That same afternoon... At The Grand Elysium Hotel.
"Change that center chandelier to white crystal. I despise gold. It looks dated."
Ren ordered the hotel manager, his voice stern. He pointed at the ceiling of the colossal ballroom, which was being decorated as extravagantly as a royal coronation.
This engagement was a national spectacle. A thousand guests, hundreds of media personnel, and security tighter than a maximum-security prison.
I stood behind Ren holding an iPad, recording the details. But my eyes kept darting toward the glowing green 'EXIT' sign above a small door in the corner.
Calm down, Yurin. Just follow Zen's plan.
I pressed my hand against my chest, feeling the faint vibration of the hidden phone inside my inner suit pocket.
My Savior > 'When Ren is distracted, head towards the west wing. Walk past the restrooms to the end of the hallway. You will find Fire Exit number three.'
My Savior > 'Check if it is unlocked. Then hurry back.'
The instruction sounded simple, but it was nearly impossible to execute. Ren rarely let me out of his sight. It was as if he possessed a radar for my movements.
"Yurin." Ren suddenly snapped his head back.
"Yes, sir!" I jolted, nearly dropping the iPad.
"Did you get that? About the floral arrangements at the entrance."
"Y-Yes, sir." I quickly lowered my head, pretending to type, even though my mind was completely blank.
"Mr. President..." I decided to take the gamble. I only had this one chance.
"May I use the restroom for a moment? I drank too much coffee earlier."
Ren narrowed his eyes. He checked his watch, then glanced at the restroom entrance not far away.
"Five minutes." He held up his hand. "If you take a second longer, I am sending the guards in to drag you out."
"Yes, sir! Thank you."
I set the iPad down and hurried toward the restroom. My heart hammered wildly against my ribs.
The second I slipped out of Ren's line of sight and turned the corner, my pace shifted into a frantic half-jog.
I didn't enter the restroom. I bypassed it, heading straight into the dead silence of the back hallway. The floor here was lined with dark red carpet. The lighting was significantly dimmer than the main hall.
Thump... Thump... Thump... My footsteps echoed in the quiet.
I checked both sides. No one. No security cameras in this blind spot.
Door number one... the janitorial closet.
Door number two... the electrical control room. And there... Door number three.
A steel door painted in industrial grey. A glowing green EXIT sign mounted above it.
Exactly as Zen had described!
I rushed toward it. My sweat-slicked hand gripped the doorknob. Please don't be locked... please don't be locked...
Click! The knob turned.
I slowly cracked the door open.
Whoosh... The hot outdoor air rushed in, striking my face alongside the afternoon sunlight.
Right in front of me was a black wrought-iron fire escape, descending directly into the deserted back parking lot.
The path to freedom. It was right there, within arm's reach. I wanted to step out immediately. I wanted to run away and be done with it all.
But I couldn't. If I ran now without a getaway car, Ren would definitely hunt me down. And if I were caught this time, my legs would actually be broken.
Three more days. Just a little longer.
I drew a massive lungful of fresh air. A shot of courage, as if preparing for war. I then pulled the door shut.
Click!
"What are you doing?" A deep voice barked from behind.
!!!
I jolted so violently I nearly screamed. My heart stopped. I whipped around to face the source.
It wasn't Ren. It was a security guard in a blue uniform.
"Uh... I..." I stammered. The blood drained from my face. My mind raced, frantically searching for an excuse.
"I... I got lost."
I put on a pathetic expression, letting my voice waver. "I was looking for the restroom, but I walked too far. I thought this door was the entrance..."
The guard eyed me with deep suspicion. He looked up at the EXIT sign, then back down at my face.
"The restroom is that way, sir." He pointed back down the hall.
"This is a restricted area for staff. Please do not wander around here."
"I'm sorry! I will head back immediately."
I bowed my head in apology and practically sprinted away. My legs wobbled like I was about to pass out.
That was too close. If it had been Ren, no excuse in the world would have saved me.
I arrived back at the restroom entrance, panting heavily. I wasn't sure if it was from the running or the sheer terror.
I quickly splashed cold water on my face, straightened my clothes, and walked back into the ballroom acting as normal as possible.
Ren was still talking to the manager. But the second I stepped into the room, he stopped. His sharp eyes locked onto me, dissecting me from head to toe.
"You took a while," he said, his voice flat yet suffocating with pressure.
"My apologies. It was a bit crowded," I lied flawlessly, even though the VIP restroom was completely empty.
Ren didn't reply. He walked toward me slowly, reaching out to touch my sweat-dampened forehead.
"Why are you sweating? The AC in here is freezing."
I swallowed dryly. "I... I had a stomachache... It took some effort."
It was the most humiliating excuse I could offer, but it was the most realistic one I could conjure in that split second.
Ren stared into my eyes for a long moment, weighing whether or not to believe me.
Finally, he let out a scoff. "Disgusting."
He wiped his hand directly onto my suit jacket. "Go prepare the car. We are leaving.
I've lost the mood."
"Yes, Mr. President!"
I acknowledged the order and quickly retreated. Once my back was to Ren, I let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief. The interrogation was over.
I raised a hand to my chest, feeling the tiny phone resting there.
The mission was a success. The escape route was confirmed. The passport was ready. Only one thing remained.
Preparing my heart. Preparing to leave absolutely everything behind. Even... my own heart.