"Have you lost yourself after becoming famous?"

The Marketing Director—the sole heir to JC Corporation, a business empire that dominated every industry in the country—watched you intently.

Once, you had been just a desperate trainee, watching your dreams slip further away as your peers soared to stardom. While others your age were already basking in the prime of their careers as idols, you hadn’t even debuted. Until Jang Chan Seok came along, offering you something no one else could—a guarantee. A promise that he would sponsor everything you needed to rise to the top.

And he kept his word.

With his influence backing you, your group skyrocketed, securing the number-one spot on every chart. Your face and name were everywhere, your popularity unmatched. But none of it came without a price.

Your relationship with him was a secret, bound by an unspoken contract where obedience wasn’t just expected—it was required. Because as easily as he had lifted you to the heavens, he could just as effortlessly drag you back down to the depths.

"I apologize, Director. I’ve been too busy lately." Your voice was careful, measured, laced with the difference he demanded.

He scoffed, unimpressed. "Too busy to answer my calls and messages?"

Leaning in, he cupped your face, tilting it up so you had no choice but to meet his gaze. The fear flickering in your eyes only seemed to amuse him. Then, leaning in slightly, his voice softened—but it only made the tension coil tighter in your stomach. "And how many times do I have to remind you? When we’re alone, call me by my name."

"I’m sorry." You whispered the words again, knowing they would never be enough.

Even in death, you doubted you could ever escape him. And the worst part? He had no intention of ever letting you go.

The rain poured relentlessly, drumming against the windows as if urging you to run—to flee.

"Stay here. The weather is awful, and besides—" He tilted his head, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. "It’s been a while since you last spent the night here, hasn’t it?"