WINTER SECRETS

Jae-wook had barely stepped into the sitting room, still catching his breath from his morning run, when he was met with an unexpected sight—Leo, Ava, and Carrie sitting cross-legged on the couch, their expressions unnervingly focused on him.

He slowed his steps. Why does this feel like an intervention?

"What's with them?" he muttered, ignoring their laser-like stares as he walked to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water.

"Did you sleep well?" Ava's voice suddenly came from behind him.

Jae-wook nearly dropped the bottle. "Jeez! Can you not creep up on me like that?"

Ava just smiled sweetly. "Do you have a moment?"

Jae-wook sighed. "I have a feeling I don't."

"Of course, he does," Leo cut in, grinning. "Carrie has a proposal."

"I'm not interested." Jae-wook turned to leave, but Carrie smoothly stepped in front of him, blocking his path with an infuriatingly calm expression.

"You haven't even heard it yet."

Jae-wook exhaled sharply. "Are you going to move?"

Carrie tilted her head. "No."

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Five minutes."

Carrie's smirk widened. "Let's work together to bring Na-eun down."

A heavy weight of Silence filling the room that instant.

Jae-wook's gaze turned ice-cold as he shifted it to Leo.

"I swear, I told her nothing," Leo said quickly, holding his hands up in surrender.

Jae-wook's eyes narrowed. "Then how does she know?"

Carrie shrugged, looking almost amused. "I like putting pieces together. Plus, Leo talks too much when he's not paying attention."

"Did you drug me?" Leo asked suspiciously.

Carrie rolled her eyes. "No, but I did something even better."

Ava grinned. "That's my girl."

Jae-wook exhaled, shaking his head. "And why do you care so much? We're not even friends."

Carrie leaned against the counter, her expression unreadable. "True. But let's look at this logically. You've been trying to beat her alone, and it's not working."

"Everything was fine until the article was released," Jae-wook muttered, his voice tight with frustration. "Now I'm back to square one."

"That's exactly why I want to help," Carrie said, her tone unexpectedly sincere. "I want to fix what I shattered."

Jae-wook let out a humorless chuckle. "You think it's that easy? Your enthusiasm will die the moment things get ugly."

"That's why we work as a team," Carrie countered smoothly. "When one of us falters, the others keep things moving. Simple."

Jae-wook studied her for a long moment. Then, finally, he exhaled. "Fine. I'll listen."

Carrie's smirk returned. "I don't have the full plan yet, but here's what I do know—TechCom has three vacant intern positions."

Jae-wook's brow furrowed. "And?"

"To beat Na-eun, we have to beat her at her own game," Carrie explained. "You can't tell me she doesn't have spies in your company. So, Leo and Ava will apply for the intern spots."

Leo blinked. "Okay, hold up. What if she recognizes us? What she has seen our faces before?"

Carrie waved a hand dismissively. "That's already accounted for. The positions you'll take don't require face-to-face meetings with the executives. You'll be in the perfect spots to monitor movements and access reports without raising suspicion."

"Smart," Ava admitted.

"But here's the real fun part," Carrie continued. "Your jobs will give you access to confidential reports and past records—things Na-eun probably thinks are buried."

Jae-wook watched Carrie carefully, then said a single word: "No."

Carrie's smirk faltered. "Excuse me?"

"No. I'm not dragging you into this," Jae-wook said firmly.

Carrie folded her arms. "Then why did you let me explain all that?"

"Because it's rude to interrupt," Jae-wook said flatly. "And because I wanted to see how far you'd take this." His expression darkened. "But I'm not letting you risk your lives for me."

Leo exhaled. "Look, man, I know I've stayed out of this whole Na-eun mess before, but I was wrong. I should've stepped in sooner. And I'm not backing out now. That's what friends do."

"I'd be touched if I were you," Ava added. "And honestly, if you don't let us help, we'll just do it behind your back. That's worse."

They all turned to Jae-wook, waiting for his answer.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke. "Is that a threat now?"

"Depends" Ava replied.

"Fine.On one condition."

"What?" they chorused.

"Carrie stays out of the real danger."

Carrie raised an eyebrow. "Because you care about me?"

Jae-wook scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself. We're not close. I just don't want to feel indebted to you."

Carrie smirked. "Well, that's too bad, because I'm not sitting this one out."

Jae-wook thought for a moment, then smirked. "Alright then. You'll be my bodyguard."

Carrie blinked. "My what?"

"A bodyguard," Jae-wook repeated, his smirk widening. "A male one, in fact."

Ava burst into laughter. "Oh, this just got interesting."

"I'm sorry—what?" Carrie said, crossing her arms.

"It's simple," Jae-wook said. "If Na-eun or any of her spies catch wind of you being around me too often, they'll get suspicious. If you're disguised as my male bodyguard, no one will question it."

Carrie narrowed her eyes. "And how exactly do I pull off being a guy?"

Ava motioned toward Carrie's chest. "That might be a problem."

Jae-wook shrugged nonchalantly. "Not really. There's not much to show anyway"

Carrie gasped. "Are you saying I'm flat?"

Leo coughed awkwardly. "I think he just called you—"

"I heard him!" Carrie clutched her chest dramatically. "That's treason against Samantha and Rachel."

"Who?" Leo asked.

"It's a K-drama thing," Ava explained between giggles.

Leo shook his head. "Okay, but if Carrie's pretending to be a guy, what about her voice?"

Carrie smirked. "I could lower my tone."

"Or you could just stay mute," Jae-wook suggested with a smirk.

Carrie stared at him. "So let me get this straight. I'm a male bodyguard and I can't speak?"

Jae-wook nodded. "Terms and conditions."

Carrie exhaled. "Fine. But I expect full decision-making rights when it comes to security operations."

"Whatever."

Leo clapped his hands together. "So, now that we're officially spies, what should we call this mission?"

"Operation End Na-eun," Ava said dramatically.

Leo nodded. "I like it."

Carrie smirked. "Then it's official."

Ava grinned. "Group handshake?"

Carrie rolled her eyes. "Not quite."

Leo stretched. "Can we order breakfast now? I'm starving."

Carrie chuckled. "Fine. Ava, order pizza. I'll make coffee."

As she headed into the kitchen, Jae-wook leaned back against the counter. This might actually work.