Sanjay met Arjun at a cozy café tucked away from the city's hustle. As they settled in, Sanjay pulled out the script and began explaining the project. His tone was calm yet persuasive, every word laced with excitement for what they were creating.
Arjun leaned back, arms crossed, listening intently. As the conversation progressed, a faint smile tugged at his lips. "This… this is brilliant," he said, his voice betraying the spark of interest in his eyes. "I have to admit, I'm impressed."
Sanjay chuckled. "I knew you would be. It's right up your alley, isn't it?"
Arjun nodded, a hint of nostalgia creeping into his voice. "You know, I've been a fan of this webtoon for years. I never thought I'd get the chance to bring a character like this to life." He paused, then added with a smirk, "Besides, I couldn't say no to you, could I? After all, we go way back."
Sanjay grinned. "Old friends or not, I had to make sure you truly wanted this. It's a big commitment."
"Well," Arjun said, reaching for the pen to sign the contract, "I more than want this. It's a dream project for me."
As Arjun finished signing the papers, he leaned back, tapping the pen thoughtfully against the table. "So, Bella Sebastian, huh? I've always been curious about her. She's like a mystery in the industry. Never seen in public, no interviews, no appearances. And now you're telling me she's working in your company?"
Sanjay nodded with a slight smile. "Yes, she is. And let me tell you, she's every bit as brilliant as you'd imagine. Dedicated, creative, and deeply passionate about her work. She's the driving force behind this project."
Arjun raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "I'll admit, I'm a little starstruck. I mean, her writing has this raw, unfiltered emotion that pulls you in. And now, I might actually meet her in person?"
Sanjay chuckled. "You just might, but don't count on it. Bella's still not the type to seek the spotlight. She'd rather let her work speak for itself."
Arjun nodded, impressed. "I respect that. It's rare these days to find someone so focused on their craft." He paused, a small smile forming. "Now I'm even more excited to bring her vision to life."
"That's a deal," Arjun said, his grin widening.
Sanjay extended his hand, and they clasped each other's firmly. With a hearty slap of their hands, they sealed the agreement.
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Hanlee sat at his desk, meticulously reviewing the company's records from the past five years. The numbers didn't add up. Something was off. He scanned the documents again, his mind working in overdrive. And then it hit him—something suspicious, a pattern he couldn't ignore. He printed out the key pages, his fingers pressing down hard on the printer as if the machine could somehow help him solve the mystery faster.
He quickly handed the printouts to Shane. "I need you to look into this. Find out what's going on. I don't like the way things are shaping up."
Shane nodded, his face serious. "Got it. I'll dig deeper."
As Shane left, Hanlee stood there, staring at the files. A thought nagged at him, gnawing at his mind. There's a rat in the office. Someone who's trying to destroy the company from the inside out. Hanlee clenched his jaw. He was determined to find out who, and he would stop them—no matter what it took.
After a few moments of pacing, Hanlee decided to take a break and find Bella. He got up, heading out of his office, but as he reached her department, he was met with an unsettling sight—an empty office. The desks were bare, no sign of Bella anywhere. His heart sank. Where could she be?
He pulled out his phone to call her, but before he could press the number, it buzzed in his hand. It was a call from his mother.
Hanlee took the call, his face immediately hardening as his mother's voice came through. Something in the conversation sent a chill down his spine. His expression changed drastically. Without another word, he slammed his phone shut and bolted from the building, his mind racing.
Back at the café, Arjun took a slow sip of his coffee, his eyes scanning the room, deep in thought. "And I hear Hanlee's back," he remarked casually, as if the news didn't surprise him.
Sanjay, sitting across from him, nodded. "Yes, he is."
Arjun raised an eyebrow. "So, when did he start taking such an interest in the company?"
Sanjay leaned back, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "As if he had any other option. Ever since uncle had that accident, his whole life changed. He had no choice but to step up and take control."
Arjun studied Sanjay for a moment, sensing there was more to the story than what he was letting on, but didn't push further. Instead, he took another sip of his coffee.
"Hey, do you remember our old days in college?" Arjun suddenly asked, his eyes distant as he smiled at the memories.
Sanjay paused, a nostalgic look crossing his face. "How could I forget? Life was so carefree back then."
"Oh, yeah," Arjun said, chuckling. "But you know, Hanlee was the happiest of all of us."
Sanjay raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? He always seemed so serious, even back then."
Arjun leaned in, his voice lowering. "You know, he had a secret girl. Behind all of us. Didn't you know?"
Sanjay's eyes widened in surprise. "A secret girl?" He thought for a moment, then nodded slowly. "That makes sense. That's probably why he rejected so many girls. But... do you know who she was?"
Arjun shook his head. "No one knew. No one ever saw her."
Sanjay's gaze grew more thoughtful. "I'm damn sure he didn't marry her, though."
Arjun laughed, shaking his head. "Maybe there was no girl at all. Maybe it was all just a made-up story." He chuckled at the thought.
Sanjay burst out laughing, shaking his head in disbelief. "You might be right, Arjun. Who knows? Maybe he was just playing us all."
The two shared a laugh, the weight of the years and their past lighter in that moment, the mystery of Hanlee's college days still lingering in the air.