The meeting was underway, and I lingered by the door, caught in a web of uncertainty about stepping inside. It wasn’t that I felt intimidated by him or anyone else in that room; rather, it was the weight of the unseen spirits surrounding me that made me fear I might embarrass myself in their presence.

After gathering my courage with a deep breath, I pushed the door open and crossed the threshold. For a fleeting moment, I sensed the collective attention of the room upon me, but as I settled into my chair beside Rita, directly across from my new boss, Jungkook, their gazes quickly shifted away. I could feel Jungkook's eyes on me from the corner of my vision, and I fought to maintain an air of composure as I focused on Leo’s presentation.

“This is the strategy for the upcoming seasonal event, sir. Do you have any questions?” Leo inquired, directing his attention to Jungkook, who, however, seemed more interested in me, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.

"I’m not sure, what do you think, Miss? Arriving late, perhaps?" he inquired, his hands resting firmly on the table. My gaze drifted to his arms, where the sinewy veins were prominently displayed. I shook off the distraction and met Jungkook's eyes.

"I apologize, sir, I was—" But he interrupted, rising to scrutinize the presentation projected on the wall.

"I didn’t request your apologies, Miss. What I want to know is whether you have any input regarding this month’s Halloween event!" he declared, his gaze piercing through me.

The other members of the team were all focused on me, their attention palpable. I inhaled sharply, my mind racing as I formulated a response.

"Sir, what if we organized a competition that invites public participation?" I proposed, sensing his skepticism.

"Expand on that idea, Miss," he replied, settling back into his chair. Leo resumed his position, and I stepped forward to take the spotlight.

"My vision is to limit the number of participants and implement a modest entry fee. We could invite a special guest to judge the artworks. Participants would be given a Halloween theme, allowing them to showcase their creativity and techniques in crafting a masterpiece. The artwork that most captivates the judges will receive a special reward—either a cash prize or the opportunity for their piece to be displayed on the showroom wall throughout the event," I articulated, noticing the nods of approval from the rest of the staff.

"That was quite remarkable. May I ask your name?" he inquired, his gaze searching for a response.

"Elliot, sir," I answered, offering a warm smile. He acknowledged me with a nod, a flicker of understanding passing between us.

"Rita and Leo will collaborate on the decoration ideas, and you..." He gestured toward me with his pen, his eyes narrowing as he assessed my presence.

"Compile a list of judges who are currently available. Reach out to each of them to discuss this event. Once you have finalized the list, come to my office. This meeting is concluded." With that, he stood to leave, offering me a courteous nod before departing.

As he walked away, my smile faded, replaced by a chill as my gaze fell upon the lifeless bride. This time, her expression was one of fury.