Her story

~ flashback to late August 3 months ago ~

Shen was getting dressed for work. It was an important day for him because he was on the verge of closing a massive deal. Moshi Corp. had finally managed to bring their biggest competitors in the airline business down. As the largest and most powerful conglomerate in Country J, they had their fingers in almost every industry.

Moshi Corp. owned Air Furan, with a massive commercial fleet. Air Furan was a major source of income for Moshi Corp. Yet, their customers were poached in great numbers by Hide Industries' Paradise Airlines. Their cheaper tickets and travel costs attracted the majority of the market since they recently entered into an agreement with country C's Tang Group, increasing air traffic between country J and country C, with the Tang Group providing airline fuel exclusively to Paradise Airlines at devastatingly low prices.

If this continued, they would drive Air Furan out of business in about a year's time, according to Shen's predictions.

Shen had successfully and secretly brokered a deal with country A's oil tycoons to buy the Tang Group out, throwing their deal with Hide Industries in turmoil. Air Paradise shouldered massive losses to their investments and were now begging Moshi Corp. to buy them out and salvage the remains at Paradise Airlines.

Shen was heading to the Moshi Corp. offices to sign that very deal with CEO of Hide Industries. The devil was in a good mood, and was getting pampered by his loving wife.

Lina straightened and fixed his emerald green tie and she rushed over to do her own hair. She'd told him she had an 'important date' to keep that morning. Even though she was secretive about the nature of this meeting, she seemed jittery and anxious, but still slightly excited.

"Darling, I promise to tell you everything when I see you for dinner today. Don't worry about anything right now, and just focus on crushing those troublemakers!"

He could see the fire in her eyes, as she rooted for his victory. She was so serious, yet she looked absolutely adorable to him. His determined gaze softened on her face.

"Take care, my love. Come back home safe to me."

With that he kissed her one last time before he headed out of their room and left for work.

It was a strange thing to say to his wife, to 'come back home safe', but he respected her privacy and thought her capable enough to handle her own affairs. She'd come to him of her own free will, and he wouldn't entrap her or stifle her.

He suspected their was more to her story than what she had told him, but he knew he had to be patient with her. The 'moe' act, was all but gone now and a confident woman was in her stead.

When she told him there was something she wanted to tell him that night, he knew her walls were going to come down and his patience would pay off. There would be nothing more holding his wife back from him.

****************

Lina knew, that day, she was going to give her life as a spy up for the man she slept next to every night. She loved Shen more than anything, and she refused to play dirty.

Their relationship was unplanned. She was to remain objective. She was supposed to have been in control. But she'd never been in control since she'd met him. Even though she acted helpless, she knew Shen wasn't fooled by it.

But he only watched her patiently, and let her warm up to him without any forcefulness.

She was going to sever all ties with the agency. She would work with Shen to deal with the Lim Clan instead of spying on him and working with people who didn't have his interests in mind. Her targets were usually power-hungry, psychopaths on ego trips. She had no qualms taking them down, but this was the first time her heart was plunged into dilemma.

As her understanding of his relationship with the Lim clan grew, she realised that he wasn't colluding with them. There was a mole at Moshi Corp. This mole was going to throw Shen under the bus and the agency would intervene ruthlessly.

Underneath the devilish exterior, the icy CEO of Moshi Corp. was really a kind and humble man. A man she respected. Someone who worked very hard. Not the murderous maniac he was thought to be. He was her love, her partner and her family.

Her reports to the agency HQ had been more and more vague as she tried to buy time. But if she waited any longer, she was putting herself and Shen at risk. She needed an exit strategy. She was going to meet Tachi to work out a deal.

******************

-- at the agency HQ --

"Sir, Agent Dai has arranged a meeting with me today in the capital."

Tachi stood up straight. He was reporting to the big boss.

"How long have you known?"

"Sir, I suspected after they got married."

Big boss's clenched fist slammed down on the desk. Tachi couldn't see his face very well in the dimly lit room. But he could feel the rage emanating from the boss's eyes.

"So she has abandoned her duties as our agent for the last FIVE months? Is that what you're telling me?!"

Tachi sucked in a deep breath. He was in trouble because of that useless bi***.

"I apologise for my lack of vigilance. We will extract her immediately."

"Agent, do you think extraction is good enough? You have failed as an employee of this organisation and are a waste of space." the big boss spat out at Tachi.

He was supposed to be her handler. Make sure things went along smoothly and the undercover agent was sticking to the plan. Most of all, it was his responsibility to make sure she was doing her job. He'd been too lenient. He'd cared about Lina for a long time, and there she was -- playing house with that useless CEO while he had to bear the brunt of the boss's anger.

He was done protecting her.

"Agent Dai is now a major liability. You will terminate her by the end of tomorrow."

The big boss' orders were clear and final.