Joong's POV
The next morning, Joong was back in full work mode.
Despite the late-night ice cream detour, he had gone home and spent another hour combing through the files. The more he and Zee uncovered, the more tangled this case became. It wasn't just one fraudulent claim anymoreâthis was an entire operation.
And Wichai Kertsin, their key lead, was at the center of it.
That's why Joong was here, parked outside a small accounting firm tucked into a quiet alleyway on the city's west side. Wichai wasn't just an accountantâhe had his hands in multiple businesses, and Joong had found a connection to one of them, a low-profile real estate firm that had suspicious links to the fraudulent insurance claims.
If Wichai was laundering money for Thanapon and Nattapong, this was where the paper trail would lead.
Joong adjusted his phone's recorder in his pocket, preparing to head inside when he noticed something off.
A black sedan. Parked across the street. Tinted windows. Hadn't been there a minute ago.
Joong wasn't the paranoid type, but after working in fraud investigation, he had learned to trust his instincts.
Someone was watching.
He exhaled, playing it cool, and entered the small office. A tired-looking receptionist barely glanced up as he approached.
"Good morning," Joong greeted, flashing a polite smile. "I'm looking for some information on past financial audits connected to this firm. Do you have any public records I could access?"
The receptionist frowned. "I'm sorry, sir. We don't share client records unless authorized."
Joong expected that. "Even basic company filings? Just to verify legitimacy?"
She hesitated. Before she could answer, the door behind Joong swung open.
Two men. Dressed in dark business casual, looking just a little too stiff to be normal office workers.
Joong didn't need a second guessâthey weren't here for accounting.
He turned slightly, his posture relaxed, but his mind was already running through the possibilities.
One of the men stepped forward, fake-smiling. "You lost, kid?"
Joong's jaw clenched at the condescending tone. "Just looking for some documents."
The man chuckled. "Wrong place."
Joong held his ground. "And you are?"
The man's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Someone who doesn't like people asking the wrong questions."
Before Joong could respond, the second guy moved.
A sharp, deliberate shove to his shoulder. Not hard enough to knock him down, but enough to send a clear message. Leave. Now.
Joong clenched his teeth, every instinct telling him to push backâbut he knew better than to pick a fight without leverage.
So, he played it smart.
Raising his hands slightly, he nodded. "Alright. I get it."
Then, slowly, he stepped back, giving the receptionist one last glance before exiting the office.
Zee's POV
Zee was in his office at Mosaic Insurance, sifting through his latest findings on Wichai when his phone buzzed.
Joong.
"Morning," Zee answered casually. "You got something?"
Joong's voice came through, tight. "Yeah, but I also got a problem."
Zee's focus sharpened immediately. "What happened?"
Joong exhaled. "Ran into some guys who didn't like me poking around Wichai's accounts. They made it clear I wasn't welcome."
Zee sat up. "Where are you now?"
"In my car. I got out fine, but..." Joong hesitated. "I think I was followed."
Zee cursed under his breath. "Where are you?"
Joong gave him the location.
"Stay put," Zee said. "I'm coming to you."
Joong chuckled dryly. "You don't have to play bodyguard, you know."
"Shut up and stay where you are," Zee shot back. "I'll be there in ten."
Joong didn't argue.
Zee's POV
Zee pulled up behind Joong's car exactly ten minutes later, spotting him slouched in the driver's seat, one arm resting against the window.
From the outside, Joong looked relaxed, but Zee could tellâhis fingers were drumming lightly against the steering wheel, a telltale sign that he was running through possibilities in his head.
Zee parked and got out, knocking twice on Joong's window. Joong glanced up, then rolled it down.
"You look like you just saw a ghost," Zee said.
Joong scoffed. "Not a ghost. Just two guys built like security guards with a little too much attitude."
Zee opened the passenger door and got in. "Tell me everything."
Joong exhaled, shifting slightly in his seat. "I was checking out an accounting firm linked to Wichai's real estate dealings. The receptionist stonewalled me, and before I could push, two guys came in and basically told me to back off. One of them gave me a friendly little shoveânothing serious, but enough to make a point."
Zee's jaw tensed. "And you think they followed you?"
"I'm pretty sure," Joong muttered, glancing at the rearview mirror. "Black sedan. Tinted windows. It parked across from the firm right before I walked in. I tried taking a few different turns on the way here, but I still spotted it in my mirror at least twice."
Zee cursed under his breath. This wasn't just some low-level fraud case anymore.
Joong turned to him, frowning slightly. "You're quiet. That's not comforting."
Zee sighed, rubbing his temple. "This means we're on the right trackâbut it also means they're watching us now."
Joong's lips pressed into a thin line. "Yeah. I figured."
Zee studied him for a moment. Joong looked calm, but that didn't mean he wasn't rattled. And Zee understood that feeling. The first time you realized you weren't just chasing a caseâbut that the case was now aware of you? That was different.
"Listen," Zee said, his voice lower, more serious. "From now on, we check in with each other before we go anywhere related to this case. No more solo fieldwork."
Joong raised an eyebrow. "You worried about me?"
Zee met his gaze. "Yeah. And you should be worried about yourself, too."
Joong didn't say anything at first, just looked at him for a beat before exhaling. "Alright. Fine."
Zee nodded. "Good."
Joong smirked slightly. "But for the record, I can take a hit."
Zee rolled his eyes. "And for the record, I'd rather not have to find out."
Joong let out a short laugh, shaking his head. But behind that smirk, Zee knewâJoong was taking this seriously.
"Come on, just follow my car as I drive." Zee said, about to get out of the car.
Joong frowned. "Where?"
"My place."
Joong blinked. "What?"
Zee crossed his arms. "If they know your face, they might know where you live. You're not going back there tonight."
Joong stared at him, then let out a dry laugh. "You do realize I can take care of myself, right?"
Zee raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? And I can't?"
Joong huffed, shaking his head. "That's not what I meant."
"Then stop arguing," Zee said simply. "Let's go."
Joong hesitated for a moment longer, but then, he nodded.
Joong's POV
Zee's apartment was exactly what Joong had expected.
Minimalist. Clean. Everything in its right place. But not lifeless. There were little signs of personalityâa couple of framed photos, a well-used coffee machine, boxing gloves hanging near the door.
Joong sat on the couch as Zee tossed him a bottle of water. "Make yourself comfortable."
Joong smirked. "Already bossing me around in your own home?"
Zee rolled his eyes but didn't reply. Instead, he sat down across from Joong, his expression turning serious.
"We need to be careful," Zee said. "If they're willing to send people to intimidate you, this case is bigger than we thought."
Joong exhaled. "Yeah."
A beat of silence stretched between them. Then, Zee tilted his head slightly.
"You okay?"
Joong looked at him, mildly surprised. "What?"
Zee's gaze was steady. "You brush things off fast. I get that. But that doesn't mean they don't bother you."
Joong opened his mouth to dismiss itâbut for some reason, he stopped. Zee wasn't pushing. He was just... asking.
After a pause, Joong exhaled. "I don't like being caught off guard."
Zee nodded. "I figured."
Another pause. Then, Zee smirked slightly. "But at least now I know you can get shaken up."
Joong scoffed, throwing a pillow at him. "Shut up."
Zee chuckled, easily catching it.
For the first time since this whole mess started, Joong actually felt like he could breathe.