The V Tower. A colossal, V-shaped skyscraper constructed entirely of pitch-black glass, piercing the heavens right in the heart of Velas City's prime business district.
The moment the limousine's tires glided to a halt, security guards rushed forward to open the doors.
"Good morning, Mr. President!"
Ren stepped out of the vehicle with devastating grace. Every stride radiated an aura of power, forcing anyone walking past to stop and bow in submission.
I took a deep, shaky breath.
Gathering whatever pathetic scraps of courage I had left, I stepped out of the car.
I followed him strictly two paces behind. The designated, humiliating distance of a servant.
The second we crossed the threshold into the grand lobby... Hundreds of curious eyes locked onto us.
"That's Mr. Ren... He really is as devastatingly handsome as the rumors say."
"But who is that walking behind him? A new hire?"
"He looks oddly familiar... I feel like I've seen his face somewhere before."
"Look at his neck... He's wearing a choker. Is that high fashion? Or could it be..."
The rampant whispers echoed endlessly across the cavernous marble hall.
Even though they tried to be discreet...
To someone like me, whose senses were hyper-vigilant with paranoia, every whisper sounded like a scream.
I felt like a grotesque circus freak being paraded around for public amusement. I wanted to yank my collar up to hide this humiliating brand.
But I couldn't...
Because Ren's broad, unyielding back. Radiated a terrifying pressure, commanding me to keep my chin up and endure the degradation.
Ding!
The private elevator swallowed us whole, shielding us from the hundreds of prying, judgmental eyes.
It shot us up to the absolute highest floor. The highly restricted, private sanctuary of the supreme executive.
The President's Office.
The massive double doors swung open.
It revealed an impossibly large office styled in ultra-modern minimalism. The walls were constructed entirely of floor-to-ceiling glass, offering a dizzying, 360-degree panoramic view of Velas City.
Right in the center stood an imposing, massive desk carved from solid teak. And tucked into a specific corner of the vast room... sat a tiny, stark white desk.
It looked completely alien to the decor. Deliberately placed.
"That is your station."
Ren pointed a long finger toward the small desk.
I walked over to inspect it, and a fresh wave of chills swept over me.
The desk was positioned to face Ren's massive desk head-on. There were no privacy screens. No partitions. No blind spots whatsoever.
No matter what I did, whether I was typing, answering the phone, or simply taking a breath...
He would be able to monitor my every movement.
"I severely dislike having my secretary sitting uselessly outside my door."
Ren strolled over and dropped into his leather executive chair.
He swiveled around, locking his dark, piercing gaze directly onto me.
"I prefer to keep what belongs to me... strictly within my line of sight at all times."
"Sit down."
I lowered myself into the small office chair.
I felt like a white mouse trapped inside a glass terrarium, scrutinized by a predatory cat.
"Your first assignment..."
Ren picked up a thick stack of corporate files and tossed them onto my desk.
"Read through every single one of these documents. Give me a comprehensive summary of the key points within one hour."
"And... bring me a coffee."
"Black. No sugar. Just the way I like it."
"Yes, sir."
I acknowledged the order mechanically.
I stood up and walked over to the corner of the room that housed a state-of-the-art espresso machine.
My hands were still trembling slightly as I reached for the porcelain cup. The terror embedded deep within my bones made every movement feel clumsy.
Don't mess this up, Yurin... Do not spill it...
I chanted the warning repeatedly in my mind.
The rich, bitter aroma of roasted coffee beans filled the air.
Yet, instead of relaxing me, it only made the nausea twist in my stomach.
Once the machine finished, I picked up the saucer. I slowly walked back toward Ren's massive desk.
"Your coffee, sir..."
I tried to place the cup down onto the coaster at the edge of his desk with the utmost gentleness.
But the harder I tried to focus, the more my hands began to shake. The dark liquid inside the cup began to slosh.
Ren finally dragged his eyes away from his monitor.
He glanced down at the trembling cup, and then slowly raised his eyes to meet mine.
Crash!
The porcelain cup slipped, striking the edge of the teak desk.
Scalding black coffee exploded everywhere. It splashed across classified documents, dripping off the edge and directly onto his trousers.
"Fuck!"
Ren snarled, shooting up from his chair and stepping back
"I... I am so sorry! I didn't mean to!"
All the blood instantly drained from my face, leaving me deathly pale.
I frantically grabbed the tissue box, rushing around the desk, desperate to help him wipe away the scalding mess.
"You are completely useless!"
Smack!
His massive hand slapped my wrist away. The force sent the wad of tissues fluttering through the air.
"How the hell do you make coffee?! The color is absolute garbage! And on top of that, you're so damn clumsy you throw it all over me!"
"I... I tried my best to put it down carefully, I swear..."
"Oh, so you're suggesting I knocked it over myself?"
Ren stalked toward me.
His right hand shot out, gripping my jaw until the bones ached.
"Are you actually daring to argue with me? Yurin."
"N... No, sir. I would never..."
Hot tears of terror began to pool in my eyes.
I knew perfectly well that he was doing this on purpose. He was actively manufacturing a scenario solely to humiliate and crush me.
"Wipe it up." He commanded, his voice a razor-sharp, freezing blade.
"Y... Yes, sir. I will go get a mop."
"I wasn't talking about the floor."
Ren pointed down at his leather shoes. A few minuscule drops of coffee had splattered across the polished toe.
"Use your hands... and wipe my shoes. Right now."
My eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
I stared up at him. This was a level of degradation that crossed every line.
"What's the matter? Can't do it?"
Ren arched a perfect eyebrow.
The corner of his lips curled into a condescending sneer.
"Or do you still delusionally believe you are the high-and-mighty Yurin of the past?"
"Do not ever forget your place... slave."
The word 'slave' hit me with the devastating force of a freight train.
Violent flashes of reality flooded my vision. My mother, lying sick in a hospital bed, desperately waiting for money...
The shredded remains of my plane ticket...
I had absolutely no other choice.
Slowly... I sank to my knees. Kneeling at his feet in the center of that lavish office.
Suspended high above the clouds in his glass fortress.
I bowed my head. Lower and lower, until my forehead was practically grazing the cold, polished floor.
With trembling hands, I picked up a piece of tissue. I meticulously began to wipe the coffee stains off his black leather shoes.
Drop by drop...
Ren stood towering above me, watching the entire spectacle.
I couldn't see his face...
But I could imagine the dark smile of satisfaction painted across his features.
Once the leather was completely pristine again...
I didn't dare to stand up.
I remained frozen on my knees, awaiting his next command.
"Good... Being obedient and easy to handle like this... makes you quite adorable."
His heavy palm descended, resting on the crown of my head.
He stroked my hair slowly. Exactly the way one would praise a well-trained dog.
"Stand up and get back to work. And prepare yourself..."
He glanced down at his multi-million dollar watch.
"In exactly one hour, we have a lunch meeting with a high-priority client."
"A client who is preparing to become a major 'partner' in this corporation."
"Behave yourself. Do not humiliate me like you just did."
I scrambled to my feet. A dizzy spell hit me, causing me to sway as I stood.
"Yes... Mr. President."
I retreated to my tiny desk in the corner.
I kept my head bowed, desperately trying to conceal the tears silently carving paths down my cheeks.
I prayed to whatever god was listening that the lunch hour would arrive as quickly as humanly possible.
Completely unaware... that this exact lunch meeting...
Would be the catalyst for a massive undercurrent that was about to crash into my life.