ChapterTwo
1804 Words
The office was silent, too silent.
Ren Hashiro stood with his hands in his pockets, staring out of the glass window that covered the entire length of his 27th-floor corner office. Below, the city buzzed with traffic and morning chaos, but up here, it was still, cold, and distant — just like him.
He glanced at the time, 10:34 am
"Where is she.."
His tone was calm, but dangerously low. The kind of tone that made grown men stutter and interns want to quit.
He turned away from the window and adjusted the silver cufflinks on his wrist. His suit a custom black Italian piece clung perfectly to his frame. Every line of fabric obeyed his body, like it feared being out of place. Broad shoulders, a slim waist, and long legs that moved with precise confidence.
He didn’t just walk, he commanded space.
His face… was art.
Dark curly hair, perfectly tapered at the sides, with soft messy waves falling over his forehead in the most intentional way. His skin — smooth and kissed by a warm brown tone — looked like velvet under sunlight. His black eyes were sharp, deep, and unreadable — like a locked vault.
His nose was elegant and pointed, a strong bridge that made him look both gentle and dangerous at once. His lips were full, sculpted, and always curved in a straight line — rarely a smile, just enough to make women want to see more.
He had the kind of face that could end a runway with one stare.
Ren Hashiro — the city’s most eligible billionaire bachelor.
A man worth millions. Cold, private, and completely uninterested in attention… which only made the world want him more.
---
There was a knock.
“Sir?” one of the interns peeked into the office with fear in his throat.
Ren didn’t turn. “What?”
“Uh… your secretary, Miss Chloe… she said she wouldn’t be early today.”
Ren finally turned, his brows raised. “She said she wouldn’t?”
“Yes, sir. She left a message. I—I thought you saw it.”
“I didn’t.” His voice was clipped. He didn’t shout he never needed to.
The way he said your name was enough to make you rethink your life choices.
The intern vanished.
---
A few minutes passed.
Then like a storm entering with heels — Chloe rushed in, breathless, blouse slightly wrinkled, lips glossed, and cheeks pink from the run.
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” she gasped. “Traffic, and I spilled coffee, and—”
Ren turned to face her, his mind ready with fury...
But it never came.
His gaze paused, tracing her movements as she hurried to her desk. Something about her caught his attention but he wasn't quite sure. Maybe it was the way her eyes never flinched when she looked at him. Maybe it was the quiet heat behind her confident steps.
He didn’t respond. He just waved his hand dismissively and walked back to his seat.
Chloe blinked. That wasn’t what she expected. Not a lecture? No silent treatment?
Instead, she picked up a fresh cup of coffee and walked over to his desk, placing it down gently.
“Your coffee,” she said softly.
“Your coffee, sir.”
He gave a small nod but didn’t look at her.
Then as if it were routine — she reached toward him and touched his tie.
“It’s loose,” she murmured.
Her fingers moved fast, adjusting it confidently.
He didn’t flinch. He didn’t stop her. He just stood there, eyes on his laptop, unreadable.
When she stepped back, she smiled softly. “There.”
He didn’t respond.
Instead, he leaned back in his chair and spoke coldly: “Cancel my appointment with the brand ambassador. I’ll be taking Risa out instead.”
There was a pause.
Chloe’s face shifted for just a second.
“…Of course, sir,” she said tightly. “I’ll update your schedule right now.”
No one said anything else. The moment passed. Chloe returned to her desk — her fingers moving fast, her chest slightly tight.
Ren didn’t notice. Or maybe… he just didn’t care.
---
Risa stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the silky strap of her emerald-green gown. The fabric hugged her body like it had been poured over her curves smooth, rich, and impossible to ignore. A thigh-high slit revealed just enough of her soft, thick legs to make heads turn, and the deep neckline kissed her chest with tasteful temptation.
Her long earrings brushed her shoulders as she tilted her head and added a final touch of gloss to her lips. She stepped back and admired herself.
"Today," she whispered to her reflection, "he’s going to see me."
She didn’t just want to look beautiful — she wanted to be unforgettable. She wanted to touch the part of Ren Hashiro that no one else had ever reached. The part he never let anyone see.
Her phone buzzed. Uber Driver: “I’m outside.”
She grabbed her clutch, sprayed two more pumps of perfume, and made her way out of the apartment.
Minutes later, Risa stood in the elevator of Hashiro Global, her heart racing faster with each floor. The mirrored elevator walls reflected her from every angle — sleek, glowing, perfect. She smiled to herself. He wouldn’t ignore this.
The doors slid open to the top floor.
She stepped out. Chloe looked up from her desk, eyes scanning Risa’s entire outfit with instant dislike.
“Miss Risa,” Chloe said coolly, “Mr. Hashiro isn’t receiving any visitors today. You’ll have to reschedule.”
Risa blinked. “Excuse me?”
“I said, Mr. Hashiro—”
“I heard what you said,” Risa snapped. “But you can’t possibly think I dressed like this for a reschedule.”
Chloe stood up. “I’m just following instructions, ma’am. If you could—”
“I don’t need your permission to see my man,” Risa fired back, brushing past the desk.
Chloe quickly moved to block her. “You can’t just walk into his—!”
The door to Ren’s office clicked open.
Ren stepped out.
His eyes landed on Risa first. Then they flicked to Chloe, who was flustered.
“What’s going on here?” he asked.
“She said you didn’t want to see me,” Risa said.
Chloe opened her mouth, but Ren raised his hand.
“Step aside,” he said.
Chloe froze. Moved out of the way.
Risa walked into his office. Ren followed.
Inside, he shut the door and said sharply, “I don’t like surprises. And I definitely don’t like scenes.”
“I wasn’t trying to cause a scene,” Risa said. “I just… wanted to see you.”
“There’s this beautiful restaurant uptown. Private, elegant. We could talk there.”
Ren said nothing for a moment.
He sighed. “Fine. Let’s go. But don’t ever walk into my office like that again.”
Moments later, they walked out together hand in hand.
Chloe stood by the front desk, watching them in silence.
Her fists trembled slightly. Her eyes brimmed, but she blinked fast. Her jaw clenched as she muttered beneath her breath, "She doesn't even know the version of him she's dealing with."
---
“Stefflon,” Miss Conner called from behind the counter. “A new couple just walked in — that table by the glass. Go attend to them.”
Stefflon picked up two menus and turned toward the table.
They looked expensive. And in love.
She straightened her apron, put on her best smile, and walked over to the table.
“Good evening. Welcome to Conner O’Well’s,” she said gently. “Can I get you both something to drink while you decide?”
Risa smiled. “I love this place already. Your staff are so warm and polite.”
Ren didn’t speak.
Stefflon nodded with a small smile. “Thank you. I’ll be right back with some water while you look over the menu.”
Risa opened hers. “I’ll have the creamy mushroom fettuccine with grilled prawns,” she said. “Extra garlic.”
“Of course,” Stefflon replied.
Risa excused herself to the bathroom.
Sean was just coming out of the kitchen, balancing a tray of steaming tteokbokki. As Risa turned the corner — distracted — she bumped directly into him.
CRASH.
The entire tray spilled down the front of her dress.
“ARE YOU CRAZY?! Do you know how much this dress costs?!”
Sean’s face went pale. “I-I’m so sorry—”
“You ruined my gown! It’s ruined! Completely! Are you blind?!”
“I’m really sorry, miss—please, just calm down—”
“Well, look next time! How can you be that careless?!”
“I said I was sorry!” Sean’s voice cracked. “You’re the one who didn’t look—”
“Oh, now it’s my fault?”
Stefflon returned and stopped dead in her tracks.
“Sean?! What’s going on?”
Sean looked up. “I spilled food on her… I didn’t see her—”
Risa turned her glare. “You’re his girlfriend, aren’t you?”
Stefflon’s brows shot up. “What?!”
“You both set this up? So what — you target well-dressed customers now?”
Stefflon’s anger surged. “Excuse me?! First of all, we’re siblings. Second, if anyone here needs to be humbled, it’s you.”
“You clearly don’t.”Risa said smugly.
“And you clearly think money buys manners.”
“WHAT IS THIS DISASTER?!”
Miss Conner stormed out.
“You two are DONE. Fired. OUT.”
“Please… ma’am, it was a mistake…”
“We’ll pay for the dress,” Stefflon added. “We’ll raise the money—”
“No. This is the last straw.”
“I said we’ll pay!” Stefflon shouted.
Risa crossed her arms. “Good. You should.”
Ren stood suddenly.
“Enough.”
His voice was low but powerful.
“I’ll pay for the dress,” he said. “Let’s end this scene before it becomes a viral video.”
“But Ren...”
“I said I’ll pay.”
He turned to the twins.
“You just lost your jobs. That wasn’t fair. I saw that.”
He handed Sean his card.
“Call me. Tomorrow.”
Miss Conner returned holding a crumpled envelope.
“Here’s your part payments,” she hissed, throwing it at their feet. “Get out.”
Stefflon picked up the money slowly. Her hands shook.
She and Sean walked out of the restaurant heads low, backs stiff.
Not knowing that life, as they knew it, had just shifted.
- Writer
