The sleek, newly constructed skyscraper stood tall against the city skyline. It was the absolute first branch office of Valkyrie Ventures that was completely built from scratch. From the cutting-edge security systems to the grand interior design, the entire setup was 100% complete and ready to dominate the market.
Inside her pristine new penthouse office, Siwon was sitting behind a massive glass desk, deeply engrossed in a financial file.
Knock, knock.
"May I come in, Ma'am?" Mr. Nam's voice echoed from the door.
"Come in. Sit down," Siwon replied smoothly, without even lifting her head from the documents.
Mr. Nam walked in, adjusting his glasses nervously. He took a seat across from her and cleared his throat. "Ma'am... they have finally confirmed the date for the lifeline meeting."
Siwon turned a page, her eyes scanning the text. "Who?"
"The people from Han Sang Enterprises, Ma'am. They requested the meeting for tomorrow evening at 6:00 PM sharp."
"Alright," Siwon stated coldly, closing the file with a soft thud. "That works."
Later that evening, after wrapping up her work, Siwon walked out of the corporate building. The sunset cast long shadows across the concrete road. Min-seok was already standing near the luxury sedan, holding the door open to let her inside.
But neither of them noticed a dark-tinted SUV parked just across the street.
Inside that SUV, Mr. Kwon leaned closer to the window, his greedy eyes locked onto Siwon's walking figure. A chilling, dangerous smile spread across his sharp face.
"So... this is Miss Park Siwon," Mr. Kwon murmured into the darkness of his car. "She looks far more beautiful, sharp, and attractive in person than in those translucent, blurry images. Driver... follow that car."
Unaware of the shadow tailing them, Siwon was leaning back in the rear seat of her sedan, completely focused on her tablet, analyzing the real-time share charts of Han Sang Enterprises.
After a short drive, the car pulled into a quiet parking zone near a commercial street. Min-seok shifted the gear into park and turned around, making a small, pitiful pleading face.
"Ma'am... can I please step out for a few minutes to grab something?" Min-seok stammered.
Siwon raised an eyebrow, not looking up from her screen. "At this time? What kind of emergency supplies do you need?"
Min-seok rubbed the back of his neck, his voice dropping into a sheepish whisper. "Uh... Ma'am... actually, some Soju."
Siwon rolled her eyes, her face deadpan and completely ignoring his addiction. "What? Seriously... whatever. Just come back soon."
"Yes, Ma'am! Right away!" Min-seok scrambled out of the car, running toward a nearby convenience store.
Siwon sighed, continuing to swipe through the tablet. Suddenly, the silence inside the vehicle was broken. Click. The driver's side door abruptly unlocked and swung open. A strange, heavily built man in a dark suit quickly slid into the driving seat, shutting the door behind him.
Siwon didn't even look up at first, assuming it was Min-seok. "Did you bring the stuff already?"
No response. The car remained dead silent.
Suspecting something was wrong, Siwon slowly lowered her tablet, her gaze turning incredibly sharp and dangerous. She stared at the back of the stranger's head through the rearview mirror. "Who the hell are you?"
The strange driver didn't look back, but his voice was firm. "Ma'am, my Boss wishes to meet you right now. Please forgive our informal and sudden method... but you will have to come with us."
Without a single trace of hesitation or fear, Siwon let out a cold, mocking chuckle. "If your boss wants to meet me, tell him to get a formal appointment with my secretary first. And besides, what business does he have with me?"
"Ma'am, why don't you ask him that yourself?" the driver replied as he smoothly started the engine and drove the car out of the parking lot.
Siwon didn't panic, nor did she try to jump out. She sat back elegantly, waiting to see who dared to play this petty game with the Valkyrie Queen.
After a ten-minute tense drive, the car pulled up and stopped in front of a massive, heavily guarded corporate building. A towering empire of glass and steel. Siwon leaned closer to the window, her eyes reading the massive golden letters glowing at the top entrance: APEX GROUPS.
Apex Groups... Siwon's mind instantly clicked. The owner of this empire is Kwon Do-hyeon.
Before she could think further, a formal worker stepped forward, opening her car door with a deep, respectful bow. "Welcome, Ma'am. Our chairman is eagerly waiting for you inside."
Siwon stepped out of the car, her heels clicking sharply against the marble pavement. She threw a sideways, piercing glare at the worker, her lips twisting into a dangerous smirk. Without saying a word, she smoothed down her outfit and marched straight into the enemy's lion den, completely unfazed.
Inside the ultra-luxurious, minimalist top-floor office of Apex Groups, Siwon was escorted to a large leather couch. The vast glass windows showed the glittering night view of the city, but the ambiance inside was cold and clinical.
Mr. Kwon's secretary bowed politely, keeping his hands folded. "Ma'am, please wait a minute. Sir is coming soon."
Siwon crossed her legs, leaning back with an expression of pure, unadulterated frustration. "Hey. Does your Sir take drugs or what? Why is he acting so bizarrely? First, your people bring me here like they are staging a full-on kidnapping, and now you expect me to wait?" She let out a sharp, mocking chuckle. "If he wanted to meet me so badly, he should have just taken a proper appointment. It's 2026, and people are still relying on these illegal and completely illogical methods."
"I am truly sorry for disturbing you, Miss Francesca."
A firm, deep voice cut through the room from behind. Siwon turned her head slowly, her expression freezing into total seriousness.
Mr. Kwon stepped into the light, dressed sharply in his royal blue coat. A confident, calculating smile played on his lips as he extended his hand toward her for a formal handshake. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am—"
Before he could even finish, Siwon's sharp gaze darted to his extended hand, and she completely ignored it, leaving him hanging in the air.
Mr. Kwon's smile tightened slightly, but he seamlessly pulled his hand back, gesturing toward the seat. "Please, sit."
"Cut the crap and get straight to the point, Mr. Kwon Do-hyeon," Siwon demanded, her voice slicing through the corporate silence.
Mr. Kwon chuckled, walking over to his grand mahogany desk. He leaned against it, locking his greedy eyes with hers. "Alright, let's get straight to it. Cut the deal with Han Sang Group. Drop them."
Siwon's eyes narrowed for a split second, and then a cold, knowing smirk spread across her face. She let out a soft, amused laugh.
"Ah... so it was you," Siwon sighed, pulling a chair out herself and sitting down elegantly, completely taking control of the room's energy. "I figured it out the moment I stepped into this building. that's-----