Page 21 of Detective Daddy Next Door

She rolls her eyes and takes another sip of her drink.

She looks toward the door as someone comes in. A woman with copper-colored hair. She's tall like a basketball player and wearing a red jumper with no sleeves.

"That's my colleague, Daisy. We share the same office. She's the only friend I have at the firm. The rest are just acquaintances."

Daisy's eyes light up when she sees Bria and she hurries over.

"Phew. I was beginning to think you didn't make it. I hate being alone at functions like this. Have you seen Micha?" Then she looks over at me. "Are you with him?"

Bria nods slowly and Daisy's eyes widen.

I take my hand out of my pocket. "Jasper."

"Uh, hi Jasper. Daisy."

"Nice to meet you, Daisy."

She looks at me suspiciously and pulls Bria to the side, but apparently not far enough, because I can hear them clearly.

"You didn't tell me you'd be coming with someone."

"I didn't know I'd be coming with someone either, but I just decided it was the perfect time to introduce him."

"Wow, you didn't tell me you had a boyfriend."

"Well, we met a few months ago and I wasn't really sure about the relationship. But now I am."

"He's hot. Like a Greek god."

They both laugh as they come back, and I pretend like I didn't hear a word of their conversation.

A woman is approaching—no, she's passing by. I notice that Bria and Daisy have a sour look on their faces as they stare her down. The woman has dark hair with a fascinator on the side of her head with a lace veil covering her face. She has on with seems like a pink Chanel suit, or an imitation of one. When she reaches where we're standing, she only gives a slight nod with a half glance in their direction. Daisy gives her an equally cold nod and Bria just looks on blankly.

"She thinks she's all that. And what does she have on her head? This isn't 1922."

"Who's that?" I ask Bria.

"A colleague. Fern," she answers.

Daisy puts one hand on her waist. "She's trying to make sure Bria doesn't make partner before she does. What a bitch."

Bria nudges her. "She isn't actively doing that. She just wants to grow in the firm, too."

"Oh, please. Only one person is making partner soon. If she wants to make partner too, it means she wants to take it away from you. You really need to stop seeing the good in evil people. That's your problem, Bria."

I look around and get into detective mode. "I'd like to use the restroom."

"Oh, let me show you where it is," Bria says, and starts to take me down a hall.

"Could you just point me to it? I'll be fine."

She eyes me and sighs. "Alright. It's three doors down. But please, don't get caught sneaking around, Jasper. I don't want Micha thinking I'm a jerk for bringing a creep to her house."

I cork one brow at her. "Jasper. Good job staying in character."

She rolls her eyes and walks back to the room where the party is being held.

Fifteen minutes later, I'm back to find Bria standing alone. I’d crept around the house just as Bria had predicted I was going to do. Let's just say I ended up in places I shouldn't have and had access to Micha's computer, but it had a password. Time ran out and I had to get out before I got caught.

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