Chapter 4

• I would never compromise my morals or betray myself no matter what the world threw at me.
• Still, as I splashed cold water over my face and stared at my reflection in the mirror, I felt dizzy, like the ground itself had begun to sway. The makeup I had scrubbed off had left my skin pale and raw, but at least it was my face again. My real face.
• I turned off the tap and stepped out of the restroom, hoping that the rush of cold air in the corridor would clear my head. I barely made it a few steps before colliding into someone.
• A wave of alcohol hit me like a punch.
• “Don’t you have eyes?” the man barked, his voice slurred and sharp.
• I frowned, ready to move past him until I saw who it was.
• What a small world.
• It was him.
• The right-hand man of Ulysses Entertainment, the very man my friends and I had just been talking about minutes ago.
• His surprise mirrored mine at first, but it didn’t last long. His eyes flickered with recognition, then hunger.
• “Well, look who it is,” he drawled, the corner of his mouth twisting into a grin. “Naomi. You’ve… changed. Gotten even prettier. Two years, huh? What do you say come back to Ulysses ? I’ve been thinking about you. You’d always be welcome there.”
• That was how a forty-something drunk man spoke carelessly, arrogantly, as if the world still revolved around him.
• But I knew better.
• He dared to speak like that because Ulysses and Cape 2, owned by the powerful Weber family, were the two giants of the entertainment industry. And I had fallen out with both.
• “I appreciate the offer,” I said coldly, stepping aside, “but I’m not interested.”
• I walked on, not bothering to look back, though I could feel his gaze crawl down my back like something filthy. Men like him had been in the industry too long to believe any woman was truly out of reach.
• I heard his hurried footsteps behind me a moment later.
• “Naomi,” he called, grabbing my waist with one hand, his breath hot and reeking of whiskey. “Don’t make this hard. I could make your life very comfortable if you’d just say yes.”
• But had been in this game too long to be caught off guard.
• The instant he reached for me, I twisted away and darted around the corner, blending into the small crowd of bar patrons ahead. His hand caught nothing but air.
• Behind me, his voice rose in anger.
• “B*tch! Just wait see how I deal with you!”
• My heart pounded. He wouldn’t dare chase me here, not in public
• Or so I thought.
• When I risked a glance over my shoulder, I saw him barreling after me, red-faced and furious.
• Two perverts in one day. Just my luck.
• I quickened my pace and rushed into the lobby of the bar. The place wasn’t like the usual nightlife traps with neon lights and deafening music it was quiet, dim, and elegant. The kind of place where corporate elites came to loosen their ties and pretend their souls weren’t tired.
• I scanned the room for help.
• At that moment, two staff members opened the front doors. A group of people entered, the bar manager bowing deeply as he welcomed them.
• The man leading them stood out instantly tall, composed, and wrapped in authority like it was part of his skin. His black tailored suit looked sharp enough to cut. The way he moved steady, precise, utterly assured made the air around him shift.
• I couldn’t see his face clearly through the haze of my half-drunken vision, only the long lines of his legs beneath immaculate trousers and the gleam of polished shoes. But I knew power when I saw it.
• Without thinking, I stumbled forward.
• I had no one else to rely on. Not anymore.
• Before the man’s entourage could react, I reached him, rose on my toes, and looped my arms around his neck.
• “My dear,” I said softly, forcing a tremulous smile, “you came to pick me up.”
• Gasps rippled through the room. I didn’t dare look around to see who was staring. I’d spent three years in this industry learning how cruel people could be and how quickly they turned their backs when power was involved.
• If the CEO of Ulysses as after me, no ordinary person would risk getting in his way.
• So I gambled.
• I clung to the stranger’s warmth, praying my act was convincing enough. Then I looked up.
• And froze.
• The man’s face came into focus.
• He was devastatingly handsome almost unreal. Sharp features carved like marble, a proud nose, lips set in quiet command. But it was his eyes that stole my breath. Deep, clear, dark as obsidian… and dangerously familiar.
• I’d seen those eyes before. Somewhere I shouldn’t have.
• Behind me, I heard the CEO’s heavy steps falter.
• He stopped dead when he saw who I was holding onto. His expression flickered first anger, then dawning fear. Even through the haze of alcohol, he recognized power when it stared back.
• The man I was clinging to didn’t say a word. He just slipped his hands into his pockets and looked at the drunk like he was dust beneath his shoes.
• That single glance was enough to make the air turn cold.
• I could see it the moment the CEO realized he was out of his depth. His eyes darted nervously over the group of men surrounding us, his mind racing to place their faces. A few of them were familiar industry titans, the kind of people even he wouldn’t dare offend.
• He turned to leave, but then I heard one of the men speak a soft murmur, respectful but edged with curiosity.
• “Young Master Yui…”
• The CEO froze mid-step.
• He was covered in cold sweat. He quickly wiped it away with his sleeves. He had only heard of one Young Master yui If he were the man that didn't even glance at him the entire time, then the situation made sense.
• He didn’t have to turn around to know.
• The Yamada family was practically royalty in port Skyline
• The grandfather led the central authorities.
• The father the skyline mayor.
• And the son? The infamous young master with a reputation for recklessness and charm.
• I had heard the rumors about how his father had sent him to military camp years ago to “fix” his attitude. Judging by the way he looked at the CEO cold and unimpressed it hadn’t worked.
• The CEO went pale. He forced a trembling smile, bowing low.
• “Excuse me,” he stammered. “Sorry to bother you,
• “Oh gosh”.
• The man I was holding the one who hadn’t spoken, whose eyes had sliced through him like a blade was the Young Master Yui.
• My breath caught. My mind went blank.
• Of all the people in Port skyline I could have run into… why him?
• And why did those eyes feel like a memory I couldn’t escape?