EPISODE 90 – The Anniversary Heist
The tension from the club had finally dissipated, replaced by the hushed luxury of Minjae's penthouse. The city lights twinkled below, a sea of diamonds that seemed to stretch on forever. Dohee, Micha, and Minjae stood in the vast living room, a silence hanging between them.
Breaking the quiet, Minjae gestured to the plush couches. "We'll start fresh tomorrow. For now, we should all get some rest. Dohee noona, you and Micha can stay here if you want. It's safe."
Micha, who had been silent since they left the club, finally spoke. "We should at least inform the other CHIPER members, shouldn't we?"
Dohee nodded in agreement. "Yes, Micha is right. We should call Kevin and Alex to let them know what's going on."
Minjae pulled out his phone. "I'll handle Kevin hyung. Dohee noona, you should call your boyfriend. He was probably worried sick."
He dialed Kevin's number. After a few rings, Minjae's face fell slightly. "Kevin bro? What's up... No, you're in Japan? A business deal? I see. When are you coming back? Two days? Damn." He then proceeded to explain the new case. Kevin, on the other end, listened intently. "Minjae, work carefully," Kevin warned. "This type of case is dangerous. Don't rush."
Minjae laughed, a casual shrug in his voice. "Of course, I know how to handle it, bro."
"Don't take it so casually!" Kevin's voice was firm, a stern scolding even from a continent away. "You're dealing with a political minister, not some street thug."
After hanging up, Minjae turned to face them. Micha, ever the professional, said, "I should call Guen unnie."
Minjae held up a hand. "Guen noona is in Busan for a friend's wedding. She won't be back for another day. We shouldn't bother her and let her enjoy it." Micha, though reluctant, stopped.
"Alex is on his way," Dohee said, her voice softer than usual.
A smirk returned to Minjae's face. "Perfect. I don't know about you, but all this excitement has made me hungry. Let's grab some dinner."
He led them into a massive dining room. The sight was something out of a magazine. Several chefs were in the open kitchen, preparing a luxurious feast. The aroma of expensive ingredients filled the air. For Dohee, this was a normal evening, a simple meal at a simple table. But for Micha, it was a world she had only seen in movies. Her eyes widened slightly as she took it all in. Minjae caught her reaction and smiled, a fleeting, private moment of amusement before his attention was pulled away.
The doorbell chimed, and Alex burst in, his face a mask of panic. He ran straight to Dohee, his hands immediately checking her for injuries. "Dohee! Are you okay? Did you get hurt? Are you fine?"
Dohee, embarrassed by the public display of affection, tried to calm him down. "Alex, I'm fine. Everything is fine."
Alex, realizing he had an audience, flushed a deep red. He offered a shy smile to Minjae and Micha, a sudden wave of awkwardness washing over him. "How... how will we start?" he asked Minjae, trying to get back to business.
Minjae laughed, a teasing glint in his eye. "Bro, what's with this behavior? Why didn't you ask me or Micha about our health? We're human too!"
Everyone in the room, even the chefs, burst into laughter. Alex, utterly mortified, apologized profusely. "I'm sorry, guys. I was just... so nervous. So panicked. I'm sorry."
Minjae, still chuckling, gestured to a chair at the long table. "If you want forgiveness, you'll sit down and grab dinner with us."
Micha, her anger momentarily forgotten, smiled at Alex. "Yes, oppa, please take a seat and join us."
Alex gladly sat down, his stomach rumbling. "Of course! I'm starving. I came straight from the office and didn't even have time for a snack."
As they ate, Minjae's phone chimed. It was an email. He opened it, his expression turning serious. "The minister's private anniversary ceremony," he announced. "It's tonight. He's holding it at his house."
The plan came together quickly. Alex, his tactical mind now fully engaged, spoke up. "A private party means high security, but also a good opportunity for infiltration. We need a team of two to get inside, posing as a couple."
Dohee shook her head. "I can't go. The minister knows me from the trial. It would be too risky."
Alex thought for a moment, then looked at Minjae and Micha. "Then Minjae and Micha should go."
Micha's head snapped up. She looked at Minjae, her eyes narrowed. The idea of pretending to be a couple with him after all that had happened was a special kind of hell.
Minjae, however, just smirked. "Perfect. A lawyer and a hooligan on the outside, and a dummy kitten with her master on the inside. What could go wrong?" he said, a private taunt only for Micha.
The plan was solid. Minjae and Micha would go in as a high-society couple to blend in. Their goal: find the minister's private study. The security would be lax among the guests. Once inside, they would use a specific type of hacking device, provided by Alex, to copy the minister's data.
"The party will be a good distraction," Minjae continued. "We need to move quickly, get in and out before anyone notices anything is missing."
Micha listened, her expression unreadable. The mission was a perfect opportunity for revenge, to finally prove to him that she wasn't just a "kitten." It was a dangerous game, but she was ready to play.