Enigma

chapter 1

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Soojin sat at her cluttered desk, her fingers tapping on her keyboard as she sorted through a mountain of paperwork. Her office was a small haven of organized chaos: stacks of files were piled high, a half-empty coffee cup sat among a pile of unsorted mail, and a corkboard on the wall was covered with crime scene photos and notes. Despite the mess, Soojin knew exactly where everything was.

As she focused on the details of a complicated fraud case, a knock on the door pulled her out of her concentration. She sighed, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Come in."

The door opened, and her best friend and coworker, Kim Taehyung, walked in. His bright smile and easygoing attitude always lightened the mood. "Hey, Soojin."

"Taehyung," she greeted, leaning back in her chair. "What brings you here? If you're here to remind me about my unfinished work, I'm well aware, thanks."

Taehyung laughed, shaking his head. "Actually, Mr. Wang wants you to handle a new case. Another mail fraud."

Soojin groaned, letting her head fall back dramatically. "Oh, please, no. I've got enough mail cases to last a lifetime. Why does he keep giving these to me?"

Taehyung leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "Because you're the best at them. And you know it."

"Flattery won't get you anywhere," Soojin grumbled, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "Seriously, though, I'm swamped here. Can’t he give it to someone else for once?"

Taehyung laughed, walking over to her desk and picking up a random file. "You know he trusts you with these cases. Take it as a compliment."

Soojin rolled her eyes but couldn't help but chuckle. "Fine, fine. I'll take it. But if I end up buried under paperwork, I'm blaming you."

"Deal," Taehyung said, grinning. He turned to leave, but then paused as if he remembered something. "Oh, one more thing."

Soojin raised an eyebrow. "What now?"

"Your dad wants you to come to the family dinner tonight," Taehyung said, watching her reaction carefully.

Soojin's face fell, and she let out an exasperated sigh. "Not again. I really don't want to go, Tae. You know how those dinners always turn out."

"I know," Taehyung said gently. "But it's your dad. You can't avoid him forever."

Soojin groaned again, but this time there was a hint of resignation in her voice. "Fine. I'll go. But if they start talking about setting me up with someone, I'm leaving."

Taehyung chuckled, giving her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "Deal. Good luck with the case, Soojin."

As he left, Soojin stared at the pile of work in front of her and took a deep breath. Another day, another challenge. She could handle it. She always did.

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Soojin parked her car in front of her family's house, taking a moment to gather herself before heading inside. She lived separately from her family, preferring her independence, but family dinners were unavoidable, especially when her dad insisted.