Chapter 6: The Shadow of Kang Jin

The elevator doors opened onto a floor that reeked of power. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and unspoken ambition, the silence broken only by the rhythmic tapping of keyboards and the hushed tones of hushed conversations. This was the executive suite, the inner sanctum of Bæbë Phi Universe, and I felt like a trespasser in a sacred space.

I had spent the entire day navigating the treacherous waters of my new job, dodging Natali's subtle sabotage attempts and trying to decipher the cryptic instructions of my direct supervisor, a man who seemed more interested in his stock options than in my actual work. It was exhausting, demoralizing, and I was starting to question my sanity for even agreeing to this charade.

As I walked towards Liam's office, I noticed a commotion down the hall. Voices were raised, furniture was being moved, and a palpable sense of fear hung in the air. I hesitated, my hand hovering over Liam's door.

"What's going on?" I asked a passing employee, a young woman with wide, frightened eyes.

She jumped, startled by my voice. "It's… it's Mr. Chen," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's… not happy."

Mr. Chen. Kang Jin Chen. Liam's father. The man whose approval was the key to my continued employment. The man whose name was whispered in hushed tones, as if he were some kind of mythical beast.

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. I had heard stories about Kang Jin Chen, stories of his ruthlessness, his temper, his unwavering pursuit of power. He was a force to be reckoned with, and I was about to face him.

I took a deep breath and walked towards the source of the commotion. As I rounded the corner, I saw him. Kang Jin Chen.

He was standing in the middle of the hallway, his face contorted with rage, screaming at a cowering subordinate. The man, who looked to be in his late fifties, was sweating profusely, his hands trembling as he clutched a stack of documents.

"You incompetent fool!" Kang Jin Chen roared, his voice echoing through the hallway. "How could you make such a stupid mistake? Do you have any idea how much this is going to cost me?"

The subordinate stammered an apology, his words barely audible. But Kang Jin Chen wasn't listening. He snatched the documents from the man's hands and ripped them in half, scattering the pieces across the floor.

"You're fired!" he screamed, his face red with fury. "Get out of my sight before I call security!"

The subordinate scurried away, his head bowed in shame. Kang Jin Chen watched him go, his eyes burning with contempt.

The silence that followed was deafening. Everyone in the hallway stood frozen, afraid to move, afraid to breathe. I felt a chill run down my spine. This man was terrifying.

Kang Jin Chen turned, his gaze sweeping over the assembled employees. His eyes were cold, calculating, and devoid of any warmth. He looked like a predator surveying his prey.

His gaze landed on me, and I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.

I swallowed hard, trying to maintain eye contact. "I'm Kayla Moore, sir. I'm new here."

He raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over me with thinly veiled disdain. "Moore? I don't recall hiring anyone named Moore."

"Liam… Mr. Chen hired me, sir," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kang Jin Chen's eyes narrowed. "Liam? What is my son doing hiring people without my knowledge?"

He stepped closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming. I could feel his eyes boring into me, dissecting every move I made.

"I understand you're a… mother," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What is a mother doing working such late hours? Shouldn't you be at home, taking care of your child?"

The question was a deliberate challenge, a veiled accusation. He knew I was lying. He knew I wasn't a mother. And he was calling me out on it.

I bit my lip, trying to think of an answer. But my mind was blank. I was trapped, exposed, and about to be humiliated.

Just when I thought I was about to crack, Liam appeared, stepping between me and his father.

"Kayla is working on a special project for me, Father," he said, his voice calm and controlled. "She's been putting in a lot of extra hours."

Kang Jin Chen turned to his son, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "A special project? What kind of project requires a… mother to work such late hours?"

Liam met his father's gaze, his expression unwavering. "It's a confidential project, Father. I can't discuss it with you."

The tension between father and son was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. I could feel the animosity simmering beneath the surface, the unspoken power struggle between two alpha males.

Kang Jin Chen stared at his son for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he sighed and turned away.

"Very well, Liam," he said, his voice low. "But I expect results. I won't tolerate any distractions."

He turned back to me, his eyes burning with a warning. "And you, Ms. Moore. Don't disappoint my son. Or you'll have to answer to me."

He walked away, leaving me standing there, shaken and terrified. Liam turned to me, his expression a mixture of concern and something else I couldn't quite decipher.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft.

"I… I don't know," I stammered, my legs trembling. "Your father is… terrifying."

"He can be intimidating," Liam admitted, his gaze softening. "But don't worry. I won't let him hurt you."

"Why did you do that?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why did you protect me?"

He hesitated for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Let's just say you're a valuable asset, Kayla. I can't afford to lose you."

His words were cold, calculating, and devoid of any emotion. He didn't care about me. He only cared about what I could do for him.

"I'm not an asset, Liam," I said, my voice hardening. "I'm a person. And I deserve to be treated with respect."

He stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "Respect is earned, Kayla," he said, his voice low. "Not given."

He turned and walked towards his office, leaving me standing there, alone and disillusioned. The shadow of Kang Jin Chen loomed over me, a constant reminder of the power and danger that surrounded me.

I was in over my head. I was playing a game I didn't understand, with rules I didn't know. And I was about to get burned.