Chereads / Phantom Syndrome / Chapter 3 - CHAPTER 2:COLD GAZE

Chapter 3 - CHAPTER 2:COLD GAZE

With a deep breath, Miss Fenir reaches for the ornate handle and slowly begins to open the door to Mister Arcadia's office. As the door cracks open, a powerful rush of air blasts through the gap, hitting her with surprising force. Instinctively, she raises an arm to shield her face, her hair whipping wildly around her as the gust surges past her.

As the wind subsides, she lowers her arm and steps into the room, her eyes adjusting to the dimly lit space. The office is sleek and modern, with walls of dark glass and minimalistic furniture. The room is vast, but it feels intimate, with an almost oppressive atmosphere.

Standing on the balcony, bathed in the soft glow of the city lights, is Shiro Arcadia. His back is to her as he looks out over the cityscape. The contrast between the bright, bustling city and the shadowy interior of the room is stark. The only light inside comes from the outside, creating a haunting silhouette around Shiro.

Slowly, he turns to face her, his eyes glowing a brilliant blue, a striking contrast against the darkness of the room. The glow is intense, almost unnatural, as it pierces through the shadows, drawing her full attention.

As she takes in his presence, an invisible force suddenly emanates from him, rushing toward her with palpable energy. It pushes her hair back, brushing against her like a gust of wind before it dissipates into the air, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.

Shiro's lips curl into a faint, enigmatic smile as he speaks, his voice smooth and commanding. "Welcome, Miss Fenir. I've been expecting you."

He pauses, the weight of his words lingering in the air. "I'd like to speak with you."

---

The scene shifts to a well-lit, modern conference room within the office. The sleek, minimalistic design of the room is a stark contrast to the ominous atmosphere of Shiro's private office. A long, polished glass table stretches across the room, illuminated by soft overhead lighting that casts a warm glow.

Shiro Arcadia and Miss Fenir are seated across from each other at the table. Shiro's expression is calm and composed, his glowing eyes now a more subdued, but still striking, shade of blue. Miss Fenir, on the other hand, maintains her composure but can't completely hide the curiosity and tension simmering beneath her professional exterior.

Shiro leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he begins to speak, his voice smooth and authoritative. "Miss Fenir, I've been closely observing the trajectory of your company for some time now. It's clear to me that there's significant potential for growth, and I'm interested in being a part of that future."

He pauses, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "That's why I'm offering to invest a quarter of my shares in Arcadia Industries into your company."

Miss Fenir's eyes widen slightly, her usually controlled demeanor slipping for a moment as the magnitude of his offer hits her. "A quarter...?" she repeats, almost in disbelief. She quickly regains her composure, but the surprise is still evident in her voice.

"Yes," Shiro confirms, a small, confident smile playing on his lips. "A quarter of Arcadia Industries. That would amount to approximately $500 million."

The room falls silent, the number hanging in the air like a thunderclap. Miss Fenir's mind races as she processes the enormity of the offer. Arcadia Industries is one of the most powerful conglomerates in the world, and such a significant investment would be transformative for her company. The fact that someone like Shiro Arcadia sees that much potential in her work is both exhilarating and intimidating.

Shiro watches her reaction closely, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'm confident that this partnership would be mutually beneficial," he adds, his voice calm and assured. "Of course, there are certain conditions we would need to discuss, but I believe this could be the beginning of something extraordinary."

Miss Fenir takes a deep breath, collecting herself before responding. "Mister Arcadia, this is... an incredibly generous offer. I'm honored that you see such potential in our work. I'd be very interested in discussing the terms of this investment further."

Shiro nods, pleased with her response. "Excellent. I'm glad we're on the same page, Miss Fenir. Let's work together to build something truly remarkable."

After hours of intense discussion, the deal is finally sealed. Miss Fenir stands up from the conference table, a slight smile of satisfaction on her face. Shiro remains seated, his expression calm and confident, as he watches her gather her things.

"It was a pleasure doing business with you, Miss Fenir," Shiro says, his tone polite but still carrying that underlying intensity.

"Likewise, Mister Arcadia," she replies, meeting his gaze. "I'm looking forward to what the future holds for our companies."

With a final nod of acknowledgment, she turns and walks out of the room, escorted by Hank, who's waiting just outside the door. The deal has been made, and with $500 million on the line, the stakes for her company have never been higher.

Once she's gone, Shiro sits in silence for a moment, his fingers drumming lightly on the surface of the table. He then stands and presses a button on a sleek control panel embedded in the wall, summoning Hank back to his office.

A few moments later, Hank reappears, his usual calm demeanor intact. "Mister Arcadia, how may I assist you?"

Shiro turns to face him, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Get the car, Hank. We're going out."

Hank bows slightly. "Right away, sir."

The scene transitions to the underground parking garage of *Arcadia Industries*, where Hank opens the door of a sleek, black luxury car for Shiro. Once Shiro is seated, Hank climbs into the driver's seat and starts the engine, guiding the car out of the garage and onto the quiet nighttime streets of the city.

The car weaves through the city, leaving the bright lights of the downtown area behind as it heads toward a more secluded part of town. The buildings become older and more worn down, the streets narrower and dimly lit. After a while, the car pulls up to a nondescript, dark building, its exterior giving no hint of what might be inside.

Hank steps out and opens the door for Shiro, who emerges with an air of quiet determination. He doesn't say a word as he strides toward the entrance of the building. The door creaks slightly as he pushes it open and steps into the darkness beyond.

The scene fades out, leaving the audience with a sense of anticipation and mystery about what Shiro's next move might be, and what this secret location holds.