WINTER SECRETS

The TechCom headquarters loomed before them—a sleek skyscraper of glass and steel, exuding an air of authority that had Ava practically vibrating with excitement. Leo, on the other hand, looked like he had just walked into a lion's den.

"Are you sure about this?" Leo asked, adjusting his tie for the fifth time. "I feel like I'm walking into a corporate Hunger Games."

Ava smirked, flipping her hair confidently. "Relax. We're here to gather intel, not win Employee of the Month. Besides, how hard can it be to land a job in reports? We just have to look smart. Plus we have new names, what could possibly go wrong?"

Leo gave her a pointed look. "You wore bright pink heels to a tech firm, Ava."

She waved him off. "They scream confidence."

Before Leo could argue further, a sharply dressed woman with clipboard precision —Ms. Kang, the hiring manager— strode into the waiting area. Her icy gaze swept over them like a human lie detector.

"Crystal Monroe. Henry Carter. Follow me."

They exchanged a look and trailed behind her into a pristine, ultra-modern conference room. The walls were lined with interactive digital screens flashing TechCom's latest data reports—none of which either of them understood.

Ms. Kang took a seat and peered at them over the rim of her glasses. "So, you both applied for our research and reports team. What makes you think you're qualified for this role?"

Ava beamed. "Oh, I'm excellent at gathering information. In fact, I'd say I have a talent for uncovering hidden details others overlook."

Leo nodded. "And I'm great at analyzing and putting pieces together. You could say we're… a dynamic duo in the world of reports."

Ms. Kang didn't blink. "Do you have experience with data analytics?"

Ava & Leo (simultaneously): "Absolutely."

Ms. Kang raised a skeptical brow. "What software are you proficient in?"

Ava's brain short-circuited. Software? Uh oh.

Leo cleared his throat. "We, uh, use a variety of tools."

"Such as?" Ms. Kang pressed.

Ava shot Leo a desperate look. He inhaled sharply and blurted, "Google… Sheets?"

A painful silence filled the room.

Ava clapped her hands together. "AND Excel!" she added hastily. "We love Excel. Oh, and reports! We can write those. Very detailed. So detailed it might make you emotional."

Ms. Kang tapped her pen against the desk. "So, no real experience with corporate reports?"

Leo grinned. "No, but we're fast learners!"

Ava leaned in conspiratorially. "You look like a woman who appreciates ambition. Wouldn't it be boring to hire people who already know everything? We're moldable. A blank slate. Ready to be TechCom's greatest success story."

Ms. Kang exhaled, rubbing her temples. She glanced at their resumes—filled with half-truths and vague buzzwords like "Innovative Thinkers" and "Research Enthusiasts."

Then, to their utter disbelief, she sighed and said, "Fine. You're hired."

Ava's jaw nearly hit the table. "Wait… really?"

Ms. Kang adjusted her glasses. "We're short-staffed, and you two seem persistent. If you cause chaos, you're out. Understood?"

Leo nodded rapidly. "Crystal clear, boss."

Ava, still stunned, nudged Leo under the table. "I can't believe we actually got in."

Leo smirked. "That makes two of us."

As they left the office, Ava whispered, "Step one of taking down Na-eun? Complete."

Leo grinned. "Now we just have to figure out how to actually do the job."

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, the executives of Mapleseoul sat around the conference table, their expressions carved from stone—no smiles, no warmth, only cold, calculated glances exchanged like weapons. The air was thick with an unspoken tension, nearly suffocating. At the far end of the table sat Mr. Liam, the ever-glorious client of Mapleseoul, his presence alone demanding a degree of respect, and standing beside Jae-wook was Carrie—silent, unshaken, and watchful.

Jae-wook, sitting at the head, leaned forward, his voice smooth but firm.

"I know you all have questions about the article that recently surfaced. I'd like to hear your opinions."

A sharp breath hitched in Ms. Kim's throat before she composed herself. "Mr. Alex, it's honestly a miracle we didn't drop from the charts."

Mr. Maxwell shrugged, his tone casual. "As for me, I think the whole thing is exaggerated. Whether you're dating or not, it has nothing to do with business."

"I believe so too," Mrs. Lawrence interjected, "but our clients don't see it that way. They're concerned that you're stretching yourself too thin—school, work, competitions, and now a potential scandal? It's risky."

"She's right," Mr. Jason added. "The clients are the backbone of this company. If we start losing their trust, we're looking at a steep downfall."

Jae-wook nodded, his expression unreadable. Then, his gaze shifted to Mr. Liam. "And you, Mr. Liam? What's your stance?"

Mr. Liam leaned back in his chair, studying him carefully. "I don't care what you do in your personal life. As long as my business remains unaffected, we have no problem. But a single misstep, and I'm out."

Jae-wook's lips curled slightly, a shadow of amusement flickering in his eyes. "Understood. Let me make one thing clear—I have no connection to the person in that photo. My only focus is bringing down Na-eun. Whoever chooses to believe the rumors may do so, but it won't change anything about me." His voice was razor-sharp, cutting through the tension in the room. Then, with an air of finality, he leaned back. "This meeting is adjourned."

Minutes later, the boardroom emptied, leaving behind only Jae-wook, Carrie, Ms. Kim, and Mr. Liam.

Mr. Liam chuckled, shaking his head. "That was shorter than I expected."

"We don't waste time on unnecessary discussions," Jae-wook replied smoothly. "My executives are efficient. Do you still have doubts, Mr. Liam?"

"Doubts?" Mr. Liam tilted his head. "No. Just… impressed by their composure, even though the entire discussion revolved around your personal affairs." His gaze drifted towards Carrie, who remained silent beside Jae-wook. "And who is he?"

"My new bodyguard," Jae-wook answered without missing a beat. "The stakes are higher now—I can't afford even a drop of blood."

"he's utterly quiet, though." Mr. Liam narrowed his eyes. "Take off your glasses."

"Bodyguards are trained to be silent," Jae-wook said smoothly. "Mr. Hamilton is mute. As for the glasses, he's hypersensitive to bright light."

Carrie stood still, heart pounding. You're good at lying, I'll give you that—but what the fuck is 'Hamilton'?

Mr. Liam hummed in approval. "Good enough." He rose from his chair, adjusting his cufflinks. "I'll be on my way."

Jae-wook stood as well, offering a curt nod. Ms. Kim led Mr. Liam out, leaving only Jae-wook and Carrie alone in the now-empty conference room.

The moment the door shut, Carrie let out an exaggerated sigh, slumping into the chair opposite him. "Wow. This is exhausting. How do bodyguards stand for so long?"

Jae-wook didn't even look up from his papers. "It was better when you were mute."

Carrie shot him a glare. "Did you ask for my permission before naming me Hamilton? What kind of name is that?"

"Exactly. It's too fancy for someone like you," he replied without the slightest emotion.

Somewhere else, in a dimly lit room filled with an eerie blend of cigar smoke and betrayal, sat Na-eun. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows across her face, her fingers tracing the rim of her wine glass as a smirk played on her lips.

"Tell me," she said, her voice dripping with intrigue.

Across from her, a figure leaned forward from the shadows. The light caught the cold smirk of Mrs. Lawrence, one of the only trusted executives of Mapleseoul company.