The street was dead silent. Shadows stretched over crumbling walls as a soft breeze stirred the litter along the deserted alley. A row of buildings stood forgotten, their windows boarded, doors sealed with rusted chains. No signs of life—only remnants of a place long abandoned, now ruled by silence and secrets.
At the far end of the street, a small group emerged.
She walked ahead—alone—but not unprotected. Behind her, a line of guards followed like silent shadows, all dressed in black, armed, and alert. But as they neared the building, she raised a hand without a word. They stopped immediately. This was her business. Her battlefield.
She continued forward, her steps slow and deliberate.
Dressed in a sleek black trench coat, cinched perfectly at the waist, she exuded sharp elegance. Black leather gloves clung to her fingers, her heels clicking softly against the cold pavement. A hood framed her partially covered face, hiding her from the cameras that blinked red above. Every part of her screamed control, danger, and untouchable grace.
As she reached the entrance, she halted for a brief moment.
A faint shift in the air... or maybe just instinct.
Something felt off.
But she didn't flinch. She walked inside.
The building's interior was dim, washed in flickering light and thick air. Cracked walls surrounded her like worn bones of a once-living place.
There he was—Jang Dae-sik, waiting.
Shin Hye (voice calm but glacial):
"So, here you are. Why choose a place like this? It's dangerous to deal in ghost towns."
Jang Dae-sik (watching her carefully):
"I wanted to speak face-to-face. The last shipment you sent—wasn't up to standard. I can't continue with the agreement."
Shin Hye (a cold smile flickering across her lips):
"Not up to standard?"
A soft scoff escaped her, sharp and disbelieving.
"What I sell doesn't exist on any street. It's crafted. Controlled. Ours."
Jang Dae-sik (pulling something from his coat, tossing it toward her):
"Then explain this."
Shin Hye (voice flat, unreadable):
"How do I know you're not just playing both sides?"
Jang Dae-sik (cool smirk, no hesitation):
"If I wanted to screw you over, I wouldn't be standing here. You're the only supplier worth the risk."
Shin Hye (a slight tilt of her head, voice icy):
"Fair enough. You'll get your discount."
A breath passes—measured, quiet.
"And I'll find the one who's foolish enough to think they can steal from me."Dae-sik (watching her leave, voice cold):
"New member, huh? Make sure it's not him who betrayed you. Love weakens a woman."
Shin Hye (without turning, voice sharp as ice):
"Love? Me and love? Don't waste your breath. The new guy's a friend. I keep my eyes on him."
[Later, in the car. Shin Hye speaks to Kim Tae-hyun.]
(Her right hand. Silent, calculating, and dangerously loyal. He doesn't speak much, but when he does—it matters. Shin Hye trusts no one like she trusts him.)
Shin Hye (calm but deadly serious):
"Someone leaked our formula."
Tae-hyun (dark tone):
"That's bad. It'll make things... complicated."
Shin Hye (eyes narrowing, cold):
"Do you suspect anyone?"
Tae-hyun (measured, voice low):
"Park Ji-hoon walked in too clean for this business. Men like him don't stay clean unless they're hiding something."
A beat.
"But it's Alex I really doubt. He vanished the moment everything started falling apart."
Shin Hye (flat, final):
"I thought the same."