Hee Tae-hyun, the 33-year-old CEO of Seoul's legendary; Velvet Loft, was a man with two faces. By day, he ran the most luxurious hotel in the city, a symbol of opulence and refinement. By night, he hunted down the corrupt, those whose greed and treachery tore his family apart, earning him the title Bat Man among the city's underworld. His father's death had left a void, one he filled with vengeance, precision, and a burning need for justice.
Tae-hyun leaned back in his chair, pouring himself a glass of wine as he let out a deep, measured sigh.
"Rough day?" Do-yoon asked, his sharp eyes fixed on Tae-hyun.
"Not at all," Tae-hyun replied, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "Did you see his face back there?"
Do-yoon chuckled, pouring himself a drink. "I did. That man was shaking in his boots. You've got a knack for theatrics, I'll give you that."
"Of course," Tae-hyun said, lounging on the couch. "When I do something, I make sure it's perfect. Always."
Do-yoon raised a brow, his smile playful. "Your confidence is almost as annoying as it is impressive. So, what's the plan now?"
"For now, we focus on the fire," Tae-hyun said, his tone growing serious. "I don't want it spreading or hurting anyone."
"It's handled," Do-yoon assured him, taking a sip of his wine. Then, with a wry smile, he added, "You know, sometimes I can't tell if you're a hero or a villain."
Tae-hyun smirked, his eyes narrowing. "Neither can I."
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Mr. Oh, the hotel manager, who bowed respectfully before Tae-hyun.
"What is it now?" Tae-hyun asked lazily. "If it's another business draft, I'm not interested."
"It's urgent, sir," Mr. Oh replied, switching on the television. On the screen was a live feed of a woman standing on the roof of Velvet Loft, the city lights flickering around her.
"That's our hotel," Do-yoon said sharply, setting his glass down. "Why are you here? Get up there and handle it! If she jumps, we'll have a PR nightmare on our hands."
Tae-hyun, however, leaned forward, his gaze fixed on the screen. "Wait," he said, his voice calm but commanding. "I want to see if she jumps."
"Sir, that's not-" Mr. Oh began, but Tae-hyun cut him off.
"She won't do it," he said, a slow smile creeping onto his face.
"Are you insane? Do you think this is a movie?" Do-yoon snapped.
Before Tae-hyun could answer, the screen flickered and went black.
"What's going on?" Mr. Oh muttered, frantically pressing buttons on the remote.
Tae-hyun stood abruptly, his expression darkening. "He's here."
Do-yoon's brows furrowed in confusion. "Who's here?"
Ignoring the question, Tae-hyun grabbed a gun from his desk, swiftly loading it as he strode towards the elevator.
"What's going on?" Do-yoon called, trailing after him.
"I'll explain later," Tae-hyun said curtly. "Once I'm on the roof, lock down the building. No one in, no one out."
The elevator doors closed with a soft ding, leaving Do-yoon staring after him.
....
The soft hum of the elevator came to a halt. Tae-hyun stepped out onto the roof, his grip firm on the gun. The cold night air greeted him, along with the sound of the woman's sobs, he ignored the woman standing precariously at the edge and scanned the area, his sharp eyes darting over every shadow. His chest tightened, his instincts screaming at him that something wasn't right. He swore he had felt a presence-one that didn't belong.
Finally, his gaze landed on her.
"What are you doing there?" he asked, his tone indifferent, almost bored.
She didn't respond, her silhouette still and unyielding under the pale moonlight.
He moved closer, leaning casually against the low parapet, the faintest smirk playing on his lips. "You've been standing there for over thirty minutes. Aren't you going to jump? Or were you just hoping for an audience?" He clicked his tongue. "Honestly, I was intrigued to see if you'd actually do it, now I get to see it live, go on, jump!"
Her head tilted slightly, and for the first time, she turned toward him, her face ghostly pale. "Are you...?" Her words broke off abruptly as her foot slipped.
Tae-hyun reacted instantly, his arms shooting out to catch her before she plummeted. Her small frame was light in his arms, her breathing shallow. He frowned, realizing she'd fainted.
"Pathetic," he muttered with a disappointed sigh. "You passed out before you even fell. How anticlimactic."
As if on cue, the elevator dinged behind him, and two guards stepped out, their expressions tense.
"Sir!" one of them called out, rushing toward him.
Tae-hyun shot them a glare. "Did I ask for help?"
"Mr. Do-yoon sent us," the guard stammered.
He rolled his eyes, unceremoniously handing the unconscious woman over. "Take her."
"And you, sir?"
"I'll deal with my business. Leave."
The two guards bowed respectfully immediately evacuating the premises with the unconscious lady.
Half an hour later, Tae-hyun strode into his private suite, tossing a sleek, black handgun onto the polished table. He peeled off his leather gloves, tossing them beside it.
Do-yoon, seated on a couch with a glass of whiskey, raised an eyebrow. "What was that about?"
Tae-hyun paused, his eyes narrowing as though deciding whether to answer. Finally, he leaned against the table, his tone flat. "Someone's been spying on the hotel."
Do-yoon sat up straighter. "Spying? What makes you think that?"
Tae-hyun clicked his tongue, his irritation barely concealed. "I've been reviewing the security footage. Every time it cuts out, there's always a figure in a black cloak just before it goes blank."
"A thief, maybe?"
"No," Tae-hyun replied, shaking his head. "Nothing's ever stolen. No one gets hurt. Just like tonight."
"What about the woman?"
"She's uninteresting. I want her gone by morning," he said dismissively, pouring himself a glass of water.
Do-yoon frowned. "Shouldn't we question her first? She might know something."
"Do whatever you want with her, I just want her gone" Tae-hyun said, already turning away.
---
The next morning, Tae-hyun returned from his daily run, his muscles taut under his damp shirt. As he walked into the private hall, the tension in the air was palpable. Every eye in the room followed him, and the silence was suffocating.
He grabbed a water bottle from the table and glanced around. "What is it?"
Mr. Jun, the head guard, stepped forward, bowing deeply. "Sir...she's gone."
Tae-hyun raised an eyebrow, taking a slow sip of water. "And? Were you expecting her to stay forever?"
Jun hesitated, sweat beading on his forehead. "Sir, the problem is..."
"Go on," Do-yoon said coolly, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. "I'm curious too."
Jun took a deep breath. "Your mother's hairpin is missing."
The bottle in Tae-hyun's hand froze mid-air. Slowly, he lowered it, his face an unreadable mask. "What did you just say?" His voice was soft, but the room seemed to drop several degrees.
Jun bowed again, his voice trembling. "She broke the lock on her door and escaped. I'm truly sorry, sir."
Behind him, the other guards echoed the apology in unison.
Tae-hyun's lips pressed into a thin line. His dark eyes burned with quiet fury, though his voice remained calm. "You know what to do."
"Yes, sir!" Jun replied, bowing lower.
Do-yoon stepped closer, his tone sharper. "Make sure she's found. Quickly."
"Understood," Jun said, already moving to carry out the orders.
Tae-hyun turned on his heel and walked out, his expression as cold and hard as steel. The faint click of the door echoed as it closed behind him.
Do-yoon lingered for a moment. "She took that of all things?" he muttered to himself, shaking his head. "She either has a death wish-or she knows exactly what she's doing."