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[Lacrimosa] - [Mozart]

Sora anticipated nothing less from a party hosted by a company that has established its empire in the business world for centuries and continues to expand. While business matters didn't particularly interest her, she conducted some research on a few guests attending, not delving too deep, but gaining a glimpse of who they were.

Upon entering the hotel venue, she promptly recognized some of the guests she had previously researched.

"Sora," Jay's voice was low as he leaned toward her, his breath gently fanning her neck. "Stay close to me and don't leave my side."

"That's a given," Sora responded, turning to him as she felt his knuckle lightly brush her cheek.

"Good," he remarked because there was no way he would leave her in a den of wolves wearing a sheep's wool.

The opulent party venue, a masterpiece of Western architecture, welcomed guests with a sweeping staircase adorned in luxurious red carpeting. Above, a dazzling chandelier graced the ceiling, casting a warm glow on the glamorous scene. The staircase led to an elevated platform where an expansive floor-to-ceiling glass window opened up to a breathtaking panorama of the night sky, adding a touch of celestial allure to the elegant setting.

The lively conversations of the attendees were enveloped by the strains of classical music, skillfully played by a pianist and violinist. The ambiance exuded a classic high-society aura, where individuals of social prominence engaged in discussions ranging from business affairs to the latest gossip circulating in elite circles.

Despite the lavish setting, Sora couldn't shake the feeling that she was an outsider in this sophisticated environment. Jay, standing by her side, appeared equally out of place.

"Ah, if this isn't James' son."

Suddenly, a voice interrupted their thoughts, and they turned to find a familiar man with a beard accompanied by a tall foreign woman approaching from behind.

The man wouldn't have appeared familiar to Sora if she hadn't spotted him earlier among the important guests and gathered information about him. Evidently, he stood as one of the top investors of Park Instruments.

"It's nice to see you again. How many years has it been? Three? Four?" he greeted.

Jay's gaze remained indifferent, expressing his lack of interest in engaging with the man. The woman accompanying him glanced at Jay before turning her attention away, as if she had noticed something momentarily but swiftly lost interest.

"I'm glad to see you here as well," Jay responded, though his tone hinted that he was far from pleased by the man's presence.

"Will you be joining James's team? He often praises your exceptional skills and efficiency, boasting about your ability to consistently deliver work to his utmost satisfaction," observed Sora, noting Jay's shifting demeanor until he openly glared at Mr. Chang.

"You might have shared a bit too generously, Mr. Chang," Jay remarked, advancing with the man visibly tensing. "Silence has its merits; it tends to extend one's lifespan."

The tense atmosphere shifted abruptly as laughter echoed from a man – the Chairman. "Jay," he acknowledged upon approaching, exchanging greetings with Mr. Chang and shaking James Park's hand.

"I was just greeting your son and I've told him how you boast a lot about his capability working for you," Mr. Chang explained.

"Ah, that," Mr. Park responded, glancing at Jay. "Unfortunately, my son doesn't want to work in the company."

The Chairman chuckled a bit forcefully before excusing himself. Mr. Park redirected his attention to Jay, and then his gaze landed on Sora.

"You brought a date, I see," Mr. Park remarked, and Sora acknowledged him with a slight incline.

Sora extended her hand, but he didn't take it, instead glaring at it. Jay gritted his teeth, holding back curses. The eyes that were glaring at Mr. Chang earlier were now shooting daggers at his father.

"I've heard a lot about you, Ms. Jung," Mr. Park began. "For instance, you're my son's therapist. I was really worried for his mental health since..." James trailed off, glancing at Jay before continuing, "Since he ran away from home and beat that reporter up."

"Thank you," Sora responded for the first time. "I have also heard a lot about Mr. Chairman in the news lately, and you quite flatter me with your words."

"I heard you broke a rule because of, you know, those media pictures. Do you still work at the clinic? If not, have you found a new one? If you haven't, I can recommend you some places."

"Something as inconsequential as that should not be of your concern, Mr. Chairman. Though I do appreciate the sentiment," Sora calmly replied.

Jay couldn't help but think, What an eloquent way of saying 'mind your business,' with a snide smirk, especially when Mr. Park momentarily shut his mouth.

"And I congratulate Mr. Chairman for the success of the Corporation," Sora added.

Their conversation was interrupted by a sophisticated elderly woman, her movements exuding calculated elegance. She embraced Jay in the middle of the hall, and Sora recognized her as his mother.

Mrs. Park smiled at her son, "You actually came, Jjongseong-ah. I thought you'd stand me up." She then turned to Sora, smiling, "And you also brought your date, a beautiful one at that."

Sora bowed out of respect, but Mrs. Park shook her head. "No need for greetings. I want to thank you for taking care of my son and keeping him safe."

"I'm just doing my job, Mrs. Park."

Mrs. Park chuckled, "I see you've already met my husband. Don't mind him; he's weird and creepy sometimes."

Mr. Park offered a smile, but Sora, with years of studying people's behavior, sensed its lack of genuineness at a glance.

"I've shown my face here, can we leave now?" Jay asked, showing little interest in prolonging the conversation.

"Sure, it's fine," Mrs. Park responded, maintaining a smile. "Since I've already seen Ms. Jung in person."

"Well then, it's unfortunate, but Ms. Jung and I will be taking our leave now," Jay declared.

Sora wondered if she could maintain this façade for another hour in the lavish gathering of high society.

As Jay drove down the deserted freeway, Sora rolled the window down, inviting the cool night breeze into the car. The road remained empty; the last car that passed by was around fifteen minutes ago.

As Jay continued driving, the atmosphere in the car became tense. His phone rang again, and he answered with a grim expression. The voice on the other end sounded agitated, and bits of the conversation revealed the severity of the situation.

"They're serious this time, Jay. The board is considering disbandment," the manager's voice crackled through the phone.

Sora glanced at Jay, noting the worry etched on his face. The freeway lights passed in a blur as he navigated with a sense of urgency.

"Alright, I'll be there as soon as possible," Jay responded tersely before hanging up. He let out a heavy sigh, the weight of the call lingering in the air.

"Sora I'm fucked this time they're gonna disband me" Jay explained to Sora, frustration evident in his voice. The night breeze, once comforting, now carried an undertone of uncertainty as they hurried towards an uncertain future.

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this is where it goes downhill 🤣🤣 yall get ready for the next chps lmfoaooo