Chapter 14 · Forced Proximity Night

"How much did you hear, Ms. Santos?" Jae Min's arm stayed locked across the service elevator door, keeping it from closing, keeping her from leaving. "Say it. Say the number."

"I heard you sell forty million dollars of hotel debt to a man who calls you hyung-nim on a recorded line." My voice didn't shake. I made sure of that. "That's the number."

His jaw went tight. Good. Let it.

The ledger was still open against my chest, spine cracked, and the first line under ROSA SANTOS was staring up at both of us in blue ink gone brown with age. He hadn't looked down yet. I wasn't going to be the one who pointed.

"Give me the book."

"No."

"Lila." First name. First time. It landed weird, like he'd practiced saying it soft and hated that it worked. "I'm not asking twice."

"Then don't ask. Take it." I held it out, dared him. "See how that goes over on the lobby camera you keep mentioning."

The elevator groaned, the whole car shuddering like something underneath had given up.