The next day, at Headquarters.
Ingrid paced left and right in her office, anxiety brewing with every step. Her thoughts raced—what would Shan Wolf do after yesterday? The fear twisted in her chest like a coiled serpent.
The door creaked open, breaking her tension.
Shan Wolf entered.
"G—Get back! I… I'm warning you!" Ingrid tried to sound assertive, but her voice trembled. Her body refused to move as Shan walked closer, calm and unreadable.
He placed a paper bag on her desk. "After work, get dressed. And don't even think about escaping," he said, then walked out.
Ingrid stared at the bag, puzzled. She expected something scandalous—but instead, she pulled out a sleek, black formal dress. "Huh…?"
Before she could process further, her assistant Mei Yoo Jun burst in.
"Ma'am! Ma'am! The V–Vice President is on the way!" she panted, nearly out of breath.
"WHAT?!" Ingrid jolted upright, bolting toward the elevator.
On her way out, several co-workers watched her rush by. Rumors about the Vice President's arrival had already spread like wildfire.
At the company entrance.
Executives lined up on either side of the lobby, standing tall and ready to greet their VIP.
A sleek, luxury car rolled up and came to a smooth stop. A tall figure emerged.
"W–Welcome, Madam," one of the higher-ups greeted, bowing deeply.
The Vice President cast a mildly annoyed glance around the room, but her expression soon softened into a smile. In French, she said, "Qu'est-ce que vous faites tous ? Ce n'est pas nécessaire." ("What are you all doing? This isn't necessary.")
"WE GREET THE VICE PRESIDENT!" the executives and Ingrid chorused as the VP enters the company.
Ingrid's glasses slipped and fell to the floor in front of the VP. "I'm so sorry…" she mumbled, reaching down.
But the VP bent down first, picking them up and holding them just out of reach. She poked Ingrid's chest with a teasing, slightly cruel smile as she change her tone back to korean.
"Careful now, Ms. Mikage. I've been hearing all sorts of stories about HR and from IR. You just had to stir up more chaos, didn't you?" Her tone turned venomous. "Thirty-five, and already becoming a has-been. Tragic."
She poked Ingrid's chest again—harder.
"I—I'm sorry," Ingrid stammered.
The VP handed her glasses back. "I'd like to see the director immediately. I'm planning, and I quote, 'a little downsizing.'"
She walked away, heels echoing against the marble floor as her assistant followed.
In the Director's Office.
The VP's assistant placed a small bonsai tree on the table—a gift from Japan.
The VP sat, trimming the dead branches with slow, deliberate snips.
"My father, the Chairman, once told me: life is like a tree. Every branch extends to others… but if a branch is dying or weak?"
She clipped a dead limb clean off.
"You cut it. Before it kills the tree."
She turned toward the trembling director. "Isn't that right… Director?"
"I—I apologize," he whispered.
"For what? Not living up to my expectations? Oh wait… I never had any."
She stood, brandishing the trimming scissors and pointing them at him. "All I ask is for no problems. Is that too much from 'little old me'?"
Her voice coiled like a serpent, every word a bone-breaking squeeze.
"Don't make me take what's yours away. That HR manager of yours—don't act like I don't know. You kept her close for your little personal fantasies. Even Father had expectations for her… until he moved on to newer toys."
She smiled, slicing the final dead branch. "Remember, Director: sometimes you must cut the rot… before it poisons everything."
Meanwhile, in Ingrid's office.
She slumped in her chair, hand pressed against her chest where the VP had poked her.
A sigh escaped her lips as her thoughts drifted to the past.
Ten years ago. Age 25.
She stood naked in a dimly lit room—before the Chairman and the Executive Director.
"That cold face, that fiery body—she's the best girl this year," the Chairman declared.
"Not just the best, sir," the Director chimed in, desperate to impress. "She's a living sculpture—like a goddess carved through the ages."
They laughed.
Ingrid's eyes shifted to a small girl peeking from behind them. She quickly covered herself as the girl blushed and ran off in embarrassment.
Present day.
Ingrid chuckled softly. "That shy little girl… sure has grown."
She glanced at the clock—work hours were almost over. Her gaze fell on the paper bag Shan had given her.
"Tch. That bastard… bringing me a dress," she muttered, pulling it out.
Yet, her fingers lingered on the fabric. "He's got taste… for once."
She went to the restroom, got dressed, and freshened her makeup. When the clock hit end-of-day, she waited outside the building.
"He didn't exactly say what time…" she mumbled.
Five minutes later, Shan arrived.
Ingrid turned—and froze.
He wore a sharp black blazer and slacks, a red tie around his collar. His hair was neat. His posture confident.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Oi? Hello? Ingrid?" Shan snapped his fingers in front of her face.
"Oh! Umm… Sorry. Just weird seeing you dressed like… this."
"Yeah, well, don't get any ideas. You're not gonna woo me with your 'goo-goo eyes' or that body of yours," Shan said with a smirk, pinching her cheek playfully.
"Touch me again and I'll kill you!" she snapped.
"Oh? Like the hotel incident?" he teased.
"Bastard."
"I'm your bastard, sweetheart."
The cab finally arrived.
Unbeknownst to them, the VP was watching from her own car.
"My, my… What do we have here? A manager and some mysterious man?" she mused.
"Shall I look into him, ma'am?" her assistant asked.
The VP grinned. "You know my hobbies. When something catches my eye… I must dig deeper."
She watched as Ingrid and Shan entered the cab and drove off.
In the cab.
They sat on opposite sides, each by a window.
"So… where are you taking me?" Ingrid asked.
"Oh, you'll love this. Consider it payback for yesterday," Shan said, grinning smugly.
They arrived at a cozy, luxurious house.
The door opened—and a woman greeted them.
Ingrid went pale. Her body tensed, fear creeping into her bones.
"Oh! Mr. Wolf! So glad you could join us. And who's this lovely lady?" the woman asked kindly.
"This is Ingrid Mikage. My girlfriend," Shan said casually, motioning to her.
"Hi! Pleasure to meet you," the woman smiled warmly.
But Ingrid recognized her.
Her breath hitched. Her eyes widened. Her legs nearly buckled.
"I'm Kim Ju On,"
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Chapter 20 – End