Chapter 3: The Missing Page

Noah's words echoed in my mind.

Someone will notice.

Not I will notice.

Not You'll get in trouble.

Someone.

As if there was another person watching.

Someone dangerous.

I stared at him.

"What was on the missing page?"

Noah's expression remained unreadable.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You're lying."

The moment the words left my mouth, the room became silent.

Nobody spoke to Noah Kang that way.

Not employees.

Not executives.

Maybe not even his own family.

Yet here I was.

Calling him a liar.

To my surprise, Noah didn't look angry.

Instead, he stepped closer.

One step.

Then another.

Until there was barely any space between us.

My back hit the filing cabinet.

I swallowed.

This close, he was intimidating.

His gaze dropped briefly to my lips.

Then returned to my eyes.

The movement lasted less than a second.

But I noticed.

And somehow, that felt more dangerous than anything else.

"You should learn when to stop asking questions."

His voice was low.

I forced myself not to look away.

"Then answer them."

For a moment, neither of us moved.

The tension was unbearable.

Then Noah suddenly stepped back.

As if he'd caught himself.

"Go home, Minjun."

My eyes widened.

I had never told him my name.

Noah realized it too.

A faint shadow crossed his face.

Too late.

I'd noticed.

"How do you know my name?"

Silence.

A long silence.

Then Noah turned away.

"Leave."

That wasn't an answer.

And we both knew it.

The next morning, I arrived at work exhausted.

I barely slept.

Every time I closed my eyes, I remembered Noah saying my name.

How long had he known me?

And why?

As I sat down at my desk, a coffee cup suddenly appeared beside my keyboard.

I blinked.

Then looked up.

Ethan grinned.

"Morning."

I stared at the coffee.

"What's this?"

"A peace offering."

"For what?"

"Being related to Noah."

I laughed before I could stop myself.

Ethan immediately pointed at me.

"There."

"What?"

"You smiled."

"So?"

"So now I know you're capable of smiling."

I rolled my eyes.

Ethan sat on the edge of my desk.

Ignoring several employees who were openly staring.

"Want to have lunch together?"

"No."

"Dinner?"

"No."

"Coffee after work?"

"No."

Ethan sighed dramatically.

"You're breaking my heart."

"Good."

"You're cruel."

Before I could respond, the atmosphere around us changed.

Employees suddenly looked away.

Some lowered their heads.

Others quietly returned to work.

The reaction was immediate.

And familiar.

I didn't need to turn around.

I already knew who was standing behind me.

Noah.

Ethan smiled.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

As if he enjoyed causing problems.

"Good morning, brother."

Noah's gaze moved from Ethan...

To the coffee...

To me.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Meeting. Five minutes."

Ethan groaned.

Noah ignored him.

Then his gaze settled on me.

Only me.

"Bring the quarterly reports."

"Why me?"

Noah held my gaze.

For a second.

Two seconds.

Three.

Then he answered.

"Because I asked you."

And walked away.

The entire office remained silent until he disappeared.

Ethan whistled.

"Oh."

"What?"

"He likes you."

I nearly choked.

"Are you insane?"

"Maybe."

Ethan grinned.

"But I've known Noah my entire life."

His smile slowly faded.

"And he never notices anyone."

For the first time...

The joke didn't sound like a joke.

That night, while reviewing documents in the meeting room, I discovered something strange.

A file had been left behind.

No label.

No company logo.

Nothing.

Curious, I opened it.

Inside was a photograph.

The blood drained from my face.

It was my brother.

Standing beside Noah.

Both of them looking directly at the camera.

On the back of the photo, someone had written a date.

Three days before my brother died.

And underneath it...

A message.

If anything happens to me, don't trust the Kang family.

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