Jody felt a chill rush down her spine the moment she heard the name. Her heartbeat accelerated violently, her eyes widened, and her breath became shallow. Slowly, she turned her head in a clockwise motion—catching the scent of strong perfume. The kind worn by people in powerful positions.
The first thing she saw was a pitch-black skirt, paired with a blood-red Thai-patterned blouse.
Then her eyes climbed higher until she met the face of a woman—short bob-cut hair, about 177 cm tall—staring silently at their table.
She looked at each of them in turn: Jade... Roxxy... Syd... and finally, Jody—the closest one to her.
No words were necessary. No questions were asked. No one dared to speak.
Because this woman—she didn't need to say anything. Everyone already knew exactly who she was.
Those crimson eyes... terrifying beyond measure.
It wasn't just their table. Every agent, every staff member in the cafeteria—janitors, supervisors, chefs, security, all stood straight and motionless. As if frozen in time. Not a soul moved a muscle.
All background noise ceased. Laughter, chatter—gone.
No warning. No alert. No message in advance.
But now... she was here.
The heavy silence that blanketed the room was a testament to this woman's sheer authority.
Her presence alone made time itself stop.
"Miss Jody, this is Grand Master Annie Barrett..."
Just looking at Jade's expression made Jody's skin crawl. Even she hadn't anticipated this unannounced arrival.
Roxxy, usually calm and collected, showed tension in her eyes. Syd... went completely still. He looked the least afraid—but he was still quiet.
Jody started to rise to her feet, intending to bow in respect—but froze when the woman's hand gently rested on her shoulder.
It was a signal—Jody didn't need to do anything.
With just a wave of her hand, the room resumed. Annie signaled for everyone to continue as normal.
"..."
Just a touch on her shoulder, and Jody instinctively understood why everyone feared this woman.
She was the real deal.
Every instinct told Jody: Don't move. Don't speak. Be still. Be good.
"Syd... Roxxy..."
It was the first time Jody had heard Annie Barrett's voice. And strangely... it sounded similar to her own. Smooth. Low. Calm. But it carried something Jody lacked—commanding presence.
"...Didn't you say you'd arrive in the evening?" Syd asked, looking his mother dead in the eye. In that moment, all Jody could do was observe.
"I must've misread the time. Sorry, sweetie."
"Liar..."
Annie didn't respond—just smiled softly and pulled out a package.
"I brought tteokbokki and Bonchon for you."
"!"
Both siblings—Syd and Roxxy—lit up instantly. Roxxy stood to receive the gift.
"Share it with your friends, okay? I brought more, too. They're with Skyler."
Jody followed Annie's gaze behind her. She wasn't alone—two attendants stood at a distance. One was a bespectacled Asian woman; the other a mixed-race man in a strikingly patterned suit. Both stood respectfully, exuding the same refined aura, but kept a noticeable distance.
The female assistant carried a bag—likely 'Skyler'.
"Wow... really, ma'am? Did you bring Chatramue too?"
"There's something for Sera as well."
Annie stroked Roxxy's hair. The girl immediately threw her arms around her mother in a tight embrace—revealing just how loved she was.
Chu.
Annie kissed her daughter's head. Roxxy kissed her cheek in return before walking off toward Skyler.
"..."
Jody watched her go. Annie did too—before turning back to the table.
"Syd... how have you been, sweetie? It's been over a month."
"...Still breathing, I guess."
"Why are your feet on the table? Jade's eating, you know."
And believe it or not—at that line, Syd immediately took his feet down.
"I'm okay, ma'am," Jade said.
"It's okay, Jade. You deserve some peace."
Syd scowled and turned away from his mother. But Annie smiled gently and kept speaking.
"Syd."
"..."
Annie opened her arms. Jody glanced between the two.
"Ugh..."
Sweat ran down Syd's temple. He sat, arms crossed.
"...Come on, Syd..."
"..."
"..."
"Oh..."
Annie glanced at Jody, then back at her son.
"Embarrassed in front of your friend?"
"...Embarrassed? What are you talking about? I'm 18, you know. I'm not some—"
"Gìft."
"..."
"......"
"...Come now."
"..."
"...No need to be shy..."
"......"
"Gìft."
"Ugh..."
Syd grimaced but finally stood and shuffled toward her, hands barely open, giving her a reluctant hug.
"...Are you embarrassed to hug me in front of your friends?" Annie teased as she hugged him tightly, planting a kiss on his cheek. But she wasn't done yet.
She turned her cheek toward him—waiting. Syd hesitated... but then quickly kissed her back, almost like he didn't want to but knew he had to.
He pulled away instantly.
Annie ran her hand from his cheek to his hair—something no one else in the base had ever dared to do.
"Hmph..."
Syd dodged her touch with a slight jerk of his head.
Annie walked back to the table. Her eyes swept across the two empty strawberry milk cartons—and just from a glance, she could tell exactly what her kids had eaten.
Roxxy returned with the bag, hesitating before sitting. But Syd returned to Jody's side, sitting unusually close—perhaps to silently promise he'd protect her from whatever his mother had in mind.
"Jody Johansson... it's a pleasure to meet you."
Annie offered her hand.
"...Likewise."
Jody was tense—but loosened slightly as they shook hands.
Strangely, Annie's grip was high—not just on her palm, but around her wrist. She held it firmly... for a long moment.
Then released it.
Annie glanced at the table, then at Syd.
"Gìft, sweetie... did you really drink two sweet milks?"
She turned back to her son.
"Wasn't the deal for plain milk?"
It was just a question—so simple. Yet it rattled Syd to his bones.
"Well... I—"
Jody was about to speak—but Syd stopped her and answered instead.
"It's just once in a while. Don't make a big deal out of it."
"..."
Annie looked at Jody with her unreadable crimson eyes... then back at Syd... then at Jody again...
"May I have a private word with you, Miss Jody?"
She asked politely—but Syd immediately cut in.
"No... That's not—"
"Gìft, take your sister and eat the Bonchon."
"Mom!—"
"Gìft."
She gently lifted her son's arm and softly touched her daughter's shoulder.
"Gìft... Karn... This is important, and you know it. Let me talk to her—just for a moment. Be good, okay?"
She kissed them both on the forehead.
"Go on, share the chicken."
She patted Syd's back, stroked Roxxy's hair, and let the two go. As Roxxy dragged her brother away, Syd kept glancing back—clearly unwilling to leave Jody alone with Annie.
Even Roxxy looked uneasy.
Annie watched them go, then turned to Jade.
"I apologize, Jade."
"...It's alright, ma'am. I just finished."
Jade knew exactly what Annie intended. She stepped aside and stood next to the table.
"I'm very sorry."
Annie turned back to Jody and took the seat across from her.
"They're teenagers. As time goes by, they stop listening."
She smiled and sighed.
"..."
"..."
Jody was being stared at—intensely. With a purpose she couldn't decipher. She dared not move. The pressure... was immense.
"...Are my children or their friends making things difficult for you?"
"N-No, ma'am... This place is far better than London. Everyone's been very welcoming. I've had no problems at all..."
"Good... that's good..."
"..."
"..."
"I've heard... my son's the reason you're here—running around, risking your life. I also heard he and his sister hacked into your patient profile. That's a serious breach..."
She shook her head slightly.
"Is any of that untrue?"
"...No, ma'am... you're correct."
"You don't need to call me 'ma'am'. Just Annie is fine."
"...Yes, Annie..."
"I've wanted to meet you for some time now. Your discovery... it's a significant event for us. We're honored you've chosen to join us."
"It's nothing... If I can be a small cog in the machine... and help move this organization forward, I'm glad to do it..."
Jody's reply was sharp and graceful. Annie nodded.
"..."
"..."
Then she paused... and stared at Jody again. The intensity rose once more, so much that Jody had to break eye contact.
"..."
"...How's your sister?"
"...Sorry?"
"..."
"..."
"...We haven't spoken in a while. But the last I heard... she was stable. Managing her depression."
"UCL Hospital, Los Angeles. Stage 4 depression."
" ! "
"..."
"...Yes..."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Stanford Law grad... so much promise..."
"..."
"...And your father? How is he?"
"..."
"He's... doing fine. Working. Living simply."
"Quite the family of lawyers. Like a family of doctors in Thailand."
"Haha... Y-Yes..."
"..."
"...Miss Jody... are you still smoking Marlboro?"
"!!!"
"..."
Annie pulled out a sealed box of Marlboro Lights and placed it on the table.
Not the red-and-white pack... but gold-and-white—the exact brand Jody smoked back in high school.
How did Annie know?
If she'd guessed Jody was a smoker, fine. If she guessed Marlboro, sure. But Marlboro Lights?
Panic set in.
Jody's breath hitched, hands trembling. But she clenched her teeth and forced herself calm.
"...I've quit... ma'am."
"..."
Annie stared... then placed the sealed box beside her.
"And your legs?"
"...Doctor said... unknown cause... but... I've been getting help... from Syd."
"..."
Annie slowly nodded. Then she leaned forward.
"Please relax, Miss Jody. This is your table—I'm just a guest. There's no need to be tense."
"..."
She leaned closer.
"I just think this topic is better discussed in private. I left my people outside. But if it's alright with you... may I invite them to join us for the next part of this conversation?"
"...Yes... of course..."
Sweat rolled down Jody's forehead.
Why... why does the tone not match the pressure...?
She looked around—and realized the cafeteria was now empty.
No one else was there.
Not even the kitchen staff.
Only her... and Annie.
And then—Annie turned toward the front of the room and gestured.
From the shadows, the man in the patterned suit stepped forward, walking politely toward them.