He didn't need an introduction whatsoever; his presence just seamlessly filled the room. His charcoal-gray suit fit perfectly, tracing sharp lines along his frame. His tie hung slightly loose, and his expression unreadable but controlled. Yet, carried a weight that made the air tensed.
Mid-sentence, Han froze, his eyes darting toward the doorway as the room fell silent.
"Mr. Choi," he managed to say, his voice laced with surprise. "We… we weren't expecting to see you here."
"You are now," He said, with his gaze locked on Maya as the words came out smoothly, "Cancel her remaining appointments. She'll be attending the Seoul Beauty charity gala this evening."
"Wait, what?" Han snapped, "That's obviously three hours from now."
"I'm aware," Adrian replied, strolling further into the room. The scent of his cologne stayed in the air; deliberate, cool and understated. " She needs to be seen; looking calm, confident, and unfazed. That's how you silence gossip."
"No," Maya's gaze shot up. Her words came flatly and firm, though the tone was low. "I'm not doing that."
"Yes, you are," he opposed, closing the distance between them. "You want to control the story? Then face it, own it. The more you hide, the more power you give to the public."
"That's not control, that's manipulation," she shot back, her heartbeat racing . "You can't just decide how I deal with my life."
"This isn't just about you,Maya." Adrian said between clenched teeth. "You're part of something bigger now. Your image, your contracts, and your investors. Everything is connected."
She impulsively, let out a humorless laugh. "Don't try to make this sound noble, Mr. Choi." She pointed. "Come to think of it, you're protecting yourself too."
In that short while, something flickered in Adrian's eyes. Was it pain? or guilt? She just couldn't figure what it was, but it was gone before she could name it.
"This isn't about me," he said. "It's all about putting up strategies."
Han stood by as though he was invisible. His gaze travelling nervously between them. "Maya, listen…" He finally interjected. " this could be of help. If you show up tonight and act unbothered, like the rumors mean nothing, you take control of the narrative. People will start questioning what's true."
Maya crossed her arms. "So... that's your plan? Smile for the cameras while everyone dissects my life like it's some piece of cake?"
Adrian tilted his head slightly, his tone unyielding. "You're a professional. You know exactly how this works."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. Every instinct screamed to refuse him. But beneath the anger was something else. Her resolve had been shaken. Cracked in the smallest and dangerous way. Because deep down, she knew he was right.
The only perfect way out might really be through this. On an impulse, she exhaled shakily. "Fine," she finally said after giving it a thought. "But this doesn't mean I agree with your deal."
"I never asked you to," Adrian replied. His gaze softened, just for a brief moment. "Be ready by six." He added, this time, his voice stern. And headed for the exit.
As the door closed behind him, silence settled over the room like dust after a storm. Han rubbed his temples. "He's not wrong, you know." He hinted. "If you let them define the story, you'll never recover from it."
Maya sank into a chair, her fingers gripping the edge of the table.
"We're holding onto this for now, because of Mr Adrian, Ms Kim." The Agency's director muttered, interrupting her thought. " Let's see how things go." With that, the meeting was dispersed. Leaving Maya with her team of three.
"I just wanted one quiet day," she sighed.
Jina, who had been standing silently near the door, came closer. "Then let's get through this one first."
Maya weakly nooded, but her stomach twisted not from fear this time, but from something else she couldn't name. Yet still, Adrian's words still echoed in her mind.
I'll protect you.
This doesn't sit well with her. She didn't want his protection. She never asked for it because she didn't trust it. There was lot if things wrong with it but as much as she hated to admit it, there was something steady about him, an unshakable certainty she no longer had in herself.
♡♡♡♡
Later that evening...
Back in Maya's apartment, she stood before the mirror. The city lights gleaming behind her reflection, half-muted through the drawn curtains. Her makeup kit lay open, with brushes scattered on the table like unfinished thoughts.
A phone buzz from her phone interrupted. And it was a text from Han:
The car will pick you up at 5:45. You don't have to worry about anything, Adrian will be there to meet you.
Maya stared at the screen for some seconds, then back at her reflection. Her eyes looked tired but defiant. She wasn't dressing just for the cameras or the rumors. But as an armor.
She smoothed the pale silk of her gown, adjusted the neckline, and reached for her earrings. But then, hesitated, her thoughts running wild. For a second, she imagined him standing behind her. His voice calm and controlled, while guiding her through the storm.
The thought made her pulse skip. But she shut it out immediately. "No," she said to herself. "I don't need him."
But then, she wasn't sure anymore. Something from within said otherwise. Whether or not to believe her words.
At exactly 5:45, a sleek black car pulled up outside her apartment building. The driver immediately stepped out to open the door on seeing Maya walked out of the appartment. Bowing slightly, he ushered in as she neared him.
Adrian was already there, waiting when Maya slid in. Intuitively, he turned his head, eyes sweeping over her quietly before he spoke.
"You look composed," he said. "Good, I must say."
She gave him a sidelong glance. "I'm not doing this for you."
"Of course not," he murmured, lips curving into a faint smile. "You're doing it for yourself. I'm just making sure you don't get torn apart in the process."
His voice was calm, but this time, there was something beneath it, an obvious crack in his demeanor. Something protective that didn't match his usual cold precision.
Maya looked away, focusing on the passing city lights instead. It was certain she was holding herself back. Trying hard not to fall for him. "You don't have to protect me, Adrian. I've survived worse."
"I know," he said softly. "But you don't have to survive alone anymore."
Her breath caught, the words hitting somewhere she didn't want them to. For a moment, the car was silent except for the passing city outside. She didn't answer him, neither did she turn her gaze to him either.
On the other hand, Adrian looked ahead, his jaw tightening slightly as if her silence meant more to him than he wanted to admit.