Taking in my reflection in the mirror, I smile confidently, admiring how good I look. I am wearing a white T-shirt tucked into blue denim trousers. My black hair falls freely instead of the usual ponytail that has almost become my signature look.
I grab a red lipstick from the dressing table, hesitating for a moment, wondering if applying it would seem a bit too much. I shrug off the thought, shaking my head dramatically as I close my eyes.
"It's just lipstick. Besides, it's my birthday!"
I open my eyes slowly, my eyelashes fanning my cheeks as I lean in closer to the mirror to apply the red lipstick…
Cheers fill the room as soon as I step into the living room. My eyes widen at the sight of balloons and party celebration hats on Hye Ri and Ha Eun.
"Happy birthday!" they chorus cheerfully.
A grin slowly spreads across my face, and I cover my mouth with both palms as tears of joy well up in my eyes. "You two," I croak out, fighting back the tears threatening to spill.
"Thank you," I say softly as I get down on one knee to hug Ha Eun's tiny frame.
"Happy birthday, Aunt Kitten! I love you. Thank you for coming into our lives," Ha Eun says sweetly, and I can't hold back the tears any longer as they start to fall.
I pull back, facing her as I wipe away my tears. "Thank you for loving me, Ha Eun. I promise to be the best aunt in the world. This is my best birthday ever!"
She smiles broadly and places a kiss on my cheek.
"Aww… don't I get a hug? A kiss?" Hye Ri pouts, and I tilt my head playfully to the side, squinting at her before breaking into laughter.
"Come here, Bubbles!" I say, laughing with them both as we did a group hug.
I smile into Lee Hye's mansion as I drag open the glass door and step inside. However, my smile fades instantly when I hear noises coming from upstairs. I stop at the bottom of the stairs, not daring to go further.
I overhear a conversation between Lee Hye and two other people. The lady's voice is immediately recognizable. She was the one who rushed into his home last week, informing him about his leaked photos with Kara all over social media.
"She is Kara, for Pete's sake! Just roll with the script, Lee Ye Jun!" The man yells.
Uh-oh…
"If you keep trying to poke your nose in my business, I will not renew my contract with you, bro," Lee Hye says firmly.
The man curses out loud in frustration, and I hear footsteps descending the stairs. Afraid of getting caught, I tiptoe into my assigned room in the mansion to take cover. I leave the door slightly ajar enough to see what's going on.
"Mr. Lee, please calm down," I hear the woman say, trying to catch up with the angry man who dashes down the stairs.
He stops at the bottom of the stairs, raking his hair with his fingers in frustration. "Talk some sense into him. This is good PR! He hasn't written any songs in a year now. Fame fades fast. Before we know it, the world will forget him."
The woman rolls her eyes before saying, "Come on now… He is Lee Ye! He's the nation's heartthrob! The world isn't forgetting him anytime soon."
The sudden loud clap from the man startles me. I place my hand on my racing heart to calm myself.
"Then you're not helping him either if you keep saying that. Sure, he has a whole lot of commercial deals and things seem to be looking well for him now. But look—this is a pot of gold right in front of him! That lady, Kara? She doesn't mind this whole scandal because she's smart! The more people keep talking about her, the more relevance she gets!"
"Mr. Lee, I—" The woman tries to speak but he cuts her off.
"Lee Ye Jun is the star artist in my agency and my cousin. But once his fame fades? Even I won't hesitate to drop him."
The man storms off in anger. "But what about his fan meet-and-greet this evening?" The lady calls after him but he has already left. She sighs and runs out of the house after him.
I keep pacing back and forth inside my room, wondering whether to go see Lee Ye or not. I've made him breakfast and served it on the dining table, but he hasn't come downstairs yet. The earlier scene messes with my head—what even was that? Is Lee Ye okay?
The door swings open suddenly, pulling me out of my thoughts. He looks handsome as ever. My eyes scan his features—his red plump lips, straight nose, sharp jawline… those beautiful eyes drawing me in like a magnet. He's all dressed in black. A black T-shirt and leather jacket paired with black pants—and he looks so sexy it could be illegal!
He snaps his fingers unexpectedly and I flinch, closing my mouth as I realize it had been hanging wide open—like an invitation for a fly.
He scans me from head to toe and suddenly I'm conscious under his intense stare.
"Follow me. We're heading out."
As I change clothes for what feels like the tenth time at the clothing store… seriously, who knew picking an outfit could feel like preparing for battle? Lee Ye drives us here and makes the sales attendants bring out their latest collections like he's some kind of fashion wizard and not only their brand ambassador. He seems right at home here flipping through a fashion magazine on the couch like he's auditioning for "America's Next Top Model."
I clear my throat loudly and he looks up with an expression that screams boredom mixed with mild amusement. But then—oh boy—the instant change in his eyes when he sees me is… electric! He leans forward in his seat as if I'm about to reveal some top-secret spy information with his knees apart, and hands clasped together in between them. He looks a combination of sexy and dominating.
I watch a strand of his hair fall just below his eyebrow and nearly faint! Seriously? Is this guy even human or just a fallen angel sent to torment me?
"We'll take this," he says coldly, all traces of that earlier spark gone now.
A playful smirk appears briefly on his lips before he stands up abruptly.
"Wait!" I squeak out as if I've just seen a mouse scurry past, which in all honesty would be less embarrassing than what I'm feeling right now.
When I open my eyes finally, Lee Ye is right in front of me—dangerously close… so close that I gasp and trip over myself like a clumsy giraffe on roller skates.
He grabs my hand instantly, pulling me close… extremely close—so close that a hiccup escapes from me at this intensity! My chest literally touches his hard chest, his expensive cologne washes over me like a tidal wave of temptation.
Lee Ye Jun! This is too much for my fragile heart!
He leans in just slightly more, my heart somersaulting, starting to hammer against my chest so loudly that I'm convinced he can hear it too. His head stops right beside mine, his breath fanning against my exposed shoulder from this white off-shoulder jumpsuit I'm wearing.
"Today," he whispers into my ear, "you will be my manager."
My eyes widen as I catch sight of that smirk on his face through the mirror—oh boy… what in the world is this man doing to me?