huge, but it's enough to raise red flags."
He paled even further, his eyes wide with fear. "Please, I'll do anything to make it right. I'll fix everything, I swear."
I glared at him, my blood boiling. Part of me wanted to tear him apart right there and then. But another part of me knew that he was just a pawn in a much bigger game. The real enemy was Min-seok, and I needed to focus on taking him down.
"You're going to tell me everything," I ordered, my voice cold. "Every detail, every conversation you had with Min-seok. I want to know exactly what he's planning."
Park Joon nodded frantically, clearly terrified of what I might do if he refused. "Okay, okay. I'll tell you everything. Just... please don't ruin me. I have a family—kids."
"Start talking," I said, crossing my arms as I stared him down.
Over the next few minutes, Park Joon spilled everything. He told me about the first time Min-seok approached him, offering money in exchange for small acts of sabotage. At first, it was minor things—delaying shipments, misplacing tools, ordering the wrong materials. But as time went on, Min-seok's demands grew more aggressive. He wanted the project to fail, and he was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen.
"He said if I didn't help him, he'd destroy my business," Park Joon explained, his voice trembling. "He has friends in high places, people who could ruin me with a single phone call. I didn't know what else to do."
I listened to his confession, my anger simmering just below the surface. Min-seok was playing a dangerous game, and he'd dragged Park Joon into it. But now that I knew what was going on, I had the upper hand. And I was going to make sure Min-seok paid for every dirty trick he'd pulled.
"You're going to fix the mess you've made," I said, my tone leaving no room for argument. "You're going to undo every bit of damage you've done to this project. And when I'm done with Min-seok, you're going to testify against him. Understand?"
Park Joon nodded, his face ashen. "Yes, Ms. Jiyeon. Whatever you need."
"Good," I said, turning to leave. "You better pray that Min-seok doesn't find out you've turned on him. Because if he does, you'll have more to worry about than just your business."
As I walked away, I felt a strange mix of emotions—anger, satisfaction, and a hint of fear. I'd uncovered the truth, but the fight was far from over. Min-seok was a powerful enemy, and I knew he wouldn't back down easily. But I wasn't going to let him win. Not now, not ever.
Back in my office, I collapsed into my chair, the
weight of the day's revelations settling on my shoulders. I had the information I needed, but the battle was only just beginning. Min-seok had made his move, and now it was my turn.
But one thing was clear—I couldn't do this alone. I needed help, and there was only one person I trusted to stand by my side in this fight.
I picked up my phone and dialed Yura's number, my heart pounding as I waited for her to answer.