A heavy silence hung in the air in the early morning headquarters conference room.
The large screen on the wall displayed the leaked internal contract documents, marked in red with the word "CONFIDENTIAL." Anxiety and suspicion hung thick in the air.
"This data was leaked from our department's server." The Legal Department Head's voice was icy. "According to the tracking logs, the last person to upload it was—"
The screen shifted, displaying FL's name.
Her mind buzzed instantly.
Her heart felt like it was being squeezed by an iron fist and her breath was caught in her throat.
Every pair of eyes in the conference room turned to her. Some murmured quietly; others frowned.
Her superior, ML, remained seated at the head of the table. His golden pupils glinted with suppressed light, like a beast deep in thought.
"It was a miscommunication," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "Last night, while processing documents... I accidentally sent a test file—"
As she spoke, she felt his gaze pierce her like a blade. His eyes held an indescribable mix of rage and anxiety.
The executives exchanged glances before announcing, "Suspended pending investigation."
When everyone left, only two remained in the conference room.
The door clicked shut like a snapped string.
"Are you out of your mind?"
His voice was low and trembling.
She lifted her head and forced a smile. "If I hadn't confessed, they would've traced it back to you. Only you and I had access to that file. If they kept digging, they would have discovered—"
"Discovered what I am?" He stepped closer, his voice hushed. "A fox?"
The air froze in that instant.
His aura shifted subtly; his tail twitched slightly—impossible to conceal. That animalistic essence, cornered and exposed.
Her fingers tightened around the folder, but her gaze didn't waver.
"I don't want them to hurt you," she murmured. "You saved me. I won't forget."
His throat moved slightly and his expression shifted from anger to undeniable complexity.
"I saved you so you wouldn't die in my place."
He reached out and seized her wrist, pulling her toward him. His tail lifted slightly behind him as if stirred by emotion.
"You're too foolish."
"And you? You knew someone was setting a trap, yet you didn't tell me."
He faltered. In that moment, she saw a flicker of fear flash deep in his eyes.
"Who do you think I can trust?" he murmured. "In this company, everyone has two sides. You, me, even the higher-ups."
She tried to argue but lost her voice as he drew near.
Suddenly, he reached out and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"I can't let them touch you," he said, his words nearly gritted out.
Before she could recover, his lips pressed against hers.
The kiss conveyed fury, frustration, pent-up desire, and unease. His breath nearly overwhelmed her, scattering her thoughts.
She pushed him away forcefully, her face burning red. "What are you—"
"Making you remember," he gasped, his golden eyes flashing. "You should have known from the start—once a fox chooses a mate, it never lets go."
She froze. His tail wrapped around her wrist; its soft touch felt like chains.
"What are you—" Her voice nearly broke.
"Didn't you say you'd trust me?" he murmured, his tone tinged with vulnerability.
She pressed her lips together, conflict churning within her. Warmth and fear twisted together into an indistinguishable ache.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed outside the office door.
"Director, the board requests your immediate presence at the top-floor meeting," the assistant said through the door.
He composed himself, his gaze hardening once more.
"Don't go out. Someone is watching you."
She wanted to ask more, but he had already pushed open the door and left.
Left standing there, she clutched the hand that had been wrapped in his, the faint warmth still lingering in her palm.
At night, the lights in the company building dimmed one floor at a time.
She sat at her computer, staring at the data tracking logs on the screen. Suddenly, she spotted a hidden path.
It was a login record from an internal account timestamped to the night of the leak. The account name was encrypted, but the suffix revealed S-03.
S-series accounts were exclusive identifiers for senior executives.
This meant that the real leaker resided higher up.
Before she could examine it further, the screen flickered, and she was automatically logged out of the system.
Immediately afterward, an anonymous email popped up:
[You shouldn't have gotten involved.]
Her heart clenched. She scanned the empty office and caught only a fleeting glimpse of a silver-white tail in the glass reflection.
It was another fox.
The next day, ML didn't show up to work.
Rumors circulated that investigators had taken him away, while others claimed he had resigned voluntarily.
She was called in for questioning and grilled for hours. She said nothing.
As dusk fell, she stepped out of the headquarters building into the bitter cold.
Just then, a black car pulled up to the curb.
The window rolled down to reveal familiar golden eyes shimmering in the darkness.
"Get in," he said.
She didn't ask questions; she just got in.
The moment the door closed, he finally spoke. "I found the source of the leak. That email wasn't meant for me. It was meant for you."
"Me?"
He nodded, his gaze icy. "Your data was accessed because someone wanted to shake me up. They wanted me to destroy you with my own hands."
"Why?"
He didn't answer, only reaching out to touch her hand. His tail brushed lightly against her thigh as if to soothe her.
"Because you mean too much to me."
She froze. Those words pierced her defenses like a sharp arrow.
"Now, you have to trust me," he continued. "They don't want the data. They want to expose my animal instincts. Once I lose control, they'll have a reason to deal with me—"
"Then why did you stay at the company?"
"Because I'm going to uncover the truth."
Streetlights flickered outside the car window, casting shadows across his stern profile. His face bore the marks of resolve yet also held a suppressed ache.
"From now on, stay out of everything," he murmured. "Whatever you see, whatever you hear—don't get involved."
She looked at him, then slowly shook her head.
"No. This time, I'll be the one protecting you."
He paused, then smiled—a smile tinged with bitterness and heartache.
"You're hopeless," he murmured, cupping her face. "How could I ever let go when you're like this?"
The car plunged into the night, its taillights like two flickering flames.
But in the distance, a pair of cold eyes watched them through a surveillance screen.
On the monitor, ML lifted its tail slightly, and its golden sheen reflected off the glass.
"So foxes can fall in love, too."
A deep voice echoed in the darkness.
"That makes it all the more interesting—"