"What are you doing here?" Kaija asked as she approached the green-eyed young man.
He wore a simple white shirt and blue jeans today, his black hair still sweeping softly along the sides of his face, just as it had in her hazy mories of their last encounter.
"I ca to celebrate your big day," he replied easily, slipping the cara back into the bag slung across his chest.
"As if I’d believe that," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
"How do you like the photo?" he asked, a mysterious smile spreading across his face.
Her brow lifted slightly at the smugness in his tone, her voice rising in disbelief. "You took it?"
The smile only deepened. "Are you happy with it?"
"I am," she replied curtly, not even wanting to acknowledge it. "I guess I’m indebted to you again."
The smile broke into a chuckle, warm and satisfied at her words.
"I didn’t think you’d co over to talk," he said, studying her face, "but since you did, I’m sure you’ve got more on your mind than small talk."
She studied him for a mont in return before making up her mind. "There’s sothing I want to ask," she said. "I forgot last ti. No, actually, I was too out of it to even think about it."
His gaze narrowed slightly, green eyes glinting with curiosity and confirmation that he’d read her right. "What is it?"
She sighed, stepping a little closer, letting the question slip out on a quiet breath. "Did you sell drugs to Karl Hanski?"
Surprise flickered across Juho’s face. "I did," he admitted, his voice just as low. "Why are you asking?"
"Who else did you sell to?"
His brow furrowed. "Tell first why you even want to know."
"It’s none of your business," she said flatly.
"It concerns my custors," he countered. "That makes it my business."
"There’s soone who really pissed off," she muttered, blue eyes darting away in irritation.
"Who?"
"Liisi Grant."
His jaw tightened slightly at the na. "What did she do to you?" he asked, his tone turning serious.
After a minute of explanation, the tension on Juho’s face lted into amusent as he finally grasped what was turning in her sharp little mind.
"I see," he chuckled, low and wicked. "And what do you plan to do if I say yes?"
"The first step is figuring out whether that bitch even has a weakness," she said, still deadly serious. "Now that I know she does, I’ll find a way to make good use of it."
"Hm, how troubleso," he mused, rubbing his chin as if considering it seriously, until the act broke into a deceptively bright grin.
"Why don’t you leave it to and let handle the whole thing for you?" he offered. "You want her brought down hard and ugly, don’t you? What better way than letting , the seller myself, feed the police just enough clues to order a drug test on her?"
Kaija’s face twitched slightly.
She had considered that approach herself, but the fact that Juho was so perfectly aligned with her thoughts and so quick to offer, inevitably made her feel unsettled.
"Why do you keep helping ?" she asked, raising a brow. "I’m sure I troubled you greatly last ti. This one is no less troubleso."
His face eased into another bright smile, his voice brightening with it. "If I said I’ve fallen for you, would you believe ?"
"I’m going," she spun around at once.
"Hey!" he called after her quickly, though chuckles kept slipping out of him. "I’m just joking."
"That wasn’t funny," she muttered over her shoulder, scowling deeply.
"I like giving favors to people I know would return the gesture one day," he said smoothly. "And the more troubleso the favor is, the more I get back in return. We’ve already been through it once, haven’t we?"
Her face tightened as she stood there, studying every expression she could read from that smooth face.
"Take care of what Charles wanted done first before getting into this," she said. "As long as your father is still out there, free and powerful, I’m still concerned about my own safety."
"Speaking of your safety," he said, his brow furrowing faintly with displeasure, "I’d be more concerned about the guy who asked you out for a drink last ti, the one who happens to be inside this building today, a few floors above us, and who surely knows you’re here for this little press eting."
"Charles can help with that guy," she replied.
"Can he?" he pressed, eyes narrowing. "The way he couldn’t even protect you from being taken by his brother’s n, I highly doubt how effective he is at keeping you safe."
Kaija blinked a few tis, unsure she was reading the aning behind Juho’s words correctly.
"Don’t tell you’re here today to protect from that guy," she blurted, hardly believing what she was even saying.
At once, Juho’s face went flat at her words.
"W-what are you even talking about," he scoffed, his voice smooth despite the tremble in the fingers tucked tightly into his pockets. "I told you I’m here to celebrate your big day, and mostly to enjoy what a great shot I took for your single cover, which I’m sure will be a hit soon."
Then he pushed himself off the wall, walking away before she could say another word. "Good luck on your debut stage this evening. I hope I can spare so ti to watch it live, but I can’t promise."
"About the little task you want done," he added over his shoulder with a faint smirk, "check the news often, will you?"
He walked off with a nonchalant wave, not looking back.
"Tch," she clicked her tongue. "How could he read my intentions that easily? Did I write it on my face or what?"
When she looked back to where Charles stood, his features were tight, his finger tapping impatiently against his watch.
A bead of sweat ran down her temple.
"I’m coming," she mouthed with a wave, her feet carrying her back toward him.
"Alright, Liisi Grant," she muttered. "I wish I could’ve struggled a little longer to bring you down, but I guess you’re not very lucky now."
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