Ryo Tanaka hadn't expected to be summoned to his manager's private cabin before lunch on his first day.
He'd barely finished his onboarding forms when a message popped up in the company chat:
|From: Fujimoto Ayane
|To: Tanaka Ryo
"Bring the client summary draft to my office. Now."
"Her office?" he whispered.
The senior sitting next to him winced. "Yeah. The cabin at the end. Don't keep her waiting, newbie."
The walk down the corridor felt like a march to the gallows. Each step echoed too loudly on the polished floor. At the far end, behind a pane of frosted glass and a silver nameplate, waited the woman everyone on the 20th floor called the Ice Queen.
He stopped in front of the door with Fujimoto Ayane – Team Manager engraved on it, swallowed once, and raised his hand.
Three soft knocks.
"Come in."
Her voice was muffled but unmistakable—low, calm, in control. Ryo's fingers slipped on the handle for a second before he managed to push the door open.
Her cabin was dimmer than the main office, lit by a mix of afternoon light pouring in from the wide windows and the warm glow of a single desk lamp. The city skyline burned behind her in soft blues and purples, making the glass look like a framed painting. The air smelled faintly of coffee and something floral.
Ayane Fujimoto sat on the edge of her desk, one leg crossed over the other, coffee mug in hand.
For a heartbeat Ryo forgot why he was there.
The woman he'd only seen from afar now filled his vision.
Her long, wavy hair spilled over her shoulders in soft, glossy strands. The pale pink blouse hugged her curves, the top buttons undone just enough to reveal a smooth line of skin that drew his gaze downward before he could stop it. The fabric dipped into a deep, dangerous V, framed by a simple silver pendant resting just above her cleavage. The black pencil skirt wrapped tightly around her hips, ending high enough to leave a generous stretch of stocking-clad thigh visible above the glint of her heels.
His chest tightened. His eyes, traitors that they were, locked onto the line of her cleavage and refused to move.
Get it together. Look up. Look up.
He didn't.
"Tanaka-kun."
His name, spoken in that cool, even tone, snapped him out of it. Heat rushed up his neck. He jerked his head up so fast his bangs bounced, meeting her gaze at last.
Ayane was watching him over the rim of her mug, eyes half-lidded, expression unreadable.
"Y–Yes!" he squeaked.
She took a slow sip of coffee, then set the mug down beside her with a faint clink. Her legs uncrossed and crossed again, the motion almost lazy.
"Close the door."
Ryo fumbled behind him, shutting the door with more force than intended. The click sounded final. The hum of the main office vanished, replaced by the quieter whir of the air conditioner and the pounding in his ears.
He stepped forward and held out the printed summary with both hands, trying his best not to stare anywhere below her collarbone.
"I-I brought the client summary, Fujimoto-san."