' Love makes fools.
My, my… where did I read that again?
I still can't believe it. '
Aurum glanced at the rearview mirror, her eyes landing on Hiro. He was seated in the back, casually chatting with his members. Some of them looked out the window, quietly admiring the passing scenery.
A small laugh escaped her, which she quickly masked with a cough.
' Oh my God… I really can't believe it.'
Then her expression shifted slightly.
' Oh that's rude of me. Should I introduce myself? '
She straightened a little and cleared her throat.
"Nice to meet you guys. I'll be the branch manager in charge of our collaboration, and I will require your utmost cooperation. Please leave everything in my hands. My name is Miss Aurum de Vinci. It's a pleasure to work with you."
The response came almost immediately, polite and well-mannered.
"Thank you, ma'am."
Aurum almost caughted blood
' do I look that old ? '
"It's an honor to work with you."
The man seated beside them presumably their manager, leaned forward slightly.
"Miss Aurum, would it be alright if we discuss the files later?"
"Of course," she replied smoothly. "I'll drop you off at your hotel first. You can take the rest of the day to rest. Tomorrow, I'll have you picked up, and we can go over everything regarding the collaboration."
"That works for us."
Their attention slowly drifted back to the windows, soft comments about the scenery filling the car. With some dozing off
After a brief pause, Aurum added,
"If you have some free time, I can arrange for you to visit a few places. After all, you're under my care, so please don't hesitate. And also, for PR reasons, to avoid any scandals or negative publicity, please consult me before making any minor or major decisions."
"Of course. No problem," one of them replied. "We wouldn't want to cause any trouble."
She nodded slightly.
The members Hiro, Hakyun, Saiki, and Sergie returned the nod politely.
She exhaled softly.
None of it showed on her face, but inside
It was chaos.
Once she finished speaking, her focus returned fully to the road... Or atleast tried to
' I hope I wasn't too obvious. '
Her grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel.
' I wasn't staring at him, was I? '
She had been glancing at him through the mirror more than once.
But no one reacted.
No strange looks. No subtle expressions.
And she was good at reading people.
So she concluded...
She had remained calm.
As always.
The drive continued without incident, and soon they arrived at the hotel. Aurum personally guided them through the check in process, making sure each of their rooms was in perfect condition.
She even had the bodyguards sweep for hidden cameras.
Just in case.
You were never too careful.
After ensuring everything was in order, she gave a polite farewell, carefully limiting her interaction with Hiro as much as possible.
Then she returned to the lobby, exchanged keys with the bodyguards, took her car , and drove straight back to the office.
And that's when everything fell apart.
She couldn't focus.
Not even a little.
She dropped into her chair, running a hand through her hair.
' Oh my God…
This actually happened.
I really met him.
Her head fell back slightly.
He was so good looking.
No! he looked even better than in the photos. '
She scoffed lightly.
Those photos are a scam. Whoever took them should be sued for defamation.
She leaned forward, staring blankly at her desk.
' I can't focus.
I really can't focus.
Do I need coffee? '
She didn't move.
' I'm too lazy to get it. '
A pause.
Then
' Why am I suddenly this energetic? '
A quiet, almost giddy smile appeared.
' I'm so glad they came.
I'm so glad I saw him.
This might actually be the best day of my life.'
Her heart raced slightly at the thought.
' And I'll see him again tomorrow.
I'll see him again tomorrow... '
She pressed a hand lightly against her chest.
' This is cardio for my heart…
Can I even keep up? '
She inhaled sharply.
' Fighting. I've got this. '
The rest of the day turned into a constant battle
Work.
Thoughts.
Work.
Thoughts.
By evening, she gave up.
She leaned back in her chair, exhausted.
If I can't focus, then there's no point forcing it.
A decision settled in.
I might as well go out, have a drink, and sleep.
Then reality hit again.
But I need to be at my best tomorrow morning…
She groaned softly.
So what's the solution?
Do I not have enough caffeine to crash?
Why the hell am I not crashing?
"…Ah."
She walked down the street in heels slowly, hands in her pockets, her mind split between two options.
A drink… or just go home?
She paused.
Then tilted her head up, staring at the sky like she had completely given up.
"...Shall I call those freaks?"
She sighed.
Without thinking too much, she pulled out her phone and dialed the group call.
It rang.
And rang.
No answer.
"Wow… so we're ignoring calls now?"
Out of pure boredom, she stopped walking, crouched down right there in the middle of the street, staring at her phone.
Then she dialed again.
It rang...
And finally, someone picked up.
Misha.
"Aurum?… my, my," her voice rang through, amused. "Did the sky fall and no one cared enough to inform me? You? calling for a group call? What's up?"
Aurum opened her mouth
But Pavel joined immediately, cutting in.
"Oh, you didn't know? Hiro came to the country, and she's in charge of his group's file."
"Oh no wonder "
A pause.
Then another voice jumped in.
Tuscan
"Oh? she got a sweetheart?. And no one thought to inform me?"
Aurum facepalmed.
"I literally wrote it in the group chat. Don't ask."
Misha laughed lightly.
"Don't mind him. He's always late."
Pavel didn't waste time.
"So… how did it go?"
Before Aurum could answer-
Misha cut in again.
"Do you really think anything happened?"
Pavel snorted.
"Oh, right. I forgot. Our friend here is a chicken after all."
Aurum's expression dropped instantly.
"I'm starting to regret calling you guys. Seriously why did I even call you?"
Pavel chuckled.
"Let me summarize it for you. You couldn't stop thinking about him, and now you're debating between getting a drink and going home to sleep what a drunkard."
A pause.
"…You guys know me so well."
Misha smiled through her voice.
"Of course. Six years of friendship... it's a given, we all know your alcoholic ass."
Tuscan spoke again, confused as ever.
"So… who exactly is this guy?"
Pavel sighed.
"I won't even bother. Scroll up in the group chat."
A beat.
"…Actually, never mind. Just google him."
Misha's tone softened.
"Do you want me to come over? We could go grab a drink together."
Aurum tilt her head confused
" didn't you stop ? . Nervermind, I actually wanted to go for a drink… but I have to be up really early tomorrow. I'll be picking them up from the hotel, and we'll go over the files, the contract… everything."
"What is it even about?" Pavel asked.
"It's a commercial," Aurum replied. " A branch of our company is shooting with them. And if things go well, we might offer them a brand ambassador deal."
"Whoa," Tuscan said. "You're already handling projects like that?"
Misha groaned.
"Oh my God, Tuscan, just shut up. You're always so lost."
"Hey--!"
"Anyway," Misha continued, ignoring him, "what are you guys up to?"
"Nothing much," Pavel said.
They kept talking.
Casual things.
Random things.
Misha talked about her day, every little detail, as usual.
Pavel went on about a new girl he met at his workplace, sounding almost like a lovesick puppy, explaining how just talking to her had ' brightened his day ' .
And the conversation just… flowed.
Naturally.
Easily.
By the time Aurum got home, she was exhausted.
But her mind?
still running.
She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Wide awake.
Her thoughts looping endlessly.
I'll see him again tomorrow.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow.
She turned to the side.
Then back.
Nothing.
No sleep.
Not even a little.
The next morning, she was still staring at the ceiling a night gone..., just like that.
"…If this is just day one…"
She covered her face.
"…what am I supposed to do for the rest of the collaboration?"
Frustration built up.
Until she finally grabbed her pillow and screamed into it, rubbing her hair
' Fuck you Hiro!!!!! '