I checked my wristwatch at 11 a.m. The clock had ticked. I stood at the head of the conference table in Seoul's tallest building.
My heart raced with each passing second. But trying not to show how fast my heart was beating.
The men gathered around the table. Most were older and more experienced. They were dismissive of me and eager to see me fail.
The pressure was unbearable. The board members stared at me with contempt. Most of them were old enough to be my father's age, and they would never let me forget it. The pressure was unbearable, yet I was not ready to give them that pleasure.
"This India venture is too risky," Director Park said, tapping his pen against the table. "The market isn't good for our company."
"….."
"Director Park is right; we should focus on our existing projects," another person said.
"We should not chase fairy tales across borders."
They had spent the last hour like this, picking apart my proposal piece by piece. I had expected pushback–they always pushed back–but today felt different. More hostile.
I listened to them, my expression calm and attentive. "Hmm… so you're rejecting this proposal, right?" With a calm voice, I stood and started speaking.
They are arguing about new business projects in India.
"Enough." I cut through the murmuring. "I understand your worries and why you responded that way, but I need to say something. The project is moving forward"
"You're making a mistake, Kiara," Director Park shot back, his voice sharp. "The board won't support this reckless—"
My younger brother sat in his seat, not looking at me. And Han Tae-yang, my fiancé, sat beside me with a blank expression but definite support. He had no stake in the battles between corporations. But he was an anchor, steadying me on unstable ground. We were not in love, but he had always stood by my side; after all, he was a dependable businessman.
"The board?" I turned back, eyes flashing. "Let me be crystal clear. I'm not asking for your support. I'm telling you how this is going to go."
"My people have spent months on this project, and I won't let you bury it because you're too scared to take a risk."
"You're too young to understand—"
"I grasp the concept completely." My words could have turned hell to ice. "I know, that while you've been here planning your coups, my team has been working to grow this company."
"I'm the CEO. You either get on board, or you get out of my way."
I strode toward the door, then paused. "And the next person who tries to undermine me will be looking for a new job. That's a promise."
The meeting ended with my words. As the others filled out.
'Kiara Kim, CEO of Kim Enterprises International. One of South Korea's leading conglomerates. The youngest and most successful entrepreneur in the industry. That's who I am.'
[Hmph… how pathetic. I know who the main character of this rebellion is.]
Most of these directors would stab me in the back, given half a chance.
I step forward to my cabin.
Han caught up to me in the hallway. "Kiara, wait. You can't keep burning bridges like this." "If you don't change course—"
"Let's talk later. I'm not in the mood now."
my tone was sharp and filled with irritation. I moved immediately to her cabin.
It was at this hour that the working day was over. I found myself alone in the office, staring at the window outside.
[There were lives and activities of people that bustled into the city, yet I didn't seem to be part of them.]
my phone was ringing once more. But I wouldn't take the call. It's dinnertime. Family again. Same old faces. Same tired, uneasy conversations.
As I left the office that evening, darkness had fallen over the city. I drove toward my home, feeling the weight of the day's highlights.
I was thinking about the nightmare of last night. A long day of work darkened my complexion. I had an unexpected memory of what the girl had said.
*A woman stood in front of me in my dream. Her long, dark hair was a night of shadows. Her crimson-red eyes, resembling a blood moon, held an eerie glow.*
Elara," the woman replied, "I've been trying to reach you."
"Why?"
"You're in danger," Elara said, her expression urgent. "And I'm here to save you. But you must trust me."
"What are you mumbling?" I said.
I reached a quiet place when the truck came out of nowhere.
"Thud"
Metal screamed. Glass shattered. my car spun off the road like a broken toy. Pain exploded through my whole body as I lay in the wreckage, the world growing dimly around the edges.
"Kraaaaah!"
my vision blurred. Before I lost consciousness, I saw the woman from my dream again. She knelt beside me; her eyes were an intense shade of red.
"Elara," I whispered through bloody lips.
"Your choice, right now." The woman's voice was urgent. "Die here, or live again in another world. Say yes, and I'll save you."
"Yes," I managed, as darkness claimed me. "Anything but this."
-----
*The New World*
When I opened my eyes, the world was different. The air was cold, and the surroundings were unfamiliar. I was no longer in the car or the city.
I was lying in a grand and bright bedroom, the decor of which looked like a historical drama. "What the hell is this? Is this a fantasy drama or a game?"
The door opened, and someone spoke. The door creaked open.
"Lady Elara!" A maid rushed in, looking flustered. "Thank goodness you're awake. The Crown Prince has been waiting for over an hour!"
Kiara - or Elara? – I sat down, my heart thumping as the weight of my new reality sunk in.
Who was I? Where was I now? My mind was racing and confused. What in the world was I?