Matteo glided through the busy streets of Seoul almost like he had been here before. The city’s buildings towered above the vehicle, bright lights reflecting off the smooth exterior. Inside, Alexandra sat comfortably in the backseat, swiping through the slides she prepared. Matteo De Luca, her personal bodyguard and driver, maneuvered the car effortlessly making his way to their target destination. He seemed unfazed by the many cars and crowds. 

“Alright Matteo, I need you to be honest and tell me exactly what you think of my pitch. Please don’t hold back.” she said before clearing her throat dramatically. 

“Ladies and Gentleman, at Astor Tech industries we always deliver you with the newest and best technological advancements. With the launch of AstorWear, this isn’t your average technology. This is more than just clothing, it’s an experience like no other. This is a fusion of cutting-edge technology and high fashion.”

She took a small breath before continuing.

“Imagine executives walking into a boardroom, their suits adjusting to the perfect temperature, with biometric sensors ensuring optimal posture and comfort throughout the day. Even models and Kpop idols can wear it during performances to keep an eye on their vitals.”

She swiped to the next slide, her voice lit up with excitement. 

I love my job. 

“And let’s not forget our AI-powered skin patch. The moment the patch touches your skin, it auto-matches to your skin tone, keeps the skin hydrated, and even adjusts to stress levels. No more carrying around a dozen serums, this little miracle of a patch does it all!”

Matteo remained silent, pondering what she said for a second, keeping his hands steady on the wheel. 

“It’s impressive,” he finally said. “Your father will expect perfection.”

She groaned, rolling her eyes.

“Matteo, why must you always bring up my father? Mr. Astor this, Charles that. I’m running this division of Astor Tech. AstorWear is my baby. I’ve got this.”

“Yes ma’am.” 

“Ugh,” she revolted.  “Don’t call me ma’am, you make me sound old. We are practically the same age.” 

“Yes ma…” he cut off before smirking slightly. It was barely noticeable, but somehow she caught it.

“Ah-ha!” she yelled. “So you can smile after all. And here I was thinking you didn’t know how.” she teased.

“Bodyguards don’t smile Miss Astor. No smiling and no distractions,” he said seriously, with his eyes glued to the road. 

“Matteo, distractions? What could possibly be a distraction? Me? Impossible. I am the main event,” she joked, flicking her curls over her shoulder childishly. 

When she behaved like this, it was hard to tell she had a degree in both engineering and business. 

“And besides, if I bomb this meeting, I might need a new job. Maybe I can be your assistant? Carry your gun for you, protect you from the hoards of women. Did I mention I look good in all black?”

Matteo let out what seemed like a chuckle but one could never be too sure. “You? A body guard? Not a chance, Principessa,” he said, with his thick Italian accent. 

“I’m actually a pretty good shot,” she huffed before turning her focus back to the slides at hand. 

T-minus 26 minutes.

As she arrived at Starise Entertainment, she smoothed out her skirt and slid on her black heels. The car came to a stop. 

One last breath.

“God, please allow this to be a success,” she whispered, holding the golden cross necklace she’d gotten from her mother right before her 16th birthday.

She pushed through her nerves and stepped out of the vehicle, greeted immediately by the event coordinators. 

“Miss Astor, right this way.” 

She checked her watch. Relief washed over her. 

Just in time. 

She made her entrance with confidence and grace. Her curls pulled out of her face, showing her soft features. 

***

Inside, the conference room buzzed with conversation and energy. Representatives from Young Cosmetics, Samsung, and Starise Entertainment were engaged in quiet conversation, along with beauty influencers, fashion designers, and executives from K-pop industries. 

Alexandra saw Young-Hana, a familiar face and her old college friend. Last she had heard, Young-Hana was getting ready to take over for her mother at Young Cosmetics.

They exchanged a quick smile before taking their seats. This was actually perfect, she hoped they would be interested in her pitch. As she continued to scan the gathering, she noticed a rep from LUNSEO wasn’t present. 

How could they not send a rep? 

At least she wasn’t the last to arrive. However, it didn’t look well for her since they didn’t even bother to show up. She had to pull strings to get them to even rsvp for the event. 

She would have to make due with those present. 

“Alright, thank you everyone for attending today,” she began.

Before she could continue, the doors swung open. The murmurs in the room quieted as a tall, well-dressed man strolled in. Interesting enough, he exuded confidence despite his oh so obvious tardiness. 

Alexandra leaned back slightly, her lips curving into an amused smirk as she recognized the man. 

“Ahhh, Mr.—” she paused, “—sorry, not sure who you are, but you seem to be late to this very important meeting.” 

A few people chuckled quietly. His dark eyes locked onto hers as if to challenge her. “Seo. Seo Jung-jin from LUNSEO,” he corrected cooly, adjusting his suit as he took a seat. “And I assure you, I’m well worth the wait.” 

Alexandra raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Oh, how irritating.

Without acknowledging him, she turned back to the assembled executives and launched into her presentation. This was her moment and she intended to own every bit of it. Not even he could ruin this for her.