°BACKSTABBERS°

Chapter 12

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Jhope's phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking the heavy silence that had settled between him and Jimin. He glanced at the screen, his brows knitting together in mild concern.

"Gotta take this," he muttered, already standing up from his perch on the desk.

Jimin gave a nonchalant wave, his eyes drifting back to the notepad in front of him. "Go ahead. Don't let me keep you from saving the world, Hobi."

Jhope shot him a look, somewhere between exasperation and amusement. "Just don't do anything stupid while I'm gone."

Jimin's smirk returned, his pen twirling between his fingers. "No promises."

With a sigh, Jhope stepped out of the office, shutting the door behind him.

As the door clicked closed, Jimin leaned back in his chair, the playful expression on his face slipping into something colder, sharper. He drummed his fingers on the desk, his mind turning over possibilities.

"Not a spy, huh?" he murmured to himself, his tone laced with skepticism. "We'll see about that."

His gaze flicked to the tray on the table, his thoughts momentarily distracted by the lingering presence of the woman who had just left. The corner of his mouth twitched upward again, his mind already spinning a new thread in his little game..
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Meanwhile~

The moment I stepped out of the security room, I adjusted my cap and glasses, making sure my disguise was still intact. The corridors were quiet, but my heart wasn't, it pounded relentlessly as if warning me that the danger was far from over.

I kept my head low and walked with purpose, blending in as best as I could. The loose uniform and mask provided a thin veil of security, but I knew one slip could shatter it. My destination was clear the basement. I needed more evidence, more proof of what Jimin and his team were up to.

Reaching the basement door, I paused and glanced around. The hallway was empty, but that didn't ease the tension in my chest. My hand moved toward the handle when a voice cut through the silence.

"Well, well, what do we have here?"

The voice was calm, casual, but it sent chills down my spine. I turned my head slightly, my breath hitching when I saw Namjoon leaning against the wall, his hands tucked casually into his pockets.

His sharp eyes scanned me from head to toe, his expression unreadable except for the faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Boom, you're caught," he said, his tone light but his gaze heavy.

I froze, my hand still hovering over the door handle. My mind raced, trying to assess the situation. Does he know? Did he recognize me? I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I forced myself to stay calm.

Namjoon pushed off the wall and started walking toward me, his movements slow and deliberate. "What are you doing here?" he asked, tilting his head as if genuinely curious.

"I... I was just about to check inside," I replied, my voice muffled and shaky. "Boss's orders."

Namjoon raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing wider. "Is that so?" He stopped just in front of me, his presence towering and suffocating. "Funny, I don't remember giving anyone basement duty today."

My stomach churned, but I couldn't falter now. "I... I don't question the boss's orders," I stammered, trying to sound confident.

Namjoon's gaze lingered on me for what felt like an eternity before he chuckled softly. "Fair enough," he said, pulling out a key from his pocket. He stepped past me, unlocked the basement door, and pushed it open.

The air from the basement was cold and heavy, carrying a strange chemical smell. Namjoon gestured toward the open door with a playful smile. "After you."

I hesitated for a split second before nodding and stepping through. My heart was pounding in my ears as I descended the stairs, the dim light casting eerie shadows on the walls. The basement felt colder, darker, and more foreboding with each step.

Behind me, the door clicked shut, and I glanced back instinctively. Namjoon wasn't there. I exhaled a shaky breath, trying to calm my nerves.

The basement was vast and cluttered with crates, shelves, and machines that hummed faintly. I scanned the room, making sure I was alone before moving toward a large metal door at the far end.

As I approached the door, I noticed blueprints and documents scattered on a nearby table. My pulse quickened. This is it. I pulled out my phone, snapping pictures of everything.

The blueprints showed routes and diagrams evidence of Jimin's operations. I focused on capturing every detail when a noise behind me made me freeze.

"Interesting, isn't it?"

I spun around, my heart leaping into my throat. Namjoon stood in the doorway, his arms crossed and a smirk playing on his lips. His dark eyes glinted with a mix of amusement and danger.

"Looks like I caught you red-handed," he said, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.

The noise made me freeze mid-action. My head snapped around, and there he was Namjoon, standing in the doorway with his hands casually tucked into his pockets. His sharp gaze swept across the room, landing squarely on me.

"Well, well," he said, a slow smirk spreading across his face. "I thought I told you not to come down here."

My breath caught, and I instinctively tightened my grip on my phone, hiding it behind my back. How did he get down here so fast? My mind raced, trying to piece together a way out of this.

"I... I was just following orders," I stammered, keeping my tone steady despite the fear clawing at my chest.

Namjoon chuckled lightly, taking a step closer. The sound of his boots echoed ominously in the cold, quiet basement. "Orders, huh?" he said, his tone teasing. "Strange. I don't remember giving you access to this room. Or did I forget something important?"

I swallowed hard, my pulse pounding in my ears. His presence was overwhelming, and his sharp eyes seemed to see straight through my disguise.

"Maybe the boss forgot to mention it," I managed, trying to sound as convincing as possible. "He said there was something I needed to check down here."

Namjoon stopped a few feet away, tilting his head as if considering my excuse. "Hmm... seems suspicious. What exactly are you checking?"

"I...uh..." I faltered, my mind blank. My palms were sweaty, and I prayed he wouldn't notice the way my hands shook.

Suddenly, Namjoon's smirk grew wider. "Relax," he said, his voice low and almost amused. "I'm not going to hurt you... yet."

Yet. The word sent a cold shiver down my spine.

Before I could react, Namjoon reached out and plucked the phone from my hand. I gasped, but it was too late he already had it. He glanced at the screen, his smirk fading as his eyes narrowed at the images displayed.

"Interesting," he muttered, scrolling through the photos. Then his gaze snapped back to me, sharp and unforgiving. "So, care to explain why you're taking pictures of confidential information?"

I took a step back, my heart thundering in my chest. "I... I can explain," I stammered, desperately searching for words that wouldn't incriminate me further.

Namjoon's expression darkened, his earlier amusement gone. "You've got five seconds," he said coldly, his hand tightening around my phone. "And if I don't like what I hear, you won't be walking out of here."

Panic surged through me, but I forced myself to meet his gaze. Think Ivey, Think fasttt!!!

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