𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐂𝐊 | hvc

𝙞.

The day was oppressively gray, an aesthetic that mirrored Nabi's mood a little too perfectly. The sun was a no-show, tucked behind a fortress of clouds, and the wind snapped against anyone bold enough to brave the outdoors. Winter had an unshakable knack for weaving bitterness into its festivities, and Nabi often wondered how people managed to muster so much cheer while wrapped in its frigid embrace.

Her heels echoed on the polished floor, a sharp disconnected warning to the employees who wisely steered clear of her path. It wasn't as though Nabi had ever exchanged more than a handful of words with them, but her permanently furrowed brow and unwavering resting bitch face seemed sufficient to keep their curiosity at bay.

Loneliness wasn't new for her. It had shadowed her since childhood, but rather than resist it, Nabi learned to make peace with solitude. In fact, she credited her begrudging self-acceptance for the existence of her friends—a tiny, loyal circle of two. Without that growth, she was sure they would have abandoned her years ago.

She stopped at a sleek black door and swiped her ID, granting her entry to her sanctuary. Her office was a transformation story: once sterile and modern, now cozy and warm, thanks to the intervention of her overly tasteful friends. Gone was the soulless corporate veneer, replaced by plush furnishings and personal touches she was quietly proud of.

Crossing the room, Nabi gravitated to the inviting sofa near the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked Seoul. Her desk loomed in the background, a stark reminder of her reluctantly inherited responsibilities. She avoided it as much as she could, disliking the weight of authority it imposed—a legacy not her own, but thrust upon her by family.

The door clicked open, breaking the quiet. "Good morning!" Hyeri's chirpy voice filled the space as she breezed in, her blazer slightly wrinkled from the winter layers beneath.

"Morning, Ri." Nabi's response was subdued, a sharp contrast to Hyeri's unshakable energy.

The assistant dropped into the desk chair Nabi avoided like the plague, spinning it with practiced ease. "Where's Kenji? He's usually tailing you like a lost puppy."

"Oh!" Hyeri straightened as if she'd just remembered something crucial. "He's picking up the portfolios for the New Year line. You know, the thing you're actually supposed to do today?" She grinned mischievously.

Nabi groaned. "Why can't we just slap a clearance tag on last year's leftovers like everyone else? Customers love a good discount."

Hyeri laughed, unfazed. "You think your brother's ego would survive that?"

Her brother. Nabi sighed at the mere thought of him—arrogant and oblivious, the worst combination of traits for a CEO. Working at RockSt4r, the clothing brand he ruled, was less about ambition and more about enduring familial obligations.

The door opened again, and in walked Kenji, exuding his signature irreverence. "Morning, losers."

"Charming as always," Nabi deadpanned, raising an unimpressed eyebrow.

Kenji smirked, placing a binder thick enough to kill a small animal on the coffee table. "This is for you. Fifty-six glorious pages of models, celebs, and whoever else our PR team thinks could sell a hoodie. Try to look excited."

Nabi leaned back into the couch, eyeing the binder like it was a punishment. "What if I just throw a dart and call it a day?"

"Please do," Hyeri said, rolling her eyes as she grabbed a snack from the nearby cart.

Kenji ignored her, turning on the TV. A PowerPoint flickered to life on the screen, complete with Comic Sans titles and memes.

Nabi groaned. "Are you serious?"

"Like you'd do better," Kenji shot back, lounging unapologetically in one of the chairs.

Before they could dive into the profiles, Kenji suddenly pulled out his phone. "Wait! You need to post on Instagram today. Don't forget."

Nabi scowled. Her social media had ballooned into a beast of its own, fueled by her family's fame and her reluctant status as a public figure. "Why do I let you micromanage me?"

"Because someone has to," Hyeri chimed in, fiddling with her phone. "Now smile for the camera."

Nabi grumbled but struck a pose, tossing her hair for good measure. "Fine. But one of you better order lunch."

Hyeri saluted mockingly. "On it, your majesty."

With that, Nabi finally flipped open the binder, bracing herself for two hours of looking at beautiful people and pretending it wasn't the most superficial task in the world. Somewhere between the profiles and the snarky commentary from her assistants, she found herself smiling—despite the gloom, despite the work. Maybe, just maybe, the day wasn't a total loss.

𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺

. . .

. . .

. . .

𝙣𝙖.𝙣𝙖_𝙗𝙞  muah! @hyer.i @ito_kenj
Liked by 100,293 others

View 128 comments:

𝘈 / 𝘕 !
I hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter! Please comment and let me know what you think going forward!