Alpha Culinary Love

The morning sun filtered through the blinds of my office, casting long shadows across the desk piled with documents and renovation plans. The scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of vanilla that clung to my skin—a reminder of the turbulent days behind me. But today, I was done playing nice. Someone was messing with my work, and they were about to learn just how ruthless I could be.

I stared at the blueprints of the new branch, my fingers drumming on the table as I replayed the events of the past week in my mind. Missing shipments, incorrect materials, sudden delays—it was all too coincidental, too precise. Someone was out to sabotage my project, and they were doing a damn good job at it. But they had underestimated me. I wasn't just some pushover who would roll over and let my hard work crumble. No, I was Jiyeon, and I was about to make them regret ever crossing me.

"Time to crack some skulls," I muttered to myself, a sharp edge to my voice that I hadn't heard in a long time.

I stood up, grabbing my coat and heading out of my office with a determined stride. The staff in the restaurant greeted me with their usual smiles, but I barely registered them, my mind already focused on the task ahead. I was going to get to the bottom of this, and heaven help anyone who got in my way.

The ride to the new property site felt longer than usual, the tension in my chest growing tighter with every passing minute. I had a gut feeling that today would bring answers, but it also filled me with an uneasy anticipation. The sun was higher in the sky now, beating down on the construction site as I stepped out of my car. Workers moved about, some carrying tools, others engaged in conversation. They all straightened up when they saw me approaching, their casual chatter dying down as they sensed the shift in the atmosphere.

"Good morning, everyone," I called out, my voice carrying an undertone of authority that made a few heads turn. "I want to go over today's schedule and make sure we're on track."

There was a chorus of nods and murmurs of agreement, but I wasn't interested in their surface-level responses. I was watching for the nervous glances, the guilty shifts, the subtle signs of someone hiding something. I moved through the site, observing the workers with a keen eye, my presence a silent challenge to anyone thinking they could deceive me.

As I made my way toward the site manager, a burly man named Mr. Kang, I caught sight of a younger worker hastily shoving something into his pocket. I narrowed my eyes, filing the detail away for later. First, I needed to speak with Mr. Kang.

"Mr. Kang," I greeted him, my tone polite but firm. "I need to review the progress so far. I've noticed some discrepancies in the reports and deliveries, and I want to ensure we're not falling behind."

Mr. Kang scratched his head, looking slightly uncomfortable. "Of course, Ms. Jiyeon. We've had a few hiccups, but I assure you we're doing our best to stay on schedule."

"Hiccups?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Late deliveries, incorrect materials, missing tools—those aren't just hiccups, Mr. Kang. Those are signs of someone deliberately trying to derail this project. Do you have any idea who might be responsible?"

His eyes widened at my accusation, and he shook his head quickly. "No, ma'am, I—no one here would do something like that. We're all committed to seeing this through."

"Are you?" I shot back, my voice hardening. "Because if I find out that anyone on this site is working against me, I will make sure they never work in this town again. Understood?"

He swallowed hard, nodding vigorously. "Yes, ma'am. I'll keep an eye out, I promise."

"See that you do," I said curtly before turning away, my mind already racing with thoughts of how to flush out the culprit.

I continued my rounds, making sure to engage with every worker I passed, asking questions, and watching their reactions. The younger worker I had noticed earlier caught my eye again, and I decided it was time to have a little chat.

"Hey, you," I called out, stopping him in his tracks. He looked up, startled, and I could see the fear in his eyes. Good. He had something to hide.

"Yes, ma'am?" he stammered, trying to sound composed.

"What's your name?" I asked, my tone deceptively casual.

"Lee, ma'am. Lee Min-ho."

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"Lee Min-ho," I repeated, tasting the name on my tongue. "Tell me, Mr. Lee, have you noticed anything strange going on around here? Missing tools, deliveries showing up late, anything like that?"

He hesitated, glancing around nervously. "I-I'm just a laborer, ma'am. I don't really handle the deliveries or anything like that."

"Is that so?" I tilted my head, studying him closely. "And what was it you were just shoving into your pocket when you saw me coming?"

His face drained of color, and he looked like a deer caught in headlights. "I—uh—it was nothing, ma'am. Just my phone."

"Just your phone, huh?" I stepped closer, the space between us shrinking. "How about you hand it over and let me see?"

He fumbled with his pocket, pulling out the phone with shaky hands. I snatched it from him, scrolling through the recent messages and call logs. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but that didn't mean he was innocent.

"Keep your nose clean, Mr. Lee," I warned, shoving the phone back into his hands. "I'll be watching you."

With that, I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving him trembling in my wake. He might not be the mastermind behind this, but he was definitely involved in some way. I could feel it.

By the time I returned to my office, the frustration was simmering just beneath the surface, ready to boil over. I slammed the door behind me, leaning against it as I tried to calm the anger that threatened to consume me. How dare someone try to sabotage my work? After everything I had put into this project, they had the audacity to mess with me?

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to think rationally. Losing my temper wouldn't help me catch the saboteur. I needed to be smart, methodical, and above all, patient. But patience had never been my strong suit, especially when I was this close to the edge.

I sat down at my desk, opening the folder that held the site's documents and going over them with meticulous care. I scrutinized every detail, looking for anything out of place. And there it was—certain invoices had been altered, the numbers tweaked just enough to slip by unnoticed unless you were specifically looking for them.

"Got you, you bastard," I muttered under my breath, a triumphant grin spreading across my face. Someone had been fiddling with the numbers, probably to cover up the sabotage. But now I had proof, and I wasn't about to let them get away with it.

The next step was to figure out who was behind this. I would have to go through the records, trace the payments, and see where the discrepancies led. It would be a tedious process, but I was determined to see it through. Whoever was responsible was going to pay dearly.

As I buried myself in the documents, the hours slipped by unnoticed. My focus was laser-sharp, my mind racing as I connected the dots. The deeper I delved, the more certain I became that this wasn't just a random act of sabotage—this was personal. Someone wanted to see me fail, and they were willing to go to great lengths to make it happen.

But I wasn't going to let them win. Not now, not ever.

When I finally looked up from my work, the sun had dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows across my office. I rubbed my temples, feeling the strain of the day's efforts, but also a fierce sense of determination. I was getting closer to the truth, and soon, I would have everything I needed to take down whoever was behind this.

As I prepared to leave for the day, something caught my eye—a piece of paper slipped under my office door. I bent down to pick it up, unfolding it carefully. The note was brief, written in scrawled handwriting that I didn't recognize.

*"Stop digging, or you'll regret it."*

I stared at the words, a chill running down my spine. Someone was watching me, aware of my every move. But instead of fear, I felt a surge of adrenaline. They had just made a mistake by revealing themselves. Now I knew for sure that I was on the right track, and nothing was going to stop me from finding them.

"Regret it?" I whispered to the empty room, crumpling the note in my hand. "The only thing I regret is not finding you sooner. But don't worry—I'll make up for lost time."

With that, I tossed the note into the trash and grabbed my coat. The game was on, and I was ready to play dirty. Whoever was behind this had just awakened a demon, and they were about to learn that you don't mess with Jiyeon and walk away unscathed.

As I locked up the office and stepped into the cool evening air, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together, and soon, I would have all the answers I

needed. And when I did, I would make sure that whoever was behind this would regret ever crossing me.

"Time to end this," I muttered to myself as I headed toward my car, the determination burning in my chest like a fire that refused to be extinguished.

Tonight, I would plan my next move, and tomorrow, the real hunt would begin.