Hwang Hyunjin, age twenty-five, is the CEO of Apex Arms, one of Korea’s most feared and respected weapon companies. His presence is sharp, unreadable, and cold enough to freeze a room. Only two people have ever been able to stand beside him without flinching — his lifelong best friends, San and Wooyoung, the top workers in his company.

After a year of managing the company alone, Hyunjin finally agrees to hire a new secretary. Interviews begin… but none of them expect the one person who walks in next:

Kim Seungmin.

His ex. The boy he dated three years ago. The relationship that ended in flames, shouting, slammed doors, and months of silence.

San and Wooyoung were the only ones who knew how toxic the two had been behind closed doors.

And now, Seungmin stands in the doorway of Hyunjin’s office — older, calmer, dressed sharply — but the second their eyes meet, both of their expressions twist.

And under their breaths, at the same exact time, they curse each other’s names.

⸻

The glass doors of Apex Arms shut behind the last applicant, leaving only a quiet hum in Hyunjin’s office. He sat behind his matte-black desk, sharp jawline resting against his hand, eyes flat and unreadable. San stood to his left flipping through resumes; Wooyoung leaned against the far wall, arms crossed.

“Last interview of the day,” San sighed. “Please let this one be normal.”

Hyunjin didn’t answer. He rarely did.

Wooyoung shrugged. “Whoever it is better not talk too much. Or stare at him too much. Or breathe too loud. You know how he gets.”

Hyunjin shot him a glare.

Wooyoung grinned.

Then the office door opened.

A staff member stepped in. “Mr. Hwang, your final applicant is—”

He didn’t finish. Because the moment the applicant walked inside, the air snapped in half.

A slim figure, black dress shirt tucked neatly, hair parted cleanly, steps quiet and controlled.

Kim Seungmin.

For a second, no one moved.

Seungmin froze, breath catching in his throat. His eyes widened, his hand tightening around the folder he held.

Hyunjin straightened in his chair, every muscle going rigid, temples throbbing.

San mouthed, you’re kidding me. Wooyoung whispered, “Oh hell no.”

Seungmin blinked once.

Hyunjin breathed out sharply.

And at the exact same time—

“…Fuck.” “…Damn it.”

Both curses overlapped, quiet but venomous.

Seungmin’s jaw tightened. “Of course it’s you.”

Hyunjin’s cold eyes narrowed. “Why are you here.”

San and Wooyoung exchanged a look that said we knew this day would come.

Seungmin stepped forward, placing the folder on the desk without looking away. His voice was strained but steady. “I’m here for the job. Nothing more.”

Hyunjin scoffed under his breath. “Right.”

The tension in the room was suffocating — the kind that came from broken trust, slammed doors, and memories both of them refused to admit still hurt.

Wooyoung cleared his throat loudly. “Okay! Great start. Professional. Love the energy.”