Faced with such a direct question, Seok-won showed no sign of surprise. Instead, he calmly lifted his wine glass, took a sip, and set it down again.
Then, meeting Ford's serious gaze, he spoke in an even tone.
"The purpose of acquiring Gucci… Well, naturally, it's because it's a profitable investment."
"...."
Hearing this, Ford couldn't hide his disappointment.
He had already assumed that Seok-won was no different from Investcorp, the Bahraini investment firm that had previously owned and then sold off Gucci.
"As I mentioned earlier, after seeing how you two have transformed Gucci, I recognized the potential for the brand to recover from its current decline. That's why I decided to invest."
"And when the value goes up, you'll just sell it off at a higher price—just like Investcorp did."
Ford's voice carried a sharp edge.
His outright hostility was obvious, and Landon, seated beside Seok-won, furrowed his brows slightly.
However, on the way to the restaurant, Seok-won had told him in advance not to intervene, no matter how aggressive the other party became. So while Landon refrained from speaking, he couldn't completely conceal his discomfort.
Bindmann, too, remained silent, sipping his wine as he observed the exchange.
"That's certainly a possibility," Seok-won admitted.
"Of course…"
Ford let out a sigh, his disappointment deepening.
For a brief moment, he had allowed himself to hope, only to regret it now.
"But if Gucci successfully reclaims its former prestige and becomes the powerhouse I envision, then why would I sell it?" Seok-won continued, his tone steady. "A golden goose that lays golden eggs is worth keeping, don't you think?"
Ford's brow twitched slightly.
Seok-won glanced at both Ford and Bindmann before continuing.
"As globalization continues and economies develop, luxury consumption will naturally rise—that's my belief."
His demeanor was unwaveringly serious.
"When people acquire wealth and financial stability, it's only natural for them to crave better, more exclusive items to showcase their status. That's human nature."
Ford and Bindmann nodded slightly, as if acknowledging his point.
"For instance, take China, a country undergoing rapid economic growth. If just 1% of its 1.4 billion population became millionaires, that would mean 14 million people with the purchasing power for luxury goods."
Internally, Seok-won thought to himself, In my previous life, China's ultra-rich elite eventually surpassed 40 million—more than the entire population of South Korea.
China was a place where the number of wealthy individuals who could afford luxury brands outnumbered the entire population of some countries. Yet, at the same time, it was also home to over 100 million nongmingong—migrant laborers living in extreme poverty. The income disparity was staggering.
"But it's not just China," he continued. "If demand for luxury goods explodes in other nations as well, wouldn't that present a new opportunity for heritage brands like Gucci, which have struggled to find new avenues for growth?"
His perspective was something neither Ford nor Bindmann had fully considered before. Without realizing it, they found themselves engrossed in his words.
Seok-won leaned forward slightly, his gaze steady as he spoke again.
"'Higher heels, shorter skirts, deeper necklines.' This is the design philosophy you pursue, isn't it, Mr. Ford?"
Ford's eyes widened slightly—he hadn't expected Seok-won to be familiar with such details.
"I know there's a lot of criticism that your designs are too provocative, but I believe sensuality and boldness—the primal instincts hidden within human nature—are precisely what can break away from outdated traditions and make Gucci newly appealing to the masses."
Ford was both impressed and intrigued.
Seok-won's understanding of his design philosophy was strikingly accurate.
Despite the success of his first fashion show, Ford was still facing more criticism than praise. That made Seok-won's words all the more compelling.
"I'm not just saying this to flatter you. I genuinely believe that you two are the key figures in Gucci's transformation. That's why I'm willing to offer better conditions and invest heavily."
Unlike Investcorp, which had eyed him with skepticism due to his youth and relatively short career, Seok-won acknowledged his talent outright.
Ford felt a surge of pride.
At the same time, the wariness he had initially harbored melted away.
Bindmann, too, had been unsettled by the abrupt nature of Gucci's sale, but his perception of Seok-won was shifting in a more positive direction.
Seok-won had a clear vision—and more importantly, he put his trust in them.
That trust was what moved Bindmann the most.
"You truly believe that I… that Gucci can make a comeback?"
Ford's tone had softened considerably.
"I don't invest in lost causes. And I've never once lost a bet."
Seok-won's confidence was unwavering.
"To this day, the boss's investment record remains a flawless 100%," Landon added with a smile.
His expression, brimming with trust, left a strong impression on both men.
"And if I had any intention of selling Gucci, I wouldn't have acquired it through Frey, the holding company I established in the Cayman Islands. Instead, I would've used the Eldorado Fund to secure both equity and management rights."
By reaffirming that he had no plans to resell Gucci, Seok-won further dispelled their lingering doubts.
At that moment, two waiters approached, each carrying a plate in both hands.
"This is Red Prawn," one of them announced, elegantly drizzling a generous amount of green olive sauce over the dish.
Seok-won observed the meal before him and nodded in appreciation.
"Gambero Rosso—looks absolutely delicious."
"If you top it with the accompanying caviar, you'll experience an even deeper, richer flavor," Windmann said with a hearty chuckle.
"Hearing that makes me even more excited to try it," Seok-won replied.
Following Bindmann's advice, Seok-won carefully placed a dollop of caviar on the perfectly cooked red prawn, scooped it up with his spoon, and took a bite, savoring the taste.
"This is a flavor I'll be thinking about long after this meal."
The dish paired exquisitely with the wine, making for a flawless combination.
Soon after, the next courses arrived—smoked amberjack, followed by pasta, a staple of any Italian fine-dining experience. Each dish lived up to the Michelin three-star reputation of the restaurant.
As they leisurely enjoyed their meal, the four men engaged in an in-depth conversation.
Unlike the initial tension that had lingered in the air, the atmosphere had warmed considerably after hearing Seok-won's unwavering vision for Gucci.
After finishing their meal and parting ways with Seok-won, Bindmann settled into the backseat of his large Mercedes sedan as it pulled away from the restaurant.
Beside him sat Ford.
Dressed in a full three-piece suit, Bindmann rested one arm on the center armrest and turned to look at Ford.
"So, now that you've met him in person, what do you think?"
"I was a bit surprised by how young he is," Ford admitted.
Bindmann nodded, recalling Seok-won's face in his mind.
"I felt the same."
Wall Street had its fair share of young prodigies, but few had built such a solid foundation at that age.
"And he knows Gucci inside and out. He has a clear vision. At the very least, I don't think he's just trying to inflate the brand's value for a quick sale."
"Exactly. The way he grasped your design philosophy nearly made me blurt out my admiration," Bindmann said with a small chuckle.
Ford smirked. "Honestly, I almost wondered if he had somehow read my mind."
Neither of them could have imagined the truth—years later, after leaving Gucci to launch his own brand, Tom Ford would give an exclusive ten-page interview in Vogue, detailing his life and design philosophy.
Seok-won had read that very article before returning to the past, allowing him to recount Ford's ideals with uncanny precision.
It was only natural for Ford to feel as if Seok-won had peered into his soul.
Bindmann's voice grew more serious. "Have you made a decision about your future?"
Ford fell silent for a moment before carefully answering.
"I'm not completely certain yet… but I think he's someone worth believing in—at least once."
"You're saying you'll accept his offer."
"Yes. What about you, Bindmann?"
Windmann let out a small chuckle.
"Well, if you're staying, what choice do I have? I might as well see this through to the end."
At that, Ford flashed a bright, toothy grin.
"I was worried about how I'd manage on my own if you left. This is a relief."
"I feel the same way."
Despite the considerable age gap between them—enough to call each other father and son—they were more like comrades, bound by shared vision and ambition.
It was only natural that they felt relieved to continue this journey together.
"Oh, right. Before we rewrite the contract, there's one condition."
"What is it?"
Ford smirked, lifting one side of his mouth playfully.
* * *
The next day.
Seok-won sat on the sofa in the penthouse living room of his hotel, sipping coffee with one hand while reading the morning newspaper.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the room as Landon walked in.
"Boss, I just got off the phone with Bindmann."
Seok-won set the newspaper down on the table and turned to face him.
"What did he say?"
"They've accepted our proposal."
A satisfied smile spread across Seok-won's face.
If things hadn't worked out, he could have always recruited other talented individuals to fill the gaps. But securing these two—the key figures who had once led Gucci's spectacular revival—was the absolute best outcome.
"They're both highly skilled. We can trust them to handle things."
Landon, who had taken a seat on the empty sofa to Seok-won's left, still seemed skeptical.
"To be honest, I still don't see why they're worth going to such lengths to keep."
"We're talking about people who can revive Gucci and turn it into a company worth tens—no, hundreds—of billions of dollars. This much effort is nothing."
Indeed, about a decade later, Gucci would rank fifth among luxury brands, just behind Chanel, with an estimated brand value of $6.42 billion—over 7.5 trillion won.
Considering the acquisition cost had been $800 million, that meant an eightfold return on investment.
Not a bad deal at all.
And when factoring in the steady stream of dividends, the profit margin would be even greater.
Come to think of it, years later, Gucci held its first-ever fashion show at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.
While South Korea's global stature had risen significantly by then, the fact that Gucci chose to hold a solo fashion show there was proof of the brand's dominant presence in the global market.
Now that I own Gucci, I might even be able to make that happen sooner than before.
As Seok-won mused over these thoughts, Landon hesitated for a moment before cautiously speaking up.
"By the way… there's a condition before we finalize the contract."
"What is it?"
Seok-won asked casually.
Since these were essential figures in Gucci's revival, he was prepared to accommodate most of their requests.
If they wanted a salary increase, he would triple it. If they asked for extended vacation time or bigger bonuses, he would ensure they got them.
"…Well, this is a bit… I'm not sure how to put it."
"What kind of request was it?"
Landon hesitated, his expression torn between uncertainty and amusement, before finally speaking.
"They want you to be the model for the upcoming F/W collection's menswear line."
"...!"