A week after being discharged from the hospital, Luna sat at the head of the large conference table, her posture immaculate, exuding authority. She had insisted on returning to work despite the lingering sprain in her ankle, unwilling to let her recent accident derail her responsibilities.
The board meeting progressed with its usual rhythm, a back-and-forth of reports, discussions, and projections. The room was filled with high-ranking executives, all acutely aware of Luna’s sharp gaze and commanding presence. Yet, one particular figure across the table—Alex Jung—seemed utterly unfazed by her scrutiny.
Luna had barely acknowledged him throughout the meeting, her tone neutral and professional. But her avoidance didn’t go unnoticed by him.
As the meeting concluded, Luna gathered her notes and prepared to leave when Alex suddenly addressed her.
“Kim Luna,” his smooth, authoritative voice rang out, freezing her mid-step.
She turned slowly, her expression unreadable, though her heart beat faster in irritation. “Yes, Mr. Jung?”
Alex stood, his imposing figure dominating the space as he straightened his suit. “It’s good to see that you’ve finally recovered from your… stupidity of reckless driving.”
The words hit her like a slap, and a murmur of surprise rippled through the remaining executives.
Luna’s eyes flashed with anger, her grip tightening on her notebook. “Excuse me?” she said icily, stepping forward to meet his gaze.
Alex’s expression was as nonchalant as ever, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “I only meant that it’s fortunate you’re able to return to work. For the company’s sake, of course.”
Her anger boiled over, and she took another step closer, ignoring the pain that shot through her sprained ankle. “For the company’s sake? Or for your convenience? You didn’t even bother to check on me after the accident. And now you have the audacity to call me stupid?”
Alex’s smirk faltered, his gray eyes narrowing. “I didn’t mean—”
“Save it,” she snapped, cutting him off. “You may be the CEO of Jung Conglomerate, but that doesn’t give you the right to insult me. I don’t need your concern, or your patronizing remarks.”
For a moment, the room was silent, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Alex’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing further as Luna turned on her heel and strode out of the room, her pride burning brighter than the ache in her ankle.
---
The hallway outside the boardroom was quieter, the hum of activity from the office a distant murmur. Luna walked briskly, her thoughts still swirling with the heated exchange. How dare he?
She pressed the elevator button with more force than necessary, muttering under her breath. “Who does he think he is?”
The elevator arrived with a soft ding, and she stepped inside, her shoulders tense. As the doors closed, she forced herself to take a deep breath. She didn’t have time to dwell on Alex Jung’s arrogance. There were more important things to focus on.
When the elevator reached the lobby, Luna exited, heading toward the parking lot. She noticed that the usually bustling space seemed unusually still. The silence unsettled her, and a strange prickle ran down her spine.
Her heels clicked against the polished floor as she walked toward her car, the sound echoing in the emptiness. She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Her steps slowed, and she glanced over her shoulder, but there was no one there.
I’m just being paranoid, she told herself, quickening her pace.
But the feeling persisted. Her heart began to race as she heard faint footsteps behind her. They were soft, almost imperceptible, but they were there.
Luna spun around, her eyes darting through the dimly lit parking lot. “Who’s there?” she demanded, her voice steady despite the unease creeping into her chest.
There was no answer. Just silence.
She turned back toward her car, clutching her purse tightly. Her breaths came quicker, her instincts screaming at her to move faster. But before she could reach the door, a hand suddenly clamped over her nose and mouth.
Her muffled scream was cut short as a sharp, chemical smell filled her senses. She struggled, her vision blurring as her strength ebbed away. Her purse fell to the ground with a dull thud, and the world around her began to fade.
The last thing she heard before losing consciousness was a low, chilling whisper in her ear:
“Sleep well, Miss Kim.”
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I was actually waiting for every chapter to hit 100 views before I upload new chap HAHAHAHAHAH