The atmosphere inside the auction house was thick with anticipation. Seoul’s elite had gathered under the grand chandelier of the Moonlight Auction Hall, sipping champagne as they waited for the night’s most coveted piece—a jade ring rumored to be cursed.

Seo Jun adjusted the cuff of his tailored black suit, eyes fixed on the display case at the front of the room. He wasn’t here for the rumors. He wasn’t here for the prestige. He was here because, for reasons he couldn’t explain, he felt drawn to the ring as if it had been calling him for years.

"Lot 47, ladies and gentlemen," the auctioneer announced, his voice smooth yet commanding. "A rare jade artifact, dating back several centuries. The starting bid is ten million won."

Before Jun could lift his paddle, another voice cut through the room. "Fifteen million."

Jun turned his head and his breath caught.

Kaito Nakamura.

The infamous art thief—though no one could ever quite prove it. A Japanese-Korean enigma known for his daring heists and a trail of stolen artifacts that authorities could never pin on him. Kaito’s dark eyes flickered with amusement as he leaned lazily against his chair, fingers drumming against the armrest.

Jun narrowed his gaze. He had heard of Kaito before, but this was the first time he had seen him in person. And now, of all times, he was here to claim the very item Jun wanted.

"Twenty million," Jun countered, lifting his paddle.

Kaito smirked. "Thirty million."

The tension crackled between them, drawing the attention of those around them. The auctioneer’s gaze shifted between them, sensing an unexpected battle that had nothing to do with money and everything to do with dominance.

"Fifty million," Jun said, his voice even, though his pulse quickened. He wasn’t going to lose.

Kaito chuckled under his breath. "Sixty million."

A murmur rippled through the audience.

Jun clenched his fist. He didn’t come here to be toyed with. He came here for the ring. He wasn’t even sure why he wanted it so badly—only that something deep inside him screamed that he had to have it.

"Seventy-five million," Jun said, jaw tight.

Kaito tilted his head, studying him. Then, to Jun’s surprise, he leaned forward slightly, just enough for his voice to reach only him. "You really want it that badly, huh?" His voice was low, teasing, laced with something dangerous. "Maybe I should let you have it... for a price."

Jun’s breath hitched. "What do you want?"

Kaito’s lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. "A night with you."

Jun’s heart slammed against his ribs. He opened his mouth, but no words came. The final bid rang through the speakers.

"Sold—to Seo Jun for seventy-five million!"

A smattering of applause followed, but Jun barely registered it. He was too caught in the heat of Kaito’s gaze, the silent promise that this was far from over.

And for the first time in years, Jun felt a dangerous thrill race down his spine.

To be continued

Jun's mind reeled. The auction hall, once a place of tense silence, now hummed with the low thrum of post-auction chatter, yet all he heard was the echo of Kaito’s proposition. "A night with you." The words, whispered so intimately, felt like a brand. He stared across the room, but Kaito was already gone, a fleeting shadow swallowed by the mingling crowd.

His assistant, Mina, a woman whose efficiency bordered on the telepathic, appeared at his side.

"Mr. Seo, the paperwork for Lot 47 is ready. Shall I arrange for its immediate transfer?"

Jun nodded, his gaze still fixed on the spot where Kaito had stood. "Yes, Mina. And please... find out everything you can about Kaito Nakamura. Everything."

Mina, ever perceptive, simply gave a subtle nod, her expression unreadable. She knew better than to question Jun's sudden, intense focus.

Later that evening, back in the austere quiet of his penthouse overlooking the Han River, Jun finally held the jade ring. It was surprisingly cool to the touch, a deep, almost black-green that seemed to absorb the light rather than reflect it. The craftsmanship was exquisite, intricate carvings of mythical beasts swirling around a central, polished surface. There was an undeniable presence to it, a subtle hum that resonated deep within him, confirming the inexplicable pull he’d felt. He slipped it onto his right index finger, and a shiver, not entirely unpleasant, traced its way up his arm.

He was examining the ring under a high-intensity lamp when his phone chimed. It was an unknown number. He hesitated, then answered.

"Seo Jun, I trust you're enjoying your new acquisition?" Kaito’s voice, smooth and laced with amusement, sent a jolt through him.

"How did you get this number?" Jun demanded, his voice sharper than he intended.

Kaito chuckled, a low, resonant sound that seemed to fill the room. "Let's just say I have my ways. Did you truly believe I'd let a treasure like that slip through my fingers without a contingency plan?"

"What do you want, Kaito?" Jun’s grip tightened on his phone.

"What I offered, of course," Kaito replied, his tone shifting, becoming a soft purr that sent an unexpected warmth through Jun. "A night. Consider it a negotiation for the ring’s true value. There's more to that jade than meets the eye, isn’t there, Seo Jun?"

Jun’s heart hammered. Kaito knew. He knew about the feeling, the connection. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, you'll see," Kaito promised, a hint of something dangerous and exciting in his voice. "Meet me tomorrow night, 10 PM. The old observatory on Namsan. Come alone. And bring the ring."

The line went dead. Jun stood there, the jade ring cold against his skin, the unsettling thrill from the auction house returning with a vengeance. Kaito Nakamura wasn't just an art thief; he was a master manipulator, and Jun, against all his rational instincts, felt a dangerous curiosity drawing him in. He looked down at the ring, the mythical beasts seeming to writhe in the dim light. What secrets did this ancient jade hold, and what would a night with Kaito Nakamura truly cost him?

What do you think Jun will do next?

The following day was a blur of calculated distraction. Seo Jun forced himself through meetings, reviewed financial reports, and dictated emails, but a part of his mind remained stubbornly fixed on Kaito's chilling invitation. The jade ring, now resting in a velvet-lined box in his office safe, felt like a silent, demanding presence. He'd tried to dismiss Kaito’s words as a mere power play, a psychological tactic from a notorious thief. Yet, the way Kaito had spoken of the ring, of its "true value," resonated deeply with the inexplicable pull Jun felt toward it.

As dusk settled over Seoul, painting the city in hues of orange and violet, Jun found himself pacing his penthouse. Mina had delivered a surprisingly thin file on Kaito Nakamura. "He's a ghost, Mr. Seo," she'd admitted, a rare note of frustration in her usually unflappable voice. "Born in Kyoto, raised in Seoul. Orphaned young. A few petty theft charges as a teenager, then nothing. No known address, no bank accounts, no social media. His name only appears in whispers among collectors and, occasionally, in Interpol's cold cases." A true enigma, just as Jun had suspected.

He glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner. 9:15 PM. The old observatory on Namsan. It was a well-known landmark, but at 10 PM, it would be deserted. A perfect stage for Kaito.

Every instinct screamed at him to stay home. To dismiss Kaito as a lunatic, the ring as a mere trinket. But the thought of not going, of letting Kaito's challenge go unanswered, ignited a flicker of something Jun rarely felt: genuine excitement. For years, his life had been a meticulously planned trajectory of success, devoid of true spontaneity or risk. Now, with Kaito, he felt a dangerous current pulling him into uncharted waters.

He retrieved the jade ring from the safe. As he slipped it onto his finger, a peculiar warmth spread, not just from the jade itself, but from deep within his chest. It felt like a decision had been made, not by him, but by something ancient and compelling.

The ascent up Namsan was quiet, the city lights twinkling below like a scattered jewel box. Jun parked his car a discreet distance from the observatory and walked the rest of the way, the night air cool against his face. The old observatory stood silhouetted against the night sky, a domed sentinel.

As he approached, a figure detached itself from the shadows near the entrance. Kaito. He was leaning against the stone wall, dressed in a dark, fitted jacket and trousers, blending seamlessly with the night. His hands were tucked casually into his pockets, and a faint smile played on his lips as Jun drew closer.

"Right on time, Seo Jun," Kaito said, his voice a low murmur that sent a shiver down Jun's spine. His eyes, even in the dim light, seemed to glint with an unnerving knowingness. "I knew you'd come."

Jun stopped a few feet away, the jade ring a weight on his finger. "What is this, Kaito? What do you want?"

Kaito pushed off the wall, stepping into the faint light cast by a distant streetlamp. "I told you. A night. And a conversation about our shared destiny." He gestured vaguely towards the observatory's dark interior. "Shall we?" His smile widened, an invitation and a challenge all at once.

Jun's pulse quickened. He knew, with absolute certainty, that stepping into that observatory with Kaito Nakamura would change everything. But the pull of the jade, the undeniable allure of Kaito's dangerous charm, left him with no choice. He walked past Kaito and pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the observatory, stepping into the echoing darkness.

What do you think Kaito means by "shared destiny"?