Red String (Series #1) \\ Ateez ✔

ii. unexplained dreams

But let's be real: who wouldn't be scrambling to latch onto my success and ride it to their advantage?

I grabbed my purse, relishing in the subtle shift of power before I rose from my seat. And with a flick of my hand, I bid them with a dramatic change of accent, "Au revoir."

Just like that, the room is no longer graced by the presence of the one and only Kim Jangmi.

..

"Kim Jangmi is here!"

The atmosphere instantly became turbulent at the announcement of my arrival; my security immediately got to their stances and interviews were preparing themselves, keen to bother me for the nth time.

I wore my sunglasses while clutching my purse before I got out of the sumptuous car, flipping a strand of my hair as I walked through the grandeur in nonchalance.

"Kim Jangmi, is it true you are becoming an ambassador for Graff? Please leave us a statement!"

"What can you say about your dating rumours and getting linked with famous actors? Can you confirm anything to us?"

"How was your concert in Paris? Are you planning to play the piano around the world often?"

Frantic interviewers flocked around me yet I kept my lips in a thin line. I am firm with my boundaries for entertaining people at a given moment, but this time that I am going to work surely won't ease their questions.

I entered the colossal glass door and paced with my heels. Employees here and there stopped, either in a trance of awe or paying their utmost respect. The constant state of pedestal people were giving me is unsettling, but what can you expect from me?

"Good morning, President."

President.

I had a lot of titles, such as princess of the Kim group, Madame Kim, and Miss Kim, yet the title, President, was the one that pulled me into the spotlight of many. The time when the inheritance of my parents' trading corporation came to my very hands.

"Good morning," I shot my secretary, Jeong Yunho, with a pearly grin.

"Have you eaten yet?" He went straight to the point while raising a stern brow.

"Not yet," I retorted in a monotone, outstretching my fingers while glancing at my newly manicured nails.

He briefly glanced at me, and to the notebook in his hands, then a sigh escaped his mouth. My brows furrowed when he rummaged something from his large shoulder bag and he handed me a pink lunchbox.

"Just because you have work does not give you the excuse to not eat."

He left no explanations or rebuttals when he placed it directly in my palms. "Take it,"

"I-" I started to protest, but he cut me off with another pointed look. "Did you even get enough sleep?" He continued, his tone more motherly than secretary-like. "You look like you've been through the wringer."

Despite our professional relationship, Yunho always seemed to know exactly what I needed, almost like a stern yet caring figure. And though I tried to brush his naggings off, deep down, I knew he was right.

"It's just stress. It'll go away." I casually responded.

Despite something inside me knowing that it was an utter lie.

I often see an image of a man lingering in my dreams for almost a year now. And it was not just a mere dream you were going to forget—but a dream that often felt so surreal to the point that it tormented me in every passing moment.

And just exactly as early in the morning, I saw the same man lurking in my dreams with a face I could not see and a voice I recognised. But a grin spreads across my face, knowing I had a piece of newfound information about him.

Hell prince.

However, I had to pay the price of waking up early at dawn and was not able to sleep again.

Yunho let out a mockingly incredulous laugh at my dismissal. "It'll go away?" He repeated, shaking his head in disbelief. "You keep telling yourself that, Miss 'I can handle everything.' Stress doesn't magically disappear on its own."

It was moments like these that made me realize just how lucky I was to have him as my secretary, always looking out for me like a stern yet loving mother.

I ended up promising him to keep a better eye on my well-being. With a firm, "You better." From him, he added that he has things to settle on a certain office before he scurried away with an enthusiastic, "See you!"

The day's events had left me drained, exhaustion creeping up my temples and soon I found myself within the cramped walls of the elevator.

But as the doors began to slide shut, much to my surprise. A hand darted in to stop them.

My body shot upright, my eyes instinctively glancing up only to be met with the familiar and infamous face of my brother.

"Seungmin?" I muttered incredulously.

He flashed me a sheepish grin then my eyes trailed onto his attire. He was dressed impeccably, his suit tailored to perfection, exuding an air of sophistication that contrasted sharply with my dishevelled appearance.

"Nice outfit,"

He rolled his eyes playfully before getting down to business. "I have a favour to ask," He began, his tone serious as he stepped inside alongside me.

"Cut to the chase," I interjected, knowing my brother's tendency to beat around the bush.

Seungmin sighed, clearly used to my blunt words. "I've been invited to a business party, and coincidentally, it's also my anniversary with..."

I raised an eyebrow expectantly, prompting him to continue.

"...with my partner." He finished with a sheepish grin.

"I see," I replied, my eyes narrowing as if I had penetrated through his plans to come all the way here. "Let me guess, you are about to let me go to an event on behalf of you. Am I right?"

He nodded bashfully, his expression earnest. "Exactly."

The elevator parted before us with a loud ding before he cunningly stepped forward and tossed a key at me, shooting me a wink after I precisely caught it with my hands.

"Use my Ferrari on the way there. Four Seasons Hotel. 8 pm sharp. And oh, don't be late."

..