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The night had ended in a blur of champagne glasses and half-hearted congratulations. Yuna had secured her position, and with it, a sense of satisfaction that would have been impossible to achieve without her tireless effort. But as the final guests departed, the weight of the evening still hung heavily on her shoulders.
The gala may have been over, but the real battle had just begun.
Yuna sat at the edge of her luxurious office, her fingers running absentmindedly along the rim of her crystal glass. The moonlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the room in a soft, cold glow, casting long shadows on the polished floor. Outside, the city buzzed with life, unaware of the fierce conflict that was unfolding behind closed doors.
Seok Jin had left the gala early, and she hadn't even had a chance to speak with him. For all their rivalry, they both knew the importance of the night—the future of the company, the delicate dance between power and control. But Yuna also knew that Seok Jin wasn't one to back down easily. He would be planning, waiting for the right moment to strike back.
Yuna's phone buzzed on her desk, the vibration startling her. She glanced at the screen and saw an incoming message from her best friend, Jiwon Lee.
"Let's meet. I need to talk. Now."
Yuna's brows furrowed. Jiwon was rarely this urgent unless something was wrong. She quickly typed a response: "I'll be there in 20 minutes."
As she stood up, the door to her office swung open, and Sooyeon stepped inside, her expression unreadable.
"Ms. Han," she began, her voice carefully neutral, "The meeting for tomorrow's presentation has been scheduled. You're also expected at the board meeting in the afternoon to finalize the merger details."
Yuna nodded. Sooyeon was always on top of things, always precise and efficient. But there was something in her eyes tonight—an underlying tension that Yuna couldn't ignore.
"You seem off tonight," Yuna said, her voice low but sharp. "Is everything alright?"
Sooyeon hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering toward the door as if to ensure they were alone. "I... I noticed something strange at the gala. Between you and Mr. Cho," she began carefully. "It was almost as if... as if you two weren't just enemies."
Yuna's breath hitched. She had been careful, too careful. She had kept her secret with Seok Jin locked away for years, but Sooyeon was sharp—far too sharp.
"We're not friends," Yuna said, her voice cold and authoritative. "We're rivals. You know that. Nothing more."
Sooyeon's eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't press further. "Of course, Ms. Han,"