The soft chime from his luxury apartment echoed once before the screen lit up. Lee Jeno sat in the leather chair of his private study, dimly lit by the amber glow of a single floor lamp behind him. The rest of the room was shadows, sharp lines and intentional design. The air was still. Silent. Except for the faint buzz of the video call initializing. He didn't show his face. Only the sharp line of his jaw, his lips pressed into a cold, unreadable expression and the curve of his newly defined chest, still slightly glistening from the gym session he had just finished. His shirt was nowhere in sight. He wanted it that way.

The screen flashed to life. And there she was. The girl he had watched from stages, behind VIP curtains, and glowing fan ads that bore her name... paid by his hand, his power. She smiled politely, as always, tilting her head like she'd done a hundred times before. But this time, she faltered.

Just for a second. Because Jeno didn't greet her. Didn't wave like the others. Didn't even smile. He could see her eyes flicker slightly off screen. Probably to the staff sitting beside her. A company handler who likely had no idea that the man on the screen had offered ten times the usual amount for just five extra minutes. And had been refused.

Jeno inhaled slowly. Not out of desperation. Out of calculation. His hand adjusted the angle of the camera just slightly... lower, closer to his mouth, his collarbones. He knew exactly what he was doing. Every motion was rehearsed. Every pause intentional. Seconds passed in silence. Then he finally spoke, his voice deep, smooth, and steady. A voice used to boardrooms and multi-million dollar contracts.

"You know I don't like being told 'no.' Especially when I'm the one keeping the lights of fame burning backstage."

**[ WELCOME TO AU NCT! LEE JENO IS HERE! HAVE A GOOD TIME<3 ]**