The soft warmth of morning sunlight spilled through the glass windows of my penthouse bedroom,, casting gentle lines across the bedspread. As I stirred,, I felt the tiny weight beside me shift. My eyes fluttered open,, and there she was—Bella,, her white fur like silk against the sheets,, curled up against me.
A gentle smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I reached over and wrapped my arm around her... Her tiny body tensed briefly at my touch before she slowly blinked up at me with confusion in her crystal-clear eyes.
She tilted her head slightly,, meowing as if to ask,,Why are you hugging me so suddenly??
I chuckled softly and brushed a stray lock of hair from my forehead. "You know,," I murmured, my voice thick with sleep but laced with amusement,, "your so-called daddy asked about you first at that business party. Out of everything going on,, the first thing he said was, 'How is Bella??' Can you believe that?"
Bella gave another quiet meow,, nuzzling against my arm before stretching her tiny limbs and curling again into a new,, softer pose. I kissed her forehead lightly,, lingering just a little longer than necessary...
"Of course, he didn't ask how I was,," I added quietly, a whisper more to myself than her. "Just you."
She blinked at me as if she understood,, then closed her eyes again. I smiled faintly and gently placed her back on the pillow... She let out a soft purr as she settled into the warmth.
I rose slowly from the bed,, bare feet touching the cool marble floor. After a long, steamy shower that left my skin fresh and thoughts slightly clearer,, I padded to the wardrobe.
Today,, I needed to look strong—untouchable, even...
I chose a pristine white long coat,, elegant and assertive, draping powerfully over my shoulders. Underneath,, a soft beige blouse tucked into tailored light brown pants completed the look. I slipped on nude heels that added a sharp clack to my stride... In the mirror,, I stared at the woman who looked back at me.
Confident. Composed... But beneath the layers of expensive fabric and practiced poise, my heart was still a little tangled,, a little unsure.
The quiet of the penthouse wrapped around me as I moved to the tall window that overlooked the soul of the city... Seoul glistened under the morning sun—busy and alive,, like a beautiful secret breathing just beneath the surface...
I stood there for a moment,, letting the scene settle in my heart. There was something calming about watching a city move,, even when everything inside me felt stuck.
Just as I turned to grab my bag,, I heard footsteps behind me.
"Ma'am??" came Hana's voice—soft,, polite, always on time.
I turned slightly to see her standing near the kitchen counter, holding a silver tray with my breakfast. "Your meal,, ma'am."
I gave her a small smile and shook my head. "Not today,, Hana."
Her brows furrowed slightly in concern... "But you haven't eaten since yesterday evening—"
"I'm fine," I said a little too quickly,, a little too sharply.
She seemed to hesitate,, words gathering behind her lips, but then thought better of it. With a small bow, she stepped back. I gave her a grateful glance before heading for the elevator, the sound of my heels echoing through the penthouse hall...
At the office, the day moved fast.
Luna and I had been buried in work since morning—scheduling meetings,, reviewing proposals, finalizing designs for the upcoming presentation. Her efficiency never wavered,, but she kept glancing at me in between tasks.
"Are you alright?" she asked softly as we stood by the printer...
"I'm fine,," I replied automatically.
She tilted her head,, clearly unconvinced. "You've barely touched your coffee. And you've been sighing every five minutes..."
I paused, then let out another sigh without meaning to. "Just tired...
Luna raised an eyebrow. "Tired,, or overthinking about a certain someone who couldn't stop asking about Bella...??"
I gave her a side-eye glare,, but she just smirked and walked back to her desk. Even though she didn't push further,, I could feel her curiosity clinging in the air. Adrian. He had asked about Bella the moment he saw me. It should've meant nothing—but somehow,, it meant too much.
I shook my head and tried to focus on the new campaign proposal when my phone vibrated...
A call from Luka...
My heart did a strange,, anxious flutter.
I excused myself from the meeting room and stepped out into the hallway,, tapping the green button.
"Luka??"
His voice came through, low and slightly rushed. "Rimi… hey..."
There was a pause. I could hear wind in the background, maybe passing traffic.
"I need to talk to you,," he said finally.
There was something in his tone—tight,, hesitant. Uncertain,, yet purposeful.
"What's going on?" I asked gently.
"Can you meet me today??" he said, not answering the question. "After work... There's something I need to tell you. Something important."
"Luka—what is it?"
"I'll explain when I see you,," he said. "Please. It's about Clara."
My chest tightened. "Clara??"
"She's fine," he added quickly. "Don't worry. I just… I need to talk to you. Please come..."
I hesitated, concern crawling up my spine.
"Where??"
"Day and Night Café," he said... "You know the one. Near the Han River."
I nodded even though he couldn't see me. "Okay. I'll come after work..."
There was a breath of relief on his end..."Thank you."
"Luka…" I paused. "Is it bad??"
His silence lingered a moment too long...
"I'll explain everything when you get here,," he said. "Just… please come."
"Alright," I whispered. "I'll see you soon..."
We hung up, but my fingers hovered over the phone for a second longer.
Clara. Luka. Day and Night Café...
Something wasn't right. Luka sounded tense—worn, even. I tried not to imagine the worst but knowing how protective he was of his sister… something had shaken him...
When I returned to the office,, Luna was waiting with a document in her hands. She paused as she saw the expression on my face...
"Bad news??" she asked carefully.
"Luka wants to meet."
Her eyes widened. "Oh. Wow. Unexpected."
I nodded slowly. "He said it's about Clara... He wouldn't say more."
"Do you think she's in trouble??"
I glanced down at my papers but didn't really see them. "I don't know. But I need to find out."
Luna softened. "You're a good friend,, you know that??"
"I'm not sure that's always true..."
"Well, it is now," she said gently. "Go see him after work. I'll handle the evening meeting..."
I smiled faintly. "Thanks, Luna..."
She gave me a little wink and returned to her tasks, leaving me standing there,, staring down at the surface of my desk,, lost in thought.
Somehow, even with Adrian's presence still hanging in the corners of my heart,, Luka's voice had stirred something else. Concern. Tension. A whisper of unresolved memories.
But above all, I kept seeing Clara's smile in my mind—how she trusted so easily,, how she believed in love like a fairytale.
I just hoped whatever Luka had to say wouldn't shatter that...
To be continue...