Chapter 3

Zena's POV

I nervously fidgeted with my fingers, unsure of what to say to the mayor.

"Zena, I'm waiting for an answer," he urged, his tone expectant.

"Zena, are you okay? Is there a problem?" he inquired, concern evident in his voice.

I shook my head, mustering as much confidence as I could. "Philip, there is no problem. I assure you that we are handling the case the best way we possibly can at the station," I replied.

"Zena, are you sure? Because I don't want anything to tarnish the good name of my administration," the Mayor pressed.

"I am sure, and I want you to be rest assured that we will handle it, that I will handle it," I answered firmly, hoping to allay his concerns. But it seemed the Mayor remained unconvinced.

"Tell me, do you have any leads on who is responsible for all these kidnappings?" he asked, his gaze intense.

"We have a lead, but you know very well that I cannot disclose our findings to you. Rest assured, my team is on it," I replied, choosing my words carefully.

"Alright, I don't have a choice but to allow you to do your job. But do not make me regret making you Chief, because I do not want a chaotic administration like my predecessors," he warned, his tone stern.

"That will be all for now. I will let you get back to work," the mayor concluded, standing to his feet. I followed suit.

"It was nice meeting you, Zena. I am counting on you. Don't disappoint me," he said before leaving.

As I watched him walk away, I breathed a sigh of relief. The weight of the Mayor's expectations bore down on me, but I knew I had to fix this. I had worked too hard to secure my position as Chief, and I wasn't about to let anything jeopardize it.

Hurrying back to the station, I went straight to my office. The Mayor's words echoed in my mind as I stared at the case file of El Fuego, feeling the pressure mounting with each passing second.

"Chief, everyone is seated, and we are all waiting for you. Remember, the meeting can't start without you," Ceila's voice broke through my thoughts.

Nodding, I stood up and headed to the meeting room.

"How did the meeting with the Mayor go?" Ceila whispered as I took my seat.

"Bad. He's worried about the recent disappearances in the city, and my job might be on the line if I don't fix this," I confided, the weight of the situation heavy on my shoulders.

"Wow, but don't worry. I'll make sure we catch El Fuego this time," Ceila reassured me, her determination evident in her voice.

"I should get started with the meeting," I whispered, making my way to the front of the room.

The meeting commenced, but my mind remained preoccupied with the El Fuego case and the urgency to solve it.

"That will be all for now. I want everyone on top of their game. We cannot allow El Fuego to get away with this," I concluded, dismissing everyone.

Returning to my office, I immersed myself in the case file once more. Time slipped away until my phone rang, jolting me back to reality.

"Kelly, hi," I greeted her, glad for the distraction.

"Where are you?" she exclaimed.

"At work, where else?" I replied, puzzled.

"Oh my goodness, you forgot," Kelly exclaimed, and suddenly, the realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

"Dinner with Noah," I exclaimed.

"Now you remember. We're already at the restaurant, and for some reason, my brother just can't keep calm," Kelly explained, her voice tinged with exasperation.

"I'm so sorry, I lost track of time," I pleaded.

"I don't care, just get here before my brother loses his mind. I'll send you the address," Kelly said before hanging up.

I rushed out of my office and hurried to my car. With no time to change, I headed straight to the restaurant in my work clothes.

Arriving at the restaurant, Kelly waved me over. "Oh my goodness, what are you wearing?" she exclaimed in horror as I approached.

"I'm sorry, I didn't have time to change," I apologized.

"But—" Kelly began to protest before Noah intervened.

"Kelly, that's enough. My baby looks beautiful no matter what she wears," Noah interjected, coming to my defence.

"Okay, that's enough of the PDA. I didn't come here to watch my best friend and my brother drool over each other. I came here to celebrate my best friend's promotion," Kelly declared, shifting the focus back to me.

"To Zena, who moved to this town with nothing but has managed to make a life for herself here. You deserve everything good in this life, and I am so lucky that I got to meet you," Kelly toasted, her words bringing tears to my eyes.

"Thank you so much, and I love you both with all my heart," I smiled, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude.

"We love you more," Kelly said, pulling me into a hug.

"Now it's my turn to speak," Noah announced, drawing everyone's attention.

"You are amazing, Zena, and words can't describe how much you mean to me. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me," Noah began, his words filled with sincerity.

"Wait, what about me? I'm your sister, remember?" Kelly interrupted, eliciting laughter from all of us.

Noah refocused on me, a nervous energy emanating from him. "I am so proud of you, and I love you so much, Zena. And that's why I know that what I'm about to do is the right thing," Noah said, his voice trembling slightly as he dropped to one knee, holding out a ring box.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized what was happening. '' will you marry me?'' Noah's proposal left me speechless.