Chapter 47: The Butterfly in the Velvet Blazer
Min-ho had barricaded himself in his office for the past twenty-four hours. The glass fortress of the Spark Tower, usually his pride and joy and the symbol of his unchallenged power, now felt like a dungeon. The air was stale, thick with the bitter scent of too much caffeine and the underlying trace of old red wine. He looked terrible: his tailored shirt, which just the night before had been the epitome of his elegance, now hung over the back of his chair like a flag of surrender, stained with a dry, ugly blotch of wine. His hair was disheveled, dark circles shadowed his eyes, and empty espresso cups piled up on his massive desk like the ruins of a lost battle.
Lukas's threat still echoed in his mind like a chilling, relentless whisper: "Clara is dead to you." Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her tear-stained face and the raw pain in her gaze. He had tried to bait her, to play a game—and in doing so, he had broken the only person who had truly mattered to him in years.
Suddenly, the heavy, soundproof office door swung open with a sharp gust of energy. Min-ho blinked, his eyes stinging as the bright hallway light cut through his darkness like a spotlight. But the man who stepped inside didn't fit into any memory he had of him.
It was Secretary Kim. But after all this time and the intense shopping sprees with Lukas, he had transformed like a butterfly into a completely new, vastly improved Secretary Kim. The old "manila-folder Kim," who usually slipped through the corridors noiselessly, almost invisibly, clad in proper grey, was gone. This man wore a dark blue velvet blazer that shimmered deeply in the glow of the desk lamp, fitting him flawlessly. His hair was no longer strictly parted but styled back with a casual elegance that entirely altered his face. He exuded a calm, newfound authority that was almost intimidating.
Min-ho stared at him in utter disbelief, his coffee cup frozen halfway in the air. "Kim? Is that you? Did you... did you rob a bank, or why on earth do you look so damn good? Where is your tie? And why are you wearing velvet?"
Secretary Kim adjusted his new, elegant designer glasses, the frames making his features look sharper, and looked down at his boss. For the first time ever, he didn't meet Min-ho's eyes with a lowered gaze.
"Boss, as Lukas would say: 'Style is a weapon.' And looking at you right now, you have lose this battle miserably. You smell of desperation and bad coffee. Stop feeling sorry for yourself in the dark. It doesn't suit a man of your position, and it certainly doesn't suit the man Ji-soo actually needs."
Min-ho gasped, utterly stunned. "You're quoting Lukas?! Did he brainwash you while I've been in here trying to figure out how to get Ji-soo to forgive me? Did he buy all of this for you?"
"He merely opened my eyes to my own potential, Sir," Kim replied, completely unfazed. "Mr. Lukas sees me for who I truly am, even if you can't stand him. He is not just charming, good-looking, and compassionate... the other day, I saw a resolve in him when it came to fighting for someone he loves. Oh, that man simply has it all." Kim let out a soft sigh before placing an elegant, cream-colored envelope onto the messy desk. "Now, stop complaining and open this. It just arrived via express courier from the K-Media Agency. It concerns Ariadne. And it concerns Clara."
Min-ho hesitated for a second, then tore the envelope open. His fingers trembled slightly as he pulled out the heavy paper. His heart skipped a beat when his eyes locked onto the golden lettering:
Press Release & Invitation:The Face Behind the Words. Star-author Ariadne reveals her true identity and gives her first and final statement regarding her future in Korea.
"She's actually doing it," Min-ho whispered, the world around him seemingly grinding to a halt. "She's stepping into the light... because of what I said. She wants to prove to me that she's no longer afraid. That she is stronger than my stupid, arrogant provocations."
Secretary Kim crossed his arms over his chest, the dark blue of his blazer catching the light. "Or she wants to say goodbye, Boss. Lukas hinted that this press conference might be her final act in Seoul. That afterward, she might disappear forever, somewhere no one can find her. Not the shadows of her past, and not you. You have to be there. But not as the cold producer—as the man who loves her and holds her, even when her world shatters."
Min-ho bolted upright, sending an empty espresso cup clattering to the floor. The old competitive fire that had driven him to the top of the media industry rushed back with a force that made him dizzy. He looked at Secretary Kim and realized his assistant hadn't just changed his appearance; he had found his spine. He was absolutely right.
"Kim, we need a plan," Min-ho said, his voice laced with an authority that left no room for argument. "If that person from her past shows up—whoever that bastard is that drives her so mad—we have to be ready. We are going to secure this press conference like a state funeral. I want undercover security at every single entrance and exit. Nobody gets near her except me. I won't let anyone hurt a single hair on her head ever again. Not even myself."
Secretary Kim smiled ever so slightly. It was a look of deep satisfaction. "I've already spoken to Lukas. He's expecting us. He said he will personally take charge of the 'styling' for your appearance, so you don't look like a beggar who just crawled out of a dumpster next to a woman like Clara. We are meeting at his favorite store in an hour."
Min-ho grabbed his blazer, threw it over his shoulder, and nodded with grim determination. He knew this was his last chance. When the world found out who Ariadne was tomorrow, nothing would ever be the same again. And he would stand by her side—as her shield, her partner, or if necessary, her escape route.