Krosmetics Headquarters
Leo's schedule was packed, but he still made time to stop by Kro's office that morning.
Her safety came first.
Always.
Whatever else the day demanded, whatever deadlines crowded his work, none of it mattered more than making sure Kro stayed ahead of the danger creeping toward her. It was time to begin clearing out the odd ones. Quietly. Efficiently. Completely.
When he entered, Kro was bent over a file so intently that she almost looked lost inside it. But the second she saw him, her whole posture shifted.
Alert.
Whenever Leo appeared without warning, it usually meant something had gone wrong. Without a word, she set the file aside.
Leo didn't even bother sitting down. Time was too tight for that.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, he spoke.
"Good morning."
Kro leaned back in her chair. "I don't think it's a good morning anymore after you popped up out of nowhere."
Leo walked straight to her desk.
"Code blue, Kro. You've got an audience."
Her face hardened instantly, "Come on. Not again."
"Jipan called me yesterday. He just got the information, but whoever's watching you may have been doing it long before that."
"Shit."
Leo nodded.
"And remember the two photos that went missing?"
Kro's eyes narrowed, "The ones from 1944 and 1968? Please tell me you found them."
"No. The bugs have them."
That landed heavily.
If Kro's heart had still worked the way it should, it would have been racing.
She leaned back slowly, the tension settling into her face.
"So what's the plan?"
"Jipan suggested something, and I think he's right," Leo said. "One of the bugs may be in this building. Working here."
Kro stared at him, "I thought you screened everyone."
"You hired a new batch, Kro."
A curse nearly slipped from her lips before she caught it, "Damn it. How did I miss that?"
Leo softened slightly.
"You've had a lot on your plate. No one's blaming you. That's exactly why my family is here—to catch what slips past. We'll handle it."
Kro studied him, then nodded once.
"Tell me how."
"Call HR. I need the files of everyone recently hired. I'll head to the office and collect them as soon as I leave here."
"Good start," Kro said. "I'll call him now. Get moving."
Leo smiled faintly.
"Try not to overthink it."
Kro gave him a look, "Why would I? I have the best team."
That smile of hers, small but real, hit him harder than it should have.
Seeing her happy was enough to make him want to burn the whole problem down with his own hands.
He left at once.
...
Misaki stood outside the CEO's office, staring at the door as though it might attack her. Everything in her body was telling her this was a bad idea.
A very bad idea.
But her father had dragged her into it, and now his visit would be completely pointless if she backed out.
At least, that was what she kept telling herself.
He promised he'd apologize, she thought. I can at least do this much for him.
She inhaled, tightened her grip on the doorknob, and prepared to step inside.
At that exact moment, the handle twisted from the other side.
The door opened.
Misaki froze with her arm still half-stretched, praying it was not Kro.
It wasn't.
Leo looked mildly startled to find her standing so close to the entrance. Then, when their eyes met, his expression brightened with unmistakable pleasure.
Misaki's hand flew to her chest.
"Oh, thank God."
Leo laughed. "Morning there, detective."
"Good morning. Jesus, I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest."
"Why?" he asked. "You're here to see Kro, right?"
Misaki groaned softly. "I am. For a very crazy reason."
Leo tilted his head. "How crazy?"
"You won't even get it."
That made him smile.
"You know, Kro's been my friend for years. I know a lot about her. So if you're unsure whether to ask her something, tell me first. I'll tell you if it's worth it."
Misaki studied him for a second.
He had a point.
If anyone knew what might set Kro off, it would probably be Leo.
"Come with me," she said.
Leo followed her down the corridor until they were far enough from the office for privacy. Misaki stopped, turned, and got right to the point.
"Did she tell you what happened Friday night?"
Leo blinked.
"No. What happened?"
Misaki lowered her voice, "My father had Kro blacklisted. Last Friday he sent men to her house to beat her up."
Leo's whole expression changed.
It took him a second to speak.
"Are they alright?"
Misaki stared at him.
"That is the wrong question. She was the one facing three men. She could have died."
Leo gave a short breath, "Misaki, you don't really know Kro. She's a brutal fighter."
Misaki blinked.
"What do you mean?"
Leo leaned in slightly, "Most fighters love hearing their enemies scream. You know what Kro likes?"
Misaki said nothing.
"The sound of bones breaking."
Misaki recoiled. "Holy shit."
"So next time," Leo said calmly, "warn your father."
She swallowed. "Actually… that's not even what I wanted to ask her."
Leo's attention sharpened again.
"What did you want to ask?"
Misaki lowered her voice to almost a whisper.
"One of the men shot her. In the back. Near the spine, I think. And later he said he saw the wound close by itself."
Leo's face stayed blank, but inside him alarms were going off violently.
"And she wasn't bleeding," Misaki finished.
That was bad.
Worse than bad.
But his reaction had to be perfect. If he showed even a trace too much concern, the whole thing would spread further.
So Leo laughed.
Hard.
Misaki stared, startled.
Then, slowly, she laughed too, the tension in her chest easing.
"I guess," Leo said between laughs, "Kro hit him harder than he realized."
Misaki shook her head, "I know, right? I was insane to even consider it."
Leo wiped a fake tear from the corner of his eye.
"Listen, do not ask Kro about this. I can laugh about it, but she might be furious that your father is spreading ridiculous rumors. Best thing you can do is forget the whole thing."
Misaki nodded, "Okay. And don't tell her I brought it up."
"You've got my word."
Then, as naturally as he could manage, Leo smiled and asked, "Can I have your number?"
Misaki smiled back.
"Yeah. Sure."
They exchanged numbers.
Leo walked her back toward her team room, then headed straight to HR to collect the files he had come for.
The bugs, he thought, were about to start dying.
...
Sue handed over the two product files she had been carrying all day.
Kro had been waiting for them.
Sue sat across from her desk while Kro began reviewing the materials, her expression unreadable. Sue's excitement and nerves fought each other visibly. She only hoped Kro would like the concepts as much as the marketing team had.
At last Kro looked up.
"Velvety Shadow Palette and Icy Summer Set," she said. "They sound strong. But are you sure we should do a double release?"
Sue leaned forward.
"I think we should. There are really three kinds of customers we're targeting here. The eye-obsessed ones. The lip-obsessed ones. And the customers who want both."
Kro considered that.
Then nodded.
"Let's do it."
Sue lit up at once and clapped her hands together like a child who had just blown out birthday candles.
Kro almost smiled.
"I love that the eye cream never left the charts. I hope these are welcomed the same way."
"They will be," Sue said confidently.
Kro closed the files and handed them back.
Then, almost casually, she asked, "By the way… did Ukraine show up today?"
Sue noticed the question immediately.
"Yes. He did."
Kro's expression didn't change, but she was listening closely now.
"He adapted fast," Sue continued. "Honestly, it felt like he'd always been with us."
"Oh." Kro nodded once. "That's good."
Sue tilted her head.
"And you? How was your day without him assisting you?"
Kro gave a dry look.
"Sue, it's not as though I can't function without him. He was temporary. We did not get attached. My day was like every other day."
Sue raised both hands slightly, "Alright. If you say so." Then she stood, "When does the new PA start?"
"Tomorrow."
"That's good. I'll leave you to it."
"Sure. Good job. Your team deserves a bonus."
Sue grinned immediately.
"And a congratulatory dinner with you too, right?"
Kro sighed, but this time her tone was softer.
"Yes. That sounds fine. Pick a day and tell me."
"Perfect. I'll plan it."
Sue left the office glowing.
Kro leaned back in her chair once the door shut.
Of all the lives she had built over the centuries, this one—this company, this role, this carefully made world—had been the best.
She couldn't imagine being anyone else now.
And maybe that was what made all the threats around her feel so much sharper.
...
Evening
Liquor Store
Kro stopped by a liquor store on her way to the columbarium.
It was part of her routine now. Whenever she visited Loro, she brought her favorite drink so they could share a respectful sip together.
The problem was that their tastes had always been different.
Kro preferred wine.
Loro had always been loyal to whisky.
A bottle of whisky already rested in her cart. Now she was searching the shelves for a tonic to go with it.
Mmh… she liked this one, Kro thought as she picked up a bottle and examined the label. I think this will suit her—
"That's my favorite tonic brand too. I guess we have the same taste."
A man's voice spoke from behind her.
Kro turned slowly.
Standing there was Song—the same man who had shown up at her office days earlier without an appointment.
"I'm sorry," Kro said flatly. "My mind was somewhere else. Did you say something?"
Song smiled awkwardly. "Yeah. I said the tonic you're holding happens to be my favorite."
"Great," Kro replied calmly. "But it's not really mine. I don't drink tonic."
"Wrong guess then," Song chuckled, embarrassed.
Kro placed the bottle into her cart and began walking away.
Song grabbed another bottle from the shelf and followed her. The short exchange clearly hadn't satisfied him. He caught up with her easily.
Kro didn't slow down.
She simply continued walking through the aisles.
"So… I was wondering if you remember me," Song said.
"You're that parent who showed up without an appointment," Kro replied without looking at him.
"That's right. Mr. Fang—just in case you forgot my name."
"Thanks for reminding me."
Song cleared his throat.
"So… I just got off work myself, and I'm looking for a drinking buddy. Since you're also buying drinks, I figured we could keep each other company. What do you think?"
"I can't," Kro said. "I'm going to see someone."
"Don't mind me asking… who?" Song asked curiously. "Your man, maybe?"
"No."
"A friend?"
"No."
"Col—"
"My daughter."
Song stopped walking.
Completely.
That was not the answer he had expected.
Kro continued pushing her cart ahead of him.
After a moment, Song hurried to catch up again.
"I didn't know you had a daughter," he said. "You look too young."
"Mh."
"How old is she?" Song asked casually. "Old enough to drink alcohol, I assume?"
"Very old enough."
Song smiled. "Well, I'm not busy. Maybe I could meet her too. I'll keep my distance so I don't seem nosy—I'm just curious."
"You can't."
"Why?" Song asked. "Is she the shy type?"
Kro suddenly stopped.
Her grip tightened around the cart handle.
Song had clearly failed to notice every hint she had given him.
Her patience snapped.
She turned toward him slowly.
"She's not the shy type," Kro said coldly, "She's the dead type."
Song blinked.
"My daughter is dead," Kro continued bluntly. "And I'm going to visit her grave right now." Her voice sharpened. "In case you haven't noticed, I don't want to talk to anyone."
Song tried to speak.
"I ne—"
"And don't think I didn't notice your car following me since I left my office," Kro cut in. Her eyes hardened, "I don't know what your deal is, but I'm one hundred percent not interested."
She pushed the cart forward again.
"Buy your drink and go."
Kro walked away without looking back.
Song remained standing in the aisle, stunned.
Her words had hit him like a slap.
But instead of discouraging him…
He smiled faintly.
Getting close to that woman was clearly going to be difficult.
And Song had always loved a challenge.