Misha Seo. 24 years old. An intern at the most successful and dominant company in the media industry. She was in a pinch.
It was Monday morning. Only the second week of her - what she optimistically thought to be - glorious career at Thorne Media as an intern.
Her senior, Ms. Marissa Caldwell, told her to bring a cup of coffee to Mr. Thorne's office. Misha was surprised - lowly me? To the CEO's office? Why?
'It's just a tradition. Mr. Thorne would like to see every new employee.'
That was what Marissa said as she handed over the cup.
However, what just happened now, made Misha feel like Mr. Thorne wasn't expecting her visit at all, let alone request it.
Unless he was THAT kind of a guy…
When she went to the pantry Marissa was standing around with another colleague, Ms. Veronica Fletcher - also her senior. Well, everyone in the office was.
They were laughing about something. Maybe a little joke in the Monday morning to lighten things up. It was just a little odd that they were laughing a little too hard as soon as Misha walked in.
"Oh, so how did it go?" Marissa, a tall and blond lady in a smart looking black blazers and a skirt that seemed a little too short - but she did have great legs - asked.
Misha was hesitant. There was no way she could fully describe how things went.
"It was… alright. But it seemed Mr. Thorne wasn't expecting me…"
"He was well informed in advance. This happens all the time." Marissa continued.
"It's just a tradition, Ms. Seo." Veronica also chipped in.
'What kind of tradition is that?!' the young intern's mind was racing.
"So what did you think of Mr. Thorne?" the blond lady asked again with a grin.
"He's… very healthy."
Marissa and Veronica exchanged a glance, puzzled.
"Is there any… ice in the fridge?" Misha asked coyly.
"Ice?" Veronica questioned.
"Yes, he wanted me to bring some ice."
"What for?" Marissa's grin disappeared. She wasn't expecting Misha to be called back to Mr. Thorne's office again. He was notorious for having a short temper that flared up in the coldest possible way. Anyone who disrupts his meticulous routines and plans were ruthlessly punished.
"I… think he just needs to cool down a bit."
The tall lady didn't really understand it. Neither did she like it. But perhaps… this little intern made him so angry that he needed to 'cool down?' Why ask her to come back though…?
"There's some ice in the freezer," Veronica pointed at the imposing metal appliance in the corner.
"Thank you."
Misha opened the freezer and quickly found an ice tray. Thankfully, there was also a bowl in the cupboard to put the ice in. The girl filled it up and headed back to the CEO's office, telling herself a million times not to trip again.
Meanwhile, James Thorne was fully dressed. Sitting behind his desk. His precious was aching. This had never happened to him before. Probably to no one, ever.
His mind was also racing, as it often does - and he was exceptionally good at it. At the mere age of 28, he was already dubbed The Emperor in the media industry, and it was widely expected that Thorne Media would inevitably expand under his brilliant leadership and eventually grow into a mega-corporation that encompass diverse fields and rub its shoulders with the other established giants in the global economy.
Despite coming from one of the most prominent old-money families, he was a self-made man. His relationship with his father was turbulous, to say the least. Always the rebellious one among three brothers, the last child refused to partake in the family business and went on to start his own company at the age of 21. He was a business prodigy with a spirit that knew no fear and heart that felt no mercy.
And right now, he was sat back deep in his exquisite leather chair with his piercing eyes fixed on the door across the room, waiting for the walking - and tripping - disaster to come back.
He had already concluded that he would not fire this insolent woman today. The humiliation he suffered - she deserved a lot more than just lose her job and look for other opportunities in life. 'That just won't do,' he thought to himself. He had to make her suffer, and he knew how.
People only really suffer when they lose something dear. The girl was new. Her name tag showed she was an intern. It wasn't even set in stone that she would ever become a full employee. So first he needed to give her something that will delight her. Then lure her in more so she will treasure it. And when it becomes something absolutely essential in her life - that's when he would destroy it for her.
'Misha Seo,' James repeated the name in his head again.
:Knock, Knock:
'Finally,' he thought to himself. At least she learned to knock this time. But it's too late for the young lady. Damage was already done. The plan to elevate her life and bring it all down was already becoming concrete in the CEO's mind.
"Come in," he spoke, loudly enough to be heard, firm - and with authority.
The door slowly opened and Misha walked in. This time she was walking slowly - and carefully - as if she didn't want to make the same mistakes again. She was excruciatingly slow.
'Just how worried is she that she'd trip again? Is she that stupid?' the man was puzzled. He was a success. A massive success. And he surrounded himself with people who could achieve success. A failure like her was not someone he was familiar with.
Finally, she reached the desk, quietly placed the bowl of ice on his desk, and deeply bowed.
"I'm so sorry about before, Mr. Throne."
His left eye twitched. Once.
"Thorne."
"O- Of course, Mr. Tron."
"Thorne."
"Thro-"
James wanted to pull his hair out. He made a mental note that as soon as this idiot left his office, he will find the HR personnel who had interviewed her and fire that fool within this morning.
"Just leave."
The intern said nothing. Her face was blushing. 'That won't do,' the boss told himself again. He wanted to see her cry, beg, and plea. Not blush.
His disdain for her did register though, it seemed. The girl bit her quivering lower lip, bowed slightly again, and rushed out of the room.
The Emperor could finally rest. He had a lot of things to do today, just like everyday - including weekends. Now that the tension subsided somewhat, he started to feel the pain on his tender spot again. He cursed through gritted teeth and got up from his seat. He pulled his pants down, took out his aching soldier, and dipped him into the bowl of ice.
'That's better-'
Then the door flung open again.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Thorne! I really didn't mean-"
The intern froze on the spot before she could finish her apology, as she caught the CEO with his pants down for the second time this morning.
"P… please enjoy…"
The girl slowly closed the door as she stepped back out of the room.
James Thorne thought to himself that maybe it'd be better to just have her killed before lunch.