Stage Drama

A few minutes ago.

Ada sat on the toilet with the weight of her world pressing down on her shoulders. Her elbows rested on her knees, her head in her hands, as she groaned like a child who got socks instead of a present on Christmas.

"Aww man, this sucks…"

She muttered, her voice muffled by her palms.

She still couldn't believe it — she got caught staring at Director Kang. Director Kang! Out of all the people she could have spaced out in front of, why did it have to be the worst one?

"He probably thinks I'm gonna expose his secret about being gay or something like that…"

She mumbled, staring blankly at the bathroom stall door.

"But I don't care about that… I have gay friends."

She sighed as her slightly dry lips curled into a miserable, defeated smile.

"Sigh~ I'm so dead."

The smile she wore on her face.

It wasn't the hopeful, everything-will-work-out kind.

No.

It was the kind people wore when their entire world was falling apart, and they just had to sit there and take it.

Just then, the sound of heels clicking against the tiled floor made her lift her head slightly.

Two female employees walked in.

"Ugh, I'm so full…" one of them groaned.

"Yeah, I ate too much. Ugh… I seriously need to go on a super strict diet."

The first lady scoffed. "Uh-huh… you always say that."

They stepped up to the bathroom mirror, fixing their hair, adjusting their makeup—making sure every strand, every stroke of foundation powder was perfect.

After all, if they looked good enough, maybe — just maybe — one of the rich senior execs would finally take notice of them. Maybe one of those very generous creditors who visited the company would see them as more than just another office worker.

It was a silly dream, but a dream nonetheless.

Meanwhile, Ada sat in her stall, clasping her hands together and taking deep breaths.

"Okay, okay, okay…"

She spoke to herself.

"Forget about Director Kang, focus on the real problem — how to present my product."

She nodded to herself, psyching herself up.

"I'm confident. I'm well-spoken… unless the crowd turns on me… oh no, what if I panic? What if I—"

She froze, her face paling.

『What if I pee myself?』

Memories of her school days flashed before her eyes — of being called Mrs. Peebody because stage fright made her lose control of her bladder in front of the entire class.

She pumped her fists.

"No! That was the past! I'm a grown woman now!"

She nodded firmly.

"One who's not ashamed that she's working at Burger Shack and not giving Dad the life he deserves!"

Then she paused.

"Wait… that didn't come out right."

Just then, her thoughts were interrupted by the conversation outside.

"You heard about the entrepreneur competition, right?"

One woman said.

"Apparently, it was Gabriel Hart's idea."

"Yeah… the better Hart brother…"

The other woman replied as she gracefully applied a fresh layer of lipstick.

"But let's be real, he probably only did it to impress Miss Hughes. I mean, who doesn't want to impress that woman, she's a literal goddess in office wear. They were also childhood friends, you know?"

Ada tilted her head slightly, listening.

"Miss Hughes?"

"Uh-huh. And get this—she and her fiancé aren't on good terms. Looks like she's planning to leave him."

"Oh wow. Well, good for her. High-class women shouldn't marry South District garbage anyway."

The two women chuckled, like their words weren't cutting deep.

Ada looked down at the dress — washed so many times it was barely holding together.

Its only value was in the person who used to wear it.

"They have a point…" she muttered.

Her grip tightened around the fabric.

But the conversation wasn't over.

"I also heard a rumor…"

One of them said, lowering her voice dramatically.

"That Miss Hughes actually has a thing for Director Kang."

Ada's brows shot up.

Juicy company gossip? Of course she'd listen more.

"What? But she's also childhood friends with Gabriel?"

"Yep. The classic childhood love triangle. Never ends well."

"Well, if I had to pick, CEO Hart is the better choice. He's so much more handsome."

"Eh, Director Kang is just as good-looking…"

Her colleague argued as she powdered her nose.

"If he bulked up a little and stopped being so lean, he'd have more women around him."

"Pfft──! As if! That psycho with his garbage personality? No fucking thanks!"

The two of them giggled, like it was all just office gossip.

Just fun little rumors to keep their day going.

Then, the flush of a toilet echoed through the restroom.

Ada stormed out of the stall.

Her footsteps carried heavy irritation.

She walked straight to the sink, completely ignoring the two women gawking at her.

The first woman's eyes narrowed. "Who's she?"

The second sniffed. "A crazy bitch, that's who."

Ada dried her hands with a towel and turned toward them with an unbothered expression.

"Hmm… this place smells like cheap makeup and desperate women hoping for some sugar daddy money…"

She said it so casually, before walking out of the bathroom like she owned it.

The women were left in stunned silence.

But Ada? She was fired up.

Or at least… she was — until she found herself standing on that stage.

And James Kang — Director Kang — was staring at her with pure disgust.

The weight of his eyes made her stomach turn.

It wasn't just scrutiny.

It wasn't just judgment.

It was something harsher, something uglier.

She barely registered the murmurs of the crowd.

Some people wanted to step in—wanted to tell James off for his blatant hostility. But no one did. Because he wasn't just some executive. He wasn't just the company's rising star.

He was James Kang.

Golden Group's representative on the board.

And there were very few people in that room who could afford to challenge him.

James slowly descended the auditorium steps.

His microphone was close to his lips.

Alfred wanted to stop him──but the young man had made his mind and he couldn't stop him now.

"Didn't you hear me? Talk."

James's voice was dangerously low.

Ada swallowed hard.

"I-, I… it's not stolen! I—"

"TALK!"

She flinched. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest.

Panicked, she rushed to her booth as her pale hands shook so violently that she could barely hold her product steady.

"This—this is called the Comfy Tech Ecosystem—CTE! I-, I-, I worked on it with my late mother… it consists of four things — a holographic smartphone, a special phone with self-repair screens made from a polymer that can heal minor scratches and cracks over time, modular tablets… th-, these have inter— interchangeable parts like camera, ba—!"

James didn't let her finish.

With one swift kick—CRASH!—her booth toppled over.

Ada stumbled backward.

Her breath hitched as terror seized her.

She barely had time to react before James grabbed her by the collar and yanked her up so roughly that the weak fabric of her dress tore.

"CTE?!"

His voice was sharp with fury.

"You? You and your rotting mother didn't make this!"

Ada's vision blurred.

"You stole it… I know you did because my… my…"

James seethed as his grip tightened.

"You're nothing but a thief."

He shoved her back—hard.

Ada fell as her hands scraped against the stage floor.

The world spun.

James exhaled a slow, trembling breath.

He ran a hand through his hair as his face turned blank.

Then──he laughed. Low. Unhinged.

"Get out…" he said.

Ada just sat there. Frozen.

James' jaw clenched. His eyes darkened.

"… Before I kill you where you stand."

Ada fearfully bit her lip, swallowed her pride, and slowly, shakily, stood up.

She adjusted her hair — trying to save whatever kind of dignity a poor man's daughter has in front of all these privileged, pot-bellied rich folks — lifted her chin… and shamefully turned toward the exit.

But before she could take a step—CRASH!

James smashed another one of her devices.

"GET. OUT."

Ada flinched.

Then—without a word—she walked off the stage.

Ada's steps were slow, unsteady.

Each movement forward felt like pushing through quicksand as her breath caught in her throat as the weight of humiliation pressed down on her shoulders.

The murmurs in the crowd didn't help.

"She looks so devastated…"

"I mean, how could he do that to her?"

"RIGHT──?! That was pure malice."

"She worked on that project with her mother… her late mother didn't she? My God…"

The words cut, but the pity stung even worse.

Ada kept her head down, biting her lip to stop another wave of tears from spilling. The pain in her chest was unbearable, like someone had reached inside and squeezed her heart dry.

At the orchestra, Gabriel Hart sat rigid, his hands clasped tightly together as his jaw clenched.

He felt Vivian's sharp glare drilling into the side of his face, but he didn't dare look at her. He knew exactly what she wanted—his reaction, his outrage, his defense of Ada. But instead, he simply lowered his head and closed his eyes.

Coward.

Vivian's lips curled into a snarl as her nails dug into her palms. Gabriel wasn't going to do anything—wasn't going to say anything. He was too afraid of the consequences, too afraid of what it would mean for his reputation.

Meanwhile, James Kang stood on stage, basking in his own fury as his chest rose and fell like a rabid beast. But when he noticed the people recording, his anger took on a new shape.

"What the hell are you taking pictures of?!"

He barked, eyes snapping toward the crowd.

"You should be focusing on the damn thief walking out of here, not me!"

He jabbed a finger in Ada's direction.

"Look at her!"

His voice exploded.

"Dressed in rags, hair like a dead rat, and smelling like a fucking toilet air freshener and piss!"

Ada nearly stumbled on the stairs, her hands trembling as she wiped at her tears. She couldn't stop them from falling. She felt so weak—so utterly powerless. Each step felt like dragging chains as her legs barely held her upright.

But the cameras weren't turning away from James.

This only infuriated him further.

"What? You think taking pictures of me is gonna make you rich, huh? Dumb fucks! Keep filming if you want, but get a good look at that disgrace of a woman too!"

The crowd wasn't swayed by his outburst.

In fact, more people began recording.

At that moment, Alfred finally made his move.

He had already called Security Manager Figgins, and within seconds, the guards were swarming in.

"Secure the area!" Alfred ordered.

"Understood!"

Figgins barked, quickly signaling his men to confiscate phones and clear out anyone causing a disturbance.

Some of the more stubborn young entrepreneurs resisted, but the security team was quick and efficient, silencing most of the onlookers before things got further out of hand.

Alfred, however, had his eyes locked onto James.

His fingers twitched.

There was only one way to shut that lunatic up.

Swoosh!

A swift, precise chop to the neck.

Or at least, that's how it was supposed to go.

James… dodged.

Alfred's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

『What…?』

For the first time in years, James had reacted — like an animal sensing danger.

But Alfred wasn't one to hesitate.

Without missing a moment, he swept James' legs out from under him and delivered another chop — this time successfully striking the nerve point.

James crumpled like a marionette with its strings cut.

THUD!

He collapsed onto the stage.

The hall fell silent.

Alfred exhaled slowly, shaking his head.

"Should've done that ten minutes ago…"

Gabriel, who had remained seated the entire time, finally met Alfred's gaze.

There was no understanding in that look.

No friendliness. Just cold acknowledgment.

Adjusting his tie, Gabriel rose from his seat and strode out of the hall, leaving the chaos behind.

And that was how the program ended.

･･･

Days Later…

At Hart Global Corporation.

The atmosphere was unexpectedly light.

After all, seeing James Kang get publicly humiliated had been the highlight of the year. With him gone, work felt easier — like a weight had been lifted off the company's chest.

But for two people, time dragged on unbearably slow.

Alfred.

Vivian.

Alfred spent his days meticulously cleaning the massive Kang Manor, hoping — praying — that James would finally open his damn door. But no matter how many times he knocked, no answer ever came.

And then, there was Vivian.

Every. Single. Day.

She showed up.

She always had an excuse.

On the first day, she came looking for a few of her "forgotten" underwear.

Alfred, however, was prepared.

『Does she think I'm naive? I know that women like to mark their territory by leaving little things behind, from underwear to even a hairbrush. But I won't let her shameless tricks disturb Master James' peace! She might have the beauty of a swan, but she's just a vixen!』

He had already collected all eight pieces she had conveniently left around the house, neatly packed them in a plastic bag using gloves. When she arrived, he handed them to her with a polite but smug smile.

"I believe that's all, right…?"

Vivian's eye twitched.

She took the bag with gritted teeth, then muttered—

"Yeah…"

But the sheer amount of suppressed rage in that one word was almost enough to make Alfred chuckle.

On the second day, she tried a different approach — dropping off some "important" documents.

This time, Alfred had security stop her at the gate.

"Sorry, ma'am. You're not allowed past this point."

Vivian's face twisted in fury.

"Do you know who I am?! I demand to see that arrogant butler and James right now—"

"Sorry, that won't be possible."

Vivian turned to the surveillance camera and scowled.

It was almost as if she knew Alfred was watching.

Then, she promptly raised her middle finger at it.

Inside the security room, Alfred placed a hand over his chest in dramatic shock.

"OH! The audacity!"

He angrily tapped his comm—almost like a child.

"Get her out."

The security guards immediately carried her away.

And Vivian just kicked wildly like a prostitute being escorted out of a politician's home.

"LET GO OF ME! I KNOW MY RIGHTS, YOU BASTARDS! I'M A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMAN—"

On the third day, she upped the ante.

Hidden in a small forest opposite Kang Manor, dressed in a black hoodie and sweatpants — the typical Korean stalker and serial killer uniform — she gripped a drone controller like a woman on a mission.

"Yes… finally, I'll see what that bastard's been up to…"

The drone whirred to life and rose into the air.

It glided over the manor's gates.

She smirked, watching the live feed.

Just as she neared the main building—

SPLAT!

A rock obliterated the drone mid-air.

Standing in the courtyard, Alfred calmly lowered his makeshift catapult. He walked over to the fallen wreckage, then stared directly into the drone's camera.

"Really, Miss Hughes?"

He drawled, looking like a disappointed parent.

"You do have a fiancé, don't you? Shouldn't you be… I don't know, checking up on him instead?"

Vivian's face burned bright red.

She folded her arms, pouted, and turned away from the camera like a child caught stealing cookies.

"Hmph! I wasn't spying, okay?! I was just—testing out Hart Corp's new drones! That's all!"

Alfred smiled smugly.

"Uh-huh, sure."

He stepped on the drone, crushing it under his heel.

From across the street—

"FUUUUUUUUUCK!"

The scream was so loud that every bird in the forest scattered like they'd heard a gunshot.

On the fourth day, she didn't even try.

She just sat outside Kang Manor, staring at her phone with such a defeated look as she scrolled through a long list of unread messages to James.

[Vivian: Come on, answer me already. 🙄]

[Vivian: Do you always have to act like a damn child?]

[Vivian: I'm sure the Chairman isn't angry at you okay? I told my dad to talk with him, so everything should be fine. Now can you please stop this ghosting thing and come back to work before Golden Group fires you?]

[Vivian: Don't you care about your inheritance?]

[Vivian: James… please… 🥺]

[Vivian: Okay, that last emoji was kinda corny 🤧 but that doesn't change what I said, alright?]

All read.

All ignored.

Her grip tightened around the device.

"That son of a bitch…"

She hissed under her breath.

"What the hell is he doing…? And why the fuck is he ignoring my damn texts?!"

━ ━ ━ ━

What was James doing all this while?

Well, that was something that Alfred finally figured out when he got impatient and just pushed the doors to his master's bedroom open.

"Oh…"

What he saw left him in shock.

"My goodness…"