The elevator doors slid open to the ground floor.
Before they could step out fully, a staff member approached them hurriedly.
She looked around once, then lowered her voice.
"Can… can I speak with you privately?"
The next moment—
They were seated in a quiet café.
The woman sat across from them, her hands clasped tightly together.
She kept glancing around like someone might walk in at any second.
Her voice came out shaky.
"Jebal… i mannam bi밀ro hae juseyo…"
(Please… can you keep this meeting discreet…)
She swallowed.
"I iyagi… amudo mollasseumyeon haeyo…"
(This conversation… no one should know about it…)
Mi Na leaned forward slightly, her expression firm.
"Urin jinshilman malhandamyeon, dangsineul kkeureo deuliji anheul geoyeyo."
(We will… only if you tell the truth. We won't involve you.)
The woman hesitated.
Then—
"Do Hee… Do Hee-ssi-neun…"
(Do Hee… Miss Do Hee…)
She took a breath.
"…CEO-nim gwa bi밀 yeonae jungieosseoyo."
(…was in a secret relationship with the CEO.)
Do Hwan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Mi Na stayed still.
Annie didn't move.
The woman continued, her voice shaking more now.
"Geunde… geunyeoneun… CEO-nim dongsaeng-gwa…"
(But… she… with the CEO's younger brother…)
She lowered her head.
"…baerimhaesseoyo."
(…she cheated.)
Silence.
"Geu saram-eun i hoesaui isa-yeyo…"
(He's a director in the company…)
Her fingers tightened.
"CEO-nim-i alge doeeosseul ttae… jeongmal simhaesseoyo…"
(When the CEO found out… it was very brutal…)
Mi Na's eyes sharpened.
"Geureodo geuneun geunyeoreul naeboji mot haesseoyo…"
(But he couldn't fire her…)
A tear slipped down her face.
"Ajikdo saranghaesseunikka…"
(Because he still loved her…)
Her voice broke.
"3il jeone ireonan il-ieyo… geunde jigeum geunyeoga jugeosseoyo…"
(It happened three days ago… and now she's dead…)
She covered her mouth.
"Jeongmal museowoyo…"
(I'm really scared…)
She broke down.
Crying.
Shaking.
Silence sat at the table.
Heavy.
Annie had been staring at her the entire time.
Without blinking.
Without reacting.
Then she finally spoke.
Calm.
Flat.
"Isa-nim-i i iyagireul malhadorok sikin geoyeyo?"
(The director told you to say all this, didn't he?)
The woman froze.
Annie continued.
"CEO-reul uisimhage mandeulryeogo."
(So the CEO becomes our suspect.)
No one spoke.
Annie leaned back slightly.
Her eyes still on her.
"Geu saram-ege jeonhaejuseyo."
(Tell him this.)
A pause.
"Geu hyeong-eun geunyeoreul jugiji anasseoyo."
(His brother didn't kill her.)
The woman's tears stopped.
Completely.
Annie's voice didn't change.
"Beomineul dae신hae hyeongbeol batgo sipji anheumyeon."
(Unless he wants to serve time for the real criminal.)
Silence.
The woman just stared at them.
Frozen.
They stood up.
And walked away.
Mi Na stopped briefly, turning back slightly.
Her voice cold.
"Myeongye hwe손 mit mu-go han go-bal-eun hyeongsa cheobeol 대상-ibnida."
(False accusation and defamation are criminal offenses.)
She added—
"Hyeongbeop je 307jo, 156jo… gyeong-u-e ttara jing-yeok ttoneun beolgeum-i bugwa doel su isseoyo."
(Under Articles 307 and 156 of the Criminal Law, you can face imprisonment or fines depending on the case.)
Then she turned and left.
They got into the car.
Silence for a moment.
Do Hwan finally spoke.
"Geunyeo geojinmalhago inneun geol eotteoke arasseo?"
(How did you know she was lying?)
Annie didn't look at him.
"Neomu ppeonhaesseo."
(It was obvious.)
A pause.
"Geunyeodo isa-wa gwan-gye-ga isseoyo."
(She's also involved with the director.)
Do Hwan raised a brow.
"Geuraeseo geu saram-eul dowajugo sip-eun geoya."
(She wants to help him rise in the company.)
Do Hwan leaned back.
"Geuge motib aniya?"
(Isn't that motive to kill?)
Annie's gaze shifted slightly.
Out the window.
"Ajik…"
(Not yet.)
A pause.
"Na-neun ajik na-ui ta겟-eul boji mot haesseo."
(I haven't seen my target yet.)
Silence filled the car again.
Back at the station—
The car stopped.
Annie stepped out.
Didn't wait.
Didn't say anything.
She walked straight to her own car.
Got in.
And drove off.
Do Hwan watched her leave.
Then smirked slightly.
"I think I'm getting used to this."
Mi Na didn't reply.
They both turned—
And walked back into the station.