"Love doesn't always need a declaration in the morning light—sometimes it lingers in the unspoken, only revealed when silence is too heavy to bear."
🌅Morning Glow in Disguise
Mira stepped out of the elevator with her usual elegance, the sound of her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. Her tailored beige suit hugged her frame, and the diamond pin on her lapel gleamed under the morning lights. The staff at Han Corporations stood a little straighter the moment she appeared.
But today, there was something different. Her lips carried the faintest trace of a smile — one so subtle that only the sharpest eyes could catch it.
"Good morning, President Han," one of the assistants greeted with a slight bow.
"Morning," Mira replied smoothly, keeping her tone steady. She tightened her grip on the files in her hand, silently reminding herself: Don't let them see too much. Don't let them think you're softer today.
Another employee smiled nervously, "You look… well, ma'am. Did you rest well?"
Mira paused for a fraction of a second before replying with her usual composed expression. "I always do. Make sure the reports for last quarter's expenses are ready for review."
"Yes, President Han."
She walked past them, her calm, cool aura firmly in place, though deep inside her heart was replaying the night before — Leo's low voice saying "I love you" across the dinner table, the way his eyes had softened just for her, and the memory of her daring kiss before leaving his bike outside her home.
Pull yourself together, Mira. If you look too happy, they'll assume you're distracted. And no one can afford to see their CEO distracted.
💼The Finance Meeting
Inside the boardroom, a dozen executives were already seated, shuffling papers and whispering under their breaths. The large screen displayed the heading: 2024 Expenditure Review & Budget Allocation for 2025.
Mira entered, and instantly, silence fell.
"Good morning," she said, placing her laptop on the table and looking around with her sharp, assessing gaze. "I hope you all came prepared."
"Yes, President Han," the head of finance replied quickly, handing her a thick folder.
Mira flipped through it, her manicured fingers gliding across the pages. "Hmm… so the marketing budget exceeded projections by nearly 12% last year." Her eyes lifted, sharp as daggers. "Who signed off on this?"
The marketing director shifted uncomfortably. "That was… under the holiday campaign, ma'am. We believed it would—"
"You believed?" Mira cut him off. Her voice carried no trace of her earlier glow, only steel. "Belief doesn't balance numbers. I want measurable justification, not hopeful projections. Did it increase consumer conversion?"
"Yes, but only by 5%—"
"Then explain why 12% overspending brought only 5% return," Mira demanded, her gaze locking on him. The rest of the room went silent, the only sound the soft buzz of the projector.
One of the junior analysts tried to step in, "President Han, I can prepare a breakdown of the figures and projections for Q1 2025, which will give us a clearer—"
"Do that," Mira said firmly, but not unkindly. Her eyes softened slightly at the younger staff member's courage. "By tomorrow morning. And make sure it includes comparative models. If we're investing in campaigns, I expect the returns to align."
"Yes, ma'am," the analyst replied, looking both nervous and grateful.
Mira leaned back in her chair, scanning the table. "From this quarter forward, no department spends beyond 5% of their approved budget without written clearance. Finance will monitor every deviation. I will personally review approvals."
There was a collective gulp around the table.
But Mira's heart was steady. This is who I am to them — their leader, their wall, their reminder that power doesn't allow weakness. And yet… last night, I allowed myself to be soft. Only for him.
"Han Mira-ssi," one of the finance directors began nervously, flipping through his papers, "the quarterly expense reports… we've noticed some inconsistencies—"
Mira raised one brow. Her tone came measured, calm, but with the weight of authority that silenced the room."Define inconsistencies, Mr. Park. Numbers do not lie. Humans do."
The man swallowed. "Some of the 2024 marketing expenses… they weren't documented under the new system. It seems… someone might have deliberately misfiled them."
Mira leaned forward, fingers steepled. "Find out who. And by next week, I want an internal audit completed. Quietly. If word gets out, it will affect investor trust."
The last financial report was laid flat on the table. Mira's gaze swept over the nervous faces of the finance team, her pen clicking once in sharp finality.
"That concludes today's review. I expect corrections on my desk within forty-eight hours. If you fail, don't bother showing up to the next meeting."
Her words fell like a blade. The executives bowed low, muttering hurried acknowledgments as they gathered their papers. Mira rose with calm precision, heels striking the marble as she walked out, her assistant Jisoo trailing behind her.
By the time she reached her office, Mira had already slipped back into her usual rhythm—screen glowing with documents, her fingers flipping through contracts, red ink slicing across margins. Cold. Efficient. Unstoppable.
And then—her phone buzzed. Once. Twice.
She frowned, unlocking it without much thought… until she saw his name.
Leo:You looked dangerous today. Like a queen ready to execute her pawns.
Her brows arched, though a flicker of amusement crossed her eyes. She typed quickly.
Mira:I am dangerous, Leo. Don't tell me you're scared already.
The reply came instantly.
Leo:Scared? No. Fascinated? Yes. Watching you tear them apart… all I could think was how badly I want you to look at me like that. Sharp. Unforgiving. Like I'm the only one who can handle it.
Mira inhaled slowly, her pen pausing mid-signature. Heat stirred low in her chest, but she kept her posture rigid, back perfectly straight in her leather chair.
Mira:Careful with your words. You might just provoke me into testing how much you can handle.
Leo:Do it. I want you to. I want to see how far you'll go before I break… or before you do.
She stared at the words, her fingers tightening around the phone. A dangerous curve touched her lips—something between a smirk and a challenge.
Mira:You're playing with fire, Choi Youngjae.
Leo:Good. Let it burn. Just promise me one thing.
Mira:And what's that?
Leo:Don't hold back with me. Not your anger. Not your desire. Not a single thing.
Her breath hitched before she could stop it. She locked the phone quickly, forcing her eyes back on the contract in front of her. But the words kept echoing in her head, pulling her focus away from the neat black ink on the page.
For the first time in years, Mira Han—the unshakable Ice Queen—felt her composure slipping… all because of a boy who refused to fear her.
The glass doors of Mira's office slid shut behind her, sealing her into the spacious room with its sharp lines, towering bookshelves, and the faint scent of lilies the cleaning staff always kept on her desk. She moved with calm authority, heels clicking against the polished floor. Employees she passed earlier had smiled brightly, bowing deeper than usual—her aura seemed lighter today, softer.
That was dangerous.
Mira exhaled, straightening her blazer, fixing her expression into its usual icy poise. If I smile too openly, they'll start forgetting who I am to this company. They'll take me lightly. I can't afford that.
She lowered herself into the leather chair, eyes sharp on the morning reports stacked neatly on her desk. Just as she adjusted her glasses to bury herself in numbers, the door creaked open.
"Director Han," came Jisoo's voice, soft but cautious.
Mira quickly schooled her expression, the ghost of her smile erased. She leaned back with practiced elegance, fingers tapping her desk."What is it?" she asked coolly.
Jisoo entered, holding a tablet and several files. Her eyes flickered, sharp enough to catch the faint blush on Mira's cheekbones. Strange… CEO never looks this flushed unless something happened.
"You asked for the finance breakdowns," Jisoo said, placing the documents down. She studied Mira carefully, then tilted her head. "You look… in a good mood today."
Mira lifted a brow, her lips curling into the faintest smirk. "A good mood doesn't change how I run this company. Don't let appearances confuse you, Jisoo."
Jisoo's lips twitched, suppressing a smile. She had worked with Mira long enough to know when the woman was hiding something.
But Mira smoothly redirected, voice brisk again:"Call Jiwon. I want her here for the upcoming project discussion. She'll need to see how finance and creative tie together."
"Yes, ma'am." Jisoo bowed slightly, but her eyes lingered suspiciously before she left.
The second the door clicked shut, Mira's cold mask broke again. Her hand darted to her phone. Her heartbeat picked up just from seeing Leo's name on her screen.
📱 Mira → Leo: Meeting just ended. Everyone bows like they're worshiping a goddess. Maybe I should start charging entrance fees to my office.
📱 Leo → Mira: You'd bankrupt your employees in a week. Who would dare look at you without trembling first?
Mira chuckled softly, covering her mouth.
📱 Mira → Leo: Are you calling me terrifying, Choi Youngjae?
📱 Leo → Mira: Not terrifying. Untouchable. But…
📱 Mira → Leo: But?
📱 Leo → Mira: You don't scare me. I've seen you sulk when your coffee order is wrong.
She nearly dropped her phone, stifling laughter as a warm smile spread across her face. The usually silent office felt like it had sunlight pouring into it.
📱 Mira → Leo: Don't expose my weaknesses. You'll regret it.
📱 Leo → Mira: Threats from my girlfriend? Cute. You know, the guys at the café are onto me.
📱 Mira → Leo: Onto you? Explain.
📱 Leo → Mira: They keep laughing, saying I've been smiling too much these days. Can't hide it anymore, Mira.
Her lips parted at the word girlfriend, her heart skipping. She typed back quickly, fingers trembling slightly.
📱 Mira → Leo: Oh really? And here I thought you'd mastered that brooding expression of yours.
📱 Leo → Mira: Not when you keep ruining it with your texts. My customers probably think I won the lottery.
Mira bit her lip, suppressing a giggle. She leaned back in her chair, heels tapping the floor, every second waiting for his replies pulling her deeper in.
📱 Mira → Leo: Then let them believe it. Who cares what they think? You did win something better.
📱 Leo → Mira: And what's that?
📱 Mira → Leo: Me.
There was a long pause before his typing bubbles appeared. Her chest tightened with anticipation.
📱 Leo → Mira: You're right. Nothing compares.
Mira pressed the phone against her lips, fighting the smile that broke across her face. Her cheeks glowed, warmth flooding her chest.
And just as she got lost in that moment—her office door opened again.
Jisoo stepped back inside with another file.
Mira snapped upright, tucking her phone under a folder. Her face turned icy in an instant."What is it now?"
Jisoo blinked, hiding a smirk. "Nothing urgent. I'll come back later."
Her assistant left quickly, but not before catching the faintest flush Mira couldn't completely hide.
The second the door shut, Mira leaned forward, reopening the chat. Her fingers flew across the screen.
📱 Mira → Leo: Where were we?
To Be Continued.....