mysterious man

The Mysterious Stranger & Rising Tensions

Monday mornings, were never my favorite, and today was no exception. As I woke up, a familiar discomfort reminded me that, I was on my period, and with that came my unpredictable mood swing. Sighing, I pushed myself out of bed and took a long, warm shower,, hoping it would help soothe my nerves..

Once I was dressed,, I picked up my phone and dialed my driver, Alic..

"Hello, Alic?? Can you come right now?? And please, don't be late... I'm really not in the mood to argue today."

Alic, ever patient with my morning grumpiness,, simply chuckled. "Okay, Miss Rimi, I'm on my way."

Still feeling a little restless, I decided to go downstairs to see my stepmother,, Losi. But when I reached her room, she wasn't there. I asked the butler, and he told me she was in the garden..

When I walked outside,, the sight before me brought a rare smile to my lips. Losi was carefully tending to my rose plants,, her delicate hands brushing over the petals as if they were precious jewels. Unable to resist, I wrapped my arms around her from behind, resting my chin on her shoulder...

Without even turning around,, she chuckled. "What happened, my little troublemaker??You're up early. Did you have a nightmare? And did you take your pills?"

I sighed. "No nightmares. Just mood swings. I'm heading to a café to get my favorite doughnuts and hot chocolate."

She turned to face me, concern flickering in her eyes. "I was getting worried about you. But before you go,, make sure to contact your personal assistant. I heard that a new company is trying to compete with us. We can't let anyone threaten Mirain Company,, sweetheart."

I nodded. "I'll take care of it. Don't worry."

With that, I left for my car. Alic had been waiting for me for fifteen minutes,, and pang of guilt settled in my chest. The sun was bright, the day unusually beautiful, and despite my bad mood, I couldn't help but feel a little lighter..

A Familiar Face in the Shadows,

Once we arrived at the cafe , I wasted no time ordering my favorite doughnuts and hot chocolate. While taking the first heavenly bite, I pulled out my phone and called my assistant, "Luna".

She picked up on the first ring.

"Hello, Ma'am. How can I assist you?"

"I heard that a new company is trying to compete with us.. Is that true?"

Luna sighed. "Yes, ma'am, it is. The company is growing ridiculously fast, and from what I've heard, the CEO might be involved in some illegal activities, We're still investigating."

My brows furrowed.

"Alright. Keep me updated."

After finishing my food, I headed straight to my office. But as I stepped out of the car, my eyes caught sight of a tall, unfamiliar figure standing near the entrance,,, My heart skipped a beat.

" He looked exactly like Adrian ".

No. It couldn't be. Adrian was.... gone,

Shaking off the strange feeling, I brushed past the thought and headed inside, burying myself in work for the next hour. Eventually, exhaustion crept in,, and I decided to call it a day.

Alic had taken a half-day leave, so I had to drive myself home. As I walked towards my car in the basement parking lot, I felt a sudden impact as, I bumped into someone.

Strong hands caught me before I could stumble....

For a moment, time stood still.

As I lifted my gaze, my breath hitched. It was him. The man from earlier— the one who looked just like Adrian..

His deep eyes locked onto mine,,, and I felt a strange connection between us , unexplainable connection, like I knew him.... but how??

We stood there, neither of us speaking, our eyes lingering on each other for a few heartbeats too long. And then, just like that, he smiled—a slow, knowing smile—before turning and walking away without a word.

My heart pounded in my chest. Who was he?? And why did I feel like I had seen him before??

Before I could process my thoughts, my phone rang. It was Luna.

"RIMI!! HOW COULD YOU DUMP ALL THIS WORK ON ME?? I'M NOT YOUR SLAVE !!"

I chuckled. "Luna, my dear, please do this for me. Just this once."

Luna—, No way! You always manipulate me! This is BLACKMAIL!"

"Please, please, please " I pleaded sweetly.

Luna groaned. "Ugh! Fine! But you owe me!" She hung up.

Later that evening, as I was settling into bed, Luna called again.

"RIMI! QUEEN'S COMPANY IS COMPETING WITH US!"

I frowned. "Calm down, Luna. I've never even heard of them in Korea. What's going on??"

"That's the problem! No one has! And yet, they're already competing with South Korea's number-one makeup brand—our company! There's something suspicious going on!!"

I sighed. "I'll deal with this after a week. I'm going to my friend's wedding,, and I need a break."

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Luna screeched.

"Yes. Hold down the company until I'm back. Bye-bye!!"

Hanging up, I leaned back against my pillows. But no matter how hard I tried,, my mind kept drifting back to that man in the parking..

Who was he? And why did he feel so familiar?

Little did I know, my world was about to change in ways I could never have imagined…

To Be Continued…

In the next chapter,, we uncover the truth about the mysterious man,, the secrets of Adrian, and what awaits Rimi at the wedding. Stay tuned for romance, drama, and unexpected twists!!