Deal Under the Spotlight

[Conference Room – Camera Flashes, Enthusiastic Applause]

A wave of applause rippled through the room, warm and charged with excitement, as if everyone present knew they were about to witness an extraordinary moment.

Max Baker, the influential businessman, stood up and gestured toward Evelyn Durant, the renowned singer, inviting her to take a seat at the negotiation table.

With a calm yet authoritative voice, he said,

"Miss Evelyn, please have a seat. We have much to discuss."

Before Evelyn could step toward the chair, the towering guard, Lee, moved suddenly. His presence was commanding as he took a swift step forward toward her designated seat.

With a smooth motion, he pulled the chair out for her, then spoke in a deep yet calm voice:

"Please, have a seat, ma'am."

Max Baker hesitated for a moment, narrowing his eyes in surprise. He hadn't noticed this man's presence throughout the entire meeting—as if his very existence had been concealed from perception.

Examining him closely, Max then turned to Evelyn with a curious yet cautious tone,

"And who might this be?"

Evelyn offered a gentle smile and a subtle nod before responding in a soft but proud voice,

"He's my personal bodyguard."

Max glanced at the man again, this time with sharper scrutiny. Something about him unsettled him. He wasn't just any ordinary guard. A faint chill ran down Max's spine as an unsettling thought crept into his mind:

"I'm an A-rank hunter… and yet, I didn't sense him at all? That's not normal…"

His gaze shifted to the man's powerful build, his serious demeanor, and the way he stood—calm yet ready, exuding no hostility yet appearing capable of neutralizing any threat in an instant. The realization deepened his unease.

"He's suppressing his aura on purpose… which means his level is incredibly high. No wonder he went unnoticed. Evelyn Durant… what an intriguing woman."

Wiping a bead of cold sweat from his brow with his finger, Max turned back to Evelyn and smirked, his tone lighthearted yet laced with caution,

"It seems you have a rather… interesting bodyguard."

Evelyn placed a delicate hand over her lips, a soft smile playing on her face, before responding gently,

"Thank you. I appreciate that."

At that moment, Jean-Claude, the head of the Taradin branch, rose from his seat and pulled out a thick contract from his luxurious leather briefcase. With a deliberate motion, he placed it on the table.

Speaking in a formal tone, he shifted his gaze from Evelyn to Leo, the creator of "Goja Cola," and said,

"Now, let's move on to the key points. This is the official contract outlining the collaboration between Goja Cola and Miss Evelyn Durant. We will now discuss profit distribution and promotional strategy."

Taking a brief breath, he continued,

"Under this agreement, Miss Evelyn Durant will promote our new product through the release of an exclusive song. In return, Mr. Leo, the creator of the product and its original formula, will receive 10% of the profits."

Leo's eyebrows shot up in visible shock. He couldn't stop himself from blurting out,

(Hesitantly) "Ten percent? But… I'm just an employee in the company. I wasn't expecting a share like that…"

A short chuckle escaped Max Baker, followed by Evelyn, who covered her mouth with a smile, as if she found his reaction amusing.

(Max Baker, amused) "Leo, you really are an entertaining guy. It seems you haven't realized your own worth yet!"

Then, with a firm nod, Max turned to Jean-Claude and decisively said,

"Make it 15%. Leo is no ordinary employee—he's ambitious, and we need people like him in this company."

The shock on Leo's face deepened. He stared at Max for a moment, still struggling to process what was happening.

"But… I've never been given an opportunity like this before…"

Max waved a hand dismissively, as if the matter had already been settled.

"Consider it an incentive… and don't worry, your promotion is coming soon."

Leo swallowed hard as he stared at the contract in front of him, still unable to believe he was receiving such treatment.

Meanwhile, Jean-Claude continued dividing the shares:

Jean-Claude: "As for Miss Evelyn, she will receive 35% of the profits, while the remaining percentage goes to the company."

Everyone turned to Evelyn, anticipating her reaction, but she didn't seem interested at all. She simply gave a slight nod before speaking in a calm, almost indifferent tone:

Evelyn: "I'm only concerned about Leo's comfort."

A brief silence filled the room as Max Baker and Jean-Claude exchanged quick glances. That was not the response they had expected.

Then, after a moment, Evelyn smiled warmly and looked directly at Leo, her gaze carrying something unspoken. In a soft yet heartfelt tone, she repeated:

Evelyn: "All I care about is Leo's peace of mind."

Leo's eyes widened slightly, and his face quickly flushed red. He wasn't sure if she was joking or if she truly meant it. Lowering his head slightly, he murmured shyly:

Leo: "Thank you, Miss Evelyn…"

But not everyone in the room shared the same sentiment. At that moment, a wave of envy spread among some of the attendees—even Maurice, who had been silently observing, frowned slightly, masking his expression.

With a hoarse voice and a single tear shimmering on his cheek, Maurice muttered:

Maurice: "It seems… I'll just surrender to you, Leo."

Meanwhile, Max Baker raised an eyebrow, smirking to himself as he whispered:

Max Baker: "What a lucky guy…"

On the other side of the room, Jean-Claude and a few employees exchanged side glances, all unable to suppress the same thought that had crossed their minds simultaneously:

"How does someone like Leo get this lucky?"

[Conference Room – The Atmosphere Filled with Satisfaction and Success After Signing the Contract]

Raising his golden glass with a satisfied smile, Max Baker turned to the attendees and said confidently:

Max Baker: "Now that our collaboration is official, what do you say to taking a commemorative photo with Miss Evelyn? This will have a strong impact when we announce the project to the world."

Murmurs spread through the room before everyone agreed enthusiastically.

Max gestured to one of his assistants, who quickly left to summon the press. Within minutes, journalists entered, adjusting their cameras and lighting as Max, Evelyn, Leo, and the other executives lined up for the photo.

As the camera flashes went off, Evelyn stood calmly with a professional smile on her lips, while Leo struggled to hide his nervousness, unaccustomed to being in the spotlight. Moments later, the shoot ended, and the branch managers began shaking hands, preparing to leave.

Max Baker approached Leo, extending his hand firmly as he spoke in a friendly yet formal tone:

Max Baker: "You did a great job today, Leo. I hope the project goes as planned… and I look forward to meeting you again in the future."

Leo shook his hand firmly, responding with an eager smile:

Leo: "I'll do my best, Mr. Baker. Thank you for this opportunity."

[After the Meeting – In the Hallway Outside the Conference Room]

Leo walked beside Evelyn, his face glowing with happiness and pride. The cool night air brushed against his skin, but all he felt was the warmth of achievement.

Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice call his name. Turning around, he saw Lilia and Elena approaching him with quick steps.

With excitement laced in her voice, Lilia asked curiously:

Lilia: "How was the meeting? Did everything go as planned?"

Before responding, Leo let out a light laugh, then stepped closer and pulled both of them into a wide embrace.

Leo: "We did it! They loved the idea, and the deal is sealed!"

Lilia's face turned slightly red from the unexpected hug, and she stammered, trying to collect herself:

Lilia: "O-Oh… W-Well! Congratulations, Leo!"

As for Elena, she hesitated for a moment before offering a shy smile and softly saying:

Elena: "Well done, Leo. I knew you would succeed."

Just then, as Leo was still celebrating with them, he felt something tug sharply at the hem of his suit. He quickly turned, only to find Evelyn staring at him with narrowed eyes and a small smile—one that concealed something else beneath it.

Evelyn raised an eyebrow slightly and whispered in a quiet yet jealousy-tinged voice,

"How long do you plan to keep this up, you little rascal?"

Leo felt a slight sting of embarrassment as he pulled away from the hug, rubbing the back of his head with an awkward smile.

"Haha… I didn't mean anything by it, just excitement, that's all!"

Lilia and Elena chuckled, while Leo turned his head away from Evelyn's gaze, trying to avoid any further comments from her. However, he couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something different in her tone—something that meant more than the words themselves.

Before he could dwell on it any longer, the sound of slow, weary footsteps reached them. Everyone looked up to see someone approaching, shoulders slumped forward as if dragging himself with every step.

Jonathan.

Leo's senior colleague at work, the one entrusted with presenting their project before the committee. But he wasn't in his best shape—his face was pale, and dark circles framed his eyes, as if he had fought a long battle with exhaustion.

Leo raised an eyebrow in surprise before stepping toward him.

"Jonathan? You look like you haven't slept in a week!"

Elena, visibly concerned, moved closer and gently placed a hand on his arm as if she could sense his weakness.

"Are you okay? You look… awful."

Jonathan stared at them for a moment before letting out a rough chuckle. He then tilted his head back, looking utterly drained, as if standing alone required too much effort.

"Work has drained me all night… I can't even tell the sun from the moon anymore."

A genuine look of worry crossed Elena's face—this wasn't mere politeness or casual concern; it was something deeper. She instinctively reached for his wrist, as if debating whether to pull him down to sit or insist that he rest. But she quickly withdrew her hand, realizing the others might notice.

Too late.

It wasn't obvious to everyone, but something about her reaction felt off—too much concern, too much care. Leo wasn't the only one who noticed. Lilia and Evelyn exchanged quick glances, as if silently acknowledging an unspoken truth between the lines.

Still, no one said a word.

Jonathan, raising an eyebrow slightly, smirked in exhaustion as he studied Elena for a moment.

"Should I be worried that someone here looks at me as if I'm a fragile piece of glass?"

Elena ignored his teasing, responding in a soft voice that carried something else—something unspoken.

"And should it worry you that someone here sees you as more than just a fragile piece of glass?"

He hadn't expected that reply. His smile faltered for a second before it returned—this time, different. Less exhausted. More… intrigued. He tilted his head slightly, as if trying to examine her words from a new angle.

"So, you see something else? That makes me curious. What exactly do you see?"

A small smile curled on her lips, as if she knew exactly where he was trying to lead the conversation. She placed a hand on her hip and answered in a low, challenging voice,

"If I told you, would you be able to see it for yourself? Or would you still only see what everyone else does?"

His eyes narrowed slightly, as if she had just handed him an interesting puzzle. But instead of backing down, he took a few steps closer, unconsciously closing the space between them. His voice was quiet, but it carried something deeper.

"I suppose the only way to find out… is if you give me a hint. Maybe one right now?"

Elena let out a light laugh, tilting her head as if debating whether he deserved an answer. Then, blinking slowly—giving him enough time to sink into her words—she spoke in a soft, measured tone.

"A hint? Alright… You are more than you think, but less than what you wish to be."

He stared at her for a moment before chuckling and shaking his head, as if she had just thrown him into a labyrinth he wasn't prepared for.

"That's unfair, Elena… You just made it more complicated than I expected."

She raised an eyebrow playfully.

"And who said you like things to be easy?"

Jonathan held her gaze for a long moment, as if she had momentarily made him forget everything else.

In the background, Leo, Lilia, and Evelyn exchanged meaningful looks but chose not to interrupt.

For a brief moment, the two of them were in their own world.

Clearing his throat to shift the conversation, Jonathan finally turned to Leo, placing a hand on his shoulder with a light pat.

"Ahem, anyway… Leo, how did the project go? Was it successful?"

A proud grin spread across Leo's face as he enthusiastically smacked Jonathan's hand in a friendly gesture.

"More than successful! You delivered the presentation brilliantly—everyone loved it!"

Jonathan raised his eyebrows in mild surprise, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Really? That's impressive… I knew you were the right person for this. I bet on you, and you didn't disappoint me."

Leo laughed proudly and added with excitement,

"Believe me, it wasn't just the team that was impressed—even the head of the main branch of 'Goja Mart' praised it! In fact, the branch managers were highly impressed as well!"

Jonathan's eyes widened slightly, his eyebrows raising in surprise.

"That's an incredible achievement, Leo! Looks like you were the real star of the meeting."

Leo smiled modestly, then gestured with his thumb toward the two girls standing behind him. One of them had radiant blonde hair and striking blue eyes.

"Actually, if there was a real star of the meeting, it wasn't me… It was Evelyn Durant!"

Jonathan tilted his head, rubbing his chin in thought before murmuring,

"Evelyn… Where have I heard that name before?"

Before he could recall, Aline, who stood beside him, leaned in and whispered with a smirk,

"She's the famous singer with an enchanting voice… and also the powerful A-rank hunter, Evelyn Durant."

Jonathan's eyes widened in shock, and he immediately turned to get a closer look at the girl standing behind Leo.

"WHAT?!?"

Evelyn smiled calmly and stepped forward, speaking in a gentle, melodious voice.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jonathan. Leo has told me a lot about you—his senior colleague and someone he deeply respects."

For a moment, Jonathan felt slightly flustered by her words. He turned to Leo, only to suddenly wrap an arm around his neck, playfully locking him in place while ruffling his hair.

"And what exactly have you been saying about me, you little rascal?"

Leo burst into laughter, trying to wriggle free, responding between chuckles,

"I only told the truth!"

Jonathan grinned, finally releasing him and patting his head.

"I've always believed in you, kid…" Then, looking at the others, he added warmly,

"And we all have."

Everyone turned to Leo with encouraging smiles, filling him with a deep sense of gratitude. Bowing his head slightly, he beamed and said,

"Thank you, everyone!"

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he clapped his hands together and declared excitedly,

"Since we're celebrating this success, I've decided to treat you all to dinner tonight!"

Eyebrows were raised in surprise, but it didn't take long before excited smiles spread across the group.

Lilia clapped her hands enthusiastically, bouncing slightly.

"Really? That's awesome! I needed a good excuse to finally go out!"

Elena, with a calm yet pleased tone, glanced at Jonathan as if trying to convince him.

"That's a good idea—we all need a little break… especially you."

Even Jonathan, despite his exhaustion, couldn't suppress a small smile as he ran a hand through his tired hair.

"Well, as long as there's free food, I can't say no."

At that moment, the guard Lee passed by them—the man with a perpetually serious expression, who never seemed affected by anything.

Leo turned to him with a friendly smile and patted his shoulder gently. "You too. We can't celebrate without you, can we?"

Lee stared at him for a few seconds, as if the thought had never even crossed his mind. His face remained as stern as ever, but after a brief pause, a faint smile appeared on his lips—barely noticeable, as if he had decided to play along out of respect for the moment.

"I'll think about it."

Laughter erupted around them, while Leo took in the scene—the warmth of the people, the energy of the night. It felt like the perfect ending to a successful day.