Part 2

When the phone rang, Tawan Liang almost didn't answer. It was after one in the morning, she was in Hong Kong, and the caller ID showed a number from Bangkok. Most of her clients were local or based elsewhere in Southeast Asia, and she couldn't think of anyone in Bangkok who'd need urgent help at this hour.

Still, Liang Securities didn't build its reputation by ignoring calls—especially not ones that might mean business.

With a sigh, she picked up.

Three minutes after she hung up, she was out of bed and pulling on her clothes. They had a new client, and by the sound of it, this wasn't an ordinary job.

By the time Tawan strode through the doors of her compact yet efficient office, the Hong Kong skyline still cloaked in early morning mist, she was armed with caffeine, a box of fresh pastries, and a steely determination. Her team was already assembling for the debrief, their faces sharp and alert despite the early hour.

As the founder, owner, and CEO of Liang Securities, Tawan knew the value of showing up prepared, especially when calling her night owl team together before dawn. They thrived on challenges, and this one sounded like it would test them in all the right ways.

Tawan had started Liang Securities only a year ago, establishing her Hong Kong office with a tight budget in mind. It consisted of a small reception area barely big enough for a desk, an open space that housed two repurposed army surplus desks, and a conference room that doubled as storage. The office was tucked away in a nondescript commercial building in a quiet part of the city, far from the bustling tourist hubs.

Cheap rent and privacy—two things Tawan valued deeply.

While she had managed to bring in enough clients to keep the lights on and convince her small team to buy into her vision, Liang Securities hadn't yet generated enough revenue to upgrade to a larger, more polished office.

Yet.

She was hopeful that the next job would change everything.

Her new principal client, Ira Suwannathat, wasn't just wealthy—she was backed by a record label that could pay whatever it took. The retainer, wired within an hour of their initial call, was large enough to get Tawan out of bed and into action faster than a military drill sergeant's whistle.

And the cherry on top? The record label's executive, Tan, hinted at a potential long-term contract. If Ira's security could be ensured to the label's satisfaction, Liang Securities could leap from a scrappy upstart to a serious player in the security industry.

For the first time in months, Tawan felt like her company's bottom line might finally climb out of the red—and stop digging a hole in the basement.

Hell, it might even move into a respectable one-bedroom apartment.

She'd finally be able to get her training program off the ground. They'd hire more staff, build a dependable field team, and maybe lease an office with actual offices.

It was the break Tawan had been waiting for.

Funny thing about opportunities—they always dangled just out of reach, with some obstacle or another standing in the way.

In this case, it was a stalker. And a celebrity.

"Why did it have to be a pop star?" Tawan muttered as she carried breakfast into the conference room.

Beggars couldn't be choosers. That was the mantra she lived by. Breaks didn't fall into your lap—you had to fight for them.

Time to earn this one.

Fong Lin, her field expert, glanced up as Tawan entered the room. Her sleepy, almond-shaped eyes widened with delight when she spotted what Tawan carried. As a former model, Lin still lived on caffeine and little else. She took her coffee black—no cream, no sugar, no nonsense.

Lin was a master strategist, skilled escape artist, and unapologetic night owl.

Her sleek black hair was tied into a messy bun, and she'd somehow managed to apply makeup that downplayed her sharp, striking features. Dressed in a plain gray T-shirt, faded jeans, and scuffed sneakers, no one would ever guess she'd once graced the runways of Paris and Milan.

"Morning, sunshine," Tawan said with a smirk.

Lin let out a disgruntled groan, pointing at the cups in Tawan's hand. "It's way too early for sunshine."

Tawan handed her the coffee. "No problems last night, I take it?" She set the rest of the breakfast on the table and made her way around the cramped space to the empty chair by the window.

"None I couldn't handle." Lin sniffed at her coffee suspiciously, then sipped. "Mr. Salazar really doesn't need company for that night deposit. Pretty sure he thinks he's Richard Gere in Pretty Woman, which makes me the hooker."

Zhen Wei, Tawan's cyber-ops specialist, reached for the energy drink first, then grabbed the box of egg tarts. In his mid-twenties, Zhen already held two PhDs—one in electrical engineering and the other in computer science—and was working on a third in behavioral psychology. He had the metabolism and eating habits of a teenager, sharp androgynous bone structure, and an ever-present air of youthful confidence.

At the security firm where Tawan had poached him a year ago, Zhen had endured endless grief for his age and appearance. They hadn't appreciated or respected his genius-level technical and analytical skills. They should have. Zhen could dismantle someone's digital life in five minutes flat with nothing more than a smartphone.

What he lacked in social skills, he more than made up for with his unmatched IQ and nearly photographic memory.

Zhen's jet-black hair brushed just past his ears and gave off an unintentional "young professor" vibe, while his tall, wiry frame screamed "runner." Neither was entirely accurate.

"Did he get handsy?" Zhen asked as he selected a tart from the box.

"He always tries." Lin's enigmatic smile hinted at danger, like a Mona Lisa painted in shades of mischief. "But nobody dodges grabbyc hands like someone who had to stand naked backstage at runway shows."

Tawan turned to Zhen. "What have you got?"

"You gave me less than six hours to do a full workup," Zhen said around a mouthful of egg tart. He sounded defensive, but the tilt of his chin spoke of quiet pride. "I still have some digging to do, but there's enough here to get started."

He tapped a remote, and the displays turned on. The screen on the left showed a bulleted list of facts about their new client, while the screen on the right displayed a photo montage. The screen in the middle remained blank.

Zhen leaned back in his chair, energy drink in one hand. "Ira Suwannathat. Thai pop star and global phenomenon. Think Lalisa Manoban levels of fame, but more vocal-centric. Her last album, Eclipse, has been out for six months and has sold over ten million physical copies so far. And yes, I said physical copies. Actual vinyl and CDs."

He wrinkled his nose, making it clear what he thought of hard copies of any kind, music or otherwise. "It's a ridiculous number, considering most sales these days are digital. Her worldwide tour this year boosted her sales so much that she's currently fifth on as the list of all-time best-selling global pop stars. I'd estimate she'll climb to at least third by the end of the year. My cousin's a huge fan. He has all her albums and even went to her Bangkok show."

"Your... cousin," Lin said, her eyes gleaming with disbelief as she smirked.

"I prefer classical." Zhen blinked at her, his expression deadpan and innocent enough to make Tawan believe him, though Lin clearly didn't.

She snorted. "You were blasting Moonlit Love in your headphones when I walked in last night. Also, you drive like a blind turtle."

"That was for research." Zhen's voice wavered slightly, somewhere between embarrassed and defensive.

"Of course," Lin said, her smirk widening.

"It was." Zhen looked between Lin and Tawan for backup. "Seriously."

Tawan knocked on the table to regain control. "Focus, please."

"Right. Ira Suwannathat." Zhen flicked through slides with the remote, each screen displaying a parade of concert photos, red carpet appearances, and candid images of Ira. "Her online footprint is massive. I found over five thousand high-quality images of her from this year alone with a basic search, which is a huge number, even for someone of her status. Did you know the average person takes three photos a day on their cell phone? Globally, 1.2 trillion photos are uploaded every year, and that number keeps climbing. By 2030, it's estimated we'll hit 2.3 trillion photos annually."

"Fascinating," Tawan said dryly, trying to hide her impatience. She'd learned to tolerate Zhen's relentless stream of trivia as part of the package, but sometimes she wished he'd dial it back. These side trips were distracting.

She focused on the images on the screen. Most featured the Thai pop star, Ira Suwannathat, performing on stage in dazzling outfits that revealed more than they concealed. She held the microphone like it was her best friend, and even in still shots, the electricity she generated with her audience was undeniable.

She had stars in her eyes, glitter in her hair, legs that went on forever, and a stance that screamed confidence and power. Everything about her sparkled, from her sky-high boots to the way she carried herself. If there wasn't a stage nearby, he had no doubt she'd find one—or make one herself.

She reminded Tawan uncomfortably of her high school girlfriend, who had ruled their small town with the same magnetic personality and sheer determination that Ira seemed to use to command the world stage.

Tawan put down her coffee and stood, beginning to pace the room. She always thought better on her feet. "She's going to be a handful."

"Oh yes," Lin agreed, leaning back in her chair with a knowing look. "From what I dug up last night from a couple of well-connected sources, she hates sitting still, loves a good party, and thrives on being the center of attention. She's basically a protection nightmare."

"What's your take? How should we handle her?" Tawan asked. She had her own theory but wanted to hear Lin's perspective first. Lin's ability to read people, combined with her CIA-honed instincts, made her insights invaluable.

Lin's sharp gaze moved to the screen. "I need to meet her to know for sure, but... she grew up in front of a camera and audience, so she's likely self-centered, spoiled, and used to getting her way. Your typical celebrity."

Tawan nodded. That assessment aligned with her own. "Okay—"

"That's just surface level," Lin interrupted. "She's also incredibly talented, no question. She's at home on a stage, and she makes it look easy, but there's a lot of work behind the scenes. From what I've found, she's a professional. She doesn't waste time. She's not one of those performers who parties more than they work. She balances both. And she's not as narcissistic as you might expect. Look at those photos Zhen pulled. They're all taken by other people—not her. She's not one of those selfie-addicted stars."

Tawan was surprised to hear Lin describe Ira as professional. It wasn't the first word that came to mind when looking at the vibrant, glittering images on the screen. "What she does isn't exactly rocket science."

"No, but in some ways, it's harder. Performing at her level is physically demanding. It requires focus and energy night after night, and that's just the good stuff. Then there's the other side of it." Lin flicked something on her phone and held it up for Tawan to see. "Look at the feedback she gets. This is just from today."

Tawan squinted at the screen.

No offense, but is Ira ever gonna stop pretending she's not a diva? I remember what she did.

That forehead ain't real. She's definitely had work done. And that body? So fake.

Ira always looks like she's bored out of her mind. Is she okay?

Saw her last night at Skybar. She's ripe for picking. Bet she'd be fun in a dark corner.

"Charming," Tawan muttered, her lips pressing into a grim line as she shook her head in disgust. She resumed pacing around the table, the implications of the vitriol settling into her chest.

"Her life, her career, hell, even her shoe size—everything is public," Lin continued, scrolling through her notes. "When Ira left her sisters' band to go solo, people called her everything from diva to...well, you can imagine. Fans accused her of abandoning her family and being self-centered. But she took that criticism and turned it into fuel. Her solo career skyrocketed—platinum albums, world tours, chart-topping hits. She didn't just succeed; she became a global phenomenon, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's biggest pop stars."

Lin paused, glancing at the screen filled with Ira's photos. "But despite her solo success, some fans never let go of the past. They saw her as the one who left. Now that she's back with her sisters, their reunion has been a massive success. It's the redemption arc everyone loves, but there's still some lingering resentment. That said, most of her fans adore her. She's turned her image around through sheer grit and determination. It's taken years, but she's done it with that signature smile of hers. She's one of those people who falls off the bike and keeps getting back on, no matter how hard she crashes."

"Any idea why she sold her penthouse?" Zhen asked. "She doesn't own any property in her name right now. If she's leasing, there's no record of it. That's...odd. She has to live somewhere, right?"

"She's been rotating between hotels and staying with her siblings," Tawan explained, crossing her arms. "She's avoiding anything permanent, probably to feel safer and harder to track. But it makes our job more complicated."

Zhen frowned. "If we can't secure her at one residence, where do you plan to stash her while we deal with the stalker? Maybe a safe house near their label office? That area's quiet."

"That's not going to work," Tawan said, shaking her head. "That neighborhood still has too much activity—cafes, bars, nightlife. She thrives on distractions, and we need to remove those entirely. Kate's villa right outside Bangkok is a better option. It's quiet, private, and already secure."

Tawan handed Zhen the address, and he pulled up the details on the central monitor. Several images of a modern villa surrounded by high walls and lush greenery appeared on the screen.

"I love the greenery," Lin said, tilting her head as she admired the images. "And the pool. That's perfect."

"If I lived there, I'd never leave," Zhen said, stuffing a muffin into his mouth.

"That's because you're a hermit," Lin teased. "You'd turn that villa into your Batcave."

"Don't knock it," Zhen replied with a smirk. "Rats, for example, are excellent survivors. Did you know they can fall fifty feet without injury? That kind of resilience is underrated."

"Focus," Tawan said, though her tone was lighter.

"The point is," Lin continued, now serious, "Ira doesn't settle down. She's not going to stay put for long."

"Think she won't cooperate?" Tawan asked, already suspecting the answer.

"Oh, she'll try—at first," Lin said. "But once the initial scare wears off, I don't see her staying still. She's so used to being on all the time that she doesn't know how to be off. I can't imagine her lying low for weeks while we handle this stalker."

Tawan nodded. "No, probably not. But her siblings pushed for this, and they seem to have a strong influence on her decisions. That might keep her at the villa—at least for a while."

"Or it might just be wishful thinking," Lin said, tapping her fingers on the table. "Better start working on some backup plans."

"I already am," Tawan said firmly.

Lin raised her eyebrows. "Oh? Thinking of hiding her in that tattered cabin of yours on the coast? She'll love that."

"No, not the cabin," Tawan replied, shaking her head. She couldn't imagine a world-famous pop star like Ira Suwannathat sitting still in her modest, electricity-free cabin along the Thai coastline. The thought alone was absurd. No, she had something else in mind. "I have my house in Kalasin. It's familiar to me and completely off the radar."

Lin's eyebrows shot up higher. "Really? You want to take her back to your hometown? A small town beside Kalasin, where everyone knows your name and treats you like the hometown hero every time you visit? Not to mention, let me repeat—family. Are you sure that's the best place to lay low?"

"It's a backup," Tawan said firmly. "Let's make sure we don't need it before we go there." She turned to Zhen, steering the conversation back on track. "What did you find on our stalker?"

Zhen flicked a button on the remote, and a letter appeared on the central screen.

"I started by analyzing the letter left in Ira's dressing room," he began. "The vocabulary and syntax indicate the writer is male. Statistically, eighty-seven percent of stalkers are male. Then I moved on to the emails he referenced in the letter. Her lack of response to those emails seems to have been the trigger for this escalation."

"That might have triggered the letter," Lin said, "but it didn't trigger him. This has been building for a while. And I agree, he's definitely a he. The tone feels creepy uncle—personal, intimate. I think he knows her. Somehow."

"You might be right," Zhen agreed. "The emails suggest a personal connection. Plus, three out of four stalking victims know their stalker."

"You found the emails?" Tawan leaned forward, her hands on the table. "Great work. Let's see them."

Zhen shrugged off the compliment, though a flicker of pride crossed his face. "It'll take more time for my data crawler to sort through everything. She has hundreds of thousands of mostly unopened emails in her main inbox, and that's not counting the accounts managed by her label. So far, I've identified three messages that I believe were written by the same person who left the letter. They use the same signature, sentence structure, and grammar. Each starts the same way."

Zhen clicked the remote, replacing the letter on the screen with an email. "This first one is dated just after the We Are Suwannathat Sisters Reunited tour kicked off in Bangkok."

He read the email out loud, his voice shifting into the eerie calm of a narrator reading something unsettling:

"Sweet Ira, I hope you're enjoying the reunion, but I have to say I miss you terribly. I thought of going with you. I'm sure if you saw me there in the crowd, you'd be too distracted by love to finish the shows, and I know how important they are to you. Can't wait to see you back home. Yours now and always."

"'You would be too distracted by love to finish'?" Lin repeated, sounding incredulous. "Not only does that make my skin crawl, it's just pathetic. Seriously. Sounds like bad fan fiction written in the back of a middle school notebook."

Tawan paused to reread the email on the screen. Tension crept up her back and settled heavily in her shoulders. She hated stalker cases—they always brought back memories she'd rather forget. Her mother had dealt with a stalker when Tawan was younger.

She shoved the memory aside. This wasn't the time to let personal history cloud her focus.

"Next one," Tawan said, her voice low and strained.

Zhen exchanged a glance with Lin, then cleared his throat. "The second letter is a little more aggressive." He clicked to bring up the next email and began reading:

'Sweet Ira. Sometimes it seems like you are so close to letting the world know about our true love. I can hear it in every song you sing every note out of those sweet lips is for me. It frustrates me that we can't tell the world I'm sorry but it does! I can't wait until the world knows that you are mine. I don't want to wait forever and I know you don't either. I love you you love me. The world should know. Yours now and always.'

He glanced up. "He uses that phrase—'yours now and always'—at the end of every message."

"He's never met a comma, has he?" Lin muttered, her voice tight. "Firmly delusional." She leaned back in her chair, her expression hardening. "I had someone stalk me like this once. Built an entire fantasy world around me before we'd even spoken. It was... irritating."

"What did you do to make it stop?" Zhen asked, his curiosity evident.

"Nothing," Lin said, her gaze turning cold. A sharp, icy smile flickered across her face. "I used him for information, and when he ran out of ways to be useful... the company took care of the rest."

"Oh." Zhen blinked. "I don't suppose we can take that approach here."

"No," Tawan said firmly, fixing him with a be-serious look. "That is Thailand, not a spy thriller, and we're executive protection, not assassins. You said there were three emails?"

"Yes. Right. Just a second." Zhen clicked to bring up the next email. He cleared his throat dramatically before reading:

"Sweet Ira, I have to admit your lack of reply is disturbing. I know it's not you. I know you'd respond if you could but I suspect your hands are tied. The people keeping us apart have no idea what it's like do they? Day after day I'm so close I could reach out and touch you but I can't because you're surrounded. So I wait. Not forever though. I can't watch you suffer apart from me like this much longer. Please find a way to reach out. I'll be watching. Yours now and always."

Lin leaned back in her chair, cradling her coffee as though it could take the sudden chill out of the air. "That didn't sweep her off her feet? I'm shocked."

"She never saw the email, so no," Zhen said flatly.

"He's escalating pretty fast," Tawan said, her tone turning grave. Even though it was just text on a screen, she could feel the agitation behind the words. If the guy had written these by hand, she was certain the last one would have been nearly illegible. "Any chance these emails give us something we can work with?"

"Sadly, no," Zhen replied with a shake of his head. "They all originate from the same IP address, which I traced to the Bangkok City Library. They require registration to use a computer, but none of the names on the user list align with anyone who could be our stalker."

"He could have piggybacked on someone else's session," Lin said. "It's what I'd do."

"Why do I get the feeling you've done exactly that?" Zhen asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because she has," Tawan said without missing a beat.

"He's crazy, but he's not stupid," Lin said, setting her coffee down. "He managed to get past a pretty tight security setup at a high-profile event to leave that love note without anyone getting a clear look at him—not even the cameras."

"He's better than average, for sure," Tawan agreed. She checked the time and straightened. "Let's go over the plan for today. The villa has been set up with high-tech perimeter security, and the gate is monitored twenty-four seven. The entire system was installed by Maenisa herself, so I trust it's solid."

She glanced at her notes. "Ira's personal bodyguard, Nene, has been with her for over five years. She's used to Ira's routines and habits."

"Nene," Lin said thoughtfully. "Never heard of her."

Zhen tapped another button, and a dossier of Nene appeared on the central screen, along with several photos of her. In each image, she stood close to Ira Suwannathat, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings, her athletic build radiating a calm yet commanding presence. "Nene, twenty-nine. Former Thai national volleyball player. After retiring from the sport, she transitioned into personal protection five years ago. She trained at the Phoenix Security Institute in Singapore, one of the best in the region, before becoming Ira's primary bodyguard. She's been with her ever since."

"Is she any good?" Lin asked, her eyebrows raised as she studied the images.

"I haven't met her yet," Tawan admitted, crossing her arms. "But from what I've read, her training is solid. Phoenix doesn't pass anyone who isn't exceptional. That said, we'll know for sure when we meet her later this evening."

Lin smirked. "I'll reserve judgment until I see her in action."

Tawan finished her coffee and set the cup aside. "Let's get ready. We're meeting Ira and her team in Bangkok tonight. Lin, I need you to prepare for a full sweep and risk assessment as soon as we arrive."

"Always fun," Lin said, tossing her empty cup into the trash.

"Zhen, I want you to switch out Ira's phone and lock down any tech on-site. If this guy can't get through physical security, he might go digital. Leave him a weak point we can monitor."

"Already prepped," Zhen said, holding up a compact tracer and a burner phone. "The phone's ready, and I've got monitoring software set up to track any attempts to contact her electronically." He grabbed his laptop and the bag of egg tarts, powering down the monitors as he moved.

"Good," Tawan said as she gathered her bag. "The goal is to keep her safe while we identify the stalker. Once we figure out who he is, we decide on the next steps."

"Which are?" Lin asked as they walked out of the conference room, preparing to leave Hong Kong for Bangkok.

"I'll let you know when we get there." At the moment, there wasn't enough to get law enforcement involved. The guy had been a nuisance, but not an illegal one. Her gut told her that would probably change, but until it did, they had to take a more subtle approach.

Tawan leaned back in her seat, watching the clouds shift as the plane began its descent into Bangkok. After a whirlwind morning of packing and preparation in Hong Kong, she and her team were ready to tackle their newest challenge. Ira Suwannathat, global pop sensation and the recent target of a stalker, awaited them at her sister Kate's villa on the outskirts of the city.

After clearing customs, Tawan and her team loaded their gear into a private car. Bangkok's infamous traffic stretched the drive into a nearly hour-long crawl, but finally, they arrived at the quiet, tree-lined neighborhood where the villa was located. The houses here were massive, hidden behind tall walls and gates, exuding privacy and security.

"Nice neighborhood," Lin said, peering out the window. "No graffiti, no noise, and definitely no tourists. Ira's going to hate it."

"It's perfect," Zhen said, his eyes lighting up as he spotted the security infrastructure. "Look at that fencing—military-grade cameras with infrared and motion detection. This place is a fortress."

Tawan pulled up to the guardhouse at the villa's entrance, rolling down her window as a familiar figure stepped out to greet her.

"Maenisa," Tawan said, leaning her elbow on the door with a smirk.

"Tawan Liang." Maenisa grinned, her sharp eyes sweeping over the car and its passengers. "I am glad they managed to obtain your services.. It's been a while."

"Too long," Tawan replied. "But let's save the catching up for later. I've got Lin and Zhen with me."

Maenisa nodded, her gaze moving past Tawan to the others in the car.

Lin raised a hand. "Nice to meet you."

Zhen rolled down his window, offering a casual "Hey there" from the back seat.

Maenisa glanced down at her monitor, verifying their credentials before nodding. "Your principal and her personal protection officer are waiting for you in the main house. Do you have a perimeter team with you?"

Tawan shook her head. "I was planning to borrow yours. Save us some time."

"I figured I'd just hire yours. Sure would save some time and hassle." Tawan tilted her head and flashed a quick come-on-be-a-pal smile. She'd worked with Romi several times. If she had a trusted team already in place, they'd be well trained, reliable, and more than worth whatever she had to pay to get them. Especially since she had Tan's unlimited budget to pay them with.

She gave Tawan an impenetrable stare down for a few seconds before her expression eased into a ghost of a smile. "You're in luck. We've recently expanded and have a team of five stationed in the pool house. Combined with your team, they'll be more than enough. Ms. Suwannathat has already approved it."

"Perfect." Tawan glanced toward the trees concealing the villa from view. Somewhere inside, Ira was waiting. She turned back to Maenisa, her tone shifting. "Anything I should know about handling Ira?"

Maenisa tilted her head toward the villa, her mouth curving into a faint smirk. "If I were you, I'd sedate her until this is over. It'd make your life easier."

Tawan laughed, though the sarcasm in her tone was clear. "Helpful as always, Maenisa. Thanks."

Maenisa clicked a button, and the gate swung open with a low hum. "Good luck. Just so you know, Nene isn't exactly thrilled about being left out of the decision to hire you."

"Understood." Tawan gave her a quick nod and continued driving up the long, tree-lined driveway to the villa.

When they reached the house, which looked like it had been plucked from the set of a high-budget movie, Tawan noticed a tense scene unfolding on the front porch. Nene and two Suwannathat siblings stood waiting, their body language radiating tension.

Nene stood on the lowest step, her arms crossed over her chest in a posture that practically screamed don't mess with me. Her expression was a mix of suspicion and thinly veiled irritation as she assessed Tawan and her team. Dressed in a fitted black polo and dark tactical pants, she looked more like a special forces operative than a bodyguard. She wasn't there to play nice; she was there to protect.

Ira stood one step above her, leaning slightly to the side as she scrolled through her phone, her expression one of practiced indifference. She was every bit the star, dressed in shorts that showed off her toned legs and a flowing white top that fell off one shoulder in a way that was effortlessly glamorous. Her sunglasses and perfectly styled hair made her look as if she'd just stepped off a photoshoot.

Even without the countless pictures Tawan had seen of Ira, it was obvious who she was. She radiated the kind of confidence and magnetism that drew attention whether she wanted it or not.

Beside her, Kate stood close enough that their shoulders brushed, her posture more relaxed but her face carrying a quiet concern. Dressed in simple jeans and a plain T-shirt, Kate exuded an easy-going vibe that contrasted sharply with Ira's high-maintenance style. She offered Tawan and her team an apologetic smile, one that seemed to say, Yes, I know my sister is a lot, and Nene's about to make your life difficult, but please don't let that stop you.

Tawan cut the engine, glancing toward Lin and Zhen.

"Well, they look thrilled to see us," Lin said dryly, her gaze flicking between Nene's glower and Ira's distracted posture.

"They did want us here, right?" Zhen asked skeptically as he grabbed his laptop bag from the backseat.

"The company wanted us here," Tawan said. "That doesn't mean Ira does."

"Maenisa assured me that Ira was on board," Tawan added. "But let's play it cool. Meet and greet first. We'll test the water before diving in."

"You think?" Lin replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she opened her door.

Tawan smoothed her expression into one of polite professionalism and stepped out of the car.

She typically preferred to speak directly with new protectees first to establish a rapport. Trust was the cornerstone of effective protection, and it was difficult to guard someone who didn't believe in you. But before she could reach Ira, she had to deal with the five-foot-four obstacle in her way.

Nene stood firmly on the lowest step, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. Tawan didn't want a confrontation in front of her principal, but it was clear Nene wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.

Rule number two of personal protection: Be nice. It paved the way and inspired trust. Tawan wasn't sure how far niceness would go here, given that two of the three faces looking at her ranged from disinterested to openly hostile.

She stopped short of the steps, maintaining a respectful distance. "Good evening. I'm Tawan Liang of Liang Securities. I was hired by Tan to provide additional protection for Ms. Ira Suwannathat until the threat is eliminated."

Ira didn't look up from her phone.

"Hi, Tawan," Kate said with a small, apologetic smile. "Thanks for coming."

"We don't need additional protection," Nene muttered under her breath.

"Nene," Kate said in a warning tone.

Nene scowled, her eyes fixed on the ground. "I told you I could handle it."

"And I told you that TS Records is providing this service in addition to your own," Kate replied firmly. Her tone left no room for argument. "Because at the end of the day, we all want Ira's safety. Right?"

Nene's jaw tightened, her arms flexing as if she was bracing for a fight, but she eventually let out a sharp exhale and stepped back. It was a reluctant concession, but a concession nonetheless.

Tawan seized the moment and gestured toward her team. "This is Lin, who'll be conducting a risk assessment today, and Zhen, who'll be handling the tech side of things. Once those are underway, we can go over the particulars for the week."

"This is ridiculous," Ira said, her voice filled with frustration as she finally looked up.

"Ira, we talked about this," Kate said, trying to keep her tone calm.

"No, we didn't." Ira turned to her sister, completely ignoring Tawan and her team. "You, Ying, Wisanu, and Tan did all the talking. Even Maenisa had her say. I was just told to sit still and be quiet, like I'm still a kid."

"This is serious, Ira."

"Oh, I know it's serious." Ira threw up her hands in mock surrender. "I've been told a thousand times how serious it is. I'm here, aren't I? I'm doing what you want. You can bring in that"—her eyes swept over Tawan with thinly veiled disdain—"extra security. Just don't expect me to be thrilled about being trapped here."

She spun on her heel and stalked inside the house. Nene followed her, sparing Tawan one last glower before disappearing after her.

It was like watching the star of a play deliver a dramatic exit offstage.

Tawan let out a slow breath, her jaw tightening. Protecting someone who didn't want to be protected was one of the hardest challenges in her line of work. But this job wasn't just about Ira—it was about taking her company to the next level. She wouldn't let Ira's attitude derail her focus.

Turning back to Kate, Tawan forced a smile and extended her hand. "Glad to be here, Ms. Suwannathat. Can you give us a tour of the property so we know what we're working with?"