Irene walked out of the headquarters heading for her office, Kai in quick succession as she drove off. Ten minutes later they arrived at her building, all staff standing to welcome their boss who smiled at them softly, bowing respectfully to her employees that had kept the business going without her being present. She saw a conference in session and so, she walked in, the girls looking at her with wide eyes as they smiled. Their older sister was home. And god it felt good to have her home. She leaned back slightly, her arms crossing over her chest as she silently observed them. They had grown over the years. The entrepreneur aura now comfortable for them as they embodied their independence and stood resilient. She smiled slightly watching as they adjourned the meeting. Irene acknowledged those with a nod as they poured out of the door, her hands moving into her pockets as she moved forward, until she was bombarded by hugs. She laughed slightly hugging them back snugly. "How's things going?" She asked. They looked at her in disbelief. "Never mind this Rene hows the case going?" "I just came from there. He will crack soon enough." They watched as she opened a file examining it before looking back at them. "The trial is starting soon, I just hope he cracks when I planned for him too. If it's just a second too late, I could end up losing it completely." Wendy rested her hand on Irene's shoulder. "It will be fine Rene. Stop doubting yourself." Irene breathed heavily, passing a smile to Wendy. The words she wanted to hear still gave her no comfort. "I think I'm going to go out for a bit alone. I'll see you guys later. Also wends we need to discuss the next half of the plan." "We have plenty of time for that Irene. Rest and relax, because you said it yourself, things are about to get more hectic. Go we can handle this." Irene smiled at them warmly before leaving. "What about the party we planned for her?" Said Yeri. "She's not in the mood. We can schedule it for after the case. She's too stressed." Observed Seulgi. "Damn I was looking forward to it as well." Said Joy as Wendy slapped her on the arm. "We have bigger issues then you and your drunk ass." The girls laughed loudly at Joy's offended face, yet the worry was still apparent for their leader.

Irene went to the one place she knew she would receive some peace. The swimming pools that Korea's finest elite gym had. It had always been her safe space. A relaxing method. She had rented it out for own uses. She sat at the ledge, her feet in the pool. Her eyes closed. Her tears falling. This was the one place where she would let her vulnerability show. She was stressed, she was overworked, and she was in pain. The reality of it was she never escaped pain, it was like a silent ghost that loomed over her, never giving her freedom. It suffocated her but she had learned to break behind closed doors. She had learnt not to show weakness because that is exactly what people would take advantage off, but everyone had to break eventually. And it was days like this, when she was alone, did she allow herself to express her true emotions. Knowing that the water that covered her face would conceal the true tears to those who passed by. She moved her feet gulping slightly. She was tired. So goddamn tired. She let herself fall into the pool, her eyes closed, and not bothering to come back up to the surface. She could feel herself struggling for air. But she didn't care. It was times like this that she felt like she could just end it. No one would know. No one would care.

She felt an arm encircle her waist pulling her up to the surface. Her eyes opening into the hazel ones that had been haunting her for days. He held her tightly. His hands resting on her waist as he searched her now red eyes. "What the fuck!" He said, his tone harsh and aggressive. She pushed herself away from his chest, but he grabbed her wrist pulling her back to him. "What was that?" She looked up at him. "Nothing." He looked at her in disbelief. "Nothing?You deliberately fell in Irene and then didn't come back up, and you're calling it nothing?" She looked up at him. "You don't know what your talking about Jackson." She moved back again. "I do. I watched you with my own two eyes Irene." She remained quite. "I knew what I was doing. There was no need to play hero." Yet underneath those words she knew better. He saved her from herself. From her thoughts. "I'm glad I did." He said, his eyes watching her carefully. And underneath the water. He could see the tears. He could see how she used this as her method of concealment and god it hurt his heart. "What's wrong?" He watched her laugh bitterly. "What's right?" She shook her head. "Seriously it's fine. You don't need to worry your pretty little head about this." He pulled her closer, his hand moving to push a lock of her hair that stuck to her face, his lips dangerously near. The words fell short. Silence resounding as he leaned closer, her eyes closing in anticipation, her hands resting on his arms that held her waist. Yet the moment never came. Her eyes opened into his. Yet she didn't see a smirk or any malicious intent. She saw worry, concern, which made her heart flutter all the more. He started to step back, his arms around her as he pushed her against the edge gently. Their eyes never breaking away from each other. He picked her up with ease, sitting her back on the edge, whilst he stood between her legs. She rested one hand on the nape of his neck, the other on his shoulder. "Talk to me..." he breathed, the water dripping down his chiselled body. One of her hands moved to his hair brushing it gently from his eyes. "I can't." She whispered back. "You wouldn't understand." "Try me." She shook her head. "It's not your problem to deal with." "I want it to be. I want to be there for you." "You don't know what your getting yourself into." "It doesn't matter." "It does." She looked at him. "This isn't your problem Jackson. I've told you before and I'll tell you again. Stay away from me." His hands rested against her waist. "No." He said adamantly. "I won't." "Don't do this." She tried to move away, but he held her in place. "I like you." "You don't even know me." "Then let me get to know you. All of you." "You'll get caught in the crossfire." "If it's for you I will do it gladly." "You don't mean that." "I do." He was a master of words. And it was these words that now held her at gunpoint to love. She stroked his face, her hands trailing his jaw. He pulled her closer, leaning up to place his lips against hers. Her hands wrapped around his shoulders pulling him closer as her hair brushed past her shoulders, hiding him slightly, he pushed it back lovingly, his lips never leaving hers as he continued to kiss her. They parted soon after panting slightly. "You still owe me a date." He said, winking at her slightly. Her eyes flashed to his lips, leaning back in. "Soon." She said ghosting his lips before placing her own back against his. He smiled pushing her hair back lovingly whilst taking her hands in his, his lips kissing her palms as he looked at her. She smiled at him softly.

Just like energy he electrified her, giving her exactly what she needed to continue to fight. Strength. And so fight is what she did. She sat patiently waiting for days, anticipating when Mr Choi would crack. The case notes had been compiled and sorted accordingly but the conspiracy was yet to unravel. And she would only get her answers to decipher the case from him. Wendy walked into her office, files in hand as she took a seat opposite to her. "As soon as this cases closes. We are opening yours." She watched Wendy's eyes flash in pain. "Yours, Seulgi and Yeri's is linked. Considering Yeri and Seulgi are in fact related it makes sense. We will reveal that through the evidence. The case will be reopened and once we have what we need from that we will open Joy's." Wendy watched her carefully. "And what about you Rene? What about your family's case?" "I'm saving that for the grand finale." She looked down. "We need to be careful with what we are doing. Whilst I was returning home I received an anonymous call. I was told I need to tread carefully in this world of corruption, that this world has a bigger network full of doctors, officers, lawyers and more." Irene paused watching as Wendy's eyes widened. "Unfortunately that's not all. The men I took with me, they work under that symbol. And the name Samuel came up." Wendy let out a frustrated sigh. "Do you think the two are linked?" Irene nodded. "We have never seen the symbol before wends. Nor have I heard of Samuel. Now all of a sudden even if it's not directly correlated it's contributing to an overall picture. What I don't know?" Wendy looked towards Irene. "You need to be careful Rene. We aren't in the lime light as much as you are. This is already a labyrinth, watch your back." Irene nodded. "Also a name came up. Jinyoung. Park Jinyoung. Turns out he work for KI but he was involved in the plans for the air weapons conference." "Yah! This is an actual mess." "I have my suspicions wends. The fact that all three coincide can mean multiple things but the route I see, is that the Kims are blaming the parks for business purposes, what if they are unaware of the truth themselves." "You think it was Park Industries?" "I have no evidence. But the CEO that tried apologised to the grieving gave me some vibes. It felt forced." "Do you know who he was?" "I'm getting Kai and Lay on it." Wendy nodded. "I'll help them. Focus on getting Mr Choi to crack. Worst comes to worse you can always manipulate the case and place the sole blame on him and passenger 321." Irene looked up at Wendy. "But the video we leaked would throw a spanner in that. People are expecting a revelation. Someone bigger is involved in this. And that's the problem. All the uncertainty is what is ripping this country apart. No one knows what to believe and so I need to be smart about this wends. If I do what you suggest ultimately I'll lose support. We need to unravel the conspiracy, if I don't get anything we will change tactics. We will open your case earlier as a distraction to dig up more." Wendy looked at her. "You think everything is linked?" Irene stood up. Walking towards the board in front of her and flipping it. Wendy's eyes widened. "There's a common denominator in all of them. See for yourself." "Mr Kang?" Irene nodded. "I don't trust him. There's something odd in the way that he is involved in every case. Even if it just coincidence, it needs to be thought about." "Is that why your keeping him close." Irene shoved her hands into her blazer pockets. "Like they say...keep your friends close but your enemies closer." Wendy leaned back slightly as Irene sat back down. "I'll start working with my friends on the articles and the evidence to drop at the right time." Irene nodded, the two girls falling into silence. "So...Jackson?" Wendy smirked. Irene looked at her. "There's something about him. I need to be careful." Wendy looked at her. "Not every guy is bad Irene. Not every guy is out to get you. He treats you so gently and respectfully honestly it's the cutest thing ever." Irene felt herself smile. "I know wends. But right now my focus is this. If I get the information I need I'll go on a date with him. He understands that." "And maybe if you tell him more he might understand you better. You deserve to be loved irene. And he seems like a man who is willing to love all the scars you have. Give him a chance. Let him in." Irene looked at her. "I don't want to fall." Wendy watched her. "Rene..." "No you know what happened last time I was stupid enough to do that." "Jackson wouldn't do that to you." "And how do you know?" "Because he's been coming to the office everyday since you left. He has taken time out of his day to get to know your life style better. He cares Rene. And he's trying. Not all men are like your past. Let yourself be happy. It will make things easier to bare with in the long run." "No it will just make it harder to let go." "Rene." "No wends. End of conversation. I promised him a date but that is all it's going to be. It's all I can allow it to be. Getting him involved in this is dangerous. And I have nothing on him either." "So get to know him. You might be surprised. He's not a bad guy Rene. If anything, your personalities match perfectly. Give it a chance. That's all I'm saying." Wendy squeezed her shoulder, just as Irene's phone went off. "Hello? "He's asking for you." Irene's eyes flashed to Wendy's. "He's willing to talk."

Irene sat in front of Mr Choi waiting patiently for the older man to begin. She observed him carefully. Watching as he played with his hands out of nervousness, his head lowered, and she could see that his resolve was now nonexistent. "You called Mr Choi." She spoke sharply. "Jessica Kim." Irene's eyes widened. "She payed me to do it...all of it. No one else was involved."And just like that he spoke like an endless ocean, pointing her to evidence that Kai wrote down. When he was done, and he had been taken away, Irene leaned back in her seat. She knew he was lying. When she had him in custody he uttered the name Samuel. And she had evidence of that on her phone. She also had the evidence that Mr Kang had handed her from the very outset. Again things were crystal clear. Her suspicions had been proved ten times over. And even if he wouldn't tell her the complete truth, the court room was about to descend into chaos. But Irene knew, another pawn was being sacrificed. And her name was Jessica Kim.

TBC

Authors note:
Hey guys hope you enjoy this one. Let me know what you think in the comment section below. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Lots of love.