As Kiyonari hurried toward the exit, the cool air from outside brushed against his face. Through the glass doors, he spotted Soo-hyun already heading to the curbside. His long strides purposeful as if he had no intention of stopping.
"Director Je!"
Kiyonari broke into a quick jog and caught up just in time, reaching out to grab Soo-hyun's arm.
"Please wait, Director Je...!" His voice was tight with urgency.
Soo-hyun halted and whipped his head around, brows drawing sharply together. He looked at the hand gripping his sleeve before shifting his gaze to Kiyonari's face.
"What is it, Secretary Soo?" He asked, his tone edged with sarcasm and clear irritation.
Kiyonari immediately let go and straightened his posture. "Sir, I think there's been a misunderstanding," he began carefully. "When I read Seung-woo's file, there was no indication that he was already in a relationship."
Soo-hyun let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "Of course there wouldn't be," he replied coolly. "Did you really think his parents would want to include that information?"
Right. The kid did said they're parents were against Seung-woo's relationship.
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Or were you honestly considering that I'd be with a kid?"
Kiyonari's eyes widened, brows scrunching together in disbelief. "No!" He answered immediately, almost too loud. "Of course not!"
Why would I even think of something so fucked up like that?!
"Good," Soo-hyun snapped. "Because only someone with a few loose screws would think otherwise."
Kiyonari flinched. "I-I'm really sorry, sir." He lowered his head, guilt finally settling in. "This was my fault. The lack of deeper investigation is on me. I should've looked into this more thoroughly."
Soo-hyun watched him stand there, apologetic and visibly shaken, his shoulders stiff with regret. After a moment, Kiyonari spoke again, voice quiet.
"To be honest, I'm worried." He added, "I have a really bad feeling about this entire plan. Going with the alternative has its own higher risks, but I still think we should consider other option, sir."
Soo-hyun's expression slightly shifted.
"That's because you're being too careful," he said suddenly.
Kiyonari froze, blinking in pure confusion. "Eh?"
Careful? What did he mean by that? He thought.
"And for once," Soo-hyun continued, his voice low and firm, "try actually doing what I say, rather than just listening to me and quietly setting my orders aside."
The words landed heavier than what Kiyonari expected, leaving him stood there in stunned silence as Soo-hyun turned his gaze back toward the street, unwavering.
Not long after, a sleek black car rolled to a stop by the curbside, its tires barely making a sound as it settled into place. Soo-hyun didn't hesitate... he walked straight toward the vehicle, his pace steady and expression unreadable.
Kiyonari perked up immediately and hurried after him. "Where are you going, sir?"
Soo-hyun reached the door and pulled the handle. "I'm leaving," he replied flatly, not even sparing him a glance. Then, with a faint scoff he added, "What does it look like to you?"
Kiyonari stopped short, his mouth parting as if he wanted to say more, but no words came out. All he could do was stand there, worry tightening in his chest as Soo-hyun slipped into the backseat with effortless grace. The door shut with a soft final click.
Moments later, the engine hummed to life. As the car began to slowly move, Kiyonari's eyes drifted to the driver in the front seat. The man glanced at him through the side mirror and gave a brief nod.
He instinctively nodded back. Then he blinked. Something about the driver unsettled him. The man's expression was composed, almost blank in a way that didn't mean good. It wasn't hostility nor friendliness... just an odd calm that lingered a second longer than it should have.
Before he could think further, the car pulled away from the curb. Through the lightly tinted window, Kiyonari caught one last glimpse of Soo-hyun sitting quietly in the backseat, posture straight, demeanor untouched, like a nobleman being chauffeured away.
He watched as the car moved down the busy street. At the time, Kiyonari dismissed the strange feeling creeping up his spine. He told himself he might be overthinking things.
But as he stood there alone, the echo of the engine that was fading into the distance and a lingering sense of unease settled in his chest. An oddity he couldn't name yet, one he would soon have no choice but to confront sooner than he thought.
*****
A deafening silence settled over the entire car ride. Soo-hyun kept his gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window, neon lights streaking by in blurred lines of color. Words crowded his throat, unsaid and heavy as his mind replayed what had just happened over and over again.
Really... I don't even know what I'm doing anymore.
He released a slow, frustrated sigh, his shoulders sinking slightly. At this rate, I might end up bending to my mother's selfish will again.
The thought made his brows knit tightly together. He hated it. More than that, he would despise himself if that possibility ever became reality. Min-kyung was only waiting for that moment—for him to give up, and crawl back to her like a helpless child in need of his mother's guidance.
His fingers curled into a tight fist on his lap.
"I have to find a way before it's too late," he muttered under his breath.
The words had barely left his mouth when something tugged at his awareness. The view outside felt strange. The same neon lights still glowed against the night, but the roads were unfamiliar. The turns were too sharp, the buildings too sparse. Soo-hyun shifted uneasily in his seat, leaning forward as realization hit him all at once.
He snapped his head toward the front. "This isn't the right way back to my home."
The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror, his eyes briefly catching the light. "We're just taking a shortcut, sir," he replied, his voice low and coldly flat.
A chill crept down Soo-hyun's spine.
The atmosphere inside the car shifted instantly, thick and uncomfortable. Something was terribly wrong. Only then did it register fully: the man driving wasn't his usual chauffeur.
He had been so distracted and too caught up in his own thoughts to notice. Despite the unease clawing at his chest, Soo-hyun forced himself to remain calm. He straightened subtly, his sense sharpening, every instinct screaming for caution.
Slowly, but carefully, he parted his lips.
"... Who are you?"
The man met his gaze again through the mirror. The corner of his mouth twitched upward. "I'm the driver," he said calmly. "Your driver, Director."
"No," Soo-hyun replied, his voice steady despite the tension tightening around his ribs. "You're not. You look nothing like the man I hired. Stop bullshiting me and just answer my question...!"
For a split second, the air felt unbearably still.
Then the car screeched to a sudden halt in the middle of an empty stretch of road.
The driver turned around in his seat, finally revealing his face fully. His grin crooked, unsettling. "Then how come it took you so long to realize I wasn't your guy, huh?"
Soo-hyun jolted back against the seat, eyes widening. The man's face was scarred—his left eye noticeably different from the other, the corner of his mouth warped by old disfigurements. Every mark screamed danger.
The man chuckled softly, the sound hollow and chilling.
"Well then," he said lightly, almost playfully, "buckle up, Director."
His grin widened. "Cause we're going somewhere nice."
The car rumbled back to life, and what followed after was cold enough to freeze Soo-hyun's blood.
*****
The day dragged on beneath a merciless afternoon sun. It hung high in the sky, glaring down with an almost lazy cruelty, its heat pressing against the city like a heavy blanket that refused to lift. The light spilled across the pavement in blinding sheets, turning the asphalt into a wavering mirage. Shadows stretched long and thin, clinging to the edges of buildings as if seeking refuge from the relentless brightness. Even the air felt sluggish, thick with warmth and exhaustion as though time itself had slowed.
Kiyonari walked beneath that sun with a long, weary sigh.
For some reasons, he couldn't fully explain, a heavy weight sat his chest. The matchmaking—once again—had ended in failure. Another misstep and situation out of his control.
I'm no better than a failure of a secretary, he thought bitterly, the words echoing louder with every step.
His shoulders slumped as he dragged his feet toward the bus station. The concrete steps felt longer than usual, each one reminding him of his recent mistakes. He took a seat on the bench, staring blankly ahead, waiting for his bus.
Just as his mind began to wander, ready to spiral into self-reproach and replay every poor decision he'd made, the phone in his pocket buzzed.
The sudden vibration snapped him out of his thoughts.
He quickly pulled it out and answered. "Hello?" His voice carried a hint of uncertainty.
"I'm sorry to suddenly call you, Kihyun-sshi," a familiar said from the other end. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything again."
"No, it's alright, Eunji-sshi," Kiyonari replied, lifting the phone closer to his ear. "What's up?"
On the other end, Eunji shifted her weight, heels clicking faintly against the floor. "I'm calling to inform you that the car will arrive late," she explained. "There was... a bit of an incident earlier. I know this is an inconvenience, but you and the Director may have to take a taxi on your way back."
Kiyonari blinked, confusion knitting his brows. "Eh? What do you mean?"
"Well," Eunji continued, her tone careful, "something happened to the driver, Mr. Joo. According to his report, someone suddenly grabbed him from behind and struck him on the head. He doesn't remember much—just that it knocked him unconscious for a few minutes. Luckily, one of the company's employees found him passed out in the parking lot and helped him."
Kiyonari's eyes widened.
"Someone... hit him?" He repeated, disbelief slipping into his voice. "But who?"
"Yes," Eunji replied immediately. "Unfortunately, we don't know. Mr. Joo didn't see the perpetrator's face."
She paused before adding, "But one thing is certain, the person was after the car. It was nowhere to be found when Mr. Joo regained consciousness."
"So... it was a thief," Kiyonari muttered, his grip tightening around the phone.
Eunji lowered her voice. "I'm sure this would anger the Director if he hears this..."
Her words barely finished when realization slammed into him.
... Director Je!
The blood drained from Kiyonari's face.
If the driver was attacked... then who was the person behind the wheel earlier?
He shot up from the bench so abruptly that a few people nearby turned to look. His movements were frantic now, panic flooding through him as the pieces fell into place.
"Eunji-sshi," he said urgently, voice trembling despite his effort to stay composed, "do you think you can track the stolen car?"
"Um..." Eunji hesitated briefly. "I think I can. The Je group always installs GPS trackers on their vehicles for cases like this—especially private ones. That car should have one as well."
"Okay," Kiyonari replied quickly. "Thank you, Eunji-sshi.",
She blinked, fingers hovering over her keyboard. "Wait, Kihyun-sshi, is the Director with you right now?"
Kiyonari swallowed hard.
I have to hurry. I'm sorry Eunji-sshi.
Without answering, he ended the call and bolted out of the bus station.
His heart pounded violently with every step. Sweat gathered in his palms, his breath coming out uneven. His nerves felt like they were screaming beneath his skin, each beat of his pulse echoing with growing sense of dread. It wasn't just a simple worry nor fear.
It was something far worse.
And deep down, Kiyonari knew if he didn't act fast.
... something really bad might happen!
Running on pure instinct, Kiyonari abruptly stopped and lifted his hand, hailing a taxi just as it turned the corner. The car screeched to a halt. He yanked the door open and slipped inside, slamming it shut louder than necessary.
"Please, go to this location!" He said thrusting his phone forward, the glowing screen inches from the driver's face.
The man glanced at it, then nodded. "Yes, of course."
The engine rumbled to life, tires scraping against the pavement as the taxi surged forward and merged back into traffic.
Director Je... wait for me...!
Kiyonari clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms. His leg bounced uncontrollably, nerves coiling tighter with every passing second.
Earlier, when his phone buzzed again, after what it felt like an endless search, Eunji had finally managed to trace the vehicle. The location appeared on his screen like a quiet threat.
"Kihyun-sshi..." her voice came through low and strained. "I don't know what's happening there, but I'm certain it's nothing good. I-I hope it isn't worse than what I'm imagining."
Kiyonari swallowed hard.
He didn't reply. He just couldn't. His throat felt too tight, and his mind racing faster than his mouth could keep up with. He ended the call and stared at the screen instead, memorizing the blinking dot that marked the car's location.
An abandoned building.
The taxi veered off the main road and into a quieter district, where streetlights flickered weakly and shops had long since shut their doors. The buildings grew older, more worn concrete walls crackled with age, windows either boarded up and shattered entirely. Rusted signboards hung crookedly, their faded lettering barely visibly.
The sun had begun its descent.
The sky burned in shades of orange and red, and dying light stretching across the horizon like spilled ink. Long shadows crept across the empty streets, and the air felt colder, heavier. Thick with the kind of silence that warned people to turn back.
After several tense minutes, the taxi slowed to a stop near a broken curb littered with debris and weeds pushing through cracks in the pavement.
"We're here," the driver said cautiously.
Kiyonari tossed some bills onto the seat and stepped out without another word. The door shut behind him with a dull thud.
He stood there, staring up at the structure before him.
The building loomed tall and lifeless. An old warehouse by the looks of it, walls stained with grime and time. Windows gaped like hollow eyes, and the entrance hung half-open, creaking softly in the evening breeze. Whatever this place one was, it had long been forgotten by the world.
Kiyonari squared his shoulders.
A cold glare settled over his features as resolve hardened in his chest. Fear still clawed at him, but beneath it burned something stronger. Whatever awaited him inside, he was ready.