Beneath the Starlit Shadows."

The city of Seoul pulsed with life, its skyline glittering like a constellation of stars against the inky night sky. Hana Seo sat in her small office on the fourteenth floor of an aging building, her desk illuminated by the warm glow of her desk lamp. The distant hum of traffic below filled the silence, but Hana barely noticed. She was immersed in her work, her sharp eyes scanning the legal contract in front of her.

Her pen tapped softly against the mahogany desk, an absent rhythm she always fell into when deep in thought. She adjusted her glasses-a reflexive habit-and pushed a loose strand of her black hair behind her ear. The words on the paper blurred momentarily, and she sighed, leaning back in her chair.

It was nearly 10 p.m., but late nights were nothing new to Hana. At 27, she had carved a modest but solid career as a contract lawyer. Her office wasn't glamorous-cramped, with a bookshelf overflowing with thick legal volumes and a second-hand couch that had seen better days-but it was her sanctuary. Here, everything was under her control. No surprises. No risks. That's how she liked it.

Just as she was about to return to the contract, a knock echoed through the office. It was firm, deliberate, and out of place at this hour. Hana frowned, glancing at the clock. Who could it be at this time of night?

"Come in," she called hesitantly.

The door opened, and the man who stepped inside made her breath catch.

He was tall, his tailored black suit fitting him perfectly, exuding a kind of effortless elegance that Hana had only seen in fashion magazines. His hair was dark, slightly disheveled in a way that seemed intentional, and his sharp features were softened only by his full lips, which curled into a faint, almost amused smile. But it was his eyes that unnerved her. They were dark, piercing, and held a quiet intensity, as if he were sizing her up and unraveling her secrets all at once.

"Hana Seo?" he asked, his voice low and smooth, with a rasp that sent an involuntary shiver down her spine.

"Yes," she replied, her voice steady despite the storm of nerves rising in her chest. "And you are?"

"Jihoon Kang." He closed the door behind him and stepped closer. His movements were unhurried, deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey. "I need your help."

Hana watched as Jihoon placed a thick leather folder on her desk. Her gaze flicked to the folder, then back to him. Something about him felt... off. He was too polished, too calm. There was an air of danger about him, subtle but undeniable, like a blade hidden beneath silk.

"I wasn't expecting any new clients tonight," she said, her tone carefully neutral. "What kind of help are you looking for, Mr. Kang?"

"Call me Jihoon," he replied smoothly, his lips twitching into a smirk. "And I need someone with your... expertise."

He slid the folder toward her, and Hana hesitated before opening it. Her eyes scanned the documents inside a business contract riddled with complex clauses and contingencies. It was a deal between two companies, but something about it felt murky. Too many redactions. Too many ambiguities.

"What exactly do you need me to do?" she asked, closing the folder and folding her hands on the desk.

"I need you to make sure this contract is bulletproof," Jihoon said, leaning back in his chair. "No loopholes. No weaknesses. I can't afford mistakes."

Hana raised an eyebrow. "This looks like the kind of contract that larger firms would handle. Why come to me?"

Jihoon's smirk widened, but his eyes remained sharp. "Because I need someone discreet. Someone who doesn't ask too many questions."

Her jaw tightened. "And what makes you think I'd agree to something like that?"

"Because," he said, leaning forward, his gaze locking onto hers, "I always make it worth their while."

Hana swallowed, unnerved by the way he seemed to command the room without even trying. But she refused to be intimidated. "I'll have to review it thoroughly before I agree to anything," she said, trying to keep her voice firm. "If I sense anything illegal, I won't be involved."

"Understood," Jihoon said, his tone unreadable. But there was something in his eyes a flicker of amusement, or perhaps approval. He stood, adjusting his cufflinks. "I'll give you two days. I trust you'll make the right decision."

And with that, he turned and walked out, leaving Hana alone in the silence.

For the rest of the night, Hana couldn't focus. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Jihoon the way he moved, the quiet confidence he exuded, the undercurrent of danger in his words. Who was he, really? And what kind of man needed a contract lawyer at 10 p.m. on a Tuesday?

She glanced at the folder on her desk. It felt heavier than it should, like it carried secrets she wasn't sure she wanted to uncover.