Seoul's night sky looks gloomy, as if reflecting the darkness of a world controlled by the mafia. In one corner of the city, a luxurious bar stands majestically. The place was not just an ordinary bar, but a secret lair for people like Park Sunghoon and his colleagues.
Sunghoon sat in the corner of the room with a sharp gaze that could make anyone feel small. His black suit was impeccably neat, and the faint smile on his face hid the complicated thoughts that were hanging around. He was waiting for someone—an important business partner.
However, that night actually presented an unexpected figure.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the bar, a woman entered with hesitant steps. Kim Minju, a freelance photographer, got lost after trying to find a safer place from being chased by a drunk man. With his worn denim jacket and camera hanging around his neck, he looked in sharp contrast to the bar's luxurious atmosphere.
Sunghoon's eyes caught his presence. There was something different about her, something that attracted him. However, he remained silent, only watching from afar.
Minju, who felt uncomfortable with the gazes of many people, tried to hide in one corner. However, his steps stopped when he heard a low, cold voice.
"This place is not for someone like you."
He turned his head, and in front of him stood a man with a sharp, uncompromising gaze. Sunghoon.
Minju was a little surprised, but she tried to act calm. "I'm just looking for a place to take shelter for a while. If you don't mind, I'll leave immediately."
A small smile appeared on the corner of Sunghoon's lips. "How dare you talk like that in my place. Do you know who I am?"
Minju shook her head slowly, not wanting to get involved any further. But before he could walk away, the bar door opened with a bang. Several large men entered, breaking the atmosphere.
"Sung—ah, Park Sunghoon! We finally found him!" exclaimed one of them, clearly an enemy of the other group.
Sunghoon sighed, disturbed by this unexpected arrival. He glanced at Minju briefly, then said in a calm but firm tone. "Stay here and don't go anywhere."
Before Minju could answer, Sunghoon had already moved forward.
This meeting is the beginning of a series of events that will change Minju's life and drag her into a dark world she never imagined.
Minju froze in the corner of the bar, watching the man she had just met walk towards a group of large men. The cold aura radiating from Park Sunghoon was enough to make the commotion that had started to break out suddenly become silent.
"How dare you come to my place without being invited," said Sunghoon in a low but threatening voice. He stopped a few steps in front of them, his eyes searching each face calmly.
One of the men, who seemed to be the leader of the group, grinned while folding his arms across his chest. "We just want to convey a message from our boss. Choi Tae-oh. He wants you to know that your time in this city is coming to an end."
Sunghoon's eyes narrowed, but his face remained emotionless. He knew this was a common game in the mafia world—initial intimidation before a major conflict. However, tonight, he had no intention of playing.
"Then, send a message back to your boss," Sunghoon said, stepping closer until he was only one meter away from the man. "Tell him, if he interferes with my business again, he won't have time to regret it."
The tension in the air was thick. The bar patrons began to quietly leave the place, except for a few people who looked like Sunghoon's men.
Meanwhile, Minju tried to control her panic. He never imagined himself being in the middle of a situation like this. However, curiosity began to arise in his mind. Who exactly is this man? Why does he seem so powerful?
The big man brought his face closer to Sunghoon, trying to intimidate him. "Who do you think you are, huh? This world doesn't just belong to you, Park Sunghoon."
Sunghoon did not answer. Instead, he glanced at Kim Jae-hyun, his manager, who was standing near the bar. With a simple hand movement, Sunghoon gave the order.
Within seconds, two of Sunghoon's men moved quickly, immobilizing the man and several of his colleagues. A small commotion occurred, but Sunghoon remained standing where he was, as if everything was going according to plan.
Minju held her breath, her eyes widened as she witnessed the incident. He didn't know whether to feel afraid or fascinated by Sunghoon's calmness.
After the enemy group had been neutralized, Sunghoon walked back to his original place, taking a glass of wine that had been prepared previously. He looked at Minju, who was still standing in the corner of the room with a pale face.
"You're still here," he said in a flat tone. "How brave."
Minju steeled herself, even though her inner voice told her to leave immediately. "You told me not to go anywhere."
A faint smile appeared on Sunghoon's face, something that rarely happened. "You're pretty obedient for someone who's lost."
Minju felt like she was being pulled into a vortex that she didn't understand. Little did he know that this meeting would be the beginning of everything—a journey that would take him and Sunghoon into a story of love, betrayal, and the struggle against fate.
However, before he could answer, the sound of the bar door opening again. This time, the figure who appeared was Kim Sunoo, with his trademark bright but meaningful smile.
"Am I late? Looks like I'm missing out on the fun," Sunoo said, looking at Sunghoon and then at Minju with obvious curiosity. "And... who is this woman?"
Sunghoon did not answer immediately. He just looked at Minju with an unpredictable look, as if he was considering something big.
"Perhaps, he is part of our next business," he finally answered, making Minju even more confused and nervous.
Minju swallowed hard, feeling the air around her getting heavier. Sunghoon's words just now made him confused and suspicious. Did he mean he was part of the "next business"? He's just a freelance photographer who happened to get lost.
Kim Sunoo stepped closer to them with a cheerful expression, which contrasted with the tense situation at the bar. With her messy yet alluring blonde hair, she swept her gaze from Minju to Sunghoon.