CHAPTER 2 — The First Impression
1285 Words
The atmosphere inside Gotop Media’s main studio was way more chaotic than Lana had imagined.
Staff members rushed around carrying wardrobes. Huge lighting rigs hung high from the ceiling. The sound of hairdryers, staff calling out to each other, and music from the shooting area all blended together.
Lana held two makeup boxes nervously.
She stood stiffly near the entrance.
This was her first time stepping into a production set this big. Before this, she had spent two months interning in the company’s tiny archive room.
Everything here felt too big.
“Hey! Don’t just stand there spacing out.”
A senior stylist nudged Lana’s arm quickly.
“We’re already late.”
“Ah… yes, Sunbae.”
Lana hurried after the group of stylists heading deeper into the backstage area.
As she walked, she could hear people whispering around her.
“Has Kris Lee arrived yet?”
“Not yet. I heard he’s in a bad mood today.”
“I heard another scandal rumor came out this morning.”
“With that model?”
“Maybe. There’s always some scandal every week.”
A few staff members laughed quietly.
Lana stayed silent, lowering her head.
Hearing that name over and over again.
Kris Lee.
The man who was the target of her mission.
Even now, Lana still couldn’t believe she had confidently agreed to do this mission.
Seduce a famous actor into leaving the entertainment industry.
And she agreed because of money.
It sounded like some cheap drama plot.
Even worse, the target was Kris Lee.
Top actor. Chaebol heir. Famous playboy.
A man whose face was on giant billboards all across Seoul.
Lana had never even spoken to a man that handsome before.
“Lana!”
“Huh?”
The senior stylist stopped and stared at her sharply.
“Listen carefully.”
Lana immediately tensed up.
“If you run into Kris Lee later, don’t make any stupid mistakes.”
“Okay…”
“He hates careless staff.”
Another staff member added,
“And don’t stare into his eyes for too long.”
“Why?”
“You’ll get intimidated.”
“He’s way too handsome,” another staff member muttered.
Everyone laughed softly.
Except Lana.
She became even more nervous.
Thirty minutes later, problems started appearing.
“WHAT?!”
A panicked voice exploded from the wardrobe room.
“The suit for the interview scene got coffee spilled on it?!”
The entire room instantly turned chaotic.
The head stylist pressed a hand against her temple in frustration.
“Where’s the backup?”
“It hasn’t arrived yet.”
“The photoshoot starts in twenty minutes!”
Lana stood frozen in the corner, still holding the makeup boxes like a lost child.
She still had no idea what she was supposed to do.
Then suddenly...
“Hey, you…”
The senior stylist pointed at her quickly.
Lana immediately turned around.
“Bring the backup wardrobe to Kris’ dressing room. Now!”
“Me?”
This was the opportunity.
“Yes, hurry up!”
Lana’s heart instantly dropped.
Now? Alone?
“But Sunbae…”
“There’s no time. Move!”
A wardrobe cover bag was shoved into her hands.
“And remember, don’t make him angry.”
This wasn’t part of the plan.
Lana almost wanted to cry.
The hallway leading to the main dressing room felt incredibly long.
Every step made her heartbeat more unstable.
She stopped in front of a large black door labeled:
KRIS LEE
Lana swallowed hard.
-Okay Lana, calm down. Be professional. I’m just delivering this suit.-
She knocked softly.
No answer.
She knocked again.
Silence.
Slowly, Lana pushed the door open slightly.
“Excuse me…”
Lana froze.
A man stood in front of a large mirror wearing a half-unbuttoned black shirt.
Tall body. Broad shoulders. Ridiculously handsome.
His black hair looked messy in a stylish, perfect way, while his eyes reflected coldly through the mirror.
It felt like the entire room was filled with Kris Lee’s presence.
Lana almost forgot how to breathe for a few seconds.
Kris slowly turned his head.
Their eyes met.
Lana’s entire body immediately tensed.
His sharp gaze felt like it could read straight through someone.
“Who are you?”
The man’s low voice snapped Lana out of her thoughts.
“I-I’m from the stylist team.”
“Where’s the usual staff?”
“They’re handling a wardrobe problem.”
Lana hurried inside.
With slightly trembling hands, she hung the suit in place.
She could feel Kris’ eyes following her.
“You’re new here?”
Lana nodded quickly.
“Yes.”
Kris crossed his arms and leaned casually against the makeup table.
“That explains it.”
-Explains what?-
Lana was confused, but too hesitant to ask.
She tried focusing on her work instead.
But the more she tried to stay calm, the messier she became.
As she placed down some supplies she brought with her, a makeup brush accidentally fell.
Then several small pins scattered across the floor.
“Ah...”
Lana immediately panicked and crouched down to pick everything up.
-This is so embarrassing.-
And even worse...
she heard Kris chuckle softly.
Not mocking.
Amused.
“Are you always this nervous?”
Lana didn’t dare answer.
Kris’ aura was too strong.
Even without being angry, he was still intimidating.
Kris walked closer just as Lana stood up again.
The distance between them became way too close.
Lana instinctively held her breath.
Kris glanced at the name tag on her clothes.
“Lana.”
The way he said her name sent chills down the back of her neck.
“Y...Yes?”
“You’ve never worked on a big project before?”
“No.”
“Hm…”
His eyes dropped to the pins still shaking slightly in her hand.
“If you keep trembling like that, you might stab my hand.”
Hearing that, Lana instantly panicked.
Then she realized something.
He was teasing her.
-Why? This is literally our first meeting.-
“Come here.”
“Huh?”
“There’s something wrong with this collar.”
Lana quickly stepped closer after freezing for a second.
“O-Okay.”
Now Lana stood directly in front of Kris.
Very close.
Too close.
Because of his height, she had to tilt her head up slightly to fix his collar.
-This is a huge mistake.-
The closer she got, the clearer Kris’ face became.
His sharp jawline. The warm masculine scent of his perfume. The intensity in his eyes.
Lana tried focusing on her work while calming her racing heartbeat.
Meanwhile, Kris stayed silent, watching her like he was enjoying her tiny panic.
“You’re cute…”
Lana’s hands immediately stopped moving.
“Excuse me?”
“You look like a baby deer that wandered into a lion’s den.”
Lana had no idea how to respond.
Kris smiled faintly.
Not a warm smile.
A dangerous one.
A few seconds later, staff voices called from outside.
“Mr. Kris, the shoot is ready!”
Lana snapped back to reality and quickly stepped away.
“Then I’ll excuse myself.”
She hurriedly gathered her things.
-That was so embarrassing.-
-I totally embarrassed myself.-
But just as Lana touched the doorknob....
“You…”
Lana quickly turned around.
Kris stood in the middle of the room staring at her.
“What was your name again?”
“Lana.”
The man stayed silent for a few seconds.
Like he was memorizing the name in his head.
Then the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
“Don’t be afraid the next time you see me.”
For some reason, hearing that sentence felt less like reassurance…
and more like the beginning of a huge problem.
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