IV · Secrets & Soft Spots

The familiar roar of her Kawasaki echoed through the parking garage as Akisuki pulled into her spot. She killed the engine, pulling off her helmet to shake out her hair.

The ride home had done little to soothe her nerves. Today had been a whirlwind of petty drama, overbearing deadlines, and passive-aggressive whispers behind her back.

She parked her bike, slung her bag over her shoulder, and took the elevator up to her apartment. As soon as she stepped inside, the smell of ylang ylang candles greeted her — her small sanctuary against the chaos outside.

She dropped her bag on the couch, but before she could fully collapse, her phone buzzed.

"Girlie pop," Siwoo's deep voice came through the screen the moment she picked up. His perfectly dishevelled hair and sharp jawline filled the video call, the backdrop of his office spotless as always. "Missed me?"

Akisuki laughed, her first genuine smile of the day. "You wish. What's up, Mr. CEO?" she smirked playfully as she took off her suit jacket and walked towards the bedroom, holding her phone up.

"The usual. Chaos. Endless meetings. My assistant is practically begging for a raise because of all the fires I made him put out today," he leaned back in his chair, loosening his tie. "Sometimes I wonder if my father purposely left me with a mess just to see if I could handle it."

"And you're handling it perfectly," she said, rolling her eyes. "Don't act like you're not secretly thriving in the chaos."

He smirked. "You know me too well. Anyway, enough about me. What's new with you?"

She hesitated, taking off her glasses, then sitting in front of her dresser table and taking out a few products to remove her very light make-up, her phone now held by a phone holder. "Not much."

"Liar." Siwoo raised an eyebrow, his expression challenging.

Akisuki allowed herself a small smile, her hands busy rubbing off her mascara and eyeliner with some cleansing oil. "I'm not in the mood, Siwoo."

"Clearly. You look like you just had a brawl in a damn chicken coop," he said, leaning back in his chair, the pristine background of his high-rise office making him look even more untouchable.

Whereas Akisuki looked like a panda with her mascara and eyeliner smudged around her eyes because of the cleansing oil.

She sighed, swiping a cotton pad over her eyes to clean her face off. "Work's been a fucking nightmare today."

"Spill," he said, folding his arms.

Akisuki hesitated, her lips twitching as if holding back another curse. "Let's just say a few of Vincent Carter's admirers decided I was their new punching bag."

"Who?" His voice dropped, dangerously calm.

She ignored the edge in his tone, standing up while unbuttoning the first few buttons of her shirt, her frame still in view for Siwoo as she walked over to her closet.

"It's not that serious. A couple of his boardroom Barbie dolls decided to throw shade my way. Something about how I'm only around because I'm 'desperate' for his attention. Apparently, I'm not worthy of breathing the same air as their CEO prince."

Siwoo's eyebrows furrowed, his annoyance evident. If his girlie pop had beef with someone, he had it too. "What did you say to them?"

"Nothing," she shrugged, trying to downplay it, rustling in her closet. "I'm not about to waste energy on a bunch of insecure women who think my paycheck is their business."

"Tsk," he ran a hand through his dark brown hair, his cold demeanour thawing slightly as his eyes softened. "You're too nice, Aki-ya. You should've put them in their place. You've got a sharper tongue than anyone I know."

She chuckled, though it lacked her usual brightness. "It wasn't worth it. Anyway, I survived."

Siwoo hummed in agreement but didn't look entirely convinced. "What else? You said 'not much,' but I can tell there's more."

She avoided his gaze, pretending to check her silk pyjama shirt for any dirt. "Nope. That's pretty much it."

"Aki," his voice was firm now.

She groaned, dragging a hand down her face, walking towards the dresser table lazily and flopping down on the stool again. "Fine! I might've agreed to something... unconventional."

"Unconventional?" His brow furrowed. "Define that."

She hesitated, then blurted it out. "Vincent Carter proposed a deal. Marriage for a year. Thirty million dollars."

There was a long silence on the other end. Siwoo's face remained unreadable, but the sharpness in his eyes betrayed his thoughts as he watched his best friend casually go about her room and gather her stuff for a shower, as if she did not just drop an atomic bomb over him.

"Are you serious? You're sacrificing yourself for 30 fucking million dollars? Bitch, I can give you triple than that if you want-" he said finally, now sitting a bit upright, his eyes narrowed.

"It's not about the money," she admitted, taking her phone up in her hand. "I just... I'm bored, Siwoo. My life feels so hella predictable. This? This is something new. Something exciting."

"Exciting?" His tone turned icy. "You're a fucking princess, Aki. You don't need to make deals with some corporate shark for excitement. You could have all the thrill you want without selling yourself short."

"It's not selling myself short," she said defensively. "It's just a contract. A business arrangement. And besides, I like the idea of stirring things up a little. You know me — I thrive on chaos too."

He shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is reckless, even for you."

"Maybe. But it's my choice," she said firmly.

Siwoo's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue further. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. "At least tell me this: does he know who you are?"

"Of course not. And he won't. This deal has nothing to do with my title or my family. It's just between him and me," she said, sounding quite confident about Vincent not knowing about her secret life.

"You're playing with fire, Aki-ya," he warned. "And I don't want you to get burned."

She smiled softly. "I'll be fine, Siwoo. I always am."

He didn't look convinced, but he let the matter drop for now. Instead, he changed the subject, asking about her Kawasaki and teasing her about her obsession with keeping it spotless.

The tension between them eased, replaced by the familiar comfort of their banter.

But as the call ended and Akisuki sat alone in her bedroom, she couldn't shake the weight of his words. Playing with fire? Maybe. But wasn't that the point?

As their call ended and Siwoo's face disappeared from the screen, Akisuki leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling. She could still hear his words echoing in her mind: You're playing with fire.

Her phone buzzed again, pulling her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen, expecting another message from Siwoo. Instead, it was an email. The sender's name made her stomach twist: Vincent Carter.

She opened it hesitantly.

"Subject: Regarding Your Background

Miss Akisuki Rei,

Our arrangement requires complete transparency. I've asked my team to conduct a background check as a formality. Imagine my surprise when certain... unique details about your life surfaced. I'll expect your clarification tomorrow morning at the office.

— V"

Akisuki's blood ran cold. She reread the message twice, her breath quickening. He knows. Or at least, he knew enough to start digging.

"Damn it, Carter," she muttered under her breath.

She wasn't sure whether to be impressed by his thoroughness or irritated by his audacity. Either way, she'd have to think fast.

Tomorrow would come too soon, and if Vincent had even a glimpse of the truth, her carefully constructed façade of normalcy might shatter before her very eyes.

For the first time in a long while, Akisuki wasn't sure if she was playing the game — or if she was the game.