"Operation: Kill the Vice President?" Eva asked in shock. The room fell into a brief silence.
"You don't mean kill-kill, right?" Mei Yoo Jun asked nervously.
"No," Ingrid reassured calmly. "In this room, everyone is part of the task force for this plan."
Task force: a temporary group formed to accomplish a specific objective or solve a particular problem.
Shan, deep in thought, furrowed his brows. We have two managers on our team. That's not enough. Compared to the Vice President's side, we're outnumbered.
"Excuse me." Rae Yoorin stood up abruptly. "I don't even know why I'm here. This has nothing to do with me."
She made her way toward the door, but Ingrid stepped in front of her before she could leave.
"Ms. Yoorin," Ingrid said, voice low and cold. "Haven't I already warned you? You should only refuse when you can."
Rae scoffed, knowing exactly what Ingrid was referring to. Begrudgingly, she returned to her seat.
"As I was saying," Ingrid continued, her tone unfazed, "the reason I gathered you all in this room is not because you're special or essential to the plan."
She paused and corrected herself.
"It's because none of you can betray each other. And that makes our team stronger than any other."
Shan considered that. It made sense. Ingrid and Shan knew about Rae's embezzlement. Shan was blacklisted alongside Ingrid. Eva was the head of the operation. Everyone had something binding them in this room.
But then, Shan thought, why is Mei Yoo Jun here?
Is it because she's close to Eva? Friends maybe?
Mei Yoo Jun didn't know much about Eva's past. Eva rarely talked about it—unless it was with Shan. She trusted him more than anyone. And Shan, in return, trusted her completely.
Ingrid continued her explanation. "And because I want to avoid unnecessary suspicion about our project, I thought it would be safer to choose people from my own team."
Shan nodded slightly. Ah, I get it. Mei Yoo Jun is a klutz. She might slip something by accident. But because she's one of Ingrid's own, no one would question it.
"Hmph. It seems we're at a good starting point, Ms. Mikage," Eva said. "But how exactly are we supposed to strike at the Vice President from here?"
Ingrid chuckled and smirked. "Well, to answer that, Ms. Kim... whatever happens to the Vice President will be entirely up to you."
"Me?" Eva raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Ingrid confirmed. "After you become President of the company."
Two hours passed. It was nearing 10 PM as Ingrid finished outlining the plan.
"That's all for today's meeting," she said. "We'll regroup once we make more progress. Until then, I suggest you don't make any personal plans after work."
Shan was quietly impressed. Ingrid wasn't joking. She truly intended to take down the VP. If everything went smoothly, they might actually have a real shot.
No wonder they call her the Ice Cold Boss, Shan thought. She's not just a pretty face with nothing upstairs.
"Alright, you're all free to go—"
"Wait a minute!" Eva called out, stopping everyone in their tracks.
She suggested a team dinner.
"We're all in the same boat now, aren't we?" she said with a grin.
Ingrid sighed. She couldn't believe Eva was suggesting dinner after a meeting like this. She's truly special.
"Sure, why not," Ingrid relented.
"Excellent. I want everyone there. Including you, boo." Eva winked at Shan.
"Yeah yeah. Just go easy on the booze this time. Last time you almost jumped off a building," Shan teased.
"Hey! That was once, okay?" Eva laughed.
She turned to Ingrid. "You too, Ms. Mikage."
"Sure," Ingrid replied with a soft smile.
But inside, she was frustrated. A team dinner... at a damn club?
"Everyone, raise your glasses!" Eva said later that night. "Let's drink in the name of this project."
Glasses clinked in the air.
"KILL THE VP!" they cheered in unison.
---
Meanwhile, in a private office—
"Achoo!" Jen Heo Won sneezed suddenly.
"Someone must be talking about me," she murmured.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in," she said.
Gon Jun San entered and bowed.
"Why are you here, Jun San?" she asked.
He presented a tablet and his report. "A reliable source from our intelligence department has news about your father, the chairman. The president of HQ is stepping down this month due to health reasons. But—"
"I know," Jen interrupted as she stared out at the Seoul skyline. "It must've been my father's doing."
She narrowed her gaze.
"That man was just a pawn in his game. He emptied that seat so he could sit back and watch who would fight, crawl, or kill for it. Me... or that bitch."
She meant Eva.
---
Back at the club, the bass thumped through the floors. The DJ ramped up the mix as lights flashed over the dance floor.
Eva and Mei Yoo Jun took the floor. Eva danced like a pro, her movements fluid and magnetic. Mei Yoo Jun danced more casually, but caught attention anyway as her body bounced with the rhythm.
Eva pulled Shan toward the floor.
"Come on, boo. Show them how a real Wolf steals the spotlight," she said.
"You know I don't dance anymore, right?" Shan protested.
"Come on. For me? You haven't had fun in ages," she pouted.
"God. Fine. I'll do it, woman," Shan gave in.
The DJ caught on and adjusted the lights. Shan moved with natural rhythm, stealing the room's attention with old-school finesse.
"Huh. I never knew Mr. Wolf could dance like that," Ingrid commented, surprised.
"Yeah... so... sexy," Rae Yoorin muttered, a bit too mesmerized.
"And here I thought you weren't enjoying yourself, Ms. Yoorin," Ingrid teased. "But I guess you're too mature for fun."
"Pity it's a sin for someone your age to be here," Rae shot back with a smirk.
"What?" Ingrid raised a brow.
Rae got up and started dancing. "I still got the moves."
She spotted a young man walking their way.
Bingo, she thought—until he walked right past her and held a hand out to Ingrid.
"Wanna have fun, baby?"
Ingrid blinked but took his hand. "Sure. Why not."
They danced. The guy was getting too close, too touchy.
"You know, I called you out because you're my type," he whispered.
I only did this to tease Rae. This is getting out of hand, Ingrid thought.
"You know what? I'm not letting you go anywhere," he whispered as he pulled her close and slid a hand under her skirt.
"Oh my. Aren't you a naughty little boy," Ingrid said coolly. "Do you know how old I am? I could be your mother."
"Old enough to make love," he replied, fingers brushing her clit.
"Ah... wait," Ingrid gasped. He was just a kid. Seventeen? Nineteen?
And then—she saw her.
Her daughter.
Kim Yeon Mikage.
In a club.
"Cheers!"
"Happy birthday, Kim!"
A small group cheered and sang as Kim smiled with her friends. She lifted her cider—
Only to have it snatched away.
"What the—Mom?" she cried, stunned.
Minutes later, Ingrid had dragged Kim Yeon outside. The boy followed, curious about the drama.
"Come here!" Ingrid yelled, yanking her by the arm.
"Ouch! Mom, wait! It's not what you think!" Kim pleaded.
They moved away from the entrance, voices rising.
"Mom, stop it! You're embarrassing me!"
"Wait. Did you just say 'Mom'?" the guy mumbled, stunned.
Ingrid ignored him and shouted, "Are you insane, Kim Yeon? You've got exams to prepare for!"
Kim spat back bitterly. "Heh. Since when did you even care? And what were you doing in there, anyway?"
She turned toward the boy.
"Sigh. Seriously, if you're that desperate for young, limp studs, why don't you just go live with them? I can take care of myself better without you."
Ingrid's anger boiled.
Without thinking, she slapped Kim across the face.
Silence followed.
Tears welled in Kim's eyes. Holding her cheek, she looked up at her mother.
"Do you even know what today is?"
Ingrid stood there, breathing hard. Then she realized the presents. The cake.
The small banner.
All of it before dragging her out.
And her heart sank.
"Wait. Is it...?"
She whispered, trembling.
"Is it....your birthday?"
---
End of Chapter 29