The Accidental Detective: Finding Her Boss

Chapter 45

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Loriatte whipped around with her heart jackhammering against her ribcage as she braced herself for the worst.

"Miss. Matou," a man with a deep voice and long dark, hair greeted her with a smile.

Something about him felt familiar, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

She took a cautious step away from him, afraid he was there to drag her back to the kidnappers.

"Oh, don't tell me you've already forgotten my face," he chuckled as if they were old friends. "That day at the café? We almost kissed?"

Her eyes narrowed, then widened slightly with recognition.

Oh.

She had definitely forgotten his face.

But not so much those grey eyes that almost looked black beneath the dim lighting of the room.

She remembered him at the café, and the way he got her so flustered that she was about to let him kiss her. A total stranger!

But why was he there?

Was he with the criminals or had he been kidnapped too?

As if he could read the questions written all over her face, he waved a hand dismissively and said, "Elias Whittaker. I'm with the FBI, and I'm here undercover with Harrison."

Loriatte looked him up and down, still unsure whether she should trust him.

Something about him- and her current circumstances- didn't add up.

If he was with the FBI, why hadn't he mentioned it that day at the café? And why was he so calm and comfortable in a mansion owned by criminals if he was supposedly undercover?

His demeanor was far too relaxed.

Almost familiar...like he belonged there.

And that put her on edge.

"Where's Zayden?" She asked, voice stiff and curt.

"Hm." Elias looked around, tapping a finger against his chin, "he was around here somewhere...we were looking for you together then I turned around and he was gone and you were here."

His eyes settled on her and alarm bells started ringing in her head. "Say, you haven't seen Shane Mason by any chance, have you?"

Loriatte took another slow step back and shook her head, "no."

"I don't like liars, miss. Matou."

The way he said her name felt too familiar. A terrible chill crawled down her spine.

She did not like it at all.

She would've broken off into a sprint if she hadn't heard a very familiar voice whisper yelling her name in the distance.

She looked at Elias and he smiled at her.

Rapid footsteps approached, growing louder with every second, and before she could even see him, she felt him.

Strong arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her clean off the ground.

"Loriatte!"

Her arms immediately wrapped around his neck, and she felt his grip tighten around her waist as though he had no intention of ever letting her go again.

Tears pricked at her eyes.

She underestimated just how much she had missed him.

If she had the power, she would've fused their skins together right then and there so they could stay in that position forever.