📍 One Week Later
A week passed.
The media storm had settled.
The campaign was successful.
The stock recovered.
The rumours faded.
Everything was normal again.
Except for Kiara and Jiho.
Nothing had changed.
And somehow...
Everything had changed.
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📍 Flora Entertainment
Jiho sat on the couch in his dressing room.
Manager Hyun was checking schedules.
Jiho sighed.
Manager Hyun looked up.
"What's wrong now?"
Jiho frowned.
"What do you mean 'now'?"
Hyun laughed.
"Whenever you start staring at walls, it's about Kiara."
Jiho groaned.
"Hyung, I'm confused."
"About?"
"Us."
Hyun stopped typing.
Jiho continued.
"She gave me a chance."
"Yes."
"But nothing happened."
"Yes."
"We're working."
"Yes."
"We're talking."
"Not really."
"Exactly!"
Hyun tried not to laugh.
Jiho stood up.
"The first day we met, I confessed."
"Big mistake."
"I know!"
Jiho covered his face.
"Now every time I see her, we talk about meetings, schedules, contracts, event plans..."
Hyun nodded.
"Sounds professional."
Jiho pointed dramatically.
"That's the problem."
Hyun burst out laughing.
Jiho sat back down.
"What are we now?"
Hyun thought for a second.
"Two idiots trying not to scare each other."
Jiho blinked.
"...That's surprisingly accurate."
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📍 E-Palette Office
Kiara was reviewing documents.
Secretary Ryu entered.
She immediately noticed Kiara wasn't reading anything.
She was staring at the same page.
Secretary Ryu smiled.
"Thinking about the actor again?"
Kiara looked up.
"No."
"Really?"
"No."
"Then why have you been staring at the same contract for ten minutes?"
Kiara sighed.
Secretary Ryu sat down.
"What happened?"
Kiara leaned back.
"I don't understand him."
"Oh?"
"He said he likes me."
"Yes."
"He rode through the rain."
"Yes."
"He asked for another chance."
"Yes."
Kiara frowned.
"And now?"
Secretary Ryu smiled.
"And now?"
Kiara threw her pen down.
"Nothing!"
Secretary Ryu laughed.
Kiara looked annoyed.
"I gave him a chance."
"Yes."
"Now he's acting normal."
Secretary Ryu tilted her head.
"What exactly do you want him to do?"
Kiara opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Secretary Ryu smirked.
"Ah."
Kiara pointed at her.
"Don't do that."
Secretary Ryu grinned.
"Do what?"
"That knowing smile."
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📍 Meanwhile – Café
Manager Hyun and Secretary Ryu accidentally met during a campaign coordination meeting.
Both looked exhausted.
Hyun sat down.
Ryu sat opposite him.
For a few seconds, they just stared.
Then—
Hyun said, "Your boss is impossible."
Ryu immediately replied: "Your actor is worse."
They both sighed.
Hyun: "Jiho thinks Kiara doesn't like him."
Ryu: "Kiara thinks Jiho lost interest."
Silence.
Then both spoke together.
"They're idiots."
Both laughed.
Hyun shook his head. "Six years apart and they still can't communicate."
Ryu nodded. "I feel like we're raising children."
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📍 Grandpa's House
Kiara arrived carrying fruit and snacks.
Grandpa smiled immediately.
"My favorite granddaughter."
"I'm your only granddaughter."
"Details."
Kiara laughed.
They sat together.
Grandpa watched her carefully.
"You've been thinking."
Kiara froze.
"How do you always know?"
Grandpa proudly pointed at himself.
"Experience."
Kiara smiled.
Grandpa leaned closer.
"So?"
"So what?"
"The actor."
Kiara almost choked.
"Grandpa!"
Grandpa laughed loudly.
"What?"
Kiara shook her head.
Grandpa became serious.
"Do you like him?"
Silence.
Kiara looked away.
Grandpa smiled softly.
"That's not the question you're struggling with."
Kiara looked at him.
Grandpa continued.
"The real question is..."
"Can I trust him again?"
Kiara's eyes widened.
Grandpa nodded.
"Trust takes time."
Kiara lowered her head.
"What if he leaves again?"
Grandpa gently patted her hand.
"Then let him prove he won't."
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📍 E-Palette Conference Room
The campaign team gathered.
Mr. Aura entered with a huge smile.
Everyone immediately became suspicious.
Mr. Aura: "I have an announcement."
Nobody looked excited.
Mr. Aura: "Why does everyone look scared?"
Secretary Ryu: "Because you're smiling."
Manager Hyun: "That's usually dangerous."
Mr. Aura laughed.
Then clicked the presentation.
A tropical island appeared on screen.
Everyone froze.
Kiara: "What is this?"
Jiho: "...Vacation?"
Mr Aura pointed proudly.
"Correct."
Kiara immediately objected.
"No."
Jiho agreed.
"No."
Mr. Aura ignored both.
"This is a company-sponsored creative retreat."
Kiara crossed her arms.
"No."
Jiho nodded.
"No."
Mr. Aura clicked the next slide.
Photos of beaches.
Resorts.
Private villas.
Adventure activities.
Sunsets.
Mr. Aura smiled.
"The entire project team is going."
Secretary Ryu suddenly looked interested.
Manager Hyun too.
Kiara narrowed her eyes.
"Why?"
Mr. Aura grinned.
"Team bonding."
Jiho had a bad feeling.
A very bad feeling.
Mr. Aura looked directly at Kiara and Jiho.
"And absolutely no work."
The room went silent.
Secretary Ryu whispered: "Oh, this is definitely a trap."
Manager Hyun nodded.
"A very expensive trap."
Mr. Aura smiled proudly.
"Pack your bags."
Kiara and Jiho exchanged looks.
For the first time all week.
Neither looked away.
To be continued...