“You have this last case to prove yourself miss!" Mr Troy said with a fixed cold stare at Jessica. Jessica is a detective of the state agency who struggles evidently in solving cases. Now on a high-profile case involving a billionaire philanthropist and benefactor named Liam, assigned to her after much plea from being terminated, by her boss, Mr. Troy. Liam's family is known for their legacy and questionable wealth, with his mother ever cunning to protect the family legacy since the sudden disappearance of his father. To investigate Liam, Jessica takes up the role of his new secretary but Liam has ulterior motives for hiring her too. Jessica struggles through the new phase of her life as she tries to uncover troubling family history and questionable business dealings but she's caught in a dilemma as tension grows between her suspect and herself. As she delves deeper into the case, she is faced with new challenges, putting her in a pool of hard decisions and possible emotional vulnerability. Wavering through, she's taken by what she finds out about herself, her job, and her case.
View MoreThe last days of a person's career are always gloomy.
The sky didn't open up as early as they usually did and all this young detective wished for was it never opening.
Jessica's neighbor, Ms. Felicia knocked on her door as early as that.
“Hello! Neighbor! Hello…”
Jessica wished Ms. Felicia could just go away and leave her in her mystery to sulk as a failure.
“Not even a single case have you solved successfully!” Mr Troy had blasted at her last week at the office.
“You can consider this your last case with the agency!” He added coldly.
Mike wasn't even helping issues. She had gotten home that day to meet Mike in his dirty green shorts and cream socks, buried in his game with his lazy-ass friend like him, Jay.
“You're moody because of a job?”
“Lighten up! Make me some omelet!”
“I haven't showered too. You can run my bath too.”
He said, itching his crackly neck.
Jessica thought of her current life as a mess and Mike's weight on her made it worse.
She had met Mike at a Christmas party she had gone to with her best friend, Ann.
Mike wasn't always like this. He was expressive and responsible, mostly loving as well. Not until he lost his job as a front desk receptionist in one of the five star hotels in the city from a shootout that led to its closure. Not being able to pay for his rent, he moved in with his girlfriend, Jessica.
At first he was supportive and open to little menial jobs but he stopped after he got hold of one of Jessica's payment slips. He felt the need to get a job wasn't needed; she could suffice for the both of them, so he thought.
“Why me?” Jessica managed to mutter from the thoughts of Mr Troy and Mike that were running through her head.
Just then her phone rang!
“Hey Dad,” she said almost inaudibly.
“Ahh. C'mon, cheer up Jessica!”
“It's just a job, you didn't lose your life!” Her dad said brightly over the phone.
If there was anyone that could cheer her up from a bad day, it was her dad and he always knew how to do that but today was the day it felt like it couldn't work.
“I'm a waste dad!” Jessica started sobbing.
“I have failed.”
“I failed you….. I failed myself.”
“I'm a mess”. She said sobbing continuously.
“You're not a mess Jess.”
“I know for a fact, you're the best detective and daughter any father could ask for.” He said calmly to her.
“..... But… but I didn't make you proud.” She breaks her words in-between soft sobs.
“You still have enough time for that.” He added gently.
“Wipe those tears and go to work.”
“I still love you, detective or no detective.” He concluded softly.
“... Yes dad.” Jessica concurred.
Ms. Felicia gave a loud knock from the door behind the house again. This time, the sun was gently showing its rays already.
“... I have to go dad. My neighbor keeps calling.” Jessica said, wiping her tears.
“Better answer that.”
“Give me a call after work.” Her father said.
“Yes dad. Love you!” Jessica ended the call right after.
She quickly wiped her eyes and hurried to the back door Ms. Felicia was about to tear down with her heavy knocks.
The door creaked open and the old lady outside yelled furiously.
“My dog got stolen and it says here in this note the thief left behind — Jessica, take care of it!”
“I know only one Jessica in this neighborhood!” She added yapping.
Jessica knew who must have angered her neighbor; her lazy ass boyfriend!
“Whatever did he need Ms Felicia's dog for?” She thought quietly.
“Oh I'm sorry Ms. I think you've got the wrong Jessica. I didn't take your dog!” Jessica said softly.
“Well, the little lads said they saw him wear the dog a napkin in your backyard. It's got to be your apartment!” She yelled.
“What?”
“Is he being serious right now?”
“What's this for?”
She had the questions popping in her head as to why Mike stole a dog. She knew it was him. He just had his silly reasons.
“Ma'am, I don't think I know who's in possession of your dog. But I'd let you know if I see him around.” Jessica said with a fake bright smile.
She knew she had to say something to get Ms Felicia away from her!
“Oh poor Katie!”
“She must be so lonely!”
Ms. Felicia lamented softly, now almost crying.
Jessica quietly locked the door behind her unnoticeably while she lamented, back to the reality of the morning.
Mike had not been in the apartment since she told him about the notice from her boss. Maybe Ms Felicia's dog was his parting gift, since he drained her already.
Breakfast was the least thing Jessica had on her mind. She simply ran her bath, got dressed and headed out to her office, at least still her office for the time being.
She got to the office earlier than she would normally have and saw her office desk had been cleared out. All her personal belongings had been put in a box waiting for her to take them home.
Not her office anymore as she had thought.
She let out a big sigh!
Her colleagues started trooping in, in ones and twos.
Mr Troy walked down the passage leading to the planning room, just where she stood waiting for him.
“Good morning Mr Troy.” She said, trying to brace herself.
“Good morning Jessica.”
“The board wishes to meet on the matter of your dismissal. You can only hope it favors you!”
“Yes sir.” She said calmly.
He nodded and walked into the board room and shut the door right behind him while Jessica stood in a lost realm of her thoughts.
Just when she turned to put herself together, she saw a lady, fine with a nice poise and structure walking towards her.
It was already a sour day. Could it get any worse? She thought.
It was Olivia, her arch nemesis and work rival.
Olivia was successful as a detective, solving every case tossed her way but for some reason, she had always wanted all of Jessica's cases, claiming Jessica had been favored with them.
“How?” Jessica always questioned, because these cases she called favors have cost her feeble career.
Jessica sometimes wondered if Olivia would have failed at her cases too.
Olivia walked straight towards her and looked her in the eyes as she came to a halt right at her front.
“You look miserable!” She spat coldly.
Evelyn's birthday party was getting closer by the minute and the whole of TRIX would come to a halt to see it through. Jessica felt the need to act somewhat dry in the presence of Liam to avoid any strain of attraction that could spring between them. Liam couldn't help but notice her sudden drift but, as always, remained unshaken or unfazed by it.At intervals in the office, he stole glances at her. Maybe the way she worked on files, her facial features, or the movement of her lips when she spoke. There was something of note in everything she did.One time, she had requested to work in her office for reasons best known to her but he couldn't kick the fact that something definitely felt off between them. He thought to find out why but never to interrogate her.Of course, he cared about her and would want her in his space each time, but suddenly, it looked like she wanted none of that.Jessica knew all she was doing would take a toll on Liam in a way; her absence and perhaps, shift fr
The preparations for Evelyn's birthday were still ongoing and the event was gradually coming together.“..... The guest list, how about the guest list?” Jessica had asked Miss Beth.“It's to be formed by Miss Evelyn. She has her way with these kinds of things. She will send that across soon, I suppose.” Miss Beth replied.It was another bright sunny day at the TRIX, and Jessica was all about the affairs at the office, but the upcoming party needed a bit of attention now and then.At the office, Jessica couldn't help herself but remember the previous night with Greg. How he had arrived just in time and saved her from the grip of Mike. And not to mention, the kiss. It was everything she had been missing. A touch of that added a glimpse of excitement for the night. Somehow, these thoughts meddled with the daily activities. She caught herself smiling to herself on a few occasions.It was a healthy distraction, she had thought. A call came through from her office line, and she picked u
It was a relief to have Greg come in the time he did. Jessica could only be grateful.For a while, her thoughts drifted to Mike and she couldn't help but realize how desperate he was.He has never been like that towards her. This was indeed surprising. Greg caught her in the midst of the thought and that's when she collected herself together again.“..... I'm sorry to pry Jessica. That looked a bit personal. — I had to come in, it wasn't looking good.” Greg apologized.“I'm glad you did.” Jessica responded, still in the arms of Ann.That's when Jessica remembered the courtesy of introducing them to each other.“.... My friend, Ann.” Jessica said to Greg.“Ann, Greg.” To Ann.Greg stretched a hand formally for a handshake and Ann accepted. A glint in her eyes made him know he was welcome.“.... I really need to head home Jess. It's been a long day for me.” Ann said.“Let me walk you home.” Jessica offered but Ann wouldn't let her. Jessica understood what Ann meant to do and it was s
“What do you want?” Jessica asked bluntly “Jessica, please, can we talk?” Mike asked quickly.Jessica scoffed.“If you hadn't seen me in this part of town, you wouldn't have asked to talk, so what is it you want now?” She stormed at him.“I really wish you would give me an audience and hear me speak…. — I called and texted Jess. But you wouldn't respond to any……. And I can understand why.”“I just need the least of your time to explain how I really feel. — explain myself to you.” “..... And you're correct, I'm only asking to talk now because I see you but please just hear me out..”There was a long pause and Jessica stared at him blankly. He looked lost in a way she couldn't quite understand but she knew she didn't have to care.Just then, he made a move to hold her hands but she rejected his touch and spoke quickly after.“I'll listen to what you have to say.” “Can we sit down?” He asked.Jessica stood still, not bulging to his offer and then he pressed further.“Please, Jessica.”
Starting the preparations was not as difficult as Jessica would have thought. Everything came in handy. An event of the elites and wealthy was one not to be compared to the regulars. Beth, on the other hand, was useful. Jessica barely had to stress about anything. It was mere convenience and she wondered why she had been called upon by Evelyn in the first place.The colors for the place were picked and it was all coming together greatly. Meanwhile, at TRIX, Liam couldn't ignore the fact that he missed having his secretary in all the time. Jessica was often in, but her attention was needed for every picking that had to be done.Liam, at this point, still Wondered why he felt this way.He knew he was getting a rush of emotions every time he was at least two feet from her.It was hard to hide the burst of emotions but he needed to. “.... What would be Miss Evelyn's preference, Mr Liam?” She has asked, as they say, in his office, looking at some current documents on the recent deal wi
Evelyn walked back to her seat opposite Jessica. Now, Jessica had learned to look the woman before her in the eye.Maybe she didn't appreciate how timid she had appeared.Jessica immediately adjusted herself as the woman sat.“.... You know why I called you here?” Evelyn asked.“Certainly not.” “—But I'd suggest it's business and cooperate” “Well, you're wrong,” Evelyn answered.Jessica shook in fear of what Evelyn might say next. Why had she invited her in if not for the matters of TRIX?“..... Are you always this shaken with Liam?” She asked, taking a rest back in her seat.“Sometimes…” she replied.“..... Judging from what I saw at the conference room, not so often I guess.”“He's fond of you, I believe.” She continued.Jessica felt a surge of adrenaline by Evelyn's words. “It's in good faith….. We work closely together, so I suppose that could be the reason for that.”“Hmm…. I'm not disputing that. In fact, that's why I asked to see you.” “.... Because of Mr. Liam?” Jessica a
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