It was a beautiful morning in Seoul, the sun shining brightly over the bustling streets.
Inside a cozy restaurant tucked away on a busy corner, Linda sat with Sofia and Alex at their favorite booth by the window. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and warm bread lingered in the air, wrapping them in comfort.
Sofia stirred her drink, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Okay, if you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?"
"Tokyo, of course," Alex grinned. "I'd shop for anime stuff, spend hours in the arcades, and probably waste all my money on figures."
Linda laughed softly, shaking her head. "That sounds just like you. I'd go to Paris. I want to see the Eiffel Tower at night, when it's all lit up. I bet it feels… magical."
Sofia clasped her hands dramatically, her voice dreamy. "Paris for romance, Tokyo for fun. Me? The Maldives. Sun, ocean, and cocktails. Just me on the beach with nothing to stress about."
They all burst out laughing, their voices carrying warmth across the table. The conversation drifted from travel to hobbies. Alex admitted he'd been trying to learn guitar but kept snapping the strings. Sofia teased him mercilessly, her laughter ringing through the restaurant. Linda confessed she'd nearly fallen flat on her face while practicing a new stretch at the gym. Their laughter grew louder, pulling curious glances from nearby tables.
Then, Sofia leaned closer, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "Linda, what if Adam Williams—the richest man in the world—walked in right now and asked you out?"
Linda arched a brow. "So what? I'm not into guys like that."
Sofia tilted her head, teasing. "What do you mean, guys like that?"
"i mean guys who think money is everything," Linda replied flatly.
Sofia pouted, still curious. "Come on! He's rich and good-looking. You'd be crazy to say no."
Linda's tone sharpened slightly. "I don't know him personally, but I've heard enough. Rich guys aren't my type. And I heard he's a freak—and a player."
Sofia smirked, undeterred. "Fine then, if you don't want him, I'll take him. I've always wanted a rich boyfriend." Sounding as if he was easy to get.
But before Linda could respond, the restaurant door swung open.
A hush fell over the room. A wave of whispers rippled through the air as heads turned. A tall, sharply dressed young man strolled inside, flanked by two imposing bodyguards. His presence seemed to steal the very air from the room.
"Adam Williams!" someone whispered. Phones were already out, flashes going off as women snapped photos. A group of girls near the counter giggled and blushed, whispering about his looks and money.
Sofia froze, her eyes wide. "Oh my God… it's him. The Adam Williams."
Linda turned toward the commotion—and her stomach dropped. It was him. The same guy she had met on her first day in Seoul. Her face drained of color, a rush of dread tightening her chest.
Sofia caught her friend's expression. And asked "Linda? What's wrong?"
Linda swallowed hard, her voice low. "That's the guy I told you about. The one from my first day."
Alex blinked. "Wait—you know Adam Williams?"
Before Linda could answer, Adam's gaze swept the restaurant and locked onto her. Recognition flashed in his eyes, his jaw tightening. With deliberate steps, he strode toward their table.
"Well, well, well," Adam said, his voice smooth but sharp as a blade. "Look who we have here. You're the girl who slapped me." His lips twisted into a mocking smile. "Didn't think I'd see you again so soon."
Linda's chin lifted, her expression hard. "So you're Adam Williams—the one everyone can't stop talking about. Can't say I'm impressed. I just hope this time you'll be a little nicer."
Adam leaned in slightly, his smirk deepening. "You've got some nerve. Do you even know who you're talking to?" His eyes flicked over her with cruel amusement. "Maybe you should go back to where you came from. You don't belong here."
Sofia and Alex tensed, their playful morning shattered. The air around the table felt heavier, thicker.
Linda's fists clenched beneath the table, her pulse racing. "You splashed water on me that day and didn't even bother to apologize. And now you're still trying to humiliate me. What exactly is your problem?"
Adam's smirk widened. "My problem is you slapped me. And I don't let things like that slide." He snapped his fingers. "Get her."
One of the bodyguards stepped forward. The restaurant seemed to hold its breath.
But Linda was ready. She shot out of her chair, dodging his grab, and landed a sharp kick to his side. He stumbled back, gasps echoing around the room. The bodyguard came at her again, but Linda ducked and countered with two swift punches to his jaw before finishing with a clean kick that dropped him flat on the floor.
Adam's smirk faltered, rage sparking in his eyes. "Pathetic. Can't even do a simple job," he hissed at his guard, before motioning to the second one. "Handle her."
The second bodyguard moved forward, but before he could strike, the restaurant manager stormed over, face flushed with fury. "Enough! You're disturbing my customers. All of you, out!"
Linda's chest heaved with adrenaline. She glared at Adam one last time, her voice steady despite the fire burning inside her. "You picked the wrong person to mess with."
Snatching her bag, she stormed out, her heels striking hard against the floor. Sofia and Alex scrambled after her, calling her name, but Linda was already outside, climbing onto her bike.
"You guys can finish breakfast somewhere else," she said tightly. "I'm going home. I've already ruined the morning." Before they could argue, she revved the engine and sped off.
Sofia and Alex stood on the sidewalk, watching her go, the weight of silence pressing down.
"I hope she's okay," Sofia whispered, worry clouding her face.
Alex nodded, his expression grim. "Yeah. She's tougher than she looks, but… Williams isn't someone to take lightly."
Their laughter from earlier felt like a distant memory. As the other two quietly Walk out.