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**Taehyung’s POV**

The late afternoon sun spills through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office, casting golden streaks across the polished mahogany desk. The Seoul skyline stretches beyond, a glittering testament to ambition and power, but my mind is elsewhere—fixed on her. Aella. The name alone feels like a melody, a siren’s call that’s been looping in my head since the moment Jimin and I approved her portfolio. A famous model, they said. A face that could launch a thousand ships, or in our case, a jewelry empire. I lean back in my leather chair, fingers drumming lightly on the armrest, the anticipation coiling in my chest like a tightly wound spring.

Weeks ago, Jimin and I sealed our partnership, a bold venture to launch *Luxe Étoile*, a jewelry line that would redefine elegance. We needed a face—someone magnetic, someone who could embody the allure of diamonds and gold with a single glance. The staff’s selection was unanimous: Aella. Her portfolio was a revelation—eyes that pierced through the camera, lips that promised secrets, and a presence that demanded worship. I hadn’t met her yet, but her image had already carved a space in my mind, a dangerous obsession taking root before I’d even heard her voice.

The clock ticks past 3:00 p.m., and I straighten, adjusting the cuffs of my tailored navy suit. My office is a sanctuary of sleek minimalism—black marble floors, modern art on the walls, and a faint scent of cedarwood lingering in the air. But today, it feels like a stage, and I’m waiting for the star to arrive. My secretary, Min-ji, informed me Aella was running a few minutes late—traffic, apparently. I don’t mind. The wait only sharpens my hunger.

A soft knock at the door snaps me out of my thoughts. “Come in,” I call, my voice steady, though my pulse betrays me, quickening at the thought of her.

The door opens, and there she is. Aella steps into the room, and the world tilts. She’s even more breathtaking in person, a vision in a fitted emerald dress that hugs her curves like a lover’s caress. Her dark hair cascades in loose waves, framing a face that could stop time—high cheekbones, full lips painted a soft rose, and those eyes, sharp and knowing, like she’s already unraveling every secret I’ve ever kept. She moves with a grace that’s almost predatory, her heels clicking softly against the marble as she approaches my desk.

“Mr. Kim,” she says, her voice a sultry melody, smooth as velvet with just a hint of challenge. “I hope I haven’t kept you waiting too long.”

I rise, a smile tugging at my lips as I gesture to the chair across from me. “Not at all, Ms. Aella. Time is irrelevant when the company is worth it.” My words are deliberate, laced with a warmth that borders on flirtation. Her lips twitch, a flicker of amusement in her eyes as she takes a seat, crossing her legs with a fluid elegance that draws my gaze before I force it back to her face.

“Please, call me Aella,” she says, her tone light but commanding attention. “I’m thrilled to be considered for *Luxe Étoile*. Your vision for the brand is… captivating.”

I lean forward, resting my elbows on the desk, my fingers steepling as I study her. “And you, Aella, are the embodiment of that vision. We want *Luxe Étoile* to be more than jewelry—it’s a statement, a seduction. You understand that, don’t you?”

Her eyes lock onto mine, unflinching, and I feel a spark ignite in the space between us. “I do,” she replies, her voice dropping an octave, as if she’s sharing a secret meant only for me. “I know how to make people want something they didn’t even know they needed.”

The air thickens, charged with an unspoken tension that makes my skin hum. I’m about to respond when another knock interrupts us. Min-ji enters, her clipboard clutched tightly, her professional demeanor a stark contrast to the undercurrent of heat in the room.

“Mr. Kim, I have the contract details ready for review,” Min-ji says, her voice crisp as she takes a seat beside Aella, flipping open a folder. “Ms. Aella, if you’re ready, I’ll walk you through the terms.”

Aella nods, her attention shifting to Min-ji, but I can’t tear my eyes away from her. As Min-ji drones on about campaign schedules, endorsement clauses, and exclusivity agreements, I’m captivated by the smallest details—the way Aella’s fingers brush a strand of hair behind her ear, the subtle tilt of her head as she listens, the way her lips part slightly when she’s deep in thought. My gaze traces the curve of her jaw, the delicate column of her neck, and I wonder how her skin would feel under my fingertips, warm and soft, yielding to my touch.

She senses my stare—I know she does. Her eyes flick to mine for a fleeting moment, a spark of awareness passing between us, but she doesn’t falter. She’s poised, professional, signing the contract with a flourish as Min-ji concludes her explanation. “Thank you, Min-ji,” Aella says, her tone polite but final, signaling the end of the discussion.

Min-ji nods, gathering her papers. “Welcome to the team, Ms. Aella. I’ll ensure everything is finalized.” She exits, leaving a silence that feels heavier, more intimate, in her wake.

Aella rises, smoothing her dress, and extends a hand toward me. “It’s been a pleasure, Mr. Kim. I look forward to working with you.”

I take her hand, her skin warm and soft against mine, and the contact sends a jolt through me. I hold her gaze, letting the moment linger. “The pleasure is mine, Aella,” I say, my voice low, a promise wrapped in velvet.

She turns to leave, her movements graceful, but I can’t let her go—not yet. “Aella,” I call, my tone soft but commanding. She pauses mid-step, glancing over her shoulder, her eyes questioning but curious.

I step around the desk, closing the distance between us, my smile slow and deliberate. “Welcome to the Kim family,” I say, letting the words hang in the air, heavy with meaning. It’s more than a business partnership—it’s an invitation, a challenge, a claim.

Her lips curve into a smile, equal parts confident and enigmatic. “The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Kim,” she replies, her voice a sultry caress that lingers in my mind as she turns and walks out, the door clicking shut behind her.

I’m still standing there, my heart pounding, when my phone buzzes on the desk. Jimin’s name flashes on the screen, and I answer, unable to suppress the grin spreading across my face. “Jimin, thanks for the favor, man.”

His laugh crackles through the line. “No problem, Tae. So, how did it feel meeting her for the first time?”

I move to the window, my eyes tracing the path Aella must have taken through the bustling city below. The skyline glitters, but all I see is her—her poise, her fire, the way she commanded the room without even trying. “Incredible,” I murmur, my voice thick with something dangerous, something unstoppable.

I end the call, my gaze fixed on the horizon, a slow smile curling my lips. “You are now the Devil’s dangerous obsession, love,” I whisper to the empty room, the words a vow, a confession, a prophecy. Aella doesn’t know it yet, but she’s ignited something in me—a hunger that won’t be sated until she’s mine, body and soul.

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"Her name is carved into my soul; I’d kil

l to keep it there or let it destroy me.”

The End ..