The echo of polished shoes against marble floor signaled Shan Wolf's early departure from the Won Group headquarters.
With an approved early leave in hand, he slipped out without informing anyone, a rare indulgence for a man whose life was usually dictated by spreadsheets and secrets.
As the late afternoon haze gave way to cooler winds, Shan returned to his penthouse nestled above the skyline.
The moment the door clicked shut behind him, he loosened his tie, discarded his blazer, and made his way straight into the bathroom.
The hiss of hot water filled the space, and soon, steam curled around the sleek glass panels of his shower. He stood under the spray, letting the warmth ease the knots in his shoulders.
Then—click. A thought struck.
His eyes snapped open.
"Shit! I almost forgot," he muttered, flicking water from his hair. "But I still got time."
He quickly toweled off, stepping into something simple yet stylish, a crisp black shirt tucked into dark gray slacks, and a silver watch to complete the look. Understated, but formal enough.
He grabbed the keys to his Mustang GTD, the gleaming silver beast that sat parked in his reserved bay like a prized predator.
The car had been a gift, a surprising one. A token of gratitude from Kim Ju On's husband, after Shan saved her from a miscarriage incident that could have turned fatal.
A year has passed since that incident, Shan had blackmailed Ingrid Mikage using footage of her hit-and-run accident involving Kim Ju On. A dangerous game.
Yet now, the two were unlikely allies, working in sync to unseat Jen Heo Won and lift Eva into the CEO's chair before Jen could.
Funny how loyalty worked in corporate warfare.
The Mustang roared to life, its low growl echoing through the underground garage as Shan pulled out. The dashboard clock blinked 6:03 p.m.. Just enough time.
Meanwhile…
Rachel So Mi waited outside the office, arms crossed, eyes scanning the front door. She tapped her foot. A breeze lifted her beige trench coat as the air chilled with dusk.
She thought Shan would've still been inside, maybe holed up in a meeting or wrestling with numbers like he always did.
But then—vrrrmm.
A Mustang pulled up with a quiet purr that demanded attention. The window rolled down on the passenger side. Shan, leaning an elbow on the wheel, smirked with a gleam in his eye.
"Need a lift, beautiful?"
Rachel blinked, caught off guard, not just by his arrival, but by the car. This? This is his? She didn't know it was a gift. All she saw was a machine that screamed money and power.
"Well, well... Nice ride, Mr. Wolf." She smirked as she slipped inside, one leg crossing elegantly over the other.
"Thanks," he said as the door shut and the car glided away from the curb. "So… how was your day, Ms. So Mi?"
"Hell," Rachel grumbled, rubbing her neck. "Pure hell. Paperwork, managing slides, fixing other people's incompetence. The usual."
Shan chuckled. "Try Investor Relations. We've got barometers, analytics, forecasts, and enough panic to drown in."
The car stopped at a red light. A sudden shift.
"Shit," they both said in perfect sync.
Silence, then laughter broke between them. Loud, genuine.
"I guess we both need a bit of comedy in our lives," Rachel said, glancing sideways.
"Afraid so, Rachel."
Soon, they arrived at a cozy upscale café nestled on a quiet street in Seoul, its fairy lights twinkling faintly in the dusk. Shan, ever the gentleman, got out first and opened the door for her. Rachel stepped out with a grin.
"So gentlemanly. Did you hit your head today?"
"Just trying to be romantic. It's a rare skill."
Inside, they found a window seat with a view of the city's soft glow. Once seated, the conversation blossomed. From work chaos to favorite music, from early dreams to guilty pleasures, their topics meandered like a warm current. Even when the coffee arrived—rich, dark, aromatic—they barely noticed, lost in each other's words.
By the time Rachel glanced at her phone, it was already 8:00 p.m.
"Time really flies when you're having fun, Mr. Wolf. I mean... Shan." She bumped his shoulder playfully, then slowly looped her arm around his.
Shan smiled but said nothing, letting the gesture speak for itself.
They took a slow walk through a nearby park. Trees rustled gently in the breeze, the distant laughter of children echoing faintly. Rachel leaned her head against his shoulder.
"You know… It feels nice. Talking with someone like you," she murmured. "Two Black people in Korea, different departments, same company. But I never thought I'd... connect like this."
Shan looked down at her, then ahead toward the park bench. "Well, technically, I'm not African-American Korean. Malaysian-Indian, actually."
Rachel smiled, her head still resting on him. "Still. Doesn't change the warmth I feel."
They sat on the bench, the city skyline glowing behind them. She hesitated before speaking again.
"It's my birthday today."
Shan turned to her, blinking in surprise. "Today?"
"Yeah… January 30th, 2001. Both my parents died in a car crash when I was seven. I bounced between foster families until... well..." Her voice dipped. She didn't finish. Didn't need to.
Working under Jen Heo Won, adopted into the Won family under Eh San Won's reluctant charity, it was all tangled in her chest.
But Shan smiled faintly.
"I guess we should make a wish then, huh?"
She looked at him, confused. "We?"
He pointed toward the distant carnival in the background—Seoul's mini Eiffel Tower, standing tall with flickering lights.
"It's my birthday too. January 30th. 2000."
"No way..." she whispered.
"Three... two... one. Blow."
Rachel hesitated, then followed his lead—pretending to blow out the distant tower. As if by magic, the lights of the Eiffel Tower flickered, then shut off.
She gasped. "No. No way."
Shan chuckled. "There's a restaurant at the base I frequent. They shut down the lights for closing. Just got lucky with timing."
Rachel stared at him, awed. "Still... that was amazing."
"Everyone has pain," Shan said, his voice soft now, his fingers gently twirling a lock of her golden-braided hair. "What matters is how you're living despite it."
He brushed her hair behind her shoulder, his fingers lingering just a moment longer than necessary. She looked up, her eyes glistening, smile trembling between gratitude and emotion.
"You're doing really well, Rachel. Don't be sad."
Rachel leaned forward, closing the distance, her hand brushing lightly against his cheek.
"Happy birthday, Shan Wolf…"
He tilted forward, their breath warm between them.
"Happy birthday, Rachel So Mi."
Their lips met, not with urgency, but with something far deeper. Their kiss deepened slowly, tender at first, then hungrily passionate. Tongues met, lips parted, and the world around them fell quiet.
For a moment, there was no Seoul, no Won Group, no betrayals.
Just two lonely hearts, finally seen.
---
End of Chapter 45