Amarie and Chris never spent a day apart until their love was forcefully ripped away from one another. They now live completely separate lives battling with their inner demons. They wish for the day they could be together again but they don't think...
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The soft hum of the office lights was the only sound as I gathered the scattered papers on my desk, meticulously stacking them before tucking them into my Tory Burch tote. My laptop followed, the weight of the day settling on my shoulders. It had been a long day, and though I was officially off the clock, the responsibilities of my job were far from over.
As I slung the bag over my shoulder, a soft knock echoed from my office door. "Late night?" Aaron's familiar voice floated in as he poked his head through the doorway, his warm brown eyes meeting mine.
I offered him a tired but genuine smile. "Just about to call it a night. I was digging up some last-minute details for my report."
Aaron stepped fully into the room, his own belongings in hand, signaling that he, too, was ready to leave. "How's your article coming along?" I asked, curious.
"The Corrupted System within DCF," he responded, his voice tinged with a mixture of exhaustion and pride. "Finally wrapped it up. If the stars align, it might make headlines next week."
I grinned, genuinely pleased for him. "Congratulations! Rebecca's been singing its praises; I'm sure she'll push it. Plus, you're a fantastic writer."
"Thanks, Summer," he replied, his smile broadening, a hint of warmth in his gaze. "How's your piece coming along? Any leads yet?"
I sighed, the weight of my frustration slipping into my voice. "Nothing solid, but I feel like I'm close. It's just... no one wants to talk. It's like pulling teeth. I had to beg Becky to even let me work on this article, and I'm terrified she'll yank it if I keep hitting dead ends."
Aaron leaned against the doorframe, his expression thoughtful. "Has the narcotics detective gotten back to you? He might have some pointers."
I shook my head, irritation creeping into my tone. "He's been dodging my calls for days. I keep getting the runaround from his office. 'He's busy, he'll get back to you when he can.' Same story, every time."
Aaron frowned, clearly puzzled. "That's odd. Nolan's usually pretty good about this stuff. Let me see if I can pull some strings, get you connected."
Relief washed over me, and I smiled gratefully. "That would mean a lot, Aaron. I have no idea why he's been so elusive."
"Happy to help," He said, his expression softening as he watched me. "I was thinking of heading over to The China for a drink and some food. You're more than welcome to join me if you're up for it."
His invitation, delivered with a hopeful smile, made my heart flutter slightly. Aaron had been subtly trying to get me to go out with him for a while now. He was handsome, charming even, and I did like him, but I'd always hesitated. Mixing business with pleasure wasn't something I was eager to do. But with his offer to help me get in touch with Nolan, it felt like the least I could do.
"I'd love to," I began, reaching for my bag, but the sudden vibration of my phone halted me. The screen lit up with a text message from the one person I'd been avoiding all week. My pulse quickened as I read the message: *I'm outside. Waiting.*
