Bent Way

A quiet room was illuminated by a faint, warm glow. In the center stood a large bed covered with a light blue blanket. A young woman slept peacefully, though a deep frown lingered on her face. As you entered the room, a tall bookshelf lined the wall to the left of the door, filled with neatly arranged books. Beyond it was a walk-in wardrobe connected to an attached bathroom. On the right side, a massive floor-to-ceiling window overlooked the breathtaking view from the second floor—a sky blanketed with countless stars. The girl sleeping on the bed was Elvina. Even in her sleep, she looked troubled. She was dreaming. --- She wandered through an abandoned town where every building was made of mud. Thick, dark clouds covered the sky, and suddenly a heavy rain poured down. She ran toward the nearest house and knocked desperately. "Is anyone there?" she called. Silence. "Hello?... Please... Is anyone here?" No answer. The darkness around her felt unnatural. There wasn't a single light anywhere, nor the sound of another living soul. Fear tightened around her chest. She shouted with all her strength. "Someone, please help me!" Only silence answered. A flash of light suddenly broke through the sky for a brief moment. In that instant, she noticed an old wooden bench standing alone in the middle of the empty street. Exhausted and limping from a wound on her foot, she slowly sat down and examined the blood running down her ankle. Without warning— Crash! The building beside her collapsed. She was buried beneath tons of mud and broken wood. Her breathing became heavy. She tried to scream, but no one came. There was no one. Hopelessness swallowed her whole as tears streamed down her face. Then... Footsteps. Someone was there. The weight above her slowly lifted away. A hand reached toward her. She couldn't see the person's face. Without hesitation, she grabbed his hand. He pulled her free. As she stepped out of the rubble, the darkness slowly faded. The sky changed into the pale white glow of dawn, like the quiet light before sunrise around four or five in the morning. She looked up, trying to see the stranger's face. But before she could... The remaining wall began to collapse. The man quickly pulled her toward him. Instinctively, one of her hands landed on his shoulder. She felt something hanging from his neck—a necklace carrying an unusual medal. Embedded within it was a mysterious green gemstone unlike anything she had ever seen. As her fingers brushed against it... A glowing green line suddenly appeared before her eyes, stretching into the distance like magic itself. Everything froze. "Ma'am... Ma'am... Elvina, ma'am!" Buzz... Buzz... The vibration of her phone shattered the dream. --- Elvina slowly opened her eyes. She rubbed them before reaching for her phone on the bedside table. "Nine o'clock?" she mumbled. "It's already nine? Why didn't you wake me up? That's incredibly irresponsible." Her secretary lowered her head respectfully. "Ma'am, I called your name for almost an hour, but you never responded." "Then you should've shaken me awake." The secretary hesitated. "Ma'am... On my first day, you clearly told me that I was your secretary, not your friend. You asked me to respect your personal boundaries, so I didn't think it was appropriate to touch you without your permission." Elvina sighed. She couldn't argue with that. Without another word, she walked into the bathroom and splashed cold water across her face. Looking into the mirror, she whispered to herself, "Every time I have an important meeting... I see that dream." She pressed a hand against her chest. "Why does it always leave me feeling so... heavy?" After changing, she stepped back into the bedroom. "I know I said that," she admitted while fastening her watch. "But whenever it's an important meeting, you have permission to wake me however you need to." The secretary smiled politely. "Understood, ma'am. Everything is prepared. Your clothes, documents, and schedule are ready." Elvina nodded. "The meeting starts at eleven, right?" "Yes, ma'am. We have one hour." --- A sleek black luxury car stopped in front of a towering glass office building. One of the guards quickly opened the rear door. A pair of black high heels stepped onto the pavement. Moments later, Elvina emerged, dressed in a tailored blue pantsuit. She wore a white shirt beneath an unbuttoned navy blazer, while her layered hair rested neatly over one shoulder. She walked with calm confidence. Her secretary hurried beside her. "Ma'am, our guests have arrived." "Who are they?" "Sir Michael and the founder of RS Hotels. They wish to partner with us to design an engagement hall and a large aquarium for one of their luxury hotels." As they walked through the lobby toward the elevator, the secretary briefly explained the meeting agenda. Elvina was about to ask another question when her secretary spoke again. "Sir Michael has never failed a single project. He's one of the most successful businesses in the industry." The elevator doors opened. "We're also planning the hotel project near Jeju Island," the secretary continued. "It requires a massive investment. A partnership with them could provide the capital we need." Elvina quietly looked ahead. For some reason... The strange green gemstone from her dream refused to leave her mind. The elevator doors slid shut. Bailey stood beside Elvina, holding her tablet. "Yes, ma'am," she began. "The recent incident happened at RS Hotels. Their reputation has been severely damaged. At the moment, no major company is willing to establish a partnership with them." "So..." Elvina interrupted, "...that means they have no reason to reject our offer, right?" "Exactly, ma'am." Elvina glanced at her. "This is the same case involving the Canadian businessperson, isn't it? The one who became involved in a murder investigation after a body was found in the room next to hers?" "Yes, ma'am," Bailey replied. "Many people believe the murder was actually committed by the owner's son. That's the main reason everyone is avoiding RS Hotels." Elvina gave a faint scoff. "Rayan! I don't believe it. He's too much of a weakling to do something like that." She folded her arms. "Anyway, that's not our problem." Third Floor. The elevator doors opened. As Elvina stepped out, employees working in neatly arranged cubicles immediately stood up from their desks. "Good morning, ma'am." She acknowledged them with a slight nod as she walked past. Bailey opened the conference room door. Inside, several people were already waiting. Standing near the conference table was a tall man with his arms casually folded and a teasing smile playing on his lips. It was Lloyd Harrison, the eldest son of Michael Harrison, founder of RS Hotels. As Executive Director of the company, Lloyd was known for his calm judgment and sharp business sense. Despite his professional reputation, he never missed an opportunity to tease his closest friend. "Oh, look who finally decided to show up." Elvina raised an eyebrow. "Hello to you too, Grim Reaper." Lloyd chuckled. "I've always heard that Queen Elvina never arrives late. Yet today, I witnessed a miracle. You're thirty minutes late." "Only for you," Elvina replied without missing a beat. "For everyone else, I arrived exactly when I intended to." Lloyd placed a hand dramatically over his chest. "So... I'm special now?" A faint smile appeared on Elvina's face. "You're my closest friend, aren't you?" His teasing grin softened into a genuine smile before he stepped aside. "Come on," he said. "My father has been waiting." Bailey pushed the door open.