Daniel sat in the passenger seat, lost in thoughts of the night he'd spent with Caitlin. Was it okay for him to just stay silent like this after sleeping with her? Yet part of him was afraid—afraid Caitlin might expect something more from him. The girl had long suspected he was hiding things. Not that Daniel was a coward—he just wasn’t sure he could give Caitlin what she wanted in a man. Love? What did that even mean?
Beside him, Jeff was driving, rambling on about a pickpocketing case on the train. If he didn’t catch the culprit, he’d miss his promotion. He’d become a cop for the thrill of more challenging cases, but for the past six months, he’d been stuck dealing with petty theft.
"I have to catch the guy so I can get back to my old position. I’m sick of chasing small-time thieves—I need something exciting," Jeff complained.
Daniel let out a chuckle and glanced at his friend. "Jeff, you've been repeating that story for half an hour. Honestly, I'd rather hear about your love life with that new maid of yours."
He grinned teasingly, causing Jeff to fall silent. A while back, Jeff had mentioned Shopie—a girl way too pretty to be working as a housemaid. Apparently, it was his grandmother’s fault. Her sharp tongue scared off most of their housekeepers, so Jeff’s mom had somehow found Shopie.
“Don’t mock me just because you’re loaded,” Jeff pouted.
Daniel laughed, swatting Jeff’s arm. “Hey! I’m not mocking your maid—I’m teasing your feelings. You talk about her so much, I’m starting to think you're head over heels. Just ask her out already.”
“You’re such a jerk,” Jeff muttered.
And just like that, Daniel had managed to shut him up. He knew Jeff had always been tempted to tell people Daniel’s real name and job. But he never would—he needed Daniel too much. Even though Jeff was dying to expose the truth Daniel kept hidden so carefully, all Daniel had to do was shove some cash his way to keep him quiet.
“You really think Caitlin would forgive you if she found out your name’s not even Daniel?” Jeff teased. “One day I’ll tell her the truth. She’ll claw your face off with a fork.”
“Go ahead and try, Detective,” Daniel smirked.
He knew Jeff was bluffing. He wouldn’t dare. They locked eyes in a silent standoff, two old friends measuring each other. Jeff knew bits and pieces of Daniel’s past, enough to get under his skin. Suddenly, Daniel remembered something important—his promise to show up at Caitlin’s reunion. How was she now? He could already picture her crying alone in the restroom after an argument with her ex.
“Shit! I forgot something. Pull over, Jeff!”
“What’s wrong?” Jeff asked, confused.
He did as told, stopping the car by the roadside. Daniel got out, jogged around to the driver’s side, and motioned for Jeff to move.
“Out. Now. I’ve got somewhere I need to be,” Daniel ordered.
“What, aren’t you coming back from a hotel meeting with your colleague?”
“Just get out, Jeff!” Daniel refused to explain further.
“Alright, alright, I’m getting out,” Jeff gave in.
“Call your partner to pick you up—I’ve got stuff to handle.”
And with that, the car sped off, leaving Jeff standing there, dumbfounded on the sidewalk. He rolled his eyes, half fuming.
“Daniel’s impossible. What could be so damn important that he’s acting like a lunatic?” Jeff rubbed the back of his neck, feeling it cramp.
Daniel sped toward the hotel where Caitlin’s reunion was being held. He hadn’t promised her he’d come, but something about disappointing her felt wrong. He couldn’t stand the thought of her being humiliated alone—or worse, crying, fighting with that scumbag ex of hers.
“She’s probably inside by now,” he murmured.
Growing impatient, Daniel began weaving through traffic, trying to get ahead of the cars in front of him. Screw the stupid reunion—he just couldn’t bear the thought of letting her down. He kept calling Caitlin, but she wouldn’t answer.
“Come on, pick up, Cat.”
After twenty minutes of driving, the road ahead was blocked—an accident. Police and medics were already on the scene, trying to secure the area. It looked serious. Daniel couldn’t see much, but he had no choice but to wait it out, even as time slipped through his fingers.
It took another fifteen minutes before the road cleared. Sweat began to bead on his forehead—he hated being late. Today, Daniel wore a semi-formal suit and glasses—not for Caitlin, but because his real job often demanded a sharp appearance to gain clients’ trust. Earlier that morning, he’d met with high-profile people—people whose names couldn’t be disclosed. Wealthy individuals who wanted their money to multiply without having to think too hard.
When he finally reached the hotel parking lot, Daniel spotted Caitlin and Tobey in a heated argument. He couldn’t help but grin—Caitlin looked fierce. Normally, she was sweet, even shy, when alone with him.
“Wow. She’s really lost control,” he muttered, watching closely for the right moment to step in. “Bravo, Caitlin.”
He checked his reflection briefly in the rearview mirror. Then he stepped out of the car with effortless charm, his long strides taking him quickly toward the scene. His pace quickened when he saw Tobey yanking Caitlin’s arm roughly, making her wince.
“What the hell are you doing to my girlfriend?” Daniel barked.
Caitlin turned, stunned by the word. Girlfriend? That sounded so strange. Daniel pulled Tobey’s hand away with force—but smiled while doing it. Tobey stared at him with pure loathing.
“Oh, so you’ve got a new boyfriend now, huh Caitlin? No wonder you’re acting all high and mighty,” Tobey sneered.
Caitlin glared at him like she wanted to claw his face off. Daniel stifled a laugh—she looked wild, untamed. And stunning. He took a quick look at her from head to toe—Caitlin was breathtaking.
“Ahem, Babe, I’m sorry I’m late. I had something important come up,” Daniel said, slipping his arm around her waist and placing a kiss on her lips.
Caitlin blinked, confused. “It’s... okay.”
“Would you mind introducing your friend to me?”