Chapter 1: "The Return of the ceo."
**"Wake up ! Sooyaa, Wake up !"
Her little brother's frantic voice shattered the morning silence.
His words trembled , . "How can she sleep when there's such a big problem going on " said his little brother Minjae .
Park sooyaa groaned ,pulling the blanket over her head "five more minutes ..." She mumbled sleepily but his hand kept pushing her gently yet persistently ,trying to stir her from her sleep.
Sooyaa groggily pushed herself up, her hair a tangled mess as she sat on the bed. Rubbing her tired eyes, she blinked at her younger brother, who stood by her bedside.
"What's wrong?" she muttered, her voice still thick with sleep.
Her brother, Minjae, fidgeted nervously, "The news… it's everywhere," he said, his voice trembling.
"What are you trying to say?" Frowning, Sooyaa reached for her phone on the nightstand. The bright screen lit up, and the moment her eyes landed on the headlines flashing across every major news site, the last traces of her sleep were gone.
A flood of notifications burst onto the screen.
Message after message from her office group chat detailed the chaos unfolding—the company's plummeting shares, and the dismissal of CEO and company secretary . band the impending arrival of an unknown yet powerful new ceo.
News saying "StarX company share price plunges—The CEO was dismissed for exploiting his position, engaging in corruption, and taking unauthorized commissions, with the company secretary complicit in his unethical dealings. The company is in turmoil ."
Her breath hitched. The company she worked for… the company she had built her career in… was crumbling before her eyes.
Min jae hesitated before blurting out, "I bought shares."
Sooyaa's head snapped toward him. "You what?"
"I-I invested almost all my savings into StarX when the stock price dropped. It's going to bounce back, right?" His voice wavered, a mix of hope and fear.
Sooyaa exhaled sharply, placing a hand on her head. "You…" She wanted to scold him, but the words died on her tongue. If things didn't turn around, Minjae savings would vanish.
Her fingers tightened around the phone as a thought struck her. A new CEO? Who?
Looking up, she met her brother's anxious gaze. "Who's taking over?" she asked, her voice steadier now.
His brother said, "No one knows who he is. The Media couldn't even get the name. But if he's stepping in at a time like this, he must be incredibly powerful."
Sooyaa muttered " literally, no one knows ...hmm quite interesting". A sense of satisfaction washed over Sooyaa's face, her lips curving into a faint smirk.
Her tense shoulders eased, and a glimmer of intrigue flickered in her eyes as if the mystery surrounding the new CEO had just become an exciting puzzle to unravel.
But she still had question that A nameless, faceless CEO? In a world where power was flaunted, why would someone choose to remain in the shadows?
His brother said, "No one knows who this new CEO is. His identity is completely hidden from the media."
Something about this felt… off.
And for reasons she couldn't explain, her heart pounded a little faster.
**"Sooyaa! Min jae! Breakfast is ready!"**
her mother's voice echoed from the kitchen, carrying a familiar warmth.they both said "yes mom! on the way".They both responded .
sooyaa sighed and got out of the bed.
Meanwhile, a private jet touched down smoothly on the runway. As the door opened, Kim tae hyung stepped out, his gaze sweeping across the horizon.
The crisp air greeted him, but his expression remained unreadable—calm. With a cold, unwavering voice, he murmured "finally.... after five years , three months, twelve days."
Beside him stood his friend, choi yeonjun impeccably dressed as a secretary. With a respectful tone, he said, "Sir, all the directors and department heads are waiting for you in the conference room.Sir, with your permission, shall we proceed?"
Inside the grand conference room,
Directors and department heads exchanged hushed words, their voices blending into a steady murmur. You could feel the tension—everyone was on edge, waiting for the new CEO to walk in
Among them sat Park Sooyaa, the Marketing Head, her fingers lightly tapping against the table. She, too, was waiting, curiosity and unease swirling within her.
Just then, her phone vibrated. Glancing down, she saw her brother's name flashing on the screen.
"Sooyaa! Father fell from chair while changing the fused bulb—we are in hospital right now! "
Her heart clenched. Without hesitation, she turned to her friend, the Finance Head, kang Hye jin and whispered urgently, "Something happened at home. Cover for me—I have to go."
Without waiting for a response, she rushed out of the room, unaware that in mere moments, the man she never expected to see again would walk through those doors.
As soon as Park Sooyaa rushed out of the office, her heels clicking against the marble floor, she barely spared a glance behind. She had no time to waste—her father was in the hospital. Pushing open the glass doors, she hailed a taxi and disappeared into the bustling streets of Seoul.
Just then—
A sleek, jet-black Maybach pulled up in front of the company entrance. The air seemed to still as the luxury car came to a perfect halt, its presence alone demanding attention.
The chauffeur stepped out first, moving swiftly to open the door.
And then—
A polished leather shoe touched the ground.
Click.
Then another.
Click.
Kim Tae-hyung emerged, his tall frame exuding an aura of unshakable power. He adjusted the cuff of his tailored black suit, his sharp gaze flickering up at the towering glass structure before him.
His return had begun.
The heavy conference room doors remained shut, but tension hung thick in the air.
Department heads and directors sat stiffly in their seats, exchanging nervous glances. The whispers had died down, leaving only an eerie silence.
Then,
Click... clack... click...
The unmistakable rhythm of polished leather echoed down the hall, making everyone in the room tense up. Each step was slow, steady—like he knew exactly what kind of effect it had. The room fell silent. Everyone froze.
The double doors swung open with a quiet authority, and there he stood—Kim Tae-hyung.
As he entered the room, all the directors and department heads immediately stood up, their postures stiff with respect and anticipation.
his polished shoes echoed against the marble floor, each step amplifying the tension in the air. With an air of absolute authority, he ascended the short flight of stairs, his piercing gaze scanning the room. Reaching the center of the stage,
he firmly gripped the sides of the microphone cabinet with both hands, his presence alone commanding silence before he even spoke.
The glow behind him cast long shadows, making him appear even more imposing. His charcoal-black suit fit him like a second skin, exuding effortless power.
His sharp, midnight eyes swept across the room, cold and assessing, causing even the most seasoned executives to shift in their seats. and enough to make even the most corrupt directors feel suffocated.
His presence alone was suffocating, a silent declaration that the era of weakness was over. He wasn't just returning to take charge.
He had returned to command.
Without a single word, he strode forward
---
As Kim Tae-hyung steps onto the stage, his eyes sweeping across the room—and just like that, the chatter stops. He grips the podium with both hands, his presence alone making even the most experienced directors sit a little straighter.
"Starx Company," he began, his voice cold and unwavering, "has suffered enough."
A heavy silence fell over the conference room as he let his words sink in.
"The incompetence and corruption of those before me have driven this company to the edge of collapse. The era of complacency is over." His gaze darkened.
"From this moment on, every decision, every action, will be scrutinized. I will not tolerate inefficiency, nor will I allow Starx to be tainted by greed and incompetence again."
He leaned slightly forward, his presence overwhelming. "I did not return to watch this company fall. I came to rebuild it—to reclaim its lost glory. so are you ready to take on the challenge or is it better for you to step aside".
The tension in the room was suffocating. No one dared to move, let alone speak.
Then, a final chilling statement, he added, "Consider this your only warning, and Now get back to work"
As he turned to leave, his sharp eyes caught sight of an empty chair. His expression darkened slightly as he spoke in a cold, commanding tone,
"Where is our Marketing Director?"
Sooyaa's friend, kang Hye jin ( finance Head ), quickly responded, "Sir, she had to leave due to some emergency."
A brief silence filled the room before he replied, his voice firm and emotionless, "When she returns, tell her to meet me in my office."
Without another word, he turned on his heels and strode out of the room, his presence lingering like a storm that had just passed.
A heavy silence settled over the room, the directors exchanging uneasy glances, their hands tightening on the table's edge.
Meanwhile ,
Sooyaa leaned back in the taxi after settling the family emergency. unaware of the storm she was about to face.
Her phone vibrated non-stop, notifications from her office group flooding her screen…
Chats says----
Chat: "He's so handsome!"
"I couldn't even breathe when he looked my way."
Chat: "Forget the CEO for a second… have you noticed his secretary? That man is walking perfection! [heart eyes emoji]"
Chat: "I swear, it's illegal for both the CEO and the secretary to be this good-looking. [fire emoji]"
Chat: "Too bad they both look like they'd fire us for even blinking too loud. [skull emoji]"
Chat : "Did you see ceo's shadow? For a second, it looked just like a prince, standing tall and regal."
Chat: "He's terrifyingly cold. Just one glance and I felt like I was frozen solid."
Chat: "But let's be honest… both are ridiculously good-looking."
Sooyaa frowned, scrolling through the nonstop chatter. "Seriously? The CEO just arrived, and they're already gossiping? Do they have nothing better to do?
Just then, another notification popped up.
Finance Head:" The CEO wants to meet you. He noticed your empty chair and asked for you to report to his office.
you'll be shocked when you find out who the new ceo and secretary are. My dear friend you can do it (afraid emoji)."
Sooyaa's breath hitched. Her grip on the phone tightened as a wave of unease washed over her.
" The CEO I knew? and He Noticed?"
" Why .....whyyyy ....does this always happen to me " the frustration is building up within him."
Her expression paled instantly, making her look as if she had just passed out.
Sooyaa stepped into the office, her heart pounding as she approached the large wooden door. Taking a deep breath, she knocked twice.
"Knock knock"
"Come in,." said the ceo
The deep, commanding voice sent a shiver down her spine. She pushed the door open and stepped inside, her gaze instantly drawn to the grand office bathed in golden sunlight.
The CEO's chair was turned away from her, facing the vast city skyline.
Bowing slightly, she spoke, in a very sweet and polite way"I apologize for not attending the conference. It was an emergency, and I—" She hesitated, noticing the eerie silence.
No response.
''__"
Curiosity got the best of her. She shifted on her feet, tilting her head, trying to catch a glimpse of the mysterious CEO. Was he ignoring her?
Her eyes darted around the room, searching for any clue. Then, she landed on the sleek nameplate on the desk—its golden letters gleaming under the sunlight.
**CEO Kim Tae hyung .**
Her breath hitched.
Before she could react,
the chair slowly rolled, turning toward her.
Sooyaa's eyes widened in shock and a chill ran down her spine. She was at a loss for words.
"What the—....."
" Eyes met eyes
Silence met silence."
** "End of chapter: 1"
"To be continued...."
" Next chapter will be publish on Tuesday April, 15 2025 ..." ^_^
*Thank you*