The Demon In You

The morning passed by quickly with Rian getting acquainted with the people in the office. She was escorted back to her desk after lunchtime by Jo Sun.

"Please proceed to create a database for the CEO's contacts," he instructed her. "After that, you must accompany the CEO to his board meeting. Take the meeting minutes there and email it to all of us."

"Understood," Rian nodded. Jo Sun then took his leave.

(I'm getting bored here, Lambark w.h.i.n.ed)

Rian ignored her little pest and focused on preparing the databases. She wanted her work to be perfect.

(Aren't you curious about the man without a demon? Lambark leered)

Rian kept on ignoring the demon. But in all honesty, she was very curious about that brainless CEO without a demon.

How is it possible for a human to exist without a demon? Rian wondered.

A beep broke through her thoughts.

"Ms. Oh, can you come into my office?" the CEO's lazy voice came through the intercom.

"Yes, sir," Rian replied and headed towards the CEO's office.

"Sir you ca-"

Rian froze in her place. Even Lambark came to a halt.

The CEO was standing in the middle of the room, with stacks of clothing racks lined around him. He pointed a finger at Rian.

"You!" he pointed. "Change into any of these. Now!"

Rian was shell shocked. He was still hung up over her attire?

"No!" Rian refused. "I don't want any of these clothes!"

"No, you're right," Hyunjae said in a serious tone. "You need a complete makeover. Let me style you."

He looked at her with starry eyes, as if a predator is waiting to pounce on his prey. Rian felt her nerve twitch.

"CEO," she said, suppressing her annoyance. "Try to style me one more time and I'll ask Mr. Jung to add you-know-what to your you-know-what."

Hyunjae gritted his teeth. Was that damned secretary of his trying to turn everyone in his company into having terrible styles?

Someday, I'll rip that guy into shreds, Hyunjae vowed.

"Hmph," Hyunjae pouted. "Anyways, you have to accompany me to Armiola's fashion show today. It's about to start in an hour and we're gonna head out in five minutes."

"Yes sir," Rian responded wearily. The thought of being stuck with him in the car made her shudder.

...

After a few minutes, Rian was standing next to the CEO's car. She was patiently waiting for the CEO to come out. She spotted him arriving, carrying an umbrella on a bright sunny day. He was wearing purple shades which complimented his suit. His hair was tied into a neat ponytail. He looked more like a runway model than the CEO of a company.

Rian had to admit, the CEO was very handsome. Her admiration, however, was cut short by the words which came out of his mouth.

"Ms. Oh, I know I'm handsome, but please we're at work," Hyunjae boasted. "But I'll be happy to give you a personally signed picture of mine."

He flashed a dazzling smile, showing all of his perfectly white teeth. Rian felt like punching him. How can a man be so condescending?

Oblivious to Rian's murderous intent, the CEO opened the door and waited for her to get in. Groaning inwardly, Rian got in the back, with Hyunjae following suit.

"Sir, may I ask what are we going to do there?" Rian asked. "I have not been briefed about it."

"Their CEO, Ahn Taewon, invited us to their fashion show," Hyunjae said lazily. "They're probably hoping that my presence will uplift their designs. How typical."

Rian kept her mouth shut. Keep calm, she chanted. Keep calm.

Hyunjae smirked at her expressions. I do have an uncanny ability of intimidating people, he winked to himself.

(Lambark had to admire Hyunjae's level of self-importance)

They silently drove towards Armiola's office. Rian noticed, Hyunjae was constantly shifting his sitting position throughout the ride. Sometimes, he looked out of the window while other times he crossed his legs as if posing for something or fixed his hat in different directions.

She frowned as he adjusted his scarf for the umpteenth time. Curious to see what he was looking at, while posing in so many directions, she followed his eyes' trail and fought the urge to throttle him.

The guy was constantly looking at himself in the rear view mirror!

(Unbelievable, Lambark stated)

You could say that again Lambark, Rian thought.

Ignoring her eccentric boss, Rian fiddled with her phone. Finally, after half an hour, they reached Armiola's office.

If TNT Corps was a funky fashion house, Armiola was the total opposite. It boasted of an elegant grandeur, where each and every decor boasted of a royal touch. There were paintings from different eras hanging on the wall. Instead of an outer stairway, there were stylish lifts to carry people to different floors. Unlike TNT Corps, where the main office was an open work space, Armiola had small glass cubicles for each staff.

Rian was impressed by the interior of the place; it was classy. Hyunjae, on the other hand, made a face.

"Tch," he made a disgusted expression. "So stuffy."

"Sir, are you talking about the interior decoration?" Rian asked. "You don't like it?"

"Nope," Hyunjae replied. "It's too stuffy. No colors, no art, no freedom of space for designers to think out of the box. Armiola relies too much on perfecting their craft."

Rian was confused. Hyunjae sensed that she wanted to ask more questions.

"When you're a designer," he said as they got on one of the empty lifts. "If you waste time on perfecting your craft, you have not perfected it at all. Clothes need imaginative designs. The designer needs to give his or her own signature touch to it. If you are hellbent on perfecting every thread and knot by mimicking others' crafts, you will create an empty shell of a design. It's not yours."

"Designers need to create their own imperfect crafts," he continued. "In order to find their perfect craft."

Rian blinked. She took in each and every word of the CEO.

"Is that what Armiola is doing?" she asked. "Trying to perfect their craft while not perfecting it at all?"

"I see you're smart," Hyunjae complimented. "I do have a knack for choosing the best employees for my company."

Rian rolled her eyes. Somehow, the man manages to make every single conversation about himself.

The lift came to a stop. The CEO handed her two passes.

"You go straight ahead to wards the main auditorium," he instructed, pointing right. "I need to go somewhere. I'll be back in a while."

"Where will you be going, sir?" Rian asked.

"It's time for me to check my reflection in the mirror," Hyunjae said. "And admire myself."

If there was one thing the CEO was good at, was at being unabashedly narcissistic. Rian chose not to comment on it. She obliged and went ahead.

The CEO went to the washroom. He checked his reflection and adjusted his scarf. Admiring himself in the mirror, the CEO said out loud, "Don't I look amazing...Lambark?"

He turned around to face the grey colored demon standing behind him.

"It's been a long time, Lambark," Hyunjae greeted.

"Yes it has been," Lambark bowed down. "Demon Lord."