"How did you find out that I need a private detective?" you asked, narrowing your eyes at the man sitting casually in front of you.

He smiled knowingly. "A butterfly doesn't need to be told where the flowers are—it finds them on its own. Just like I found you," he said with a playful grin.

Twenty minutes earlier, when you stepped into your cabin, you were utterly stunned to find a strange man lounging comfortably as if he owned the place. His nonchalant demeanor added to your confusion.

Moments later, Mark, your assistant, arrived, just as baffled as you. "Who is he, and how did he get in here?" Mark asked, wide-eyed.

You were certain Mark had locked the cabin yesterday before leaving, so how on earth did this man manage to get inside? The whole situation felt bizarre, and you couldn't help but feel slightly uneasy as you studied the stranger sitting there, completely unbothered by the commotion.

"Then how the hell did this man get inside my cabin?" you thought, feeling your frustration boil over.

You crossed your arms, leveling him with a sharp glare. "Listen here, Mr. Hoseok. Don't play games or riddles with me. Answer my questions clearly. Is that understood?"

"Crystal clear, Miss Min," he replied, grinning lazily as he leaned back in the chair, completely unfazed by your tone.

"First of all, how did you get into my cabin? I'm certain my assistant locked the door yesterday," you asked, your voice firm.

Hoseok smirked slightly, reaching into his pocket. A moment later, he pulled out a small lock-picking tool and held it up casually.

"I'm a detective, Miss Min," he said, his tone light but confident. "And nothing is really out of reach for me."

You blinked, momentarily stunned by his audacity. "Breaking into someone's office doesn't exactly scream professionalism," you countered sharply, crossing your arms.

"True," he shrugged with a playful grin. "But it does say I'm good at what I do. And you need the best, don't you?"

You huffed in annoyance, crossing your arms tightly. This man was really testing your patience.

"Okay, fine. Why do you want to help me?" you asked, your confusion apparent as you tried to gauge his motives.

Hoseok leaned forward slightly, the corners of his lips curling into a sly smirk. "Because I'm very impressed with your work, Miss Min. And," he added, his smirk deepening, "your case is... intriguing. Let's just say it's not one I can ignore."

"Fine," you replied curtly, narrowing your eyes. "But first, introduce yourself properly so I can understand who I'm dealing with."

He chuckled, leaning back like he owned the space. "As I said, I'm Jung Hoseok. Private detective, at your service. Ten years of experience solving the unsolvable." He winked, then added with a shameless grin, "Oh, and in case you were wondering, I'm single. You know, if—"

Your jaw dropped slightly as you cut him off with a glare. This pervert stranger!

"Okay, okay... no need to go any further," you interrupted, rolling your eyes at Hoseok's antics as you pulled out your laptop.

Placing it on your desk, you powered it on and navigated through a few files before opening a photograph. Turning the screen towards Hoseok, you tapped on the image.

"This is Kim Ja-Kyung," you said, raising an eyebrow at him. "I assume you know who he is?"

Hoseok leaned forward, studying the image intently. His previously playful demeanor shifted into something sharper and more focused.

"Kim Ja-Kyung," he murmured, tilting his head. "The man hailed as the most successful businessman of the year. Also..." He glanced up at you, smirking knowingly. "A rumored mob leader."

You nodded, your expression serious. "Exactly."

"I'm fighting this case against him," you began, your voice steady despite the weight of the topic. "He's accused of murdering a 21-year-old boy who was working in one of his warehouses."

Hoseok leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. "So, what do I need to do?"

"You need to dig into his illegal businesses," you explained, your tone sharpening. "I'm sure this murder case is tied to that." You rested your chin in your palm, watching as Hoseok's playful smirk faded into a more focused, serious expression.

"I'll do it," he said confidently, a small smile creeping onto his face. "It's not a big deal for me."

You leaned back, slightly relieved, but before you could thank him, Hoseok added, "So, let's talk about your payment—"

"Oh no, sweetheart," he cut you off, waving his hand dismissively. "I don't need any payment or anything like that. I found you, not the other way around."

You blinked in confusion. "Then how is this going to work?"

"At the end of the deal," he began, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in his eye, "I'll ask you for something. All you need to do is fulfill that. Is that fine?"

You stared at him for a moment, narrowing your eyes. "Aren't you weird..."

The words slipped out before you could stop yourself, and Hoseok burst into laughter.

"For some, this can be weird, but for me, it's just my choice," Hoseok said with an exaggerated shrug.

You were caught in a dilemma. Trusting this strange man felt risky, but you urgently needed a detective, and he seemed capable enough. Why not?

"Okay, deal," you finally said, exhaling deeply.

"Great!" he exclaimed, standing up excitedly and extending his hand for a handshake.

You stood as well, straightening your posture, and reached out to shake his hand. But Hoseok, ever unpredictable, had other plans.

Before you could react, he brought your hand to his lips and kissed the back of it with a dramatic flair.

You let out a sharp shriek and yanked your hand away from his grasp.

"What the fuck—" you started, glaring at him with wide eyes.

Hoseok grinned unabashedly. "Relax, Miss Min. Just a gentlemanly gesture."

"More like creepy!" you snapped, wiping the back of your hand against your blazer.

"Fine, fine," he said, chuckling as he raised his hands in mock surrender. "No more gentlemanly gestures, I promise."

You gave him a hard glare, muttering under your breath, "Unbelievable."

"Whatever... I'll see you in two days, beautiful," Hoseok said with a wink as he stepped back and exited your cabin, leaving you dumbfounded.

"HEY! At least tell me how to contact you!" you shouted after him, but the door had already closed, and he was gone.

You let out an exasperated sigh, shaking your head.

'What a weird way to start the day...'

Mumbling to yourself, you dropped back into your chair and turned your attention to your laptop. As much as Hoseok's antics annoyed you, the priority now was preparing your arguments for the case. With determination, you focused on piecing together every shred of evidence, knowing you'd need to be at the top of your game for the fight ahead.

Namjoon office {few hours earlier}

"Sir, we're leading in this case currently!" Lee, Namjoon's personal assistant, exclaimed cheerfully, brimming with excitement.

Namjoon leaned back in his chair; his face devoid of the enthusiasm Lee had expected. "It was just one hearing, Lee... She was leading before this." His voice was calm but carried a hint of heaviness.

He couldn't bring himself to celebrate. All he could picture was your stressed, frustrated face from yesterday. It lingered in his mind like a stubborn shadow.

"But sir, still—"

"Lee, just leave it there," Namjoon interrupted, waving him off. "Go get my coffee."

"Oh, okay, sir," Lee replied, slightly deflated, before stepping out of the office and leaving Namjoon alone with his thoughts.

Maybe for you, yesterday was just an awkward day, but for Namjoon, it was one of the best days of his life.

The memory of you sleeping peacefully in his arms felt like a gift he never expected—a moment of pure serenity amidst the chaos. It brought him the mental peace he had been craving for years; a calm he wished he could hold on to forever.

As Namjoon stared at the papers on his desk, his lips curled into a small, wistful smile. The case was important, but right now, all he could think about was you.

Witnessing you sleeping peacefully in his arms yesterday gave Namjoon something he hadn't felt in years—hope. Hope that, maybe someday, you and he could be possible.

The memory brought a bittersweet smile to his face, mingling with the weight of regret he carried. He knew the damage he had done in the past, yet his feelings for you had only grown stronger over time.

Feelings he no longer wanted to suppress.

Namjoon sighed, his gaze falling on the mess of papers cluttering his desk. His thoughts, as chaotic as his workspace, swirled in his mind.

"Look at the irony, Y/N," he murmured to himself, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "Now I have a crush on you."

His eyes flicked to his phone lying idle on the desk, and a sudden thought crossed his mind.

'What could she be doing right now?'
'Should I text her?'
'No... what if I make things awkward?'

He raked his fingers through his hair, the internal debate dragging on for what felt like hours.

'Ah, screw it.'

With a small, decisive sigh, Namjoon picked up his phone, his heart beating faster as his fingers hovered over the screen. After typing and erasing his words a few times, he finally settled on something simple.

[Hope you slept well.>

He hit send, his stomach twisting with both nerves and anticipation. Would you reply? Or leave him hanging?

Within minutes, Namjoon saw the notification that you had read his message. His heart skipped a beat as he stared at the screen, waiting for your reply.

Seconds passed.

Then a minute.

When no reply came, his excitement was replaced with disbelief. His shoulders slumped as he muttered to himself, "She ignored me?!"

He let out a frustrated sigh, tossing his phone lightly on the desk before leaning back in his chair.

But then, a determined smile crept onto his face.

"Fine. You want to ignore me? Then I'll chase you... I'll chase you until you love me."

Namjoon smirked, his mind already spinning with ideas to win you over. This was far from over.

___________________________________

TBC

hellooooo!!!
I'm back ...hope you missed this story 😉

No.? Alright no probs ✌

To all readers ....DON'T DARE TO LEAVE WITHOUT VOTING 🤭🔥

I lob you ❤