WINTER SECRETS.

Chapter 3: Tongues and Guns

The soft chime of the restaurant door was barely noticeable, but the energy shift was undeniable. Conversations dwindled, eyes darted to the entrance, and an air of suspense cloaked the room. He stepped in—a tall figure with an effortless yet commanding presence. His tailored black jacket clung to broad shoulders, exuding an understated elegance that contrasted with the raw magnetism in his every move. His hair, dark and tousled as though styled by the wind itself, framed a face so chiseled it seemed sculpted by the gods. His eyes—a piercing, fathomless shade—cut through the room like a predator assessing its territory.

As he strode forward, his boots echoed with an almost musical cadence, drawing attention with every step. He was a symphony of contrasts—refined yet rugged, composed yet exuding a volatile edge. People parted as if the universe itself made way for him.

At the corner table, Ava leaned back in her chair, raising a brow as the man approached. “Do you always need an audience for your entrances?”

“And you’re late,” Leo chimed in, crossing his arms.

The man smirked—a lazy, confident curve of his lips. “Must I remind you that perfection takes time?” He turned to the unfamiliar face at the table. “And you must be the friend Leo mentioned. Carrie, right?”

Carrie extended a hand for a handshake, but before she could respond, a hurried voice interrupted. “Mr.Jae-wook, sir. The meeting’s in five minutes,” Mr. Jin, a harried assistant, called from behind him.

As Mr. Jin’s words lingered in the air, Carrie’s eyes widened. Recognition struck like lightning, and her face flushed crimson. “You!” she exclaimed, shooting up from her chair.

Jae-wook tilted his head slightly, an eyebrow quirking in mild curiosity. “Have we met before?”

“Oh, don’t play coy,” Carrie scoffed, folding her arms. “You’re the jerk who left me stranded in the middle of nowhere like some forgotten luggage.”

Leo and Ava exchanged wide-eyed looks, their confusion palpable. “What the hell is going on?” Leo finally blurted.

Carrie didn’t wait for an invitation to rant. “This guy—your so-called best friend—pulled up in his fancy car while I was trying to get help, let me into his car like some Good Samaritan, and then drove off without me! Who even does that?!”

Jae-wook’s gaze remained calm, unbothered by her fury. “Ah,” he mused, a glimmer of recognition sparking in his eyes. “That was you?”

“That was me!” Carrie shot back, her voice dripping with indignation.

“Ms. Evans, it was a misunderstanding,” Mr. Jin interjected, bowing slightly. “You see, there have been incidents of con artists in the area, and—”

“Oh, save it,” Carrie interrupted, throwing her hands up. “All I asked for was a phone, not a carjacking. Is basic human decency too much to ask?”

“I don’t apologize for being cautious,” Jae-wook cut in, his tone clipped and authoritative. “It’s my car. My rules.”

Carrie’s jaw dropped. “Your rules?!” She let out a disbelieving laugh. “You’re one of those people, aren’t you? The kind who thinks the world revolves around them.”

“Okay, Carrie,” Ava interjected, holding up her hands like a referee. “Let’s not declare World War III here. Maybe this was a misunderstanding, but it’s over now.”

“Hardly,” Carrie muttered, glaring at Jae-wook as he turned on his heel.

“I don’t have time for this nonsense,” he said, his voice a blade slicing through the tension. “Mr. Jin, let’s go.”

“On behalf of us both,” Mr. Jin said with another bow, “I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, Ms. Evans.”

As Jae-wook walked away, Carrie muttered under her breath, “He’s lucky I’m no longer a violent person.”

---

Later that evening, Carrie woke up from her four hour nap which seemed like the best thing that had happened to her all day. The day had been an emotional rollercoaster, and all she wanted was peace. Leo’s message buzzed on her phone:

“Out to get dinner, we'd be home soon"

She chuckled. “Those two are like a rom-com on steroids,” she mused, stretching before heading to the kitchen.

But as she reached for a bottle of water, the faint sound of glass shattering snapped her to attention. Her heart raced. She glanced at the empty hallway. Leo and Ava aren’t home... so what was that?

Gripping a cricket bat from the corner of the kitchen, she tiptoed toward the noise. The house was eerily silent except for her own breathing. She tightened her grip, raised the bat, and swung as she turned the corner—only to have it caught mid-air.

“Nice try,” Jae-wook said, his voice low and amused. His grip on the bat was firm, his movements almost lazy as he pushed it aside.

“What the hell are you doing here?!” Carrie demanded, ignoring the racing of her heart.

“I could ask you the same thing,” he replied, his tone light but his eyes cold. “Who sent you?”

“Excuse me?” Carrie said, her confusion genuine.

He stepped closer, his presence suffocating. “Don’t play dumb, Ms. Evans.” In an instant, he pulled a gun from his jacket, the cold barrel pressing against her temple.

Carrie blinked, unfazed by the threat. “A gun? Really? Bit dramatic, don’t you think?”

“Who sent you?” he repeated, his voice a chilling whisper.

“Look, I don’t know what delusional spy movie you think you’re in, but—”

“Wrong answer.” He c****d the gun, the sound echoing ominously in the quiet room.

Carrie’s heart pounded, but she stood her ground. “If you’re trying to scare me, you’ll have to do better than that. Who even are you?”

Jae-wook’s eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. “I’m the man who doesn’t make mistakes. Speak, or you won’t get another chance.”

The sound of the gunshot shattered the stillness.