Did she notice something? No… she couldn't have. Not from that. He sipped his coffee, trying to stay composed. "How'd you learn to fight like that?"
"I was trained… since I was a kid." Jungho turned to look at her. "My little sister… she used to get scared easily. Even thunder made her cry. So I told her: 'If anything bad ever comes near you… I'll punch it first.'" She gave a light laugh, but there was no humor in it. "Then one day… something bad did come. And I wasn't fast enough."
Jungho's smile faded. He saw it now…clear and raw behind her calm exterior. She blinked fast, the tiniest shine in her eyes. But she didn't let them fall. "So I made sure… no one would ever have to save me again." She finally met his gaze, steady but tired. Strong, yet full of something fragile. And Jungho? He was speechless. Because even without using his power. He felt everything.
The lobby of Kang Corporation was already alive with movement by 8:55 AM. A crowd of employees gathered near the executive lift, sipping coffee, whispering about deadlines and gossiping just loud enough to feel bold. Fluorescent lights bounced off polished marble, but the warmth in the room vanished the moment the elevator chimed.
Silence fell as Kang Jungho stepped in.
He didn't need to speak to command the floor. Dressed in a flawless grey suit, every step he took echoed with authority. He looked like wealth in motion—sharpened cheekbones, cold gaze, secrets tucked behind a tie knot. Behind him, Daejin walked with practiced stillness, tablet in hand, eyes alert.
Most employees looked away. But Kim Bora, standing too close to the lift, leaned toward Jungho's shoulder and sniffed. Loudly.
Sniiiiiiiiffff.
Jungho turned his head slowly, expression unreadable. "…Are you smelling me?"
Bora's face turned pink. "I—uh—it's the cologne! So commanding! Smells like… discipline and… tax deductions!"
A laugh burst from someone behind her. "Tax deductions?!"
"W-well, Director, you're very… sniffable—NO! I MEAN—" Bora stammered, waving her hands. Jungho just walked forward. The crowd parted like obedient subjects.
He scanned the area as he moved, sharp eyes catching a new arrival slipping in quietly at the back. Im Seri, dressed crisply and holding a file. Calm. Composed. Almost invisible.Jungho tried to glance again…discreetly…but caught himself. Not here. Not now.
The lift dinged open. Jungho stepped in. Daejin followed. The doors began to close.
"Wait—! Hold the door, please!" a breathless voice rang out.
Heels clacked. Everyone turned. A woman rushed toward them with perfect posture, long hair flowing, designer bag swinging.
"Oh my god," Kim Bora gasped.
Whispers erupted. "She's stunning." "Isn't that…?" "No way. Is that…?" It was Hanna. The famous TV host.
She slipped into the lift with practiced grace just before the doors closed. "Good morning, Director Kang," she said with a soft smile. "Looks like I caught you just in time." She glanced at Jungho with an unreadable look.
Seri's eyes narrowed. Was this the woman she saw with Jungho the other night? She said nothing. But her gaze shifted.
"Who the hell just casually walks into a CEO's lift… with dramatic hair and cheekbones?" Bora whispered angrily to a colleague.
"I thought he hated women," one said. "Maybe he just doesn't like us," another replied.
"Excuse me?!" Bora whipped around. "He definitely likes women—he just hasn't met the right one yet. Which could still be me, by the way." She flipped her hair hard.
A few steps behind, Seri stood with coffee in hand, watching the elevator doors close. Hanna smiled beside Jungho. No emotion crossed Seri's face. Just a very slow sip of coffee. She turned. "Elevators are too noisy anyway," she muttered to herself, then headed for the stairwell.
Upstairs, the elevator dinged open as CEO Kang Jungho and Hanna stepped out together. The office briefly hushed.
Hanna smiled politely at the staff. "Good morning. Lovely earrings," she said gently to someone nearby. They blinked in awe.
Jungho, on the other hand, walked ahead silently. His calm, sharp aura needed no words. The whispers rippled again as they disappeared into his private office behind frosted glass.
Inside the office, Jungho placed a file on his desk and turned to face Hanna. "You know people talk. Coming here like that…"
"Let them," Hanna smirked. "I missed you."
Daejin stiffened. The words hung in the air like perfume—sweet, but suffocating. His jaw clenched. "I'll leave you two to… catch up," he said flatly, then exited, closing the door with a quiet click. Outside, he exhaled sharply, frustration flickering across his face. "She's going to break him again," he muttered before walking away.
Meanwhile, Seri had just arrived at her desk when she noticed something odd.
Kim Bora stood by the window like a statue, eyes locked on the frosted silhouettes inside Jungho's office.
"Oh please," Bora muttered. "Just because she walks in with her flawless hair, designer dress, and that 'I-host-a-talk-show' smile…"
She scoffed. "She thinks she can steal our CEO?"
She flipped her hair dramatically. "Jungho-nim doesn't like that kind of woman. Too polished. Too perfect. He probably prefers someone more… real. Someone complex."
She tilted her head confidently. "Someone unpredictable. Mysterious. Emotionally… unhinged but in a cute way."
Then she grinned. "Someone who can challenge him. Like… me."
"Sure," Seri said from behind, deadpan. "He totally looks like the type who loves chaos disguised in highlighter and floral perfume."
"It's time. Operation: Casual Collision," Bora muttered like a villain. She grabbed an empty folder and straightened her blouse.
"Here we go again," Seri muttered, watching with one brow raised.
"Step one, light knock. Step two, eye contact. Step three, laugh like I heard something funny even if no one spoke." Bora whispered the plan under her breath, heels clacking confidently as she strutted toward Jungho's office like she was born for espionage… or embarrassment.
Inside, Hanna lounged with a tea cup, legs crossed, while Jungho spoke coldly.
Knock knock.
Before he could answer, the door opened halfway.
"Sorry to interrupt—just dropping off this super important file you might need… urgently," Bora said, holding up the obviously empty folder.
"I didn't ask for anything," Jungho said flatly.
"Haha, oops… I guess I'm just being… proactive?" Bora turned, forcing a smile at Hanna. "Oh, didn't see you there. Huge fan of your morning segments. Love how you can talk for ten minutes straight without blinking."
"Thank you. And you are…?" Hanna asked sweetly.
"…An essential part of this company," Bora replied stiffly.
From afar, Seri watched the whole scene unfold. She shook her head and dropped a post-it on her keyboard. "Note to self…never underestimate the power of delusion."
Still lingering, Bora spotted a mini humidifier. "Oh! This looks like it's leaking. Let me just—uh—fix this, Director Kang. I wouldn't want you inhaling unbalanced air."
"It's not leaking," Jungho said flatly.
"Better safe than sorry! Mold spores are sneaky," Bora insisted.
Hanna sipped her tea. "She's either part-time maintenance… or full-time delusional."
"You sure run a tight ship here," she teased Jungho. "Multitalented staff."
"Bora," Jungho said coolly.
"Yes, Director Kang?" she perked up.
"Leave."
"Oh—of course! Right away!" she fumbled the folder, dropped it, failed to pick it up gracefully, then bolted out, slamming the door behind her.
Jungho stared at the door. Through the frosted panel, he spotted Seri outside. Standing a few steps from her desk, a pen frozen mid-air.
Their eyes met.
He tried to read her expression like one of his reports. But her face was calm. Still. She blinked, then returned to her desk without a word. Flipped open a folder. Took a sip of coffee.
The door closed behind Bora. Her chaotic perfume lingered. Jungho rubbed his temple like he had just survived a glitter hurricane.
"She seems… lively," Hanna commented.
"She's unhinged," Jungho replied.
"I came for a reason," Hanna said, straightening. "My company wants to do an exclusive on you. Asia's Youngest Power CEO. Your success. Your vision. You'll be on the cover."
"No," Jungho said flatly.
"It could change everything," she continued. "For me, too. If it goes well, I'll finally get promoted."
"So you're using me?" he asked quietly.
"It's mutual. You get press. I get a better desk," she smiled.
Jungho paced, conflicted. "One condition."
"Anything," Hanna smiled wide.
"Nothing about my family. No questions. No angles. No photos. That part stays private."
Her smile faltered but she nodded. "Got it."
"We'll shoot at our studio," she said, regaining her composure. "Clean. Controlled. Powerful."
"Keep it short," Jungho said.
"Scared they'll fall in love with you on air?" she teased.
"Terrified," he replied.
Out in the office, Seri discussed a PR report with a coworker, posture sharp and composed.
Click. Click. Click. Heels echoed.
Hanna stepped out of Jungho's office. Everyone glanced. She didn't acknowledge them. Then she stopped. Behind Seri. Seri turned slowly. Hanna's eyes were already on her.
"All that chaos last night… that was you, wasn't it?" Hanna said in a low, calm voice.
Seri froze. Phones rang. Keyboards clicked. No one else noticed. Her lips parted. No words came. Their eyes locked. She froze, her hand still hovering over the documents on a coworker's desk. Eyes locked on Hanna. Her calm exterior barely concealing the spike of alarm tightening in her chest.