Place: Paris, France, at Place Vendôme
Time: Evening
"Break his legs. Knock his teeth out. I don't care what you have to break," the girl said into her phone. Her voice was low, cold, and completely commanding.
She wasn't even yelling. That actually made it sound a whole lot worse. "Just get it done. Cleanly."
She cut the call, leaned her head back against the seat, and let out a long, exhausted sigh. For a second, all her energy just vanished. Rubbing her eyes, she could feel a massive headache starting to kick in.
"Seriously, these flight timings are killing me," she muttered to herself, genuinely annoyed. "I don't even know how I'm surviving this much back-to-back travel. Let's see how this plays out. Just don't let anything mess up tonight."
Her secretary sat in the front passenger seat—a handsome man, despite being around her father's age. He didn't even look up from his tablet, fingers moving constantly across the screen.
"Understood, Chairwoman." As the car slowed down, he glanced out the window. "Ma'am, we've arrived."
Siwon took a deep breath, forcing herself to shake off the exhaustion. She grabbed her dark sunglasses from the seat beside her and slid them on, completely hiding her tired eyes.
Just like that, the exhausted girl who had been running on barely three hours of sleep disappeared.
The boss was back.
Behind the windows, Paris was a mess of chaotic paparazzi. Inside the quiet car, a live news broadcast suddenly flashed onto the dashboard screen:
"...breaking news tonight for the global luxury market! Valkyrie Ventures has officially landed in Paris. The French fashion house they were targeting was once a giant in European style, but it was currently drowning in billions of losses. Tonight, the predator turned savior. Reports confirmed that the enigmatic CEO herself, Miss Francesca Park..."
Click. Click. Flash—
Camera lights blinded the Parisian evening. Outside the Ritz Paris hotel, a crowd of noisy reporters was shouting and talking over one another.
To the world outside, she was a twenty-five-year-old 'Alpha' who had built more fame and wealth than billionaires twice her age. But right then, she was simply counting the seconds.
A magnificent black Mercedes-Maybach pulled up smoothly against the curb.
Click.
The rear door swung open.
She stepped onto the historic street, wearing distinctive chocolate-brown formal Oxford shoes by Silvano Lattanzi, detailed with visible gold embroidery. It was a style originally crafted for high-status men—now worn by a woman who couldn't care less about conventions.
The moment she stood up, the crowd went absolutely wild.
"Miss Park! Look here!" "Francesca, is it true? Is this a total hostile takeover?!"
The lights flashed non-stop. She didn't even blink behind her sunglasses. Beneath a long, chocolate trench coat, she was wearing a stunning three-piece suit—a deep black silk shirt under a structured waistcoat, finished with a soft, cream tie. She looked incredibly sharp, beautiful, and completely out of reach.
Without making a scene, she gave a slight nod to her team. Instantly, her personal bodyguards formed a tight circle around her. Broad shoulders aligned, creating a human wall that completely blocked the cameras. Not a single lens got a clear shot of her face.
Flanked by her security, Francesca moved toward the entrance with an effortless, commanding stride. The automatic glass doors of the Ritz slid open, leaving the screaming crowd and flashing cameras behind.
She walked through gold-plated corridors, the sharp tick-tock of her Oxfords echoing off the walls. Her secretary and chief bodyguard followed a step behind. As they reached the heavy double doors of the private conference room, the doors swung open.
The moment Francesca stepped inside, every single board member stood up. Mr. Clement, a middle-aged man at the head of the long table, rose immediately. A look of pure relief washed over his face as he reached out for a handshake.
"Welcome to Paris, Francesca," Mr. Clement said. "I hope your flight was comfortable?"
Francesca didn't answer right away. Smoothly, she slid off her dark glasses, revealing deep, mysterious almond eyes. She took his hand, gripping it firmly. "Mr. Clement."
Mr. Clement turned to the rest of the room, proudly gesturing toward the curious board members. "Everyone, I would like to introduce our new shareholder, the chairwoman of Valkyrie Ventures, Ms. Francesca Park."
As Francesca moved down the line to shake hands, the investors could barely hide their curiosity. To them, she was a legendary figure from the Italian market—a leader who bought dying business empires and turned them into absolute powerhouses.
Seeing her in person felt almost unreal. Suddenly, a senior board member with sharp, suspicious eyes and graying hair cut through the polite greetings. His gaze locked onto her face as they shook hands.
"It's a pleasure, Ms. Park. We signed the initial paperwork with Valkyrie's European branch under the name 'Francesca,' yet your legal documents list 'Park Si-won. 'Tell me, which version of you are we dealing with today?"
A light silence settled over the room. Mr. Clement grew tense, but Francesca didn't flinch. Her hand stayed perfectly steady in the investor's grip.
"Sir, you are dealing with the entity that holds your debt," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "Park Si-won's name was on the bank transfer—the one saving your company. Francesca is the name that takes the profits. Pick whichever one you want to deal with."
The board member nodded slowly, letting out a soft chuckle before withdrawing his hand.
A faint smile brushed Si-won's lips. She gave a quick signal to wrap up the small talk, and the meeting officially began.
***-------***
For the next four hours, the conference room became a tense war zone of numbers, aggressive legal clauses, and restructuring terms. By the time the doors opened again, the entire mood had shifted.
The investors and board members walked out one by one. Their shoulders were relaxed now, and weak smiles replaced the pure terror they had felt earlier. The constant dread that had hung over the company for months was completely gone. Valkyrie had signed. They were safe.
Only Si-won and Mr. Clement were left in the quiet room. Without saying a word, Si-won glanced at her secretary and bodyguard, giving them a slight nod. They understood immediately, stepping outside to finish up the paperwork.
The moment the doors clicked shut, the corporate mask completely dropped from Mr. Clement's face. He suddenly looked his age. His posture slumped with the massive relief washing over him.
"Thank you, Frances," he said softly, using that old, affectionate nickname. His voice thickened with real emotion. "If you hadn't stepped in today... I don't know how I would have faced the market tomorrow. Frances, you didn't just save a brand. You saved my family's legacy. You saved thousands of employees who depend on this place. Thank you."
Si-won's face remained a blank wall, though a tiny, almost invisible shift in her eyes showed she had heard him.
"Mr. Clement, there's no room for sentiment in a corporate acquisition," she replied, her tone turning cold and professional. "In this room, only numbers and rules mattered. Don't mistake this for a favor. And don't think I did this because your father was close to mine. I stepped in for one reason only: your difficulties made your shares incredibly cheap, and I saw a massive profit in restructuring your company."
Mr. Clement didn't take offense. Instead, a bittersweet smile touched his lips. He knew her well enough to read the emotions hidden behind that blunt barrier; he recognized the armor she used to protect herself.
But then, his smile vanished, replaced by a sudden, tense seriousness. He leaned across the table, dropping his voice to a cautious whisper. "Did you... find out anything about Susan?"
The moment the name "Susan" left his lips, the temperature in the room seemed to plummet. Inside, Si-won felt a sharp jolt. For a long, suffocating moment, neither of them said a word.
Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, she gave a single, cold shake of her head. "No. Nothing yet."
Realizing he had crossed a line, Mr. Clement quickly stepped back, raising his hands slightly. "Right... forget I brought that up. Forgive me, I shouldn't have asked. So... where to next? Back to Rome or Milan?"
Without answering, Si-won picked up her dark glasses from the table and slid them back on. She gave a brief nod. "Beijing," she said. "I'm needed there for an important matter."
Mr. Clement blinked, looking completely confused. "Beijing? But your secretary told me you were flying to Korea tonight to personally oversee the launch of Valkyrie's new headquarters in Seoul?"
"Plans changed," Si-won replied, her tone leaving zero room for argument. "A priority came up in China. The Seoul headquarters will have to wait a few days."
Mr. Clement bowed his head respectfully, dropping the subject. "I understand. Have a safe flight, Frances. Take care of yourself."
Turning on her heels, Si-won walked out. The moment the doors opened, her fierce, unshakeable persona returned instantly. As she moved through the hotel's private back hallways, her secretary and chief bodyguard smoothly fell into step right behind her.
Since the media was still packed in the front lobby, they quietly slipped out through the Ritz's secure back entrance.
Checking the time to make sure they were on schedule, Si-won looked at her secretary, Mr. Nam. "Are all the documents ready?"
Mr. Nam nodded instantly. "Yes, Ma'am, everything is checked and ready to go."
Si-won picked up her pace, moving toward the car. "Alright then. Let's move."