TIES THAT BIND.

Behind closed doors

Back at KMC Fashion House, the atmosphere was tense. The press conference had just ended, but the damage had already been done. The rumors had spread like wildfire, and the company's finance and ratings had plummeted.

Minho sat in his office, his eyes fixed on the screen in front of him. Liam, his attorney, stood beside him, his face grim.

"Get the security team on it, Liam," Minho said, his voice cold and decisive. "I want to know who's behind this rumor, and I want to know now."

Liam nodded, his eyes locked onto Minho's. "I'll get them on it right away, Mr Kim." he said. "We'll leave no stone unturned."

Minho's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with anger. "I want results, Liam. And I want them fast."

Liam nodded again, his face set with determination. "You'll get them, Mr Kim. I promise."

With that, Liam turned and walked out of the office, leaving Minho to seethe in silence. The rumor had already done significant damage, but Minho was determined to find the source and make them pay...

As the day wore on, Minho's anger only intensified. He couldn't believe that someone would stoop so low as to spread such vicious rumors about him.

Finally, exhausted and frustrated, Minho left the office and headed home. He arrived late, the mansion's gates swinging open to admit him.

As he stepped out of the car, Ms. Lee, his loyal housekeeper, was waiting for him, her face etched with worry.

"Minho-ssi, I was worried sick about you," she said, her voice trembling. "What's going on? What are we going to do?"

Minho's expression softened as he looked at Ms. Lee. She had been with him since "the incident", and he knew she was fiercely loyal.

"It's okay, Ms. Lee," he said, his voice calm. "The rumors are false. We'll get through this."

Ms. Lee's eyes searched his face, her expression skeptical. "But...did you find out who did it?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Minho's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with anger. "I told you, Ms. Lee. The rumors are false."

Ms. Lee nodded, her face set with determination. "I believe you, Minho-ssi," she said. "We'll get through this together."

Minho's expression softened, his eyes warming with gratitude. "Thank you, Ms. Lee," he said. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

As they stood there, the tension between them began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of determination and resolve...

*****

A new day dawned, and Zara woke up earlier than usual in the unfamiliar environment of the maid quarters. She stretched, feeling a slight stiffness in her muscles from the new bed.

As she sat up, memories of the previous day flooded her mind. She had come back to the mansion yesterday, after Ji Yoon pestered her to go out and she refused. Instead, she decided to head back to the mansion to get a good night's rest before her first day of work.

Zara threw off the covers and got out of bed, padding softly to the bathroom to freshen up. She did her morning routine, and tied her hair back into a neat ponytail.

Then, she slipped into her maid uniform, the crisp fabric rustling as she moved. She smoothed out the apron, making sure everything was in place.

With a final check in the mirror, Zara made her way to the main mansion, her heart beating slightly faster with anticipation.

As she walked, the mansion loomed ahead, its imposing facade gleaming in the morning light. Zara took a deep breath, steeling herself for the day ahead...

Zara arrived at the main mansion just in time, and Ms. Lee was already there, busily preparing for the day. Ms. Lee looked up as Zara entered, her eyes scrutinizing Zara's uniform.

"Good morning, Zara," Ms. Lee said, her voice crisp. "I see you're on time. Well done."

Zara smiled, feeling a sense of relief. "Good morning, Ms. Lee," she replied.

Ms. Lee nodded, her expression serious. "Now, I need you to make coffee and take it to the master. He's already in his study."

Zara nodded, her heart skipping a beat. She had never made coffee for Minho before, and the thought of entering his study made her nervous.

"Yes, Ms. Lee," she said, trying to sound confident.

Ms. Lee handed her a tray and pointed to the coffee machine. "Use the Italian roast. The master likes it strong."

Zara nodded, taking the tray and heading to the coffee machine. As she worked, her mind wandered to the rumors she had heard about Minho's temper.

With the coffee ready, Zara carefully lifted the tray and made her way to Minho's study. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the encounter ahead...

As she made her way through the hallway to his study, she knocked softly on the door. But nobody answered. She waited for a moment, wondering if she should knock again, but then she remembered the contract she had signed. It had been very clear: she was not to be a minute late when serving the master.

With a growing sense of anxiety, Zara opened the door and peeked inside. The study was empty, the chair behind the desk vacant. She felt a flutter in her chest as she realized she had no idea where the master was.

Determined not to be late, Zara made her way back down the hallway, scanning the sleek doors and knocking slightly as she searched for the master. She couldn't afford to be fired from her job on her very first day.

Just as she was starting to get desperate, she came across one door that caught her attention. It was black, sleek, and luxurious, with a subtle sheen that seemed to glow in the dim light of the hallway. And to her surprise, the door seemed to be slightly ajar, as if inviting her to enter.

Zara's heart skipped a beat as she hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should enter. But then she remembered the contract, and the importance of being on time. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside...

As she entered, she was greeted by the dark interior of luxury. The room was dimly lit, with only a few faint rays of light peeking through the cracks in the curtains. But despite the opulence that surrounded her, Zara's eyes scanned the room in search of the master. And he was nowhere to be found.

She took a step forward, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. And then, she heard it. The sound of water rushing from the bathroom. It was a sound that seemed to echo through the room, making her heart skip a beat.

Before she could attempt to announce her presence or retreat from the room, everything happened so fast. The master emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. His raven hair was wet and dripping, and his eyes seemed to gleam with a fierce intensity.

Zara's eyes widened in shock as she took in the sight of the master. He was even more imposing than she had imagined, his broad chest and chiseled abs on full display. And the way the water dripped from his hair, tracing a path down his chest... it was almost too much to bear.

The master's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. The air was thick with tension, and Zara could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She was frozen in place, unable to move or speak.

They stared at each other, the air thick with tension. Zara's eyes were locked onto the master's, and she felt like she was drowning in their depths. But it wasn't just the intensity of his gaze that had her frozen in place - it was the color of his eyes. They were electric blue, a shade so beautiful it seemed almost otherworldly. And yet, as she gazed into them, Zara felt a shiver run down her spine. There was something unsettling about those eyes, something that seemed to bore into her very soul.

But Zara's confusion was compounded by the fact that she could have sworn the master's eyes were black just yesterday. She felt a flicker of uncertainty, her mind racing to reconcile the discrepancy.

Before she could process anything further, the master's voice thundered through the room, making her jump. "Get out!" he growled, his tone low and menacing.

Zara's eyes widened in shock, and she tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat. The master's gaze seemed to burn with an inner fire, and she felt herself shrinking under its intensity.

And then, in a movement that was both swift and brutal, the master reached out and grasped her arms, his fingers digging deep into her skin. Zara winced in pain, and the coffee tray slipped from her grasp, the cups crashing to the floor as the scalding hot liquid poured over them both.

The master's eyes flashed with anger, and he spun her around, propelling her towards the door. Zara stumbled, her feet tangling in the hem of her uniform, and she felt herself being burnt by hot coffee and thrown out of the room, the door slamming shut behind her with a resounding crash...