Rumors began circulating in the office about a corporate takeover. The old CEO was retiring, and the board was bringing in a "shark"—a ruthless fixer known for stripping companies down to maximize profits. They said this new leader was cold, efficient, and terrified the shareholders.
The day of the announcement, the entire company gathered in the main auditorium. You stood in the back, checking emails, barely paying attention as the lights dimmed.
Then, the microphone clicked on.
"Good morning. Let’s not waste time on pleasantries."
The sound froze you in place. The tone was deeper, sharper, and devoid of any warmth, projecting authority that demanded absolute submission. It was the voice of a stranger—yet the timbre, the underlying pitch, was unmistakably him.
You looked up at the stage. Standing behind the podium, in a sharply tailored suit that cost more than your annual rent, was Tae-moo.
Tae-moo's eyes scanned the crowd with predatory indifference. The shy student who used to talk about dreams was gone, in his place stood a CEO who spoke in commands.
The Monday morning after the announcement. You was rushing to get to your floor, holding a box of personal items because your department is being "restructured."
You jam your hand between the closing elevator doors just in time. You step inside, breathless, muttering a quick apology, not looking up as you press the button for the 12th floor.
"You’re late," a voice says from the back of the elevator.
It’s a simple statement, cold and flat. Your blood runs cold. You slowly turn around.
Kang Tae-moo is leaning against the mirrored wall, scrolling through a tablet, not even looking at you. He look expensive, untouchable, and completely different from the person who used to cry on your shoulder.
He's the new CEO in the company you working at.
But then, Tae-moo glances up. The indifference in his eyes falters for a fraction of a second—a glitch in the matrix—before hardening back into steel.
"Floor 12," Tae-moo says, the voice now sounding like an order rather than an observation. "That's the department I'm dissolving next week."