To the outside world, Kynix Group was a dreamland for men—an empire of women, a modern-day matriarchal paradise.
But only those employed within its walls knew the truth: this so-called utopia was no different from entering a monastery.
The root of this twisted atmosphere? None other than Kynix Group's top boss—Seraphina.
Her hatred for men was nothing short of pathological. With the exception of a few roles that absolutely required a male presence, every significant position in the company was held by women. Department heads, supervisors—you name it. Kynix was run by a literal female legion.
Even the security department, which had the highest concentration of male employees, was ruled by the formidable Zoe—a battle-hardened ex-military officer who could crush most men in a fight and had practically forgotten she was a woman herself.
From Seraphina's oppressive policies at the top to Zoe's borderline abusive militarized management down below, life at Kynix was pure hell—for both men and women.
Now, the security guys—tall, built, handsome in uniform—surrounded by women all day, should've had the upper hand, right? But no. Instead, they were left to suffer in silence, hearts tormented by longing, unable to act on the endless temptation parading before them. Total disgrace to manhood!
"This is outrageous!" Lucian slammed his fist against the locker door, eyes burning with indignation. "They don't even treat men like human beings!"
Victor, two years his senior, lunged over and slapped a hand over Lucian's mouth. "Bro, keep it down. There are eyes and ears everywhere. If someone hears you, you're dead meat."
Lucian pushed Victor's hand away and raised his fist high. "For the happiness of all women, we must topple this tyranny! We fight to the end!"
"Topple who, exactly?" Victor let out a bitter laugh. "Our boss is Seraphina, the infamous man-hater of Empire Tower. You want change? You'll have to take her down first."
"You mean Seraphina?" Lucian sneered.
"Shut the hell up!" Victor's whole body jolted with fear as he whispered harshly, "Don't ever say her name aloud—not at work, not even off the clock! She's scarier than Zoe!"
Lucian muttered inwardly, Scary, huh? Didn't stop me from pushing her down on the bed… though, I wasn't really conscious at the time.
Handing Victor another cigarette, Lucian asked curiously, "If the company's this strict and the bosses are psychos, why don't people just quit? You guys into being abused or something?"
"No one told you about the benefits?" Victor grinned.
"What kind?" Lucian's eyes lit up.
"Get your head out of the gutter." Victor rolled his eyes. "I mean actual benefits. Good salary, solid perks. Take the security team, for example—seven to eight thousand a month, easy. Outside companies barely offer half that. Not to mention the holiday shopping vouchers and other bonuses. With the job market this tight, where else are you gonna find that?"
"So yeah," Victor sighed, taking on the look of a weathered soul. "Strict rules, high pressure—sure. But even if they treat us like disposable tools, it's worth it."
Lucian nodded on the surface but thought to himself: I didn't come back to Solviva to play lapdog. One day, I'll plant the Lucian flag in every department of Kynix and watch it wave in the wind!
"Alright, time to get back to work." Victor stubbed out his cigarette and clapped Lucian on the shoulder. "Gotta say, you put on that uniform and you actually look like a movie star. Change the hairstyle, and I'd crown you the second hottest guy in the security team."
Lucian raised a brow. "Who's the first?"
"Me, of course." Victor struck a dramatic pose and flashed a devilish grin.
"Fuck off." Lucian laughed, already sensing Victor was the kind of idiot he could become good friends with.
Once out of the locker room, Victor transformed into a stoic, cold-blooded security officer. He led Lucian through their patrol of floors 78, 79, and 80 with robotic precision. Occasionally, they'd pass some stunning female employees, but Victor didn't utter a word—only letting his eyes briefly linger with silent appreciation. No contact. No flirtation.
Engaging in non-work-related chatter with female employees was strictly forbidden. It was the core policy set by Zoe, and anyone who broke it faced her terrifying wrath.
During the patrol, Victor explained the security team's operating system to Lucian: Two officers per group. Each team patrolled three to four floors. The floors rotated daily to prevent the guards from getting too familiar with any one area—or any particular female staff members. The rules were extreme.
Even elevator usage during patrols was banned. One, to avoid taking up space during emergencies. Two, to eliminate any chance of a male guard getting trapped in an elevator with a female employee and sparking a "secret exchange." Kynix had essentially severed every possible line of communication between men and women. Totally nuts.
"Even if we can't talk to them, just being in this environment is... strangely good for mental health," Lucian thought, feeling strangely blessed. In just one afternoon, he'd seen more women than he had in his previous twenty-five years combined.
Victor chuckled dryly. "Give it a few days, and you'll see how painful it is to look but never touch. Honestly, I wish every woman here was ugly. At least then, I'd feel some peace of mind."
"I believe if we're bold and strategic," Lucian said confidently, "those women will be ours."
Since it was Lucian's first day, Victor didn't assign him any night shifts. After dinner at the team's exclusive mess hall, he was free to leave.
Maybe it was the thrill of officially starting work, but Lucian felt a rare sense of motivation. Instead of aimlessly wandering until midnight like usual, he stopped by the supermarket for a few essentials and headed straight home.
Unfortunately, his apartment was located in a remote suburb—an hour and a half commute from Empire Tower, including two bus transfers. Though he'd clocked out at five, it was nearly eight by the time he got off the last bus. Exhausting, to say the least.
Solviva's night air was still pleasantly cool. Carrying a plastic bag, Lucian lit a cigarette and walked slowly. His peripheral vision caught a shadow moving in the darkness.
Still following me, huh?
Lucian was growing increasingly irritated. Ever since he left work, three private investigators had been tailing him in shifts—tracking his every move. Even bathroom breaks were probably noted in some damn report. He wouldn't be surprised if they were peeking through his windows while he slept.
Lucian could've easily shaken them off. But he knew they were sent by Seraphina. If he ditched them, it would only draw her suspicion. So, he let it slide.
Still, this was getting ridiculous. Not only were they tracking him on the road—they were watching his home too. Did he have zero privacy now?
If not for waking up that one morning with blood-soaked sheets—and a lingering sense of guilt—Lucian would never have let himself get dragged into some absurd marriage contract. Or tolerated being shadowed every damn day. The old him would've just smashed a few heads and been done with it.
Shaking off the frustration, Lucian picked up his pace.
"Huh? Why the hell is my duffel bag lying out on the street?"
Lucian froze, then rushed over and picked up the bulky, worn-out bag. Face flushed with rage, he shouted up at the landlord's window.
"Hey! What the hell? We agreed I'd pay rent after my first paycheck! You kick me out at night? Ever heard of contract integrity?! I swear, I'll report you!"
Clack.
The second-floor window burst open. A middle-aged woman with rollers in her hair leaned out, snarling like a banshee. "Report me? You've got a lotta nerve! I let you stay out of kindness, and you repay me by stealing from my kitchen? Today you even drank the porridge I made for my daughter! Have you no shame?"
"I can explain all of that!" Lucian protested. "I was hungry, and I always left money on the table! How could you accuse me like this?"
"Money? Don't even start." She practically exploded. "You ate the bird's nest soup I made for my daughter and left three bucks! Drank a bottle of premium liquor my husband was saving as a gift and left five! You call that paying?"
Lucian defended himself. "Then let's talk about what I've done for you! Who fixed the clogged toilet? Who saved your husband when he got drunk and picked a fight outside? Who chased down your deadbeat tenants and got your rent back? I did all that without a word of complaint. If anything, I earned that drink!"
"Get lost! As far away as possible!" She hurled a potted plant down. "If you're not gone in five minutes, I'm calling the cops!"
Lucian yelled, "Fine! You'll regret this—you two-faced witch!"
From the shadows, one of the private investigators carefully watching Lucian recorded every word and gesture, reporting everything to Seraphina, awaiting her praise.
Inside a brightly lit mansion, the icy woman buried in paperwork smirked coldly at the news, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade:
"Serves him right."