It was a gala for the elites—polished shoes, designer gowns, and smiles carved like sculpture. The annual Titan Entertainment party was more business than pleasure. For most.
But not for Seo Seungah.
Tonight, she wasn't a rookie. Not a slum rat from Busan. Not the orphan who had memorized audition lines under a flickering streetlamp.
Tonight, she was bait.
And the man she planned to catch?
Kang Gwonhyun.
CEO of Titan. Billionaire. Ruthless. Unreachable.
Exactly her type.
She walked into the ballroom dressed like trouble disguised as innocence—off-shoulder satin in a shade just a little too soft, paired with heels sharp enough to stab. Her hair was curled to look effortless. Her smile? Practiced.
Men looked.
Women stared.
But she kept her eyes on only one man.
Him.
He didn't look impressed.
Kang Gwonhyun stood at the center of the room like he owned it—because he did. Sharp suit. Sharper gaze. The kind of man who didn't entertain nonsense. The kind who could ruin careers with a sentence.
The kind of man who didn't flinch when a woman like her walked by.
Good.
She didn't want him easy.
She wanted him intrigued.
Seungah waited. Not too long. Just enough to make her appearance feel like coincidence.
"CEO Kang," she said sweetly, bowing. "I'm Seo Seungah. Newly signed under Titan."
His eyes flicked over her. "I know."
That startled her, just a little.
"You've been trending," he added. "A rookie who knows how to steal camera time."
Seungah's lips curved. "Stealing is such a dirty word. I just take what others don't know how to use."
He said nothing. Sipped his drink.
Bored?
No.
Calculating.
"You're not like the other trainees," he said finally.
"I take that as a compliment."
"It wasn't one."
She laughed. Not offended. Not intimidated.
"Then I'll work harder," she said, stepping closer. Close enough for perfume and eye contact. "To earn the compliment."
He watched her for a second longer than necessary.
Then turned to leave.
No flirtation. No favor. No extra attention.
Just a lingering thought in his mind he wouldn't admit.
And for her?
It was enough.
Because now she knew: he noticed.
And that was the beginning of everything.