The Elevator

The Heaven Entertainment Building - Main Lobby

8:47 AM

Ellisa was already running late.

Not dramatically late just enough to be flustered, enough to have skipped breakfast, enough to be power-walking through the lobby with her bag half-open and her phone in one hand and a protein bar in her mouth.

The members had gone ahead. Something about a schedule miscommunication. She'd stayed behind to grab the special edition light sticks a fan had sent her (she always hand-signed receipts for fan gifts, always, it was the least she could do) and now she was sprinting toward the elevator like her life depended on it.

The elevator doors were closing.

"No, no, no"

She lunged forward, arm outstretched, ready to jam her hand between the doors like she'd seen in dramas.

The doors slid open again.

She stumbled inside, breathless, "Thank you, thank you, thank you"

And froze.

Min Jae stood in the corner of the elevator.

Alone.

In a perfectly tailored charcoal suit. Holding a tablet. Looking at her with an expression that hovered somewhere between amused and alarmed.

Ellisa's brain short-circuited.

The protein bar fell out of her mouth.

She caught it. Barely. Fumbled it. Dropped her phone. Bent to grab both. Hit her head on the elevator railing. Straightened up, red-faced, with her hair in her eyes and her bag threatening to spill everywhere.

"CEO Min," she managed. "Good morning. I didn't I mean, I wasn't the doors were closing, and I just"

"Breathe."

She breathed.

He pressed the button for the 15th floor. Then looked at her expectantly.

"What floor?"

"Oh! 12th. Please. Thank you."

He pressed 12. The elevator started moving.

Silence.

Ellisa stood as still as possible, clutching her bag like it was a shield, staring at the floor numbers as they changed. 2. 3. 4.

Just get to 12. Just get to 12. Just

"You're eating a protein bar for breakfast."

It wasn't a question.

She looked down at the offending protein bar in her hand. Wrapped. Uneaten. Evidence.

"I yes? I was late. The members left without me. There was a fan gift situation. It's fine, though, I'll eat properly later"

"The cafe on 2 has proper food. Eggs. Rice. Soup."

"I know, but"

"Breakfast is important."

She glanced at him. He was still looking at his tablet, but his attention was clearly not on whatever was on the screen.

"I'll eat properly tomorrow," she promised.

"That's what you said yesterday."

She blinked. "How do you know what I said yesterday?"

He didn't answer.

12….12….12…

Almost there. Almost safe. Almost.

"CEO Min?"

He looked up.

"The meeting today," she said. "The one for all idols. What's it about?"

"Standard quarterly review."

"What does that mean? Are we getting new songs? New concepts? Is it about the Japan debut? Hana unnie heard rumors about a Japan debut"

"It's not about Japan."

"Oh." She frowned. "Is it about the variety show appearances? Because Dani really wants to do that cooking one, and I think she'd be great, but the producers always want me instead, and I don't want to take opportunities from her"

"It's not about variety shows."

"Then what? Schedule changes? Contract renewals? Oh no, is someone leaving? Is a group disbanding? Please don't let it be disbandment, the Cupids would literally riot, and I saw online that"

"Ellisa."

"fans are already nervous because of the timing, and if there's any bad news we need to prepare a statement, and"

"Ellisa."

She stopped.

He was looking at her with an expression she couldn't read. Tired, maybe. Or overwhelmed.

"You ask a lot of questions," he said.

"Sorry. I just I like to be prepared. Knowledge is power. My grandfather always says that. Also my dad. Actually, everyone in my family says that. It might be a family motto."

One corner of his mouth twitched.

The elevator slowed.

Thank God.

"The meeting is at 10 AM," he said. "Conference Room A. You'll find out everything then."

"I know, but"

The doors opened.

She stepped toward them, relieved, ready to escape

And then she turned back.

"One more question?"

He sighed. Actually sighed. A small, almost imperceptible exhale that she definitely noticed.

"Just one?"

"Just one. Promise."

He waited.

"What should I wear? Is it formal or casual? Because Hana unnie said formal, but Dani said casual, and Rina said 'elevated casual' which isn't even a real thing, it's just something influencers say, and I don't want to be overdressed or underdressed, and"

"Ellisa."

"if I wear the wrong thing, people will notice, and then they'll talk, and then"

He moved.

She didn't see it coming.

One moment he was across the elevator. The next, he was right in front of her. Close. Too close. His hand came up…

And covered her mouth.

Gently.

His palm was warm against her lips. His fingers pressed lightly against her cheek. His body was right there, close enough that she could smell his cologne, close enough to see the tiny flecks of gold in his otherwise dark eyes.

Ellisa stopped breathing.Her eyes were on him.His eyes were on her.Both shocked and unknown about what was happening to them.

The elevator doors, still open, started to close. He reached out with his other hand and caught them. Held them. Didn't move.

His eyes were on hers.

Wide. Surprised. As if he hadn't planned this either.

They stood there. Frozen. Her mouth under his hand. His face inches from hers. The world narrowed to the space between them.

1 second.

2 seconds.

3.

His thumb moved. Just slightly. A tiny brush against her cheekbone.

Ellisa's heart stopped.

Min Jae's eyes dropped to her lips to his own hand covering them and something shifted in his expression. Confusion. Wonder. Fear.

4 seconds.

5.

The elevator beeped. Doors trying to close.

He snapped back.

Dropped his hand. Stepped away. Straightened his jacket. Became the CEO again in the span of a heartbeat.

Ellisa stood frozen, lips tingling where his palm had been, brain completely offline.

"The meeting," he said, voice rough. "Elevated casual is fine."

Then he pressed the button for his floor. The doors started closing.

Ellisa stumbled out onto 12 just before they shut completely.

She stood in the empty hallway for a full minute, one hand pressed to her mouth, heart hammering.

What just happened.

What just happened.

What?

Her phone buzzed.

[Manager Kang]: Elii-yah where are you? Schedule meeting in 5!Get back here fast maknae.

She shook herself. Forced her legs to move. Walked toward the practice room on autopilot.

By the time she reached the door, she'd already started thinking about something else. The meeting. The schedule. The dance practice after.

She was twenty years old. Her brain processed things in flashes, in moments, in move on to the next thing.

By lunch, she'd almost forgotten the elevator entirely.

Almost.

Meanwhile Min Jae made it to his office.

Closed the door.

Leaned against it,shocked and surprised both written on his face.

And stood there, breathing, for the first time since he'd touched her face.

What had he done.What had he done?

His hand was still warm. He could still feel the softness of her skin, the warmth of her breath against his palm, the way her eyes had gone wide and dark and something.

He looked at his hand.

Turned it over.

Stared at it like it belonged to someone else.

He had never never touched a girl like that. Not intentionally. Not like that. He'd shaken hands. Given polite bows. Maintained exactly the right distance required by professionalism and his own carefully constructed walls.

But with her, those walls kept crumbling.

The fridge. The blanket. The ice cream. And now this.

This.

He walked to his desk. Sat down. Tried to look at emails but nothing helped.He was still stuck on her.

The emails blurred,the vision’s slightly tasting his patience..He kept seeing her face. The way her lips had parted slightly under his hand. The way she hadn't pulled away. The way he hadn't wanted to pull away.

What is wrong with me.

His phone buzzed.

[Assistant Kang Jun-ho]: Sir, the 10 AM meeting is confirmed. All idol groups confirmed attending.

He typed back automatically. Set the phone down.

Stared at the ceiling.

She's twenty. She's your employee. She's the center of your biggest group. This is inappropriate. This is dangerous. This is

This is all I've thought about for weeks.

He closed his eyes.

And for the first time in his carefully controlled life, Min Jae let himself wonder.

What if I didn't pull away?

What if I

No.

He couldn't finish that thought.

That Night - 1:47 AM

Min Jae lay in his expensive Italian bed, staring at the ceiling.

Sleep wouldn't come.

Every time he closed his eyes, he was back in that elevator. Her face inches from his. Her skin under his palm. The way she'd looked at him not as a CEO, not as a boss, but as a man.

He touched his hand again.

Still warm.

Or maybe that was just memory.

She probably hasn't thought about it all day, he realized. She's twenty. She's busy. She's got schedules and practices and fans and a life that doesn't revolve around a moment in an elevator.

While I'm here. Unable to sleep. Thinking about her.

He should stop this. Whatever this was. He should maintain distance. Should be professional. Should.

His phone lit up.

[Ellisa]: Hey. Random question. What's your favorite ice cream flavor?

He stared at the message.

At 1:47 AM.

She was awake too.

[Min Jae]: You're awake.

[Ellisa]: #Insomnia. You?

[Min Jae]: Same.

[Ellisa]: So? Favorite flavor?

[Min Jae]: Black sesame.

[Ellisa]: That's so on brand for you.

[Min Jae]: What does that mean?

[Ellisa]: Dark. Mysterious. An old soul flavor.

[Min Jae]: And yours?

[Ellisa]: Cotton candy. Basic. I know. Don't judge.

[Min Jae]: I don't judge but who knows if I did ?

[Ellisa]: You're literally called the Ice Prince. Judging is basically your hobby.you will do it,I am 100% sure.

He stared at the message.

Then, slowly, typed:

[Min Jae]: Maybe I'm not as cold as everyone thinks.Maybe….

Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.

[Ellisa]: I know.

He read those two words over and over.

I know.

She knew.

And she was still texting him at 2 AM.

He put the phone down. Picked it up. Put it down again.

Then he typed one last message.

[Min Jae]: Go to sleep, Ellisa. You have schedules tomorrow.You need lots of energy for tomorrow.

[Ellisa]: Bossy much Mr.

[Min Jae]: CEO.

[Ellisa]: Same thing. Night, CEO Min.Have a good night.Oh sorry have a ghost night….🤣🤣

[Min Jae]: Goodnight, Ellisa.Same to you..

He set the phone aside.

Stared at the ceiling.

Thought about her.

And finally, hours later, fell asleep with more questions than answers and her name on his lips.

Next morning,

Ellisa woke up to a text from an unknown number.

Wait. Not unknown. She’d saved it last night without really thinking, as if her fingers had acted before her mind could argue.

[Min Jae]: Cotton candy ice cream. 9 PM. Back entrance. Don’t be late.

She stared at the message for a long time, the words blurring slightly as her thoughts drifted into a small, private imaginary universe where this wasn’t just a casual text but something that mattered more than it should.

Then she smiled.

Then, as if remembering she wasn’t supposed to, she immediately tried to stop smiling.

It didn’t work.

Her lips betrayed her again, curving up softly while she lay there still, staring at the ceiling like it might give her instructions on how to act normal. Her heart, however, had already decided to be difficult, beating a little too fast for something so simple.

She turned on her side, clutching the blanket closer, pretending the message didn’t mean anything at all.

But it did.

And the smile stayed anyway quiet, stubborn, and impossible to hide.

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