A Second Chance

No More Partners

Chapter 39

{You can tell me I am small because I know I am, but don't you tell me I'm not strong because I know I am. You can tell me I'm not worth it, I know that I'm not perfect, but I won't be fazed.}

2017 August

Caden had just gotten to work. From now on he works alone. He never needed a partner. He'll never need a partner again. He is not letting anyone else be partnered with him because they will be so much better off. Valerie was right he was cursed. He was cleary just meant to work alone.

It was not that it was any harder losing Samantha over everyone else but she was his fourth partner. No more. No one else is going to die relying on Caden to keep them safe. Now it is true Valerie is still alive but she left and that was one of the hardest losses to take. Just knowing she won't even come near him now because she thinks he's cursed.

Even though it has been a few months since he lost Samantha he has been having trouble getting over the fact he's had four partners now. Though this time he felt Anderson knew not to assign him anyone else.

Caden realized he was just standing in front of his office door for the past ten minutes. He must have just zoned out for a minute. He went to unlock his door but he dropped his keys. He bent down to pick them up but someone else did too. He stood up along with the person.

They handed him his keys and offered a smile. He smiled back unable to stop himself. It was odd to say about a stranger but she had a beautiful smile. A contagious one that you can't help but smile too.

She was quite a beautiful girl and he could never remember seeing her around work. She had many other gorgeous features but her smile was her best and he had never seen one like it. Her dark brown hair is tied up in a short thick ponytail. She was about 5 ft 3 or 5 ft 4 so she was a bit short. Her eyes glistened from the sun which really showed the pretty amber color they were.

*Stop staring and speak!* Caden was thinking.

"Thanks. I'm Caden-" He was interrupted by the woman. "Rogers I know! It is my pleasure to meet you." She told him proudly.

She kept smiling and Caden liked her confidence and her respect. Though Caden did not desire that kind of formal conversation. Also the woman spoke with an accent he was not expecting her to have. He could not quite place where it was from either.

"And what might your name be?" Caden wondered.

"My name is Amari." She introduced herself.

"Amari?" Caden asked to be sure he heard her right.

She nodded.

It was an odd name in his opinion but he had to admit it was pretty. He had never heard the name before but something about it was pleasant to Caden.

"Are you new to ARRO?" Caden asked her.

Her smile didn't fade completely but it did get smaller.

"I've been working here for awhile now." She admitted.

Now Caden felt bad. She did know his name after all. Still this must have been their first time talking because he was sure he would remember a name like Amari.

"Oh well nice to finally meet you Amari." Caden told her.

She smiled brightly again. "No the pleasure is all mine Mr. Rogers." She assured him.

He smiled back again.

"So what team are you on anyway?" Caden wondered why he has never seen her around.

Her smile fell completely this time. She just stared and blinked at him. She had become so confused for some reason.

"What did I say?" Caden asked looking left and right then back at her.

"You are my team, in a sense." She informed him.

Caden's eyes widened. "Excuse me? No, no, no, no. There must have been some mistake." Caden told her.

Amari shook her head almost upset he was denying it.

"No I could not mistake you of all people for someone else." She assured him.

"No! I am not having another partner!" He said more to himself than her.

He stormed away to Anderson's office leaving Amari there. He saw Anderson at his desk through the office window and did not bother knocking.

"No!" Caden told him firstly, slamming his door shut.

Anderson knew the problem so he did not have to ask.

"I assume you met Amari?" Anderson asked calmly, moving a stack of papers to the side.

"I told you no more partners!" Caden reminded him.

"Listen Caden first of all company rules, no one works alone anymore. To dangerous. Second of all, did you even talk to her? Amari is very experienced, recommended by a good agent, and if you've even said hello you would see she is a really sweet girl." Anderson explained.

Yeah Caden noticed but that was the problem. He was going to get that poor girl killed.

"No Rivers." Caden said sternly, using his last name to prove his point.

*Rivers?* Anderson thought.

Well fine two can play that game. He wants to treat him like a boss, he'll be his boss.

"Look Rogers, my friend or not I am still your boss. Amari is your new partner. So get over it." Anderson laid down the rules.

"Ugh! Fine Anderson but if something happens to her I want you to know I'm not going to get a second chance at saving her. She'll be gone like everyone else. So don't blame me!" Caden then stormed out of the room and retreated to his office.

"Hum."

Anderson thought about the last thing Caden said. No one ever did blame him for any of his partners death, he was the one blaming himself.

It did not bother Anderson much making him have a partner. Somehow he knew Caden would find Amari to be different from the others. Everyone else seemed to. At least their argument was not as bad this time. Anderson was not angry and he knew Caden would get over it when he was done pouting.

When Caden reached his office he found Amari standing in there looking around. It was not in a snooping way, just a glance around at everything.

"What are you still doing here?" Caden asked hurtfully.

Amari jumped not knowing he had returned. She turned around and looked at him with regretful eyes.

"Oh I'm sorry Mr. Rogers I was just-" He didn't let her finish.

"Cut it out with the Mr. Rogers! My names Caden! Ca-den." He snapped at her.

He was not off to a good start and did not care to be. He was not being very nice but maybe then she would not want to be partners with him.

"Well I'm sorry-" He cut her off again.

"No you should just go." Caden insisted.

"I'll leave your office -CADEN- but you should know your not getting rid of me that easy." Amari held her ground, boldly saying his name to make sure he heard her say it, since he wanted to make such a big deal out if it.

She turned around in a flash and her short ponytail whipped behind her. She shut his door as she walked out but not with slam. Caden just looked at his closed door and blinked. He acted like a total jerk and she still wanted to be partners with him. Why? He was completely baffled.

Caden sighed maybe he should have approached this in a more mature matter and not just tried to scare the poor girl off. Still he did not want her as his partner. He did not want anyone as his partner. He just wanted to be alone like he was probably always suppose to be.

Please let me know what you think of Amari by leaving a comment, and votes are always great too!