Daniel should’ve known things were only going to get worse when Jia walked into the office with Pearl on her shoulder and immediately got the executive assistant to coo like she was looking at a Disney princess.
“She brought her cat?” one of the HR girls whispered like she was witnessing a miracle. “In that outfit? Ugh, she looks like a CEO’s muse.”
Daniel, overhearing this from across the hallway, mentally flipped a table.
Jia, as always, looked unbothered. She breezed through the halls like she’d worked there for years, exchanging polite smiles and accepting compliments like they were owed to her.
“Miss Jia,” someone from Finance called. “If you need support files for your project idea, just let me know.”
“Oh, thank you,” Jia said graciously. “I’ll reach out soon.”
Daniel narrowed his eyes. Soon? How does she already have half the building eating out of her palm? She hasn’t even opened her laptop yet!
Pearl, perched elegantly on the corner of her new desk, yawned.
An Hour Later – Director’s Office
Daniel slammed his hand on the desk. “She hasn’t even started working yet! How is she already popular?!”
His assistant, stared at him blankly. “Sir, with all due respect, she brought homemade muffins for the staff. And a kitten. You showed up fifteen minutes late and knocked over your own coffee machine.”
“That’s not the point!” Daniel snapped. “She’s trying to distract everyone with soft power tactics!”
The assistant raised an eyebrow. “Is it working?”
Daniel opened his mouth to retort.
Closed it.
Groaned into his hands.
Meanwhile – Jia’s Office
“Pearl,” Jia muttered, watching the little furball try to claw her way into the drawer labeled “Confidential.” “That’s not for you.”
Pearl meowed in protest.
“Do not play with Daniel’s signed company contracts. I’m trying to win here, not burn the place down.”
The kitten flicked her tail with an expression that said your lack of chaos is disappointing, mother.
Jia sighed, then tapped on her tablet, brows furrowing in thought. The project had to be something clever, innovative, and subtle enough to show both her capability and her style. Something Daniel wouldn’t expect—because the real revenge wasn’t loud. It was thorough.
She smiled slightly.
Let the first round begin.
Breakroom – 3 PM
Daniel grabbed a protein bar from the vending machine, still mentally spiraling.
That’s when he heard it:
“She really brings a different kind of energy, doesn’t she?”
“Oh, totally. It’s like the vibe changed overnight.” New chapters come out on g.com first.
“I heard she solved the budget misalignment in HR just by glancing at the charts.”
Daniel nearly choked on his own air. She hasn’t even been here a full day!
Later That Day – Conference Room
Madam Han stood at the front of the room, calm as always.
“Each of you will submit your project proposals by end of day tomorrow,” she instructed. “You will not reveal which belongs to whom. The board will judge them blindly.”
Daniel nodded sharply, arms crossed.
Jia sat beside him, legs crossed elegantly, stylus twirling in her hand. Pearl had been sent home by then—probably by Madam Han’s orders, though no one dared say it aloud.
“I hope both of you understand that this competition is not about outshining each other,” Madam Han added, eyes flicking between them. “It’s about showing me who deserves the place by merit.”
Jia smiled. “Of course. That’s what I’ve been aiming for all along.”
Daniel scowled. “I thought it was about proving I’m still the one in control of the company.”
“Then you’re not listening carefully,” Jia said without looking at him.
The air between them shifted — calm, controlled… and completely suffocating.
Madam Han observed it quietly.
She could already tell.
One of them was dancing on a knife’s edge.
And the other was holding the blade.
Later That Evening — Han Estate — Daniel’s Room…
The room was quiet. Almost too quiet.
Daniel sat at his desk, absently flipping through one of the project files Madam Han had sent over. He wasn’t really reading. His thoughts kept drifting back to her.
Jia.
Her smug smile. That wink. That “Good luck, Director Han” in a tone like she already knew she’d win.
He groaned, leaning back and rubbing his temples.
A soft knock interrupted his internal suffering.
“Danny?” came a small, cautious voice.
Lucas.
Before Daniel could respond, the door creaked open and Lucas peeked in—still in his dinosaur pajamas, dragging a fuzzy blanket in one hand and holding something against his chest with the other.
It was Pearl.
“Hey,” Lucas whispered, walking in like a ninja on a secret mission. “She came to my room. But I think she misses you.”
Lucas blinked. “Yeah. But that was because you screamed at her.”
Daniel opened his mouth—then closed it again. Fair.
Lucas tiptoed closer, holding Pearl out like a delicate offering. “Here. Just try. One cuddle.”
Daniel raised his hands like she was a bomb. “Lucas, I don’t really like cats.”
“She’s not a cat. She’s family.” Lucas placed Pearl right in Daniel’s lap before he could escape. “And she forgives you.”
Pearl yawned and promptly made herself comfortable.
Daniel sat frozen, arms stiff by his sides.
Lucas grinned. “You’re doing great!”
“I’m not doing anything,” Daniel hissed.
Pearl gave a tiny sneeze and curled up tighter.
Lucas shuffled closer. “Just scratch behind her ears. She likes that.”
“I’m not—”
“Please?”
Daniel sighed dramatically. “Fine.”
He lifted one hand, hesitated, then awkwardly patted the top of her head like she was a weirdly fluffy USB drive.
Pearl leaned into the touch and purred.
Daniel blinked.
Lucas giggled.
“You’re totally gonna spoil her now,” he declared, already waddling back to the door. “Night!”
Before Daniel could protest, the door clicked shut, and he was left alone…
…with a purring kitten fast asleep on his thigh.
Daniel looked down at her, visibly defeated.
“I run a multi-billion dollar company,” he muttered. “Why am I being emotionally blackmailed by a child and a small ball of fluff?”
Pearl twitched her tail in response.
Daniel groaned and slumped into his chair.
“…I’m doomed.”
The kitten didn’t respond — just purred softly, like she’d already claimed victory on behalf of someone else.
Outside his window, the night deepened. The city glittered with artificial light, unaware of the quiet war about to unfold within its towering glass walls.
And somewhere down the hall, a girl sat alone in her room — calculating, calm, and utterly unreadable.
She hadn’t come to play around.
She’d come to win.
And the first move had already been made.