[Meanwhile – B1 Security Desk]
"Delivery for Unit 1902. Direct handoff requested."
The courier held out a slim, pristine white envelope, voice calm and detached.
But there was something off about it.
A cold, almost unsettling stillness that clung to the paper.
Just as the security guard leaned in to check the recipient—the elevator doors slid open.
Daniel stepped into the lobby in sweats, still catching his breath from a run.
His eyes naturally drifted to the counter.
Then he froze.
A small note was resting on top of the envelope.
Please review and contact me. — N
No seal. No sender. Just that single letter.
N.
"…Who sent this?" His voice was low. Controlled. But his eyes—ice cold.
The courier shook his head, cautious.
"No name was given. The sender section was left blank… It came in as an anonymous request."
Before the explanation was finished, Daniel had already picked up the envelope.
Light in his hand—yet something about it sent a chill through his fingertips.
N…
One name flashed in his mind.
Noah.
He opened the envelope without a word.
A single photo.
The Han River at night. Two people sitting side by side on a bench.
Jinwoo. And Celeste.
Their faces weren't fully clear—but anyone who knew them would recognize them instantly.
The framing, the focus…It wasn't a candid shot. It was deliberate.
Not coincidence. A message.
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"…When the hell did he get here…"
He slid the photo back into the envelope and turned toward the elevator.
Ding—
20th floor. The soft chime echoed through the penthouse. Celeste and Jinwoo looked up from their breakfast.
The doors opened.
Daniel stepped out, still in his joggers and a thin sweatshirt.
Sweat clung to his forehead.
But his eyes—tired and sharp—carried something heavier.
In his hand: the envelope.
He walked across the living room, his voice cutting the air.
"Look at you two. Playing house over breakfast like nothing's happening."
He let out a dry scoff.
"Glad someone's having a good morning."
The tension hit instantly. Celeste and Jinwoo both straightened.
Daniel reached the table and dropped the envelope.
It slid across the wood, stopping next to a coffee cup.
"This came to the front desk. Just now."
His tone was even, but it carried a chill.
Jinwoo picked it up and carefully opened it.
Inside—a photo of late night. Them, side by side, walking along the Han River.
Clear. Close. Calculated.
Daniel tapped the bottom corner of the envelope.
– N
Celeste's expression hardened.
"…He's here?"
"Looks like it." Daniel let out a cold breath. "Guess he still hasn't grown out of this crap."
Jinwoo looked between the two of them, confused.
They clearly knew this "Noah."
"Can we get his contact?" Celeste asked quietly.
"If he sent this, he wants something."
Daniel nodded.
"Already on it. I asked Howard to dig into it on my way up. If he left a trace like this, he doesn't care about being found."
He glanced at the time.
"We'll have something by this afternoon."
Jinwoo sat there, stunned.
"Wait… Noah? You both know him? This isn't the first time?"
It was too much to follow.
Daniel looked at him flatly.
"Yeah, I bet you've got a ton of questions. Too bad I'm not in the mood for story time. Go ask your princess later."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned.
"If we don't manage this right, you go down with her—and our stock, our brand, everything takes a hit."
Then, as he walked away, he added without turning back—
"I'll be in strategy. When the number comes through, I'll handle it."
But then—
"Don't do anything," Celeste said, her voice low but firm.
"Once you have it… give it to me. I'll handle it myself."
Daniel paused. Looked over his shoulder. Nodded.
Then something in his expression shifted. He stepped back toward her, just for a moment, and rested a hand on her shoulder.
"…CiCi."
His voice dropped.
"You know how he is."
"He'll keep pushing until someone snaps. And we're not innocent kids anymore."
He met her gaze.
"You know I'm not just worried about this picture."
Celeste nodded, silent.
Daniel gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, then stepped back.
Without another word, he turned and left the room.