Another day. But not just any day. In the Investor Relations Department of the Won Group, each hour seemed to unfold like a new drama.
Shan Wolf, diligent as always, sat at his desk, his fingers flying over the keyboard. Numbers. Proposals. Reports. But even amidst the corporate grind, he couldn't shake the feeling—he was being watched.
He glanced over his cubicle partition.
Rae Yoorin. Engaged in casual banter with a colleague, though her eyes occasionally flickered toward him. When she noticed him looking, she grinned slyly and winked.
Shan arched a brow, only to catch another gaze. Turning to his other side, he saw Mei Yoo Jun returning from the copier machine. Their eyes met. Mei smiled sweetly and, with a playful smooch sound, blew a kiss his way before ducking her head and hurrying back to her desk, cheeks red.
Shan blinked. His vision swam momentarily—whether from stress, caffeine withdrawal, or the sudden double dose of flirtation, he wasn't sure.
"Damn," he muttered and pushed his chair back. "I need air."
He trudged to the vending machine, punching in coins and retrieving a can of iced black coffee. The chill of the can cooled his skin, but not his thoughts.
"The mood in this office's changed," he muttered under his breath, sipping the bitter drink. "Too many eyes. Too many games. Something's... off."
He decided a walk downstairs would do him good.
As he stepped into the lobby, the ambient buzz of conversations and the rhythmic clack of heels greeted him. At the front desk, he spotted the receptionist, Sae Jin Mei, smiling and speaking with someone unfamiliar—a woman, her back turned.
"Huh? Who's she talking to?"
Curiosity piqued, Shan approached. He casually placed a hand on the stranger's shoulder.
"Hi. Who might you be?" he asked smoothly.
"Ah! Mr. Wolf!" Sae Jin Mei exclaimed, startled as she noticed him.
The stranger turned slightly, surprised by the possessive grip of Shan's hand, which had tightened reflexively. Something instinctual, territorial.
"I'm asking you, pal," Shan said again, calm but firm.
Before things escalated, a light tap landed on his shoulder. Shan turned, and a finger poked him on the cheek.
He blinked.
Standing before him was a striking woman—dusky brown skin with a golden hue, tightly braided blonde hair framing her face, sharp yellow eyes that held a predator's calm. She was tall, slender, and confident. A lanyard swung around her neck, drawing his eyes—her ID badge read:
Rachel So Mi — General Manager, PR Department.
"Shouldn't you introduce yourself first before grabbing someone like that?" she asked, amused.
Shan's eyes trailed from her name tag back to her chest—accidentally or not, who's to say? Then back to her sharp gaze.
"I'm Shan Wolf," he said finally. "Investor Relations Department."
Rachel stood at attention in mock salute, arms behind her back.
"Rachel So Mi. General Manager. Publication & Recurring PR Division."
"I'm also from PR," the woman Shan had touched said, a bit shyly.
Rachel took over. "We're here to escort Ms. Jin Mei. She's been selected for a tryout—potential modeling for the company's internal magazine."
"Oh?" Shan raised a brow.
Rachel glanced at him, scanning him with an oddly intrigued expression.
"But what's someone from Investor Relations doing down at reception?" she questioned. "Though... I'm even more surprised to see another African-Korean other than me."
Shan laughed lightly. "I'm not African-Korean. I'm Malaysian-Indian."
Rachel's eyes flickered with realization—and a hint of disappointment, quickly masked.
"Ah. My bad," she said. "Still, I'm kind of... relieved. There's not a lot of melanin around this place. It's nice not to be the only one who stands out."
She took out her phone and extended it toward Shan.
"Here. My personal number. Maybe we can catch coffee sometime. You know... just two black folks in a very pale company?" She chuckled, cheeks tinged with pink.
Shan took the number with a half-smile. "I'll take that offer. It's good to see someone beautiful like you here, too." Then Shan leaned down to her height level and whispered. "And when I mean beautiful, I mean sexy like chocolate cover coated in vanilla."
Rachel blushes and walked backward a little, then turn her gaze briefly flicked to Sae Jin Mei. "Are you two... dating?"
"No," Shan and Jin Mei replied in unison.
"There's nothing between us. We're just friends," Sae Jin Mei clarified with a casual smile.
"Perfect." Rachel turned to Jin Mei. "We need to get moving. The photographer's waiting."
She gave Shan a wink. "See you around, Mr. Wolf."
Sae Jin Mei offered a little wave as they both walked toward the elevator, Rachel already discussing wardrobe ideas.
---
Two hours later...
Click. Click. Flash.
The studio buzzed with activity. Sae Jin Mei posed under flashing lights, her expressions shifting from sweet to sultry to serene. Stylists rushed in and out, adjusting hair, dresses, angles.
"Excellent! Brilliant!" the photographer shouted, enraptured.
Rachel stood at the side, arms folded, eyes critical but pleased. Then her phone buzzed.
She stepped into the hallway, answering with a sharp tone. "This is Rachel So Mi."
A pause.
"We're mid-shoot you know. Plus, you didnt tell me." she hissed.
On the other end of the line, lounging in a plush chair in her office while popping grapes into her mouth, was none other than Jen Heo Won—Vice President of the Won Group.
"Tell you what?" Jen asked, licking juice off her thumb.
"I didn't know anything about him when you told me about him until now. And to think... he's actually handsome looking. Plus, you did not told me he was black!"
"Don't care, he was transferred from Malaysia to Korea two years back" Jen interrupted, bored. "How's she?"
Rachel peered back through the glass, watching Jin Mei smile effortlessly before the camera.
"Honestly? Not bad at all. But—"
"Told you," Jen cut in, voice smug. "She'd be of use."
She plucked another grape from the bunch, snapping the stem off with a flick.
"Keep an eye on her. She might come in handy in the future," Jen said, her tone as casual as it was ominous.
Rachel hung up, sighing deeply as she slipped the phone into her pocket.
"Won family parasites," she muttered under her breath, her gaze drifting back to Jin Mei. "I wonder if she'll be the next plaything for Eh San Won. Just like the others."
---
Back in the Investor Relations Department...
Shan reclined in his chair, thoughts drifting. He wasn't sure why, but something about Sae Jin Mei's sudden rise into the modeling spotlight didn't sit right. Not jealousy. Just... unease.
His phone rang.
"Ingrid?"
The moment he picked up, a voice screamed loud enough to shake the walls.
"COME TO MY OFFICE! RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!"
He winced. "God, can't she just ask like a normal person?"
With a resigned groan, he rose again and made his way to her office.
As he stepped in, he blinked in disbelief.
"What the fu—what the hell?"
Ingrid Mikage was squatting on the office couch, trembling.
Shan's eyes involuntarily dipped. "Black thong? Jackpot," he thought, noting the sheer pantyhose and the clear view underneath.
"Mr. Wolf!" she shrieked. "H-hurry!!"
"What?" he raised a brow, confused.
"Catch that bug!"
He followed her gaze. A single ladybug fluttered around lazily near the ceiling.
"A ladybug? Really?"
"Just get it, you bastard!"
A few minutes later, he gently cupped the insect and let it fly free from the open window. Mission complete.
"You were scared of that?" Shan muttered, smirking.
Once the ordeal was over, Ingrid exhaled and straightened her skirt.
"Thanks. I hate bugs."
"I'll head back, then—"
"Wait," she called out.
Shan paused at the door.
"Want to have lunch together?" she asked.
He blinked. "With you? That's new. If I remember correctly, I was the one invited you for lunch bit you decline. Until your belly growled says otherwise."
"Do you want to or not?" she snapped.
"Sure. Free food."
They exited the building and got into Ingrid's luxury Porsche.
"Nice car, right?" she said.
"It's fine."
"Four-wheel drive, 460 horsepower, zero to sixty in—"
"Ingrid," Shan cut her off, deadpan. "I own a Mustang GTD. Remember?"
Silence settled between them like a blanket.
After a moment, she asked, "How's Kim Ju On?"
"She's good. Heard she's recovering well after surgery."
They arrived at a lavish hotel. Shan raised a brow.
"Lunch in a hotel?"
"Follow me," she said, handing the keys to the valet.
They rode the elevator to the top floor and entered a spacious suite.
"I already checked in. Change into this," she said, handing him a crisp black suit from the wardrobe.
He narrowed his eyes. "I thought this was lunch."
"This is work," she said, her voice dropping as she stepped close and tugged his tie. His chest pressed against her. Her soft breath tickled his lips.
"Don't you remember," she whispered, lips curling into a smirk, "the real job?"
Her yellow eyes gleamed.
"The job of killing the Vice President—Jen Heo Won."
---
Chapter 39 – End