The Trapped Princess | 18++

Chapter 1

- Seoul, Gangnam-Gu

It was another busy day in Seoul, millions of people commuting from work, to work, and for work.

As I look around my surroundings, all I can see are floods of heads dive into their phones, nose on top of the screen, trying to keep up with the latest news or hot gossip in the millennial era.

It doesn't matter..

I told myself as I walk through the sea of heads, just like everyone else I'm heading into office, one of the giant buildings in the Gangnam district.

Under the scorching summer sun I can feel my body forming beads of sweat. I quickened my pace, and a couple of minutes later finally arrived in front of the office.

The Han Group

Ignoring the huge plate name I stepped inside the building. The guards recognize me in a first glance, and I could spot their risen eyebrows before they lower their heads at my direction.

It doesn't matter..

I keep repeating the same words in my head, as if the mantra would help me numb this feeling. The dreading feeling that I have to go to this God damn office for the rest of my life.

Stuck behind the desk, working on papers, documents and contracts.

"Good morning Hye-rin ssi.." A group of coworkers entered the lift, as we bow towards each other I forced a smile on my face.

While the lift moves upward, uncomfortable silence envelope us, but I'm used to it. People in this building feel awkward around me, they didn't know how to behave properly, as I am the epitome of anything but normal.

*DING*

The lift reached my floor, and as I walk out I almost could hear the relief breath from behind.

It doesn't matter..

I repeat the same mantra in my head and walk past the sea of cubicles, until I reach the very end of the corridor, my fucking privileged office.

I flip the door open, only to find the man that has been putting me in this damn office, staring at me cold. "You're 10 mins late."

"The bus was late." I offer him the shortest explanation I could, not that he deserves any of it.

"You can take the car!"

"I don't want to."

"What would you actually get from this rebellious behavior Hye-rin? HUH?!"

His voice echoed throughout the small office, reminding me once again whose in charge, whose the boss of my life.

"Nothing.." I reply, weaker than I intended to. But that was the truth that hit me. There's nothing I can do to change my life situation.

I'm stuck forever in this building, with the man that I despise for years, I have no power to break free, because this is the destiny that God has chosen for me.

"Today's contract." He threw the documents on the table.

"Do not fuck this up." And warned me sternly, with his black flaring eyes I remember since I was a little kid.

I'd normally cower under his glare, used to be, I'd curled into a ball at the corner of my bedroom, but I was no longer that little kid.

Instead I hold onto my own glare, didn't want to give him the satisfaction or even a small hint that he managed to intimidate me like he used to.

And then he left the room, without words, leaving me behind with the contract, a bunch of papers that worth meaningless for me, but worth everything for him.