My Heartbeat

chapter 29

Haris adjusted his uniform, took a deep breath, and approached the entrance of David’s mansion. The guards at the gate stared at him with serious, unreadable faces. Haris knew that even a tiny hint of nervousness could raise their suspicion, so he kept his expression calm and confident.

As he reached the gate, one of the security officers stepped forward, looking closely at his ID. Haris had forged chef credentials just for this mission, and he held his breath, hoping they looked real enough. The officer studied the ID, then gave a slow nod of approval. Haris noticed several cameras covering every part of the main entrance, silently capturing each moment. Finally, the guards gestured for him to go inside, but not before they scanned him with a metal detector. His heart pounded, but he stayed relaxed, nodding respectfully as they finished their check.

Once inside, Haris took a quick moment to observe his surroundings, silently mapping out each corner of the mansion in his mind. He saw security cameras embedded in the ceilings and positioned along the hallways, watching every angle. Guards stood at important locations, all alert and focused. It was clear that David had gone to great lengths to protect his home.

Following the guards’ instructions, Haris was led to the kitchen. As they walked, he took note of each door and corridor, paying close attention to the layout. In the kitchen alone, he noticed two main doors—one leading to the dining room and the other to a private hallway, probably for the staff to use.

The head chef, an older man with tired eyes, nodded at Haris, relieved to have some help. Haris greeted him politely, then glanced around the kitchen. He saw a small camera above the stove, another near the pantry, and a few more discreetly placed in the ceiling corners. It seemed like no spot was left unwatched.

As he started preparing his first dish, Haris continued to study the kitchen, analyzing each camera angle to see where the blind spots were. His mission depended on him knowing every detail, and he understood he’d only have a brief chance to act when the time came.

Every slice, every stir, every small movement brought him closer to his goal. Haris blended in seamlessly, acting like any other chef, while his mind raced with plans. He had to find a way to uncover the secrets hidden within David’s heavily-guarded mansion, without anyone suspecting a thing.

Haris carefully walked closer to the dining area, his eyes landing on Diana, a maid known for her quiet nature and fragile, pale face. She was standing by the food counter, checking each dish with weak, trembling hands. Haris felt a heartbroken just looking at her; she seemed even weaker than he’d expected, like she was carrying a heavy burden.

Another maid approached Haris and instructed,
“Go in and serve the food.”

He nodded, putting on a calm face, but inside, his mind raced with a plan. He knew this was his chance to give Diana a secret message, but with all the security around, he had to be careful. Guards stood everywhere, watching closely.

With the tray of food balanced in his hands, Haris entered the dining area. He glanced around, noticing every camera and guard. As he moved closer to Diana, an idea sparked. While placing the plates, he made himself drop a spoon, letting it fall loudly onto the floor. The sound drew attention, and Haris put on a look of nervousness.

“I-I’m sorry, ma’am!” he said, acting like he was scared.

As he bent down to pick up the spoon with his right hand, he quickly placed a small folded note on Diana’s lap with his left. Diana looked confused, glancing at him as if asking a silent question, but he just straightened up and said,
“I’ll get you a new spoon right away.”

Diana hesitated, but when she saw no one was looking, she carefully unfolded the note in her lap. Written in bold letters was one word:

"Jimin".