Marketing Department
"Ukraine, I have to take this call. If MD asks for me, tell her it's urgent," Misaki said as she pushed back her chair and hurried to her feet.
"Yeah, sure," Ukraine answered casually.
Misaki was already halfway out the door before the last word fully left his mouth.
Her phone had been ringing too long to ignore, and the moment she stepped into the hallway, her pace quickened. She headed straight for the ladies' room, needing privacy more than anything else. Fortunately, when she stepped inside, it was empty.
She answered immediately.
"Leo, you know this is working time. Why are you calling me?"
"I'm sorry," Leo said, sounding not at all sorry. "I just couldn't wait until the day ended."
Misaki rolled her eyes, though she was smiling already.
"What is it?"
"Are you free tomorrow? I wanted to ask before your friends steal your weekend."
Misaki leaned against the sink and laughed softly.
"You're so slow. People make weekend plans on Monday."
"Maybe," Leo replied, "but my heart is telling me you didn't make any."
"Oh really?"
"Yes."
"And why do you care? You want to hang out with me?"
"I do."
Misaki's smile deepened.
"So you already know where you're taking me, right? Because I hate men who ask me to choose. I love surprises. The only detail you're supposed to give me is the time."
Leo laughed.
"A woman who knows what she wants. I like that."
"I do know what I want."
And from the way her voice warmed when she said it, Leo felt absurdly pleased with himself.
...
When Sue arrived at Misaki's desk a few minutes later, she found the chair empty and frowned.
She was holding a folded note she needed delivered quickly. It was a real task, not one she could leave floating until later, so when Misaki wasn't there, her eyes went straight to the nearest person.
"Ukraine, where's Misaki?"
"She stepped out for an urgent call. Why?"
"I wanted to send her to Kro's office, but since she's not here—"
"I'll go."
He was already on his feet before Sue had fully finished the sentence.
The eagerness in his tone startled her, though not unpleasantly. She hadn't expected anything Kro-related to spark visible enthusiasm out of him anymore, not after the way he'd been acting lately.
Sue handed him the paper.
"This is the final production date for the new products. Tell Kro it's confirmed, so she can start coordinating the release event with the store managers."
"I will. Anything else?"
"No. That's it."
"Okay."
Ukraine pushed his chair back into place, straightened his shirt, and walked out with far too much purpose for a simple delivery.
...
The secretary already knew he was coming, so when Ukraine reached the president's office, she simply waved him in.
All eyes turned toward the door.
Kro looked up first.
And the moment she saw him, her lips curved into a smile so effortless it nearly threw him off balance.
Karina, seated at her own desk, followed him with an intensity that didn't quite fit the situation. Her gaze stayed on him from the second he entered until he reached Kro's table and sat down.
Ukraine handed over the folded paper.
Kro opened it and skimmed the contents.
"It's the final production date for the new products," he said. "Sue said now you can begin planning the release event with the store managers."
Kro nodded.
"Perfect timing. That means I can finally start organizing it properly."
"Yes. That's exactly what she said."
"Good." Kro set the note aside. "I almost forgot I owe all of you a dinner. Next week, right?"
"Yes."
Then Ukraine, deciding recklessness suited him better than restraint, asked:
"Speaking of dinner… do you want to have one with me tonight?"
Kro looked at him, amused.
"Not tonight. I'm busy."
"This weekend then."
"Busier. I won't even be home."
He raised a brow. "Are you avoiding me, boss?"
Kro gave him a dry look.
"Why would I avoid you? You're the one who avoided me when I invited you to dinner the first time."
Ukraine laughed at once, embarrassed all over again by the memory.
"Come on, Miss Kro. That was just—"
"Scared?"
That made him laugh harder.
"Okay," he admitted, hands raised. "You win."
He rose from the chair.
"Have a nice day, then. And a nice weekend. If you need anything, tell Sue and I'll still be at your service."
"Sure," Kro said. "I will."
Ukraine nodded and left.
If it had been lunch break instead of work time, he probably would have stayed.
Karina's eyes followed him all the way out.
Then they returned to Kro.
Her mood had visibly lifted after the short conversation, and that disturbed Karina more than she cared to admit. It was not the reaction she had expected. In fact, nothing about Kro was behaving the way it should.
And that confusion was beginning to rot her nerves.
...
Evening
There were only ten minutes left before the workday officially ended.
At that hour, no one in the office was really working anymore. The atmosphere had shifted from productivity to casual chatter. Some employees were fixing their makeup, others were laughing quietly with colleagues, and a few had already mentally checked out for the day.
Misaki sat at her desk with her earbuds in, completely absorbed in an episode of her favorite series. Her eyes were glued to the screen of her phone.
Ukraine, on the other hand, was finishing up.
He carefully packed his things into his bag, glancing occasionally at the clock while waiting for the closing alarm to ring.
He had just zipped the bag when—
Misaki suddenly grabbed his hand.
Hard.
The sudden contact startled him so badly he nearly jumped out of his chair.
He turned to her immediately.
Her expression froze him.
Her eyes were wide with worry, as if she had just realized something terrifying.
That look alone made his chest tighten.
"Hey… are you okay?" Ukraine asked gently.
He didn't pull his hand away. If letting her hold it helped calm her down, he was fine with that.
Misaki took a breath.
"What if my father's apology was just a distraction?" she said.
Ukraine frowned. "Why would you think that?"
"There's no way he changed that easily," Misaki replied, her voice low but tense. "What if he wasn't satisfied with what his men did… and sent Karina to finish Kro slowly?"
"Whoa," Ukraine muttered.
"Hear me out," she insisted quickly. "I think he might have helped Karina get the job."
"Hey," Ukraine said calmly, "let's slow down for a second. We can't jump to conclusions."
Misaki shook her head.
"Okay, let's say Karina lied about her CV," she continued. "But why lie about working for the Minister of Archaeology? Why not mention any other minister? Why him specifically?"
She leaned closer.
"Maybe she wasn't lying."
Ukraine thought about it.
"Or maybe it's just a coincidence," he said. "I doubt she's dangerous. Karina seems more like a fraud than anything else."
Misaki released his hand with a heavy sigh.
"Maybe you're right," she admitted.
But her expression still looked troubled.
"But I still need to be sure."
Ukraine raised an eyebrow.
"So what now? You're going to confront Karina?"
Misaki shook her head. "No." Her eyes hardened slightly. "I'm going to ask the minister."
Ukraine sighed quietly.
There was no point trying to stop her.
Once Misaki made up her mind, she rarely backed down.
And honestly…
Everything she had said made a disturbing amount of sense.
He wasn't worried about Kro getting hurt.
Kro could clearly handle herself.
What worried him was something else entirely.
Kro's secret coming out.
...
Parking Lot
The evening air had turned cool by the time Ukraine reached the parking lot.
He was fishing his keys from his pocket and heading toward his car when he saw her.
Karina.
She was leaning against his vehicle with her arms folded and a smile on her face that was just a little too measured to be friendly.
Ukraine stopped dead.
His mind fired through possibilities at once.
How did she know this was his car?
Why was she waiting for him?
And why did the sight of her there suddenly make the parking lot feel smaller?
Karina straightened when she saw him.
"Hi, Ukraine," she said. "I've been waiting for you."
Ukraine kept his distance.
"How do you know my name? And how do you know this is my car?"
Karina's smile didn't move. "That isn't what matters."
He almost laughed. "I could call you a stalker, but with your polished look, that word would sound a little rude."
"Stop playing," she said. Her voice had sharpened. "I know you know me. I know you know my name. So let's skip the fake introductions."
Ukraine's eyes narrowed slightly.
"We're not close enough for whatever this is. Step away from my car."
He walked past her, heading for the driver's door.
Karina followed.
"Don't you have better things to do?" he asked, now openly annoyed. "Because I do."
She stopped a few steps behind him.
Then, with no hesitation at all, said:
"Ukraine, I need you to tell me everything you know about Kro."
The sentence hit him so hard he turned around at once.
She stood there calmly, too calm, watching him with a kind of focused hunger that made his skin crawl.
"What exactly is she?" Karina asked.
For one brutal second, Ukraine forgot how to speak.
The words lodged in his throat like glass. His whole body seemed to freeze in place while his mind crashed through possibilities—Who is she? How much does she know? Has she been watching me? Did she hear something? Did she see something?
***