« And here is the monthly financial status report Ms Kim. »

« Thank you Umji. »

I said while reading the said report. I was standing in front of the patio door of my office. Being on the 13th floor of the building I had an amazing view of the busy street of Seoul.

« Oh, and Mr Moon emailed me this morning, he asked if we can delay the meeting some days next week. »

« You know my schedule better than me Umji, so, choose a date and tell me, okay ? And, if Heejun  had  heard you calling him Mr Moon, he would have thrown a tantrum, didn't he already told you he hates his family name ?»

« Oh...I'm sorry ! Really ! »

Umji, that intern of mine is kinda cute.

Don't get me wrong, I mean in the cute dongsaeng way.

She kept on bowing, embarrassed by her mistake, but my chuckle made her stop, she looked at me, slightly flustered.

« That's not a big deal, he's not here. Good work with the report Umji. »

She was about to leave my office when a monkey decided to show up.

« Annyeong Umji ya~   Say little girl, you still don't want to become my intern ? That's CEO of ours is too gloomy and no fun at all. »

He said as he casually sat on one of the chair in front of my white wood desk.

« H..hello marketing director Ok. »

« Taecyeon ssi, cut the crap will you ? »

Why did I hire him ?

Ah yes, that former bartender got a freaking marketing major hidden in his sleeve, I didn't know this monkey was even able to write in the first place. 

« Umji you can go for now. »

« Yes Ms Kim »

The poor girl practically ran away from my office, under the goofy smile of the baboon, while I just sighed at his behavior.

« How do you want me to hire new people for that company if you scare them like that Taec ? I'm going to rat it out to your wife you know ? »

« Sorry big boss, but she's too serious about that work, and I'm sure you're not helping. »

« That exactly why I hire her in the first place, so stop harassing my intern, or you can say good bye to the days off you asked me. »

« Hey ! That for our honeymoon, you can't do that Yongsun ! »

I laughed a bit at his child act, we may know each other for almost 3 years, but we still bicker like kids. After all, I was glad to have a friend like Ok Taecyeon.

« Coffee ? »

I asked him while walking near my coffee maker.

« Same as yours. »

« I'm trying to quit coffee Taec, I run on Earl Grey tea for now. So I guess, the usual for you ? »

« How old are you ? 150 ? »

« Shut up. And why are you even here ? »

« Oh, I've got a message from Yubin for you : You're going to have dinner with us tomorrow night and if I heard some crap about working late I'm dragging your out from that building of yours to the chair waiting for you at home, little girl. »

If you had told me 3 years ago Ok Taecyeon would have married the hottie from the bar, I wouldn't have believed you. But I was his witness, while Yubin became the closest of a best friend I ever had.

Even if I'm too prideful to admit it out loud, I know the two of them became the strength I needed in the mess I was in, because of the . When I was losing hope,  the both of them became the key of my salvation.

Here is the thing : He became a congressman, after a 9 months campain and 9 months of fail attempt of mine to sabotage the result. I realised it now, how an amateur I was, thinking rumor I posted online would affect this candidature. I soon realised I needed proof, receipt against him, to drag him down, but I wasn't powerful enough.

But then, something happened.

Ironically, the dig his own grave, and gave me access to all his dirty business, because his congressman self was too busy doing political crap.

I was closer to my goal, but it wasn't enough to find proof about his wrong doing. Until Yubin came with the idea of the century.

« If you can't have his crap disclosed from him, get it from somebody else »

Because of that one sentence I was able to achieve my life goal.

Because of that one sentence we got the ’s right hand's man under control, tightly wrapped around our fingers, and  tighted of that chair where we blackmailed him.

Don't get me wrong, we weren't the bad people there, that dude, Junjin had it coming.

But let me told you what happened: Once we all agreed it would be easier to squeeze juicy and relevant information from an underling rather than the devil itself, my target was easily chosen. Park Choong Jae, ex financial director of the also known as Junjin, walking definition of a douche. You're thinking I'm overreacting ? Not only that dude was openly cheating on his wife with every chicks with a self-esteem as low as their cleavage, but he was sponosorising gangs and was laundering money somewhere in the Caribbean.

A real saint, to be short.

Yubin just needed to flick her hair on his erted face to make him followed her to the warehouse we prepared for him. A couple of punches from an angry Taecyeon (he wasn't fond of the idea of his girl being a bait) and threat from me were enough to make himspill his gut (figuratively)  as he gave me more information and access codes that I need to end the bastard.

But don't worry, this model of citizenship and loyalty is in jail now.

So with all the card in hand, it was more than easy for me to finally start the final scene of that tragic play I was enrolled ever since my parents died. I made sure that the meet his fate, meet the shame of his true self being revealed, meet the fear of losing everything, of being enabled to control his life anymore, all in a few yet easy words : corruption and embezzlement.

That idiot cheated on his own election and then start laundering money from a charity project he launched a few weeks after the election, and it was just the top 2 of a list of crime and unmoral behavior. but then what did you expect from a rotten dude like him ?

Anyways, I managed to get him in prison too, by simply sending the documents I had in my hand to both journalists and police. It made quite a scandal, even I was surprised. For weeks his name, but also Moon Daddy were in the spotlight, for reason they'd rather kept secret. I didn't know that putting Eric Mun to hell would also drag the oldest Moon, but apparently the duo had some fishy business in common. But to be honest I never like the old fart behavior, believe me, the old man had it coming too.

When the bastard summoned me while being in custody, I decided to finally telling him the truth, I knew he wouldn't get out of prison for a long time, because justice wanted to make an example in front of the world, but also because all his ''friends'' suddenly disappeared, clearly they didn't wanted to be involved with him anymore.

I remember it clearly, 1 year ago, the last time I saw him.

As always, he played his « big boss » and influential man card on me, telling which people to call to get him out, how I should write refutation and other s I didn't listened, because the sight of him in that orange suit, handcuffed on the metal bar fixed on the table was a very entertaining starter in the menu of my revenge.

« Miss Kim ? Yongsun ? Are you even listening ? Pay attention. »

I look into his pathetic eyes to see a tired old man, who apparently poured his last hope of freedom on me, and I was so ready to crush it and see despair consume him.

« Why would I pay attention ? It's a lost cause and you know it. »

« You need to hire a new lawyer for me. In case, I left a list of trusted people to- »

« Karma is a don't you think, Sir ? »

« Excuse me ? »

Slowly, I stood up from the chair I was in, and started walking around, freely, on the prison's visitor room. I knew perfectly they were security cameras rolling, but I manage to have a guard under my sleeve, and nothing from this meeting would be out.

« Do you really think people care about you outside ? Or that they'd care in the past, don't yourself, they never. »

My harsh tone kept stunned him, so rather than letting him speak again, I continued.

« No lawyer wants your case because you're a lost cause, ''the biggest political scandal of the past 20 years'', they're gonna make an example out of you. Beside, all your precious bank accounts are frozen, even the one in the Caribbean, you can't even pay for a coffee now. »

« ..How do you know about that bank account? »

« Oh please, I know every single thing about you, Mr Mun. »

It took only a few second for him to realize the situation, and when I noticed the change in his eyes, my smirk only grow wider.

« You...it was you.. »

« How could the press and police could have found about those information. »

« You betrayed me ?! I got it now ! You waited until I gave you my company and then stabbed me in the back ?! You you won't get away that easily I- »

« YOUR company? Really? It wasn't your company to begin with. »

« It is mine !!! I took this ty company and made it big ! That looser of Dongwan wouldn't have done the same ! »

"You pushed him to commit suicide! You ruin his life! You and your ing minions harassed his wife until she died of exhaustion, you ruin their file, and mine too-"

I stopped right on my track, the last thing I wanted him to know was how he had an impact on my life, as bad as it was.

"Well, well, well.. you, Ms Kim, are full of Surprise" he said, I guessed in the end, he put two and two together.

"You are Dongwan's daughter? I get the point now. You hold a grudge against me, little girl?" he continued, a vicious smirk on his lips.

''How could I'd have known ? I give you credit for your little play here.. If your father was half that smart, he would have stay alive.”

Unabled to contain my rage anymore, I slammed my fists on the stern table. I knew what he was doing, and I knew I was losing this mind game by letting my guard down, but he just pulled

the wrong string.

"You will rot in here forever, you bastard! He died because of you! I will personally make sure your life will be a nightmare from now on ! "

I was screaming at this point, losing my temper, but it only made his smirk grow bigger.

"How proud your parents must be. Are you feeling better now? The big villain is in jail, you save the world! How does it feel, to make your own justice, to use dirty trick to assure yourself the number one spot? "

He kept on saying, while his words hit me harder than any punch would ever.

"Kim Yong Sun, congratulation, you look like me more than you will ever look like your father"

"Shut up!" I exclaimed, out of despair.

"From now on, everything you will achieve will make you remember me, I will haunt you. And when I get out, I will use my power to tear you apart."

His last sentence made me lift my head once again.

"What power? You’re a dead man, ."

"A dead man married to a rich girl. They didn't take Byulyi's money, it is mine to take".

''There is no way I will let you come near Byulyi ever again!" I said, growling. Hearing her name from his mouth made my blood boiled, my rage against him kept on growing.

"She is still my wife and everything she possesses is mine" he replied, looking surprised that my combativity came back.

The fight is not over, bastard.

"You might have bought a young and pretty girl, but she was never yours."

I said, as I slowly took my seat back, regaining my composure.

"The company isn't the only thing I took from you, ."

"And what exactly it is supposed to mean?"

He asked, losing his cool. The table was turning, it was my turn to play.

''Exactly what it means, idiot. Your wife is mine, from the 1st day I step into the mansion, she was mine.”

I began the show time, under the murderous stares of the pitiful man whom ego I was stepping on. Byulyi meant a lot for me, but at that time, blinded by my hate and thirst for revenge, I used her for the last time.

''Your wife would beg me to her, to eat her delicious little and all this time, you had no clues. You were lucky enough my mighty lesbian self took care of your wife, something you weren't capable of doing, I guess.”

The bastard was mute, but his eyes showed madness, rage and anger, but all I was seeing was his humiliation. I dare to move closer, looking directly at him, my next words coming in a whisper.

"Confident rat like you are the easiest to play with. I took my company back, put you in jail and won the girl. You lost, Mun."

“YOU ING ” he roared, trapped on his chair.

His sudden outburst made me flinch, and I took a few second to ensure myself he was tightly chained to the table.

“You think you’re superior to me ?! You’re nothing ! You’re already dead !! I don’t need to be out of these wall to put you six feet under !”

He kept on yelling at me, half standing, but still restrain by the chair. The feared and prestigious business man was long gone. At least he put away his mask, and his true self was revealed.

He was barking  so much, his face was red, his eyes was full of hate, he was like an enraged animal. I tried my best to keep my cool but if I had to be honest, this side of him, this monster still frighten me.

The guard I paid quickly entered the room, has Eric made a scene. He violently pushed him back into his chair, ordering him to calm down, menacing him with his truncheon.

“You better leave now miss.” He said, and I took his advice.

I look at the man one last time, with all the hate and disdain I could show in my eyes and left without any last word.

As I walked through the corridor, I could still hear him insulted me, threatening me, and even if I knew that he was nothing but the shadow of an ex-powerful man, his words and fate are engraved in my brain, as a warning. I knew better but to not believe his words. As much as I tried to break every ounce of power he had, I was being cautious, not for me, but for Byulyi.

Ever since that day 2 years ago, I never heard about her again, and it was killing me. I was worried for her, as I knew how furious Eric was when she escaped. At that time, he ordered me to find her, but of course, I did nothing. But as he was in jail, I couldn’t predict his move. I decided then to permanently “hire” that guard, for him to monitor every moves of the , and until today he didn’t try to do something against Byulyi.

Ah, Byulyi. There is so much to say about her, I have so many regrets when it come of the flower I’ve found in hell. Like a punishment for my behavior toward her, I realized how much I missed her, how much she meant to me after I put her husband where he belongs. I did try to find her on my own, but I couldn’t, which made me proud of her as much as it saddened me.

I was aware of the feeling I had the day she left, but what I didn’t know was that they would grow, even without her by my side. It became unbearable to live without her, and at first I’ve found it easier to put the blame on her father and husband. This unbearable pain I felt only fueled my hate toward them,  and gave me more reasons to punish them. These people believe that because of their power, they could do everything they wanted to everybody, from CEO to member of their own family, so I had to prove them wrong.

Destroying the life of Eric Mun was always my personal vendetta, but with Byulyi involved, it became more than this, and the satisfaction I thought I would gain as I achieved my goal turned into relief of knowing a monster was stopped. The happiness I thought I would feel knowing my parents were avenged turned into a feeling of emptiness. I achieved what I always wanted, but wasn’t happy, because Byulyi was not with me, because I pushed her away. Really, Karma is a .

For the past year I imagined how a life for the both of us could have been, I often dream about her. This girl was born in a world that didn't merit her, and I was part of it. I was cruel to her, I broke her heart and it took me too long to realize how much I must I’ve pain her. If only I could go back in time… I realized I don’t deserve anything from her, but I was selfish, I just wanted to see her one last time. There is so many things I wanted to tell her, how sorry I was for being such a jackass but most importantly, that I’ve found a way to break the last bond she has with her past.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

“Oï, are you planning on looking at your coffee pot all day ? CEO is definitily an interesting spot.”

The annoying voice of my best friend brought me back in reality.

“ off Taec”

I replied, as I noticed the lack of coffee on the said pot.

I left my office to get some refill, under the amused eyes of my marketing director.

As I walk on the open space until the break room, my employees took turn to greet me in different way, mostly the formal one but also a few stressed one.

To be honest, it still feels weird to me, the CEO life.

Most of them knew who I was by then, and some of the elder who remained faithful to my father even greeted me with open arm. The bastard didn’t knew what humans means, so the first actions I took as the person in charge were meant to make this company a better place for its workers. It might never be as successful as it was before, but I took an oath to make it shine like it was when my father was in charge.

As I entered the break room, I spotted Umji with Choi Yu Na, the most recent employee I hired. My intern jolted up seeing me, and quickly closed the book she was showing to her friend.

“Oh ! Ms Kim ! Sorry I-“

“Calm down Umji” I began, a smile on my face.

“It’s your break time, just..don’t mind me” I said as I showed her my empty coffee pot.

Umji resume her chit chat with Yu Na, and I couldn't help but eavesdropping. Maybe I’m getting soft, but it was a cute scene to watch. Umji was speaking about the book on the table, how she loved every single pages. She was so enthusiast about it, it just irked my curiosity.

“Can you believe it’s the work of a rookie author ?! This Moonstar is a genius ! Everything seem so real ! And the characters ! unnie you have to read it !”

“You surely like this book uh ?” I couldn’t help but barged in, a fond smile on my face.

“Ms Kim..yes, this book caught short , it was a real surprise-“

Umji kept on  praising the book while I took the liberty to take it from the table, I wanted to look at it.

The title was simple yet intriguing, “Doll” and the cover, an abstract painting.

“You should read it Ms Kim ! This book has everything, witty yet intense and touching, and it’s taking inspiration from big political scandal too. If you don’t mind me saying it, people believe that what happened with the former CEO was also an inspiration.”

Wait..what ?

My eyes moved from the book to my intern, before I took the chair next to her, joining them.

“You got my attention now, Ms Umji. Care to tell me more ?”

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Finally ! Chapter one is out ! 

I hope you like it ^^ 

If you can give me some feedback about it btw, that would be cool +___________+

chapter 2 is on its way, I had some delay but I might upload it this week end !