No Boss of Mine

Between Duty

"Are you all set?" Finn asked, a playful smile as they prepared for their fake wedding.Ashley raised an eyebrow, surprised. "What? Do we have to act in front of your mother?"Finn chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Don't worry. My mother knows everything."Whew! That's a relief, Ashley thought, feeling her anxiety dissipate. "I'll be ready by eleven." With that, their day ended.The next day, however, everything changed. Fifteen minutes past noon, Ashley found herself handcuffed in a police station, her anger bubbling over. "Let me get this straight," she shouted, glaring at the officer. "You're only arresting ME? You're letting the rapist and the scumbag who abandoned their daughter—a minor at that—run scot-free?""Ma'am," the officer replied with a flat tone, "you committed the crime of illegal trespassing."There's no denying what I did, Ashley thought, but what was I supposed to do? She had been preparing to meet Finn and his mother when a sixteen-year-old girl sought shelter with her charity. The girl had been abandoned by her father and raped by a drunk on the streets."The minor didn't press charges," the officer continued, "but her father—who you trespassed against—did.""Of course she won't press charges!" Ashley retorted, her voice rising. "She's too young to know better!""We're law enforcers, and this is how the law works," he said, his tone unyielding. The rapist and her good-for-nothing father are still out there!Just then, another cop entered the room, delivering a message to the officer. "Someone has come to bail you out. You can leave."Ashley stepped outside, her heart pounding. "Finn!" she exclaimed, relief flooding her.The waiting officer raised an eyebrow. "Is she yours?""I guess so," Finn replied, watching Ashley with a mix of concern and frustration."A bit of a handful, isn't she?" the cop joked.Finn remained silent, his expression darkening as the officer uncuffed Ashley. "For fuck's sake, Ashley! You knew we were having lunch with my mom today, but trespassing? Really?""Stop it!" she snapped, her anger flaring. "You don't know what you're talking about!""Couldn't your one-woman crusade against the machine have waited until tomorrow?" Finn shot back."Finn, I can explain," she pleaded, urgency threading her voice. She recounted the story of the sixteen-year-old girl, her heart heavy with the burden of injustice. "So no, it couldn't have waited until tomorrow."A police officer approached them, saying, "Send the minor to a hospital to document the rape and treat any complications. Only then can law enforcement step in and follow the necessary procedures."

Finn looked at Ashley, his brow furrowed with concern. "I have no idea... Sorry, Ashley."

They both got into the car, the air between them thick with tension. After a long silence, Finn turned to her, his voice steady but questioning. "What were you planning on doing if the door hadn't been locked?"

Ashley sighed, running a hand through her hair, clearly still shaken by the events. "I don't know... I didn't think about what I was doing. I heard that girl's story, and I just... snapped."

Finn's eyes softened, his frustration melting into concern as he reached over to touch her arm gently. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice full of worry.

She glanced out of the window, blinking back tears. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "I just couldn't stand by and do nothing. That girl—she's just a kid

Ashley sighed deeply, her voice trembling with frustration. "And the worst part is I can't even say that out loud... So many kids depend on me." Her hands clenched into fists, her emotions bubbling just below the surface.

Finn turned to her, his voice steady and full of sincerity. "You're not alone in this anymore, Ashley," he said softly.

She shook her head, her expression conflicted. "If I fight, it only gets worse," she muttered, her voice barely a whisper.

Finn reached out, gently touching her shoulder, grounding her with his presence. "We'll figure it out somehow," he reassured her, his words filled with quiet determination, as if he was vowing to stay by her side no matter what.

Ashley looked at him, her eyes clouded with worry. "He'll drop the charges because if he doesn't, then the real reason I was there... comes out," she confessed, her voice cracking with the weight of the truth.

Finn met her gaze, his eyes filled with unspoken concern. He studied her intently for a moment, his face a mixture of worry and something else—something deeper.

"Finn... thanks for coming," she whispered, her voice a little lighter, appreciative.

As the car pulled to a stop at a red light, Finn gestured to the glove compartment. "The first check is here."

Ashley opened it, her fingers brushing against the slip of paper. Her eyes widened as she pulled it out, quickly tucking it into her purse. "What? This... this is a lot!"

"That's not all," Finn said casually, keeping his eyes on the road. "Check the backseat."

Ashley glanced over and noticed a designer-brand paper bag sitting in the back. "A dress?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise.