BUILDING COLLAPSE

BUILDING COLLAPSE
Brianna’s POV

"Wait, you’re saying Dax is also a detective? And not just any detective—he’s your senior colleague at work?" Gia's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yes," I sighed, rubbing my temples.

"This is serious. But don’t you think this might be fate?"

"I don’t know what to call it, Gia. I’m trying to pretend like nothing ever happened between us so we can work together, but I don’t know how long I can keep it up."

Gia folded her arms, giving me a knowing look. "Brianna, you know you still have feelings for Dax. I don’t know how much you care about him, but why not give him a chance?"

"A chance to do what exactly?" I scoffed, shaking my head. "Eight years ago, he told me we were just friends—after sleeping with me. I don’t think he ever wanted anything serious with me."

Gia’s expression softened as she reached for my hand, but I pulled away. "I really don’t need another heartbreak, Gia. I just can’t handle it."

"What exactly were his words?" she asked carefully.

"He said he wanted us to go back to the way things used to be." My voice cracked slightly, but I forced myself to keep talking. "I don’t want to be the girl he sleeps with whenever he wants to have fun. I think I deserve better. I just... I wish things could be different."

Gia squeezed my hand. "They might be. You never know."

I let out a humorless laugh. "It’s more complicated than that, and it’s driving me half insane."

"Just take things easy, okay?"

"I’ll try," I muttered, then quickly changed the subject. "So, tell me, how did your date with Eric go?"

"I told you it wasn’t a date," Gia huffed. "He just took me out to dinner, but his girlfriend decided to show up and make me feel like a third wheel."

I groaned. "I guess Hannah is determined to keep Eric to herself. Well, it’s a good thing you’ve moved on. I’m glad you’re dating Adams."

Gia shifted uncomfortably. "About that... Adams and I are only pretending to be together."

My mouth dropped open. "What?"

"I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help it," she admitted. "Hannah said I was going to die waiting for Eric to ask me out, and honestly? She was right. Adams has been asking me out for a while, but I don’t have any feelings for him."

"So, in other words, you’re using Adams just to prove you can be with someone other than Eric?"

"Not exactly," she said quickly. "I proposed the idea of fake dating, and he agreed. It’s not like he’s completely unaware of it."

I shook my head. "Gia, I think this is a bad idea."

"I know," she sighed. "But I just want to keep things this way for a little while."

"For how long exactly?"

"Until I move to my father’s company. He called me yesterday after seeing our presentation on TV."

I frowned. "So he’s finally acknowledging your worth? That man is so lame. He should count himself lucky that I’m not his daughter, or I would’ve done something crazy by now."

"I’m only considering it because I know my mom would have wanted me to," Gia admitted, her voice softer now.

"Eric will miss you when you’re gone," I told her.

She scoffed. "I doubt it. He’ll probably find someone better than me."

"Gia, believe me, he will miss you. He doesn’t know what he has until it’s gone."

"Eric isn’t the type to beg people to stay," she muttered. "I’ve seen him fire employees who thought they were the reason for the company’s success. He always says he has people lined up to take their place."

"Gia, your case is different. You were like his second hand."

She shrugged. "I guess. Oh, and did you know Hannah is the daughter of the owner of the company we just sealed a deal with?"

I blinked. "I had no idea. Eric never mentioned anything."

"She came with her father to the presentation, acting all high and mighty."

I rolled my eyes. "Who cares? Your father owns a company that’s even better than theirs. If she knew who you really were, she wouldn’t have dared talk down to you."

Gia sighed. "But I’m just... Gia. The girl who couldn’t even get one guy to love her."

"That guy doesn’t deserve you," I said firmly, rubbing her back in comfort.

"Why does our love life suck so much?" she whispered.

"I don’t know," I admitted. "I ask myself the same thing sometimes."

Gia let out a deep breath and straightened up. "Let’s talk about something better—like how your first case went."

"It wasn’t bad," I said with a small smile.

"Tell me everything," Gia insisted.

And so, I did.

Dax's POV

"God, is this really you?" Eric asked, staring at me in disbelief. I had called him this morning, and he suggested we meet at a coffee shop near his company.

"Dude, I can't believe I missed you," I said before we hugged it out. I was relieved he didn’t seem angry with me.

"I'm really sorry things ended the way they did eight years ago. I went back to look for you, but they told me you had already left for Europe."

"I had to go. My dad practically threatened me with his health."

"I’m so happy you're here. Did you recently move to Chicago?"

"Not really. I’ve been working here as a detective for two years now."

"Wow, I thought you’d be running your father’s company."

"Things are complicated in my family. Turns out my dad has another son."

"What?"

"He was seeing another woman and got her pregnant. I think that’s why my mom left. I couldn’t deal with it, so I went back to Austin to find you guys, but you had already moved."

"I’m so sorry to hear that. It must have been difficult for you."

"Not really. I was too busy fighting crime to dwell on it."

"Brianna is going to be shocked to see you. She’s a detective now too."

"I know." I had assumed Brianna would have told him by now, but he looked clueless.

"Wait, that means you’ve met Brianna?"

"Yeah, she got assigned to me as my new partner two days ago."

"Oh, so that’s why she sounded so off on the phone."

"She hates me. Did you know she lied about losing most of her memories just so she wouldn’t have to deal with what happened between us?"

"She doesn’t hate you, Dax. She was devastated when you left without saying goodbye. She refused to open the birthday gift you left her."

"She hasn’t opened the present?" Eric nodded. Hearing that made my heart sink. Any hope I had left crumbled.

"She’s never going to forgive me."

"I don’t think she hates you. She’s just hurt. Go easy on her—don’t rush things."

"Thanks, Eric."

"I’m glad you’re back."

After leaving the coffee shop, I called the station to let them know I’d be taking the morning off. I needed time to think. Since I hadn’t been assigned a new case yet, I didn’t think it would be a problem.

Brianna’s POV

I had been waiting for Eric for over an hour. Was he not coming to work today? I had no idea what to do without him here to guide me. I decided to ask the officer at the front desk.

"Detective Dax took a morning shift. Turns out he’s sick."

"What? He’s sick?"

"Yes, he called two hours ago to say he’d take the morning off to rest. He should be in by noon."

"Can I have his address?"

"I suppose so, since you’re his partner."

"Thanks."

I drove straight there. I told myself I wasn’t worried, but I couldn’t help it. His house was close to the station. When I reached his flat, I rang the doorbell, but no one answered.

Had he stepped out? What if something had happened to him? The worst part was that he wasn’t answering his phone either.

I rang the bell again, calling his name and knocking hard. Still nothing. I was about to leave when the door finally opened.

Dax stood there, shirtless. He looked exhausted, like he hadn’t slept all night.

"Why weren’t you answering your phone or the door? Do you know how long I’ve been standing out here?" I snapped, frustrated. I had been worried for nothing. But instead of replying, he just smiled.

"Does this look funny to you? Ugh, it was my fault for getting worked up over nothing just because I heard you were sick."

I turned to leave, but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me inside, shutting the door behind us. I immediately pushed his hand away.

"What is wrong with you? Open this door and let me leave."

Instead of listening, he hugged me. And though I knew I should push him away, I couldn’t. I had wanted to be this close to him ever since we met again in front of the station.

"Thank you for worrying about me," he whispered into my ear. I slightly pushed him away just to see his face.

"Why do you look so pale? Are you okay?" I asked, my fingers gently caressing his cheek.

"I'm not okay," he admitted in a hushed tone.

"What happened? Does your injury hurt?" I asked, my worry deepening.

"No, but my heart does," he murmured, guiding my hand to his chest.

"You scared me," I admitted.

"I'm sorry I didn't call to inform you," he said, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me closer.

"What are you doing? Have you forgotten that you injured your lower abdomen?" I protested, trying to push away, but he held me tighter.

"It doesn't hurt when you're this close to me. Brianna, please... give me a second chance."

"Fine, I'll give you a second chance, but don't make me regret it," I finally relented.

"Seriously?" His eyes lit up with surprise, a bright smile breaking across his face.

I smiled back before pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, and we stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's warmth, finding comfort in the silence.

Then, Dax's phone rang, breaking the moment. He answered, his expression shifting almost instantly. I watched him, sensing bad news before he even spoke.

When he finally ended the call, I hesitated before asking, "What happened?"

"The head officer said there was a building collapse."

"What?" My stomach dropped.

"More than twenty people are trapped inside."