PARTNERS

PARTNERS
Brianna’s POV

I didn’t stop driving until I reached a bar. Without hesitation, I walked in and ordered a drink. My hands trembled slightly as I took the first sip. What is going on?

What the hell was Dax doing at the station? Why was he there? For years, I convinced myself I had moved on. I told myself he was a closed chapter, a long-forgotten past. But seeing him today shattered that illusion.

I never got over him. I just buried the pain deep enough to pretend it wasn’t there. And now, it was all rushing back, flooding through me like a storm I couldn’t control.

I stared at my drink, swirling the amber liquid in the glass, lost in thought. Time slipped away unnoticed. The bar buzzed with noise—laughter, clinking glasses, distant conversations—but it all felt distant, like I was trapped in a void with nothing but my thoughts.

I knew I couldn’t let myself get drunk—I needed to drive home. But even as I stopped after a couple of drinks, the ache in my chest remained.

By the time I was ready to leave, it was already 8:30 p.m.

I drove back to our apartment, expecting to see Gia, but the house was empty. A sigh escaped me as I reached for my phone and dialed her number.

"Hey, Brianna. I’m so sorry I didn’t call or leave a message. I won’t be home until tomorrow morning."

"Why?"

"We have our presentation tomorrow, and we’re behind schedule. Eric suggested we pull an all-nighter at his place to catch up."

I sighed again, the loneliness creeping in. "I can’t believe I’m all alone today."

"Brianna, what’s wrong? You sound off. Have you been drinking?"

"Yeah, just a bottle or two," I admitted, rubbing my forehead.

"What happened? Talk to me."

"Let’s talk tomorrow morning. I don’t think I can say it over the phone."

"Are you sure? I can come back if you want me to."

"No, don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Say hi to Eric for me."

"Okay… goodnight."

"Goodnight."

I ended the call and tossed the phone aside before heading to the bathroom. My body felt feverish, and my mind was a mess. I needed to dunk my head into a bucket of ice—maybe then, I’d feel something other than this burning turmoil.

Gia’s POV

"That sounded like Brianna," Eric commented as he walked in, carrying the pizza we had just ordered.

"Yeah, but she didn’t sound like herself," I said, frowning.

"What do you mean?"

"She sounded… off. She wouldn’t tell me what was wrong, just said we’d talk tomorrow morning."

Eric’s brows furrowed. "Maybe we should check on her. What if she’s in real trouble?" His voice held genuine concern, and it reminded me why I once admired his protective nature.

"You know that’s not the case. She’s physically fine, but emotionally? She’s drowning. We should let her have the night to herself. We’ll talk to her in the morning."

He exhaled and nodded. "Alright. Do you want to eat before we start working or after?"

"Let’s eat. I’m starving. I skipped lunch because of work."

"Sorry about that." He hesitated, then added, "How about I take you out for dinner tomorrow after the presentation?"

I blinked, momentarily caught off guard. I wasn’t expecting that.

A few months ago, I would’ve jumped at the chance. I would have rearranged my entire schedule just to be with him. But not anymore.

"I’ll check my schedule and let you know," I replied coolly, taking a bite of my pizza.

The old me would’ve smiled like an idiot and agreed immediately. But I wasn’t that girl anymore. I was learning to respect myself, to prioritize me. Not because of Adams—since we were only pretending to date to keep auntie from meddling—but because I needed to stand on my own two feet.

I hadn’t told Brianna about it yet. I just hoped whatever was bothering her wasn’t too serious.

Eric’s POV

Gia’s response was unexpected. The way she casually brushed it off made me wonder—was she really dating someone?

I thought the guy from yesterday was just a distraction, a way to keep mum from prying. But now, doubt crept in.

As we worked, I found myself watching her more than focusing on the project. Even with her glasses on, she was stunning. The way she chewed her lower lip when concentrating, the way her brows furrowed slightly as she scribbled notes—she was mesmerizing.

"Why do you keep staring at me?" she asked suddenly, snapping me from my trance.

Caught. Shit.

"Aren’t you uncomfortable in your work clothes?" I said quickly, trying to cover up. "I have something set aside for you in case you want to change."

She glanced down at herself. "You’re right. I do feel uncomfortable. And I think it’s messing with my digestion."

"I’ll go run a bath for you. You can use the guest room downstairs."

She shook her head. "No, you don’t have to do that," she said, brushing past me.

I watched her leave, trying to refocus on my work. But knowing Gia was in the next room, possibly changing, possibly relaxing in a warm bath—it distracted me more than I cared to admit.

Just as I was about to lose myself completely in my thoughts, my phone rang.

Hannah.

I sighed and picked it up, but my mind was still on the woman in the next room.

"Hey, babe," I greeted her, forcing a smile as I leaned back in my chair.

"Hi, sweetie. How was your day?" Hannah’s voice was warm, affectionate, but it did nothing to ease the tension in my chest.

"Stressful. We need to be fully prepared for the presentation tomorrow."

"Aww, I’m so sorry you had such a rough day," she cooed. "At least by tomorrow, you’ll finally seal the business deal with my father."

"Yeah, I will," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "He also suggested we throw a small gathering to celebrate all these years of success."

"That sounds wonderful! I can’t wait for it. I’ll see you tomorrow after the presentation. Goodnight, love."

"Goodnight," I replied, and just like that, the call ended.

I exhaled slowly, staring at my phone as guilt twisted in my gut.

How would Hannah feel if she knew the truth? That I had only dated her for the benefits her father’s company could provide?

She would skin me alive—without hesitation.

I needed to break up with her. I couldn’t keep lying, pretending I loved her when, in reality, I felt absolutely nothing.

Gia’s POV

Thank God Eric suggested I take a bath—it was exactly what I needed. The warm water soothed my muscles, washing away the exhaustion of the day.

Stepping out of the bathroom, I immediately noticed a fresh set of clothes neatly folded on the bed. A brand-new T-shirt and a pair of pants.

I slipped them on, only to realize they were way too big.

A quick glance in the mirror confirmed it—this was Eric’s shirt. He hadn’t worn it yet, but it was definitely his. The fabric was soft, yet the size swallowed me whole.

I ran my hands down the oversized shirt, my fingers brushing against the loose fabric. How is this even his size?

His shoulders must be incredibly broad, his chest firm and strong—no wonder this shirt fit him perfectly but drowned me.

I was still lost in thought, picturing the way it must cling to his frame, when I heard his voice.

He was on the phone.

With Hannah.

I sighed, deciding to stay inside for a while. He probably needed privacy.

Fifteen minutes passed before I finally stepped out and joined him in the living room. Without a word, we got back to work, pouring over notes, making last-minute adjustments.

The hours stretched on, fatigue creeping into my bones. My eyelids felt heavier with each passing moment, my blinks turning slower.

"You look exhausted," Eric noted, glancing at me. "Why don’t you go in first? I’ll finish up here."

"Are you sure?" I murmured, rubbing my eyes.

"Yes, go get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow."

"Alright… Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Dragging myself to my room, I barely made it to the bed before collapsing onto it, sleep pulling me under instantly.

Brianna’s POV

Driving back to the station, I tried convincing myself that I had been mistaken. That the man I saw earlier wasn’t Dax. That my mind was playing tricks on me.

But deep down, I knew the truth.

When I arrived at the office, I was informed that the head officer wasn’t available. I had no choice but to wait.

With some time to spare, I decided to ask around.

"Hi," I greeted the woman at the front desk, offering a polite smile.

"Hello, you must be Detective Anna," she said, her expression friendly.

"Yeah, that’s me. Nice to meet you."

"You too."

I hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Would it be okay if I asked you about someone? I think he works here."

She raised a brow. "You can ask, but I can’t give out personal information."

"You don’t have to give me any personal information. I just want to know if there’s a detective here named Dax Langston."

"Oh, Mr. Langston?" The woman at the front desk smiled. "Yes, he’s been with us for two years now. One of our best men around here."

Two years?

"He’s been working here for two years?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

I forced a neutral expression and shook my head. "No, nothing at all. I’ll just go back to waiting for the head officer."

I turned away, but my thoughts were in chaos.

So Dax does work here.

I had spent years preparing for the moment I would finally track him down, believing I’d be the one to bring him to justice. And yet, here we were—working in the same department.

And the worst part?

He outranked me.

My stomach churned, and a headache pressed against my temples. How was I supposed to work under the very man I wanted to take down?

"Miss Cromwell."

A deep voice snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. I looked up to find the head officer staring down at me, his expression unreadable.

I jumped to my feet and greeted him immediately. "Good morning, sir."

"Good morning to you too," he replied, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Follow me—because it’s a very good morning, don’t you think?"

I swallowed hard. Yeah, right.

"Yes, it is," I muttered, forcing a polite smile before following him into his office.

"Have a seat while we wait for your partner," he said, gesturing toward a chair.

I thanked him quietly and sat down, my nerves tingling with anticipation. I was anxious to meet my new partner—the person I’d be working alongside in my fight against crime.

The door creaked open.

I turned, expecting to see a stranger, but instead—

My entire body went rigid.

Standing there, looking as confident and composed as ever, was Dax Langston.

What the hell is he doing here?

I clenched my fists, avoiding eye contact. Maybe he was just here to see the head officer. Maybe this was just some horrible coincidence.

But then—

"Detective Dax, congratulations on your promotion once again," the head officer said with a nod.

"Thank you, sir," Dax replied smoothly.

I stared at the desk, pretending I wasn’t about to explode. Where is my partner? I need to get out of here.

Then came the words that shattered my last hope.

"This is Detective Anna Cromwell—your new partner."

My heart dropped.

The head officer smiled like this was fantastic news, completely oblivious to the storm raging inside me.

"Anna, this is Dax. He’ll be with you throughout your journey."

I forced a tight-lipped smile, my nails digging into my palms. Why do I have the sinking feeling that he orchestrated this?

"Nice to meet you, Detective Anna."

Dax’s voice was smooth, calculated. He extended his hand for a handshake.

I hesitated before finally taking it, my grip firm, my eyes locking onto his.

"Nice to meet you too, Detective Dax," I said through gritted teeth.

For a moment, we just stood there, staring at each other. The tension between us was thick enough to cut with a knife.

The head officer frowned slightly, shifting in his chair. "Is…everything alright?"

I snapped out of it. "Sir, can I talk to Detective Dax for a moment? In private."

The head officer gave a nod. "Sure. Take your time."

Without waiting, I grabbed Dax by the arm and pulled him out of the office.

I needed answers. Now.

Because this was not a good morning for me. Not at all.