"The CEO is coming in for the meeting. Tell everyone to clear the floors and the elevator," an average-looking man said into the phone.
"What? But he never attends meetings. It's been ages since he showed up to work," the other person replied.
"Just do as you're told if you don't want to get fired," the man snapped and hung up.
"I'm ready, Mr. Chu," the CEO said as he stepped into the car.
A black Mercedes sport coupe pulled into the underground parking lot of DM Group.
Raphael Del Mundo stepped out. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black nose mask and gloves. After putting them on, he headed toward the elevator but came to a sudden stop.
The man standing behind him flinched.
"My baton. Jeez," Raphael sighed, stretching his hand out toward the man, who looked confused.
"I might have to replace this old man soon," Raphael muttered to himself. The man gulped audibly.
Raphael entered the elevator and ascended into the building.
It was so silent it almost felt abandoned. Raphael nodded in satisfaction.
"Mr. CEO?" someone called from behind. Raphael turned.
The man didn't look familiar.
"Mr. Nikolas, one of the board members. He doesn't hold much power, so don't worry about him," Mr. Chu whispered.
Raphael nodded.
Mr. Nikolas approached with an overly friendly smile and extended a hand for a handshake. Raphael stared blankly at him.
Awkwardly, Mr. Nikolas retracted his hand. "Mr. CEO, I hope you're aware of today's meeting. You're losing momentum to the Vice President. But I wish you luck," he said with a forced laugh, bowed, and walked away.
"Old hag, trying to curry favor," Raphael muttered.
"The company's in trouble, and the board members are already losing trust in you. You need to turn things around," Mr. Chu advised.
"They're only tolerating me as the heir. They'd kick me out if they could. Honestly, I wouldn't care if this company sank," Raphael said dismissively as the elevator doors opened.
A man in his forties stood inside, stunned.
Mr. Chu silently gestured for him to leave, but the man was frozen in fear.
Raphael scoffed. "You don't take me seriously either, huh? Didn't you hear the memo?"
"I-I'm s-so sorry, sir," the man stammered.
"Get out," Raphael said flatly and stepped in.
The elevator stopped on the 23rd floor. Raphael entered a conference room filled with mostly older men in suits. Everyone turned toward him, surprised.
He sat down and dropped his baton on the table without greeting anyone.
"Raphael, what's the meaning of this?" his uncle asked.
"Oh, Uncle. No one told you I'd be coming today? Well, I heard the board's losing faith in me. Not that they ever had any. But I figured I'd show up—look responsible, give the sheep something to follow. Especially since the company's in a mess."
"The company is not in crisis, FYI," his uncle replied.
"No need to lie—have you seen the stock prices lately? They're in free fall," Raphael smirked.
"And now's when you finally notice?" his uncle snapped.
"Notice what? That the company failed under your watch? You refused my help, Uncle. You've been pushing me away for years," Raphael said dramatically.
He turned to the board. "I want to help DM Group grow. But how can I fix anything if I'm not allowed to try? If you truly want to salvage the family legacy, let me handle the mess my dear uncle and cousin left behind. I know the real reason for this meeting is to strip me of my title, but just give me one chance."
"Can we just move on with the meeting?" Dante, his cousin, interjected. Raphael gave him a knowing glare. Dante looked away.
The meeting proceeded briefly and ended. Only Raphael and Dante remained in the room.
"What are you trying to prove?" Dante demanded.
"What do you mean?" Raphael said lazily, resting his head back and propping his feet on the table.
"Go back to doing nothing like before."
"That's no way to speak to your CEO. I'm only trying to help. Unlike you, who's not exactly... competent," Raphael replied with a scoff.
"And you're competent? You can't even be in the same room with people—"
Raphael frowned.
"—I'm the one doing all the work. Just step down already and save us the drama," Dante added.
Raphael nodded slowly—his signature move when trying to calm himself.
"You really said that? You're the reason I'm like this, remember?" he said with a cold smile.
Dante gulped.
"You're still holding onto that? It was a mistake! You know that!" Dante shouted.
"A mistake? You ruined my life. And now you have the audacity to call it a mistake? You've always been the weak link," Raphael snapped.
Dante lunged at him, but Raphael stood up swiftly and pointed his baton at his chest.
"Hey, hey. I just bought new skincare products—I can't risk any breakouts," Raphael grinned and left the room, leaving Dante fuming.
"Where to, sir?" Mr. Chu asked as Raphael entered the car.
"Where else? The mansion," he replied.
Raphael Del Mundo, heir to the Del Mundo Group, is an isolated man. He's lived alone in an enormous mansion since age ten.
Why?
Because he has a rare condition called "Human Allergy"—he's allergic to any physical contact with humans. The day he lost his parents was the same day the disease manifested.
Despite endless treatments, nothing worked. The doctor eventually declared it incurable. Now, he survives on a drug that acts as a temporary suppressant. It doesn't cure—it only halts the reactions: rashes, inflammation, and pain.
He stared out the window of the car as the city blurred by. Seventeen years. No cure. No contact. Just drugs, distance, and dread. He didn't know which was worse—the pain of touching someone… or the pain of being untouchable.
And he was tired of being untouchable.