Ji-an
The moment I stepped into the dressing room, the controlled chaos began.
Stylists flitted around like precision-trained artists, unpacking their kits, laying out palettes, curling irons, and an endless assortment of accessories. Wardrobe assistants ran final checks on our outfits, fussing over every little detail.
This was routine.
This was normal.
I should have been relaxing into it, letting the transformation wash over me like usual.
But I wasn't.
I was fuming, still thinking about him.
I sat down in the makeup chair, letting my stylist start working through my hair, but my mind was locked on Logan Carter.
He saw me get off the bus. Knew I was looking at him. We even made freaking eye contact. And then?
He walked past me like I was nothing.
No reaction.
Barely an acknowledgment.
Barely a second look.
Just a polite nod, like I was any other celebrity. Like I was any other woman.
"You're almost too pretty," he had said once. "How does anyone function around you?"
Yet now he had the gall to walk past me like I was invisible.
It pissed me off more than it should have.
I wasn't arrogant enough to expect men to fall over themselves whenever they saw me. But I was used to attention. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I expect men to pay attention to me, even when I don't want it.
Maybe this was karma?
Then I had a thought—he couldn't have forgotten me, right?
Sure, our conversation at the airport was almost a year ago, and it had only lasted a little while.
Okay, maybe conversation was a bit of a stretch. He had talked, I had listened, and I had pretended I didn't understand him.
Was he mad about that?
Still, I felt like we'd had a moment—enough that I was excited to see him again when I found out he'd be working this concert.
Enough that I had gone looking for him online.
Enough that I had spent the last ten months messaging him under an anonymous account.
Enough that I had built him up in my head as something different.
But apparently, to him?
I was nothing special.
Me? Nothing special? The same girl he had once told was too pretty?
Did he actually mean that when he said it?
Or was I actually too pretty for him to even want to know me?
What's the american expression?
WTF??
I clenched my jaw, forcing my face to remain still as my stylist started pinning sections of my hair back.
Fine.
If Logan Carter was going to pretend I didn't exist—
Then I'd make damn sure he had no choice but to notice.
"Make my eyes pop,"I told the makeup artist. "And my hair—sleek, but with a bit of volume. I want people to look."*
The woman grinned. "Oh, I love your pure sex appeal look. You got it. We're definitely making people look."
From the other side of the room, Min-ji gave me a knowing glance. Jisoo just giggled.
"That 'people' wouldn't include Lee Min-hyuk, would it?"* Min-ji said.
I almost gagged.
Lee Min-hyuk. A third-generation chaebol brat. His father was the CEO of our Agency's parent company. His dad was the boss basically. Lee Min-hyukhad been chasing me since my debut, and I had firmly rejected him.
He couldn't be here, could he?
"Lee Min-hyuk," I said flatly. "Why would I worry about him looking at me?"
Hye-won laughed from her chair. "He likes you, Ji-an. You're not going to be able to avoid him. You know that."
I refused to react.
"I just want to look my best," I said smoothly. "That's all. It has nothing to do with Lee Min-hyuk."
Min-ji smirked. "Sure. And I just think it's interesting that 'your best' suddenly requires extra glam."
Hye-won, always one to stir the pot, leaned in. "While we're on the topic, why were you staring at that security guard earlier?"
I froze. "I don't know what you're talking about."
She laughed. "Right."
I shot her a look. "I wasn't staring. I don't stare at boys. Especially ones that freaking ignore me."
Shit. Didn't mean to say that part.
"You definitely were," Min-ji confirmed. "You were staring some hard you you almost tripped over your own feet."
"Don't be ridilcious," I muttered.
"I know what I saw," she countered.
Min-ji wiggled her eyebrows. "Not that I can blame you. I'm not into white boys, but that one was really cute. Very manly. Maybe we should ask around."
"Already did," Hye-won said with a smirk. "Believe it or not, he's the head of security for the event. Total badass. Military background. Apparently, he's kind of a big deal in this backwater town. Also, is it just me, or did he look familiar? Has he worked with our tour before?"
"I was just thinking that," Jisoo said. "I swear I've seen that guy before."
Min-ji contemplated.
"You three have weird taste," I said casually. "He's not even that good-looking."
"Oh, so you don't think he's cute?" Hye-won said. "Fine. Then I think I'll ask for his phone number. He looks aggressive just my type."
"Oh! You're so bold," Min-ji said, giggling. "Perhaps I'll enter the mix too. He was really cute."
"I'm in," Jisoo added. "Same bet. First to get his phone number wins."
I ignored all of them and let the stylists work.
When I finally looked in the mirror, my reflection was lethal.
Dark, striking eyes, lined just right—the kind of look that could stop a man mid-sentence.
Lips full and softly painted, just enough to draw attention.
Hair sleek and controlled, framing my face with just the right amount of movement.
I looked dangerous.
I looked ready.
Lets see you ignore me now Logan Carter.