Taeko's POV

The air outside the coffee shop blew like a whistling wind, scattering colorful leaves across the ground. The evening had a gentle coolness, eager but not biting, and the sight of the swirling leaves sent my mind wandering. It reminded me of spring, particularly the day Taehyung and I graduated from high school.

Our final day together. Nearly eight years have gone by since then. Neither of us had contacted the other throughout that time, and now here we were—him in a station cell and me investigating a murder case in which he was the primary suspect.

"Here."

Jimin's voice broke through my thoughts as he handed me a transparent plastic cup of iced Americano, his ever-present polite smile etched on his lips.

I grabbed the cup but didn't return the smile. "Thanks," I mumbled, my gaze locked forward.

Jimin turned to Jisoo and offered him another cup. "Here you go," he said with the same perfect smile.

Jisoo scoffed, taking the cup reluctantly. "You're really such a good actor, Park Jimin," he said with a sarcastic tone.

Jimin maintained a constant smile. "I aim to please," he said effortlessly, taking a seat across from us with a calm composure.

I sighed quietly as I gazed between them. I conceived this man was actually an actor. Jimin held himself as if he had been dealing with these cases for years, oozing confidence and control. But now, after knowing who he is, I could see through the gaps.

The slight hesitations, the carefully prepared charisma, the way he leaned too heavily into his arrogance—it was all an act. A mask to cover up his inexperience.

Jisoo suddenly slammed his fist on the table, almost making me and Jimin jump up in surprise. "Damn it, that CEO," he said almost screaming.

Then he looked up at us, "How rude he is! I know these big companies CEOs are so full of themselves, but this man is on a whole different level."

I and Jimin looked at each other before nodding in agreement.

 Few hours earlier:

"Hello, Mr. Kim. This is—." I began by going up to introduce myself, but the CEO abruptly raised his hand, cutting me off in mid-sentence.

His midnight brown eyes finally moved away from the file he was holding, examining each of us briefly before settling on Namjoon for a split second. His gaze returned to me, cold and unwavering.

"Officer Jin Taeko," he said, his authoritative tone echoing throughout the room. "Half Korean, half Japanese. Twenty-five years old. You were recently handed this case, and it is your first time leading an investigation."

As his words sliced through the air, I froze, pressing my lips into a tight line.

"And Officer Park Jisoo," he said, shifting his gaze to Jisoo. "Age is twenty-eight. He has been on the force for three years and is known for his quick temper and straightforwardness."

Jisoo's jaw tightened, and his posture stiffened in response to the CEO's words.

Seokjin closed the file with a quiet snap and neatly placed it on the desk in front of him. His piercing stare fell on the three of us once more.

"And last, Attorney Park Jimin, a 25-year-old attorney who's mentored by the coldest lawyer, Min Yoongi." With that, his gaze met mine.

"I make it a point to know exactly who I'm dealing with," he explained, his tone calm but forceful. "It ensures that no misunderstandings arise."

The words hung heavy in the air, a thinly veiled warning wrapped in politeness.

Jimin shuffled uncomfortably next to me, his pleasant grin slipping slightly. "Mr. Kim," he began, his tone measured, "I understand your... thorough approach. But we're all here to work together and get this resolved as soon as possible, right?

Seokjin's attention shifted to Jimin, his face unclear. "Of course, Mr. Park," he said effortlessly. "But let's not forget who is hosting whom here."

Jisoo gave a faint scoff beneath his breath, clearly annoyed with the power play. I sent him a warning glance, quietly telling him to keep things under control.

"Mr. Kim," I continued, pushing myself to meet his stare with equal steadiness, "we're here to get information about the circumstances surrounding your employees, Kim Hana and Kim Taehyung. Our goal is to figure out the truth as quickly as possible. I believe we have your cooperation."

For a minute, Seokjin was quiet. His piercing, calculating eyes pierced into mine, and I felt as if he were judging me, deciding how much respect—or trouble—I was worth.

His frost-velvety lips parted, and his words came out cold, like the chill of an arctic wind. "Officer Jin," he began, "I don't know how this may sound, but the matters that occurred between Mr. Kim Taehyung and Ms. Kim Hana were known only to them."

He slowed down as his fingers stroked the smooth surface of the glass table in front of him, the sound almost eerie in the deep calm of the room. His gaze dropped momentarily to the table before lifting again to meet mine.

"And," he said, his tone steady, "I have no intention of involving my employees, who are currently busy and working diligently, in this personal matter."

The emphasis on personal was unmistakable. It wasn't just a dismissal—it was a line being drawn, a clear boundary he intended for us to respect.

Beside me, Jisoo is clenching his fist, which was held behind him, biting his tongue, visibly biting back a retort. His irritation was practically radiating off him, and I could feel my own frustration rising.

"Mr. Kim," I said carefully, keeping my tone professional but firm. "We understand your position, but we're not here to disrupt your company's operations unnecessarily."

"However, this investigation does require us to speak with individuals who may have insights into the relationships and events surrounding this case. Cooperation from your team could be crucial in determining the truth."before continuing, "And I have no intention to involve my employees, who are working busily right now, in this personal matter."

Seokjin's lips curved slightly—not quite a smile, but something close. "And I trust you'll do so without compromising the efficiency of my company." he said smoothly, his tone as polished as his appearance.

For a brief moment, I felt my lips curling into a faint, triumphant smile. But, just as quickly, his next words stopped it in its tracks.

"But not now," he said, his voice colder than before, his authority clear.

I blinked, stunned by his unwavering firmness. He turned his head slightly toward Jimin, who was already preparing to jump in with a defense.

"Until we receive formal notices directly from the court," Seokjin continued, his gaze sharp and unyielding, "there will be no interrogations or investigations conducted within my company. This is non-negotiable."

Jimin was about to reply, but Seokjin's icy tone cut him off before he could say anything.

The tension in the room became thicker, heavier, and stifling. My pulse raced, frustration rising beneath the surface. This was more than just a setback; it was a planned attempt to stop us.

"Mr. Kim," I began again, my voice steady but forceful, "I understand your concerns, but any further delays risk jeopardizing the integrity of this investigation. Time is of importance for finding the truth."

Seokjin tilted his head slightly, as if considering my words, but his expression remained impassive. "And I understand your urgency, Officer Jin," he replied, his tone cool. "However, I have a responsibility to my employees and my company. Procedures must be followed, and until they are, my position stands."

Jisoo shifted beside me, clearly keeping himself from speaking out of turn. I clenched my fists behind my back, forcing myself to keep my composure.

Seokjin's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed but his authority firmly established. "If there's nothing else, I believe we've reached an understanding," he said smoothly, effectively ending the conversation on his terms.

It was a battle of wills, and for now, he'd won. But this wasn't over—not by a long shot.

Present

As I walked outside the coffee shop, the memories of that conversation still clear in my mind, the evening air swirled with a delicate coolness, brushing against my face. Jimin followed, his usual smirk obviously missing, and Jisoo walked next to me, his jaw clenched in exasperation.

"He thinks he can just throw his weight around and stop us," Jisoo said, his voice low but irritated.

I let out a sigh and squeezed my iced Americano, allowing the chill to seep into my fingertips. Even if my own annoyance was simmering beneath the surface, I answered, "He's protecting his company. It's planned. He is putting us to the test to see how far we can go."

Jimin chuckled gently behind us, his tone light yet dark. "Kim Seokjin does more than merely put people through tests. He makes sure that they understand their place in his world."

"And where do you think we stand?" I questioned, turning my head slightly to look at Jimin's reaction. His eyes were observant and not as fun as his tone indicated.

Jimin shrugged and sipped his drink nonchalantly. "Looking in from the outside. for the time being."

Jisoo ran his fingers through his hair in exasperation and scoffed. "I can't stand that man." He basically ignored whatever we said, as if it were a waste of his valuable time.

"Because to him, it probably was," I said, the anger in my voice surprising even me. "But he's right about one thing—without the proper documentation, we're stuck."

Jimin came to a standstill, his brow furrowing slightly as he looked between us. "Not entirely," he answered, his voice growing more comfortable.

I turned to face him directly, my eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"

He hesitated for a bit before looking directly at me. "We do not require his authorization to collect information outside the company. There are multiple ways to put this together. Employees talk, even off the record. We simply need to know where to look—and who to ask."

Jisoo scowled, his mistrust clear in his voice. "And you think you can get them to talk, knowing the kind of grip he has on his people?"

Jimin's lips formed a faint, knowing smile. "I didn't say it would be simple. But I've come across people who are like Seokjin before. Sometimes you don't enter through the front door. You find another way in."

The confidence in his words made me pause. For all his inexperience, there was a cleverness to Jimin that I couldn't ignore.

"Alright," I finally said, my voice firm. "However, we proceed carefully. No unnecessary risks, and no stepping out of line."

Jimin raised his cup in a mock toast, and his smirk returned. "Understood, Officer Jin."

Jisoo groaned and rolled his eyes. "Why do I feel like this is going to end badly?"

I didn't respond, instead focusing my gaze on the horizon. The case was growing more tangled with every step, but I wasn't backing down.

Seokjin may have won this round, but this wasn't over—not by a long shot.

____________________________________________________________________________

A Week Passed

The week passed in a haze, with each day flowing into the next as preparations for the trial ate up every moment. Despite our best efforts, the interrogation of company employees never happened. Every attempt to approach anyone was unsuccessful, leaving us with only dead ends.

Kim Seokjin truly held control over his employees. Nobody spoke, no one stepped out of line, and the silence was both deliberate and frustrating.

And now here we were, walking through the court hallway on the first day of the trial.

Taehyung obviously shuddered as the cameras flashed, their bright light scattering off the cold, polished flooring. The media's focus was drowning, with voices asking for a response, a reaction—anything that could be turned into a headline.

I went slightly forward with my shoulders squared, attempting to shield him from the worst of it. Jimin followed closely, his face silent, but his sharp eyes darted to every camera lens and reporter with measured accuracy.

Jisoo, on the other hand, looked like he was about to explode. His jaw clenched tightly, and I could see his fists curling at his sides.

Ugh! This guy couldn't even keep his cool.

"Keep your cool, Officer Park" I muttered under my breath, shooting him a warning glance.

"Easy for you to say," he hissed back. "They're treating him like he's already guilty."

I didn't respond since, to be honest, I felt the same way. But showing our emotions would be something we shouldn't do—especially in front of the media.

As we finally entered the courtroom, the oppressive noise of the hallway was replaced by an eerie quiet. The heavy wooden doors shut behind us, muffling the chaos outside.

Taehyung walked beside me, his face pale and drawn. The stoic expression he usually wore had cracked under the pressure, revealing the fear and uncertainty he'd been trying to hide.

"You okay?" I inquired softly, looking at him as we neared the defendant's table.

He nodded mutely, but the slight shaking in his hands betrayed him.

Jimin placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We've got this," he said confidently. "Just let me handle the legal stuff. You focus on staying calm."

Taehyung gave a weak nod, his gaze falling to the polished flooring.

I couldn't help but notice the moment between them. Hm... they have a good connection, I thought, nodding unconsciously to myself. It was clear Jimin had a way of grounding Taehyung, which was good—he needed all the support he could get right now.

Just as the trial was ready to begin, a ripple of movement spread around the courtroom. I startled when I noticed that everyone—lawyers, the judge's staff, and even Jisoo—had stood up from their seats, their eyes wide with amazement.

I frowned slightly, confusion clouding my thoughts. What's happening? I looked at Jimin, whose lips had parted in amazement, matching the room's overall disbelief.

"What's happening?" I muttered, low and urgent.

Jimin didn't answer, his gaze fixed on the entrance. Following his line of sight, I turned to see what—or who—had caused such a reaction.

And then, my breath hitched.

Two men walked into the courtroom with a commanding presence that seemed to steal the oxygen from the air. Their heads were raised, their steps deliberate and firm, as if they owned everything that they walked on.

Kim Seokjin.

The same man who had dismissed our request for interrogation just days ago. His dark blue suit was immaculate, perfectly fitted to him, and he exuded an air of power and control that seemed to draw all eyes to him.

Kim Namjoon walked beside him, as calmly as ever. His attitude was stern, and his piercing eyes searched the room as if he were judging everyone in it.

What the hell is he doing here?!

As Seokjin and Namjoon walked to their seats, I could feel the weight of their presence fall over the room like a heavy blanket.

Jisoo leaned closer to me, his voice low yet stressful. "What are they doing here?"

"I have no idea," I mumbled, my mind racing.

Namjoon, standing straight and composed, turned to Jimin and gave a short bow. "This is Kim Namjoon," he said, his voice elegant and professional.

Jimin froze, his eyes widening slightly. "We... we met last week," he stammered, clearly as caught off guard as I was.

Namjoon's lips formed a slight, courteous smile. "I believe introductions are in order for the others present." He paused, sweeping his look across the room before returning to us. "I am the attorney representing Kim Hana."

Wait, what?!

My heart skipped a beat as he spoke. Representing Kim Hana?

Jisoo's jaw almost touched the floor. "You've got to be kidding me," he mumbled, his voice full of disbelief.

Namjoon remained calm and unaffected by our reactions. Meanwhile, Seokjin stood still alongside him, his cold, obscure eyes fixed forward as if none of this confusion touched him in the least.

Of course, why would it? Wasn't it created by them?

However, this does not make any sense. Just last week, Seokjin refused to allow any of his staff to be questioned, emphasizing that the topic was personal and drawing a clear line around his company. And now... now, Namjoon was here representing Hana?

"What the hell is this?" Jisoo murmured furiously, leaning closer to me.

I didn't react, my thoughts whirling with questions and doubts. Seokjin made it clear he wanted to keep his employees out of this. So, why is his legal team now involved? What game is he playing?

Namjoon straightened, his calm demeanor unwavering as he gestured for attention. "I trust we can proceed with decorum," he said smoothly.

But, despite his calm, the tension in the room was visible. Whatever Seokjin and Namjoon were up to, it was obvious they had just added an extra layer of complications to an already complicated case.