Chapter 18: Chapter Eighteen: A Price to Pay

Zee's POV

We sat down at the table with Mina, and I could already tell that Joong's usual charisma wasn't hitting the mark. Mina was good at hiding her true thoughts, but her lack of engagement was clear. She was just looking at Joong, her arms crossed, and lips pursed, as if trying to figure him out, decide if he was worth her time.

I knew how this worked with her. She wasn't impressed by surface-level charm, not by a long shot. It took more than a winning smile and smooth talk to get under her skin.

Joong tried again, giving her a soft chuckle as he leaned forward. "You know, I've always admired people who can keep their cards close to their chest. It's an art, really."

Mina didn't budge; her expression still unreadable. "Flattery doesn't get you far here, Joong."

I could see the flicker of frustration in Joong's eyes, but he quickly masked it with another smile. "Fair enough. But I've heard you're someone who appreciates... creativity. I think we could be a great team if you gave us a chance. You know, I've worked with all sorts of people, but you've got a certain... edge that's hard to find."

Mina arched an eyebrow, her lips barely twitching upward in the smallest of smirks. "Is that your best pitch? It's cute, but I'm not in the mood for cute."

I sat back in my chair, watching the exchange unfold. Joong wasn't getting through to her as easily as I thought he would. Mina wasn't the kind of person to fall for a nice smile or a smooth line. She needed something more—something real, something that would convince her it was worth her time.

I could feel the tension building, and I almost wanted to step in, but this was Joong's battle to win. I needed to let him handle it.

Just when I thought it might be a lost cause, Joong shifted his approach. His voice softened, more sincere this time. "Alright, Mina. Look, I get it. You don't want anyone wasting your time, and you don't trust easily. But here's the thing—I'm not just asking for help because I think you'll do us a favor. I'm asking because I know you're the only one who can pull this off. We don't have time to mess around."

Mina's eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, there was something like recognition flickering in them. She wasn't smiling yet, but she was paying attention now. That was progress.

"I've been in this game long enough to know when someone's serious," Joong continued, leaning in slightly. "And I'm serious about getting this job done. We'll get you the information you need. But what I'm asking for is your expertise. That's where we can make this work."

There was a pause, and Mina studied him for what felt like an eternity. I could feel the tension in the air, wondering if this would be the moment she either agreed or shut us down completely. But then, unexpectedly, she broke the silence.

"You talk a good game," she said slowly, eyes still narrowed. "But here's the thing. You want me to trust you, to put my neck on the line for you... that's going to cost you."

Joong raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

Mina leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping the table lightly. "I don't do favors. If you want my help, you're going to have to earn it. I need something in return."

Joong didn't hesitate. "Name it."

Mina's smirk widened, and her eyes glinted with a mix of amusement and challenge. "I want a date. With you. Dinner. Just the two of us."

I felt a sharp pang in my chest at her words, but I quickly shoved it aside. This was business. Joong was just playing the game. Mina wasn't serious about anything beyond that.

Joong, unfazed by the proposition, gave a small laugh. "Alright, sure. If that's what it takes to get the job done, I'll take you out to dinner."

Mina nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Good. Then we have a deal. You get me the details you need, and I'll make sure you get the intel you're looking for. But I'll make you work for it, Joong. You won't be off the hook that easily."

Joong gave her a nod. "I'll keep my word. You'll get your dinner."

Mina stood up, a finality in her movements. "Then we're in business. I'll start looking into your warehouse. You'll hear from me soon."

With that, she walked off, leaving Joong and me at the table. I exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of what had just happened.

I knew this was part of the game. Mina played by her own rules, and she wasn't about to make things easy for anyone. But there was something unsettling about the way she'd bargained for the date. It wasn't just professional—it felt personal, somehow.

Joong turned to me, his expression light. "Well, that went well, didn't it? Looks like we've got our insider."

I forced a smile, even though I felt a little unsettled. "Yeah. I'm glad she's on board. But just remember, Joong—this is about the case. Not about... anything else."

Joong shot me a quick glance, his smile not wavering. "Of course. It's all for work. Just a little... incentive."

I nodded, though I felt something tighten in my chest. It was just a date. A small price to pay to get the intel we needed.

But deep down, I couldn't ignore the unease swirling in my gut. It wasn't just the case anymore. There was something more complicated happening here—something I wasn't sure I was ready to face.

Joong's POV

The dinner with Mina was nothing like I expected, but then again, I should have known better. She was a woman who liked to keep things unpredictable—no small talk, no chit-chat. She just got straight to the point. The dinner itself wasn't bad, but I could tell she was still testing me. I didn't mind, though. It was just part of the deal, and I wasn't going to let a little tension get in the way of what we needed.

Mina and I talked shop, mostly about the warehouse and the intel we'd need. There was no flirty banter, no trying to make small talk about our personal lives—just straight business, and honestly, that suited me fine. I didn't have the energy to pretend otherwise.

By the time dinner wrapped up, I was ready to head home. As I stepped outside, the cool night air hit me, and I let out a long breath, feeling like I could finally relax. Mina wasn't exactly the warmest company, but at least I'd done what I came here to do.

I was about to get into my car when my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I glanced down at the screen—Zee.

My thumb hovered over the screen for a moment, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. For some reason, Zee had been on my mind more than I'd like to admit today. Maybe it was the way he'd been acting around me lately, or maybe it was just my mind drifting, but I'd felt a shift between us. I'd been more aware of him, more attuned to his reactions.

I answered the call, keeping my voice casual. "Hey, Zee. What's up?"

"Just checking in," Zee replied, his voice lighter than I expected, but there was something just beneath the surface, something I couldn't quite place. "How did the dinner go?"

I leaned back against my car, feeling the warmth of the phone in my hand. "It went fine. Mina's a tough nut to crack, but we got what we needed."

There was a pause on the other end. "Good, good. So, everything went as planned, then?" Zee's voice seemed to hang on the question a little longer than necessary.

I could hear it now—the subtle edge to his words. It was the kind of tone someone used when they were trying not to sound bothered, but you could tell they were. There was a hint of something else there. Maybe it was just my imagination, but it sounded like... jealousy?

"Yeah," I said, drawing out the word. "It went well. No issues. Why? You worried?"

I could almost feel Zee's eyes narrow on the other side of the line, but he didn't call me out on it. Instead, he cleared his throat, trying to play it off. "Just making sure. You've been on this case for a while, and I... Well, I don't want you getting distracted, that's all."

There it was again—the underlying tension. Zee was protective, I knew that much, but there was something more in his voice tonight. Maybe it was the way he said "distracted." It wasn't just about the case anymore.

"You don't need to worry about me, Zee," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "I'm fine. Just doing my part. You don't have to check up on me every five minutes."

There was a beat of silence, and I could practically hear Zee processing my words. "I'm just... making sure," he said finally, his voice softer this time. "You've been putting in a lot of work, and I don't want you getting yourself in over your head."

I raised an eyebrow at the phone, a chuckle escaping me. "I've got this under control, Zee. Trust me."

"I do," he said, and for a moment, there was an odd shift in his voice—something vulnerable, something that made me pause. "I trust you."

I didn't know what to say to that. There was a rawness in his tone that wasn't there before, and I had to admit, it unsettled me a little. I wasn't sure if Zee was just being protective or if something deeper was starting to surface between us.

We both fell into an awkward silence for a moment. I didn't know how to break it, and I could tell Zee didn't either. It wasn't like him to get so quiet, especially not over something as mundane as a phone call about work.

Finally, I decided to lighten the mood. "Alright, enough about me. How's your evening going? Got anything exciting planned?"

Zee was quick to respond, but there was still that hint of something in his voice, something I couldn't quite place. "Not much. Just... working. Trying to get ahead of things. You know how it is."

"Yeah, I know," I said with a grin, even though I could tell Zee wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea of continuing to work late into the night. "Look, I'm heading home. I'll check in with you tomorrow. And don't stay up too late, alright?"

"I won't," Zee replied quickly, though his tone was softer, almost distracted. "Take care of yourself, Joong."

"You too, Zee," I said before hanging up, feeling a strange heaviness in the pit of my stomach.

I stared at the phone in my hand for a moment before slipping it into my pocket. Something had shifted between Zee and me, and it wasn't just because of the case. There was something more, something that I wasn't sure how to deal with.

With a deep breath, I got into my car and drove home, trying to shake off the feeling that lingered in the air, both from the call and from what had been building up between Zee and me. I couldn't figure it out, but I knew one thing for sure—things were starting to get a lot more complicated than I ever expected.