38. Love's Second Chance

                                    

                                          
Despite the tension between us, Chan and I began to work together to find the culprit who had stolen my design.
We started by reviewing all employees and associates who had access to the designs. 
Chan used his network to dig deeper into each person's background and current activities. 
Late nights turned into early mornings as we sifted through emails, security footage, and transaction records, looking for any clue that might lead us to the thief. 
One night, after hours of combing through data, Chan found a lead. He immediately came at my place, almost desperate.
"Minho, look at this," he said, pointing to an unusual transaction in the company's financial records. 
"This payment stands out. It's to a company that doesn't seem to exist." 
I squinted at the screen, my fatigue momentarily forgotten. 
"Let's trace it," I said. 
Using Chan's connections, we traced the payment to a former employee, Jisoo, who had been disgruntled after being let go months earlier. 
Jisoo had set up a shell company to receive the payment for the stolen design. Armed with this evidence, we quickly involved the legal team to take action. 
The following days were a whirlwind. Legal proceedings were initiated against Jisoo, and my public relations team worked tirelessly to clear my name. 
With Chan by my side, I held a press conference, presenting the evidence we had gathered and announcing that legal steps were being taken against the real perpetrator. 
At the press conference, I stood tall, my confidence slowly returning. 
"I want to thank everyone for their support during this challenging time. The truth has come to light, and we are taking the necessary steps to ensure this never happens again." 
Chan stood hidden in the audience, a supportive presence. When the conference ended, I turned to Chan, a complicated mix of emotions in my eyes. 
"Thank you," I said quietly. 
"I couldn't have done this without you." 
Chan nodded, his expression sincere but still neutral. 
"I told you, I'm here to help. No matter what happens between us personally, I care about you and your work." 
The legal battle against Jisoo was swift and decisive. With overwhelming evidence, He was found guilty of intellectual property theft and fraud.
My name was cleared, and my reputation restored. Clients returned, and the company began to recover from the scandal. 
Haven't seen Chan since then.
---
I sat in the cozy, dimly lit office of Seungmin. 
The gentle sound of a water fountain and the subtle scent of lavender filled the room, creating a calm and serene atmosphere. 
Despite the soothing environment, my mind was in turmoil. 
Seungmin watched me with a patient, understanding gaze. 
"What's on your mind, Minho?" he asked softly. 
I sighed, rubbing my temples. 
"It's Chan. After everything he's done to help me, I'm starting to wonder if I should give him another chance. But I'm still so hurt by his betrayal. This time had been hard.