He stood up abruptly, pulling her up with him thanks to the handcuffs, and pinned her against the wall. His grip on her wrist tightened.
Ni-ki leaned in closer, his voice a cold whisper. "You're playing with fire, angel. Don't think for a second tha...
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CAMERAS FLASHED IN RAPID SUCCESSION, journalists' voices buzzed with excitement and questions, and in the center of it all was Mr. Jin, standing at the podium with Ni-ki's father not too far behind him.
"Today, it's my privilege to announce the formal transition of leadership at NishiCo. Effective immediately, Ni-ki Nishimura will serve as the current CEO of NishiCo, following in his family's legacy," Mr. Jin declared.
A murmur rippled through the room as Mr. Jin gestured to Ni-ki, who stepped forward in a sharp suit, exuding an air of collected professionalism. As he stood in front of the crowd, flashes from cameras caught his unreadable expression, and yet, there was a quiet strength in his gaze—a strength that hinted he was ready to take on the mantle of CEO.
Ni-ki cleared his throat, waiting for the room to settle before he began. "Thank you all for being here today. It's an honor to lead NishiCo, and I'm committed to upholding the values and vision that my family has built over generations. There are big plans ahead, and I look forward to sharing them with all of you in the coming months."
Questions from reporters flooded in, but Ni-ki responded with careful, brief answers, maintaining a calm, steady tone that echoed Mr. Jin's guidance. The responsibility on his shoulders was apparent, yet he seemed unfazed, already accustomed to the weight that came with the role.
From the back of the room, Rhaine watched him with slight worry but confidence.
This had all happened so fast. I mean, she died yesterday. It was as if no one wanted to give Ni-ki enough time to grieve.
She then felt a soft nudge on her arm and turned to see Ni-ki's six friends—Jungwon, Jake, Heeseung, Sunoo, Jay, and Sunghoon—standing beside her, each giving her a reassuring look.
Jungwon leaned over and whispered with a small smirk, "Don't worry about him. He's always been a leader."
"Yeah," Sunoo chuckled, nudging Jungwon back, "the only thing that held him back was his arrogance."
Jake laughed quietly, nodding in agreement. "True, but he's grown up a lot. This won't be easy, but if anyone's ready, it's Ni-ki."
Heeseung crossed his arms, glancing toward the podium. "He's been prepping for this moment for longer than any of us knew."
"Huh. No doubt," Rhaine tilted her head as she observed her boyfriend, standing his ground on that stage with ease.
She found herself smiling, relieved by their presence and by how well they knew him. It was nice to know that Ni-ki was never alone, even if his own family was busy.
Hearing their words, she felt a deep reassurance in Ni-ki's readiness—not just for the role but for everything it represented.
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
Rhaine stood before the grand, imposing wall of CEOs that lined the main hall of NishiCo's headquarters—a legacy of portraits showcasing generations of leadership. Each frame held a figure who had shaped the company, the most recent being Ni-ki's mother, her portrait serene and dignified.
Now, a new frame was being added beside hers. Ni-ki's image, formal and composed, yet unmistakably young, took its place among the others. Rhaine watched as his photo was carefully hung.
Ni-ki's gaze softened as he looked at her, the pain of recent events visible in his eyes. "I've been meaning to ask..." he began slowly, almost hesitant. "How did you know to come for me at the hospital?"
Rhaine gave him a gentle smile, her expression warm. "Mr. Jin texted me," she said simply.
Ni-ki looked away for a moment, nodding as he processed that. "Ah," he murmured.
There was a brief silence between them, both of them lost in thought as they lingered in the quietness of the room.
Just as they stood in the moment, a distant call from Jay broke the silence.
Ni-ki glanced over and grabbed her hand, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze, a soft smile playing on his lips as he turned them both around to face the sound.
But instead of just Jay, they both stopped short, eyes widening in surprise.
There, standing just a few feet away, was Rei. Her face unreadable, as she took them in.
Ni-ki's eyes narrowed slightly. "What are you doing here?"
Rei tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, meeting his gaze calmly. "Mr. Jin invited me." She glanced over at Rhaine, who blinked, her discomfort growing.
Rhaine looked at her then Ni-ki, eyes flickering, confused on what was happening. Seeing Rhaine's unease, Rei held up a hand in a surprisingly warm gesture.
"Don't worry, Rhaine," she said with a genuine smile that caught Rhaine off guard. "I know how it must look, but I'm not here to cause trouble. I actually came to congratulate you both... and to finally accept my loss."
Rhaine and Ni-ki exchanged a wary look, and Rei continued, her tone softer.
"I needed to see it myself—to know that you're the one he chose after seeing the news. I spent a long time wondering if things would turn out differently, but it's clear now. You make him happy in ways I didn't. I mean, honestly Rhaine. That stunt you pulled yesterday at the hospital was cool." She shrugged lightly, a bittersweet expression crossing her face. "Maybe that's what I needed to let go of everything."
Rhaine shot a short smile at the girl, sensing the authenticity.
Rei glanced down, collecting her thoughts, then looked back up with a resigned smile. "So... I wish you both the best. I hope you give him the happiness I couldn't."
Knowing Mr. Jin, this interaction isn't going the way he probably wanted, Rhaine thought to herself.
Ni-ki held Rei's stare. "Thank you," he said, his tone sincere, though his hand tightened around Rhaine's as he spoke.
Rei gave a small nod and turned to leave. She paused at the doorway, glancing back over her shoulder. "Also, Ni-ki... I'm sorry for your loss." Her voice was gentle, carrying a weight of understanding that neither Rhaine nor Ni-ki had expected.
Ni-ki managed a faint smile, nodding in acknowledgment.
With a final, lingering look, Rei left, leaving a quiet sense of closure hanging in the air. Rhaine felt the warmth of Ni-ki's hand in hers and, for the first time, truly felt like they were stepping into a future without shadows from his past.
Jay walked over with the rest of the boys trailing behind him, eyebrows raised in confusion. "I called you guys. What happened?" he asked, looking from Ni-ki to Rhaine with concern.
Ni-ki let out a small chuckle, glancing at the door where Rei had just exited. "Nothing. Just... an unexpected visit."
Sunghoon tilted his head, looking between them. "Everything good?"
Rhaine smiled, feeling a newfound confidence settle over her. "Yeah, we're good." She glanced at Ni-ki to show that the interaction with Rei didn't bother her.
Jake raised an eyebrow, clearly curious but sensing it wasn't the right time to pry. "Alright then, as long as you two are fine. We're here if you need us."
Jay looked relieved, crossing his arms with a small grin. "Just making sure there's no drama we need to handle."
Ni-ki draped an arm around Sunoo. "Not today, hyung. Today's about moving forward."
