The door opened quietly.
The office was exactly what they expected—wide, expensive, controlled. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the back, letting in just enough light to make everything look polished and untouchable.
Nothing was out of place.
Not even the man sitting behind the desk.
The CEO.
He didn't look surprised to see them.
If anything, he looked like he had been expecting it.
Mi Na stepped forward first, professional as always. "We need to ask you a few questions regarding the incident."
He nodded once. "I assumed as much."
Do Hwan stayed slightly behind, his usual playful look gone, replaced with something quieter.
Annie didn't stop.
She walked past all of them.
Straight into the office.
Like she didn't need permission.
Her eyes moved slowly across the space.
Shelves.
Desk.
Documents.
Nothing dramatic.
Just… looking.
Mi Na started speaking. "We're trying to understand the victim's movements and—"
"Is it not rude," the CEO's voice cut in smoothly, "to walk into someone's office and start looking through things without permission?"
Silence.
Mi Na paused.
Do Hwan glanced at Annie.
Annie didn't turn.
She picked up a file from the desk, flipping it open casually.
"Are you guilty of something?" she asked.
Calm.
Flat.
The room stilled.
The CEO leaned back slightly, his expression sharpening.
"There are things I take lightly," he said, voice controlled, "but accusing me of something I didn't—or would never do…"
A pause.
"I could sue you for that."
Annie closed the file.
Still not looking at him.
Then she finally turned.
Her eyes scanned the office one more time.
Quiet.
Calculating.
Then she said,
"You're way beneath who did this."
A small pause.
"It's a waste of time."
Silence dropped hard in the room.
Mi Na didn't interrupt this time.
Do Hwan didn't joke.
Even the CEO didn't respond immediately.
Mi Na stepped in after a moment, her voice steady again. "We'll still be reviewing internal access and security logs."
The CEO nodded once, his composure back in place. "Do what you need to do."
Annie had already started walking out.
No goodbye.
No second glance.
They stepped back into the hallway.
The door closed behind them.
The tension followed.
Do Hwan exhaled quietly. "So… he's not the problem?"
No one answered immediately.
They walked toward the elevator.
Then Annie said,
"I didn't say that."
A pause.
"He's just not the only one."
The elevator doors opened.
They stepped in.
Silence again.
But this time—
it felt heavier.