Episode 7 of "The Art of Negotiation" kicks off with a nostalgic flashback, where Joo-no finds himself under interrogation, accused of insider trading. The cloud of suspicion loomed over him due to his brother's ownership of stocks in a company that Joo-no had approved for acquisition. Nevertheless, with the key suspect in the defense's crosshairs passing away, the case was eventually wrapped up, and Joo-no was exonerated.
Switching to the present narrative, CEO Jae-sik finds himself in a pickle, having secured a loan of 50 million using his personal stocks as collateral. With a mere 29 days remaining until the repayment deadline, he ponders selling his stocks to liquidate the debt.
Summoning CFO Ha, Joo-no, and Director Dong-ju to his office for a strategy session, Jae-sik lays out the dire situation. However, Joo-no promptly raises a crucial stipulation: major stockholders are mandated by law to announce their intentions to sell stocks a month in advance, rendering Jae-sik ineligible for an immediate sale. Furthermore, if the market catches wind of Sanin's potential bankruptcy, it could spark a chain reaction of selling, pushing stock prices down further and paving the way for SAMOEL's takeover.
Ha Tae-su floats the idea of securing another loan to tide over the immediate repayment crisis. When Joo-no probes deeper into Jae-sik's expenditures, the CEO confesses that he had splurged the money on acquiring a posh resort.
Delving further into the matter, Joo-no uncovers that the idyllic resort is nestled on the scenic island of Jeju. In a bid to visit the location discreetly and avoid any corporate scrutiny, the team opts to fund their trip through Joo-no's personal resources. Meanwhile, the M&A team, minus Joo-no, arrives at the resort, setting the stage for unexpected encounters.
At the resort, a lavish woman catches Min-jung's eye and gracefully accepts their invitation to join them for dinner. This enigmatic figure has been residing in the resort's most opulent suite for over a year, her affection for the place palpable in every gesture.
Elsewhere, Joo-no crosses paths with Director Park, a seasoned professional who often lends his expertise to the M&A team in their research endeavors. Through this connection, Joo-no learns a startling revelation: the resort actually belongs to Jae-sik's daughter. Spurred by this discovery, Joo-no makes haste to Jeju, where he finds his team dining in the company of the mysterious woman.
The woman is none other than Song Ji-o, the CEO of DADO Resort and Jae-sik's cherished only daughter. Ji-o warmly welcomes Joo-no and offers him a personal tour of the resort's stunning vistas and luxurious accommodations. As the evening progresses and they reconvene to delve into the resort's financial standing, a dire picture emerges.
The resort, despite its grandeur, is grappling with severe financial challenges. When Joo-no cautiously proposes selling it as a viable solution, Ji-o firmly and resolutely refuses, leaving the episode on a tense cliffhanger, the fate of the resort hanging in the balance.
