Josh walked into the crime unit, still sore from head to toe. His back hurt, his legs felt heavy, and his mind was a mess. But nothing compared to the awkward pain between his thighs.
As usual Sarah didn't even glance up when he walked into her office. She sat behind her desk, flipping through a file with that stone-cold face of hers.
"Sit."
Josh obeyed but winced as he lowered himself into the chair. The sting shot through him like fire.
Sarah looked at him sideways. "You good?"
"I'm fine, ma'am," he lied through clenched teeth.
She didn't bother pressing. She slapped the file shut. "There was a raid at Deva Club last night."
Josh swallowed hard. Instantly. Deva Club. That damn place.
"New drug batch hit circulation," she continued. "Whoever delivered it wiped the surveillance feeds clean. Professional job."
Josh's palms were sweaty.
Sarah opened another file and slid a printed photo across the desk.
"This is all we recovered."
Josh leaned in.
A man in a black suit stood in a dark hallway, handing over a small bag to someone whose face was blurred out.
"Tai Sukhum," Sarah said calmly. "Rich. Clean. Untouched. But his name's started popping up where it shouldn't."
Josh stared at the photo. That face... it stirred something in the pit of his stomach, but he couldn't place it.
"Is he... confirmed?" Josh asked.
"No. That's your job." Her gaze sharpened. "You're going undercover."
Josh blinked. "What?"
"You'll be working in one of his companies. Entry-level. Janitor."
His jaw tensed, but he said nothing.
Josh opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. "You want me to spy on a potential drug lord… with a mop?"
Sarah smirked. "What? Too high and mighty to hold a mop?"
Josh shook his head slowly. "No, ma'am."
She slid an envelope across the desk. "Fake ID. Cover story. Name: Aom Kathiwap."
Josh picked it up carefully.
"You'll observe him. Report his routines. Look for drops, exchanges, meetings. Anything that proves what's in that bag was illegal."
Josh hesitated. "Why me?"
Sarah tilted her head. "Because no one in this department has something to prove like you do. This is your shot. You want to rise? Earn it."
Josh's throat tightened.
He nodded. "I won't fail."
Sarah sat back. "Good. Because if you do, that man walks free…. We have a case of a teenager, he got drugs at Deva Club, he sniffed it all up and died , he was the only child , you do know how it feels to lose someone close to you on illegal drugs."
He stood, memories rushed through his head and he looked at Sarah in anger and determination.
"Now get going," Sarah added. "You start today. Sukhum Tai Industries."
Josh clenched the file as though his entire life depended on it ...
Well it just might.
He didn't know Tai's world yet.
But he was about to walk right into it.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Josh stood outside the glass building, gripping the envelope Sarah had given him.
SUKHUM TAI INDUSTRIES was boldly written at the top of the tall entrance.
His stomach twisted.
He hadn't even stepped in, but he could already feel how far out of his league this place was.
Big glass doors. Shiny floors. Guards in black suits.
Josh exhaled and walked in.
The receptionist at the front desk gave him a glance. "Yes?"
"Um… I'm here for the janitor position," he said, showing the appointment letter.
She took the letter, scanned it, then nodded. "Take the lift. Basement floor. That's where HR will give you your uniform."
Josh muttered a quick "thank you" and headed to the elevator.
He stared at his reflection in the lift's mirror. Hair a mess. Shirt wrinkled. Definitely didn't look like someone fit to walk into a corporate industry.
Ding.
Basement.
The floor was cold and smelled like polish. He found the HR room, gave his name, and within minutes, they handed him a navy blue janitor uniform in a clear bag.
"Clean well, keep quiet, don't poke your nose where it doesn't belong." the woman said.
Josh nodded. "Got it."
He changed in the locker room. The uniform was loose, but it fit better than he expected.
He took one last breath before stepping back into the hallway.
"Start on the fifth floor," a supervisor said, handing him a mop and cleaning rags.
"Executive wing. Don't touch anything"
Josh nodded and got back into the elevator.
Ding.
The elevator doors slid open, and he stepped out onto the fifth floor, He adjusted the collar and cleared his throat.
His eyes scanned the hall—
And there he was.
Tai Sukhum.
In all black, standing beside another man, flipping through some documents with that serious look on his face. His aura screamed power, the type that made people step out of the way without being told.
Josh blinked.
Damn. Up close, he looked even more intimidating. And fine. It wasn't fair.
He tried to act natural, turned his eyes toward the window like it was the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen. Pretend you're working, pretend you're working…
He bent over and started scrubbing the floor with the mop .
This was so dumb. He was really spying on a grown man with a mop. A grown man in a multi-billion naira suit. Josh rolled his eyes and turned to glance at him again.
Then
Their eyes met.
Josh quickly looked away, panic hitting his chest.
Shit.
Okay, calm down. Clean something. Clean the floor. Clean the air.
"Hey."
Josh froze. His heart skipped.
He looked up slowly.
Tai was walking over.
"You work here?" His voice was smooth. Calm. And a little too close.
Josh swallowed. "Yes, sir. I do."
Tai narrowed his eyes slightly, like he was studying him.
"What's your name?"
"J—Aom. Aom Kathiwap," Josh replied, barely breathing.
Tai's gaze dropped to his chest, then to his ID tag. He smiled, just a little.
"Aom… That's a sweet name."
Josh bit back the urge to roll his eyes.
Tai tilted his head. "You look familiar."
Josh blinked fast. "No, sir. Just started today."
He gave the fakest worker-smile he could manage.
Tai stared for a second longer, then his expression shifted.
"Alright. Carry on."
Just like that, he turned away and walked off.
Josh let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"Familiar.….my ass" he muttered. "Drug dealer."
He wheeled his cart into one of the offices—Tai's—and started "cleaning." Well, more like snooping. But carefully. Quietly.
Ten minutes passed. Nothing suspicious. Just boring documents, charts, and Tai's fancy coffee mug. He was starting to doubt the mission altogether.
He leaned against the desk and rubbed his lower back. The pain was still there. Last night's mystery man had done a number on him.
"How the hell does someone stretch that deep and just leave?" he muttered.
Before he could spiral into another round of internal cursing…
Click.
The door opened behind him.
Josh turned fast.
Tai.
He was back.
The door closed behind him. softly.
Tai's eyes met his.
And stayed.
He didn't look surprised. Didn't even blink.
He walked in slowly, each step measured, confident.
Josh glared at him. Waiting to know what he wanted to say…or do.
Tai stopped in front of him. Not too close. But close enough.
"You clean well," Tai said, voice low.
Josh forced a smile. "Thank you, sir."
Tai's gaze dipped, slowly dragging over him.
"But," he added, "you missed a spot."
Josh blinked. "Where?"
Tai pointed to his chest….right above his heart.
"Want me to show you?"
Josh's throat dried up.
Before he could answer, Tai stepped even closer. His cologne hit hard—rich, expensive, dark. It smelled like secrets and sin.
Josh's hand tightened around the mop handle.
"Relax," Tai said, voice barely above a whisper. "I don't bite."
Josh didn't say anything.
Tai smiled.
"Unless you want me to."