Page 33 of Detective Daddy Next Door

I shoot up from my seat. "You did what?" Then I sink back down. Now I understand why Bria's been avoiding me. "How did you even know where she works?"

"I told you, I have my ways," she says, smirking. "I told her I'll expose your identity if she doesn't stay away from you. And if you don't stay away from her, your identity will get exposed, and you'll never get the divorce."

I knew it was a bad idea to let Sonya know I'm working undercover in Long Beach. Although she doesn't know the exact details of the investigation, I shouldn't have told her anything. Now I risk losing everything.

Chapter 13

Bria

Myhearthasbeenhurting. It's been hurting since the day Myles' ex-wife showed up at my office. She came and colored my heart blue. My heart is clogged with sadness. It's been hard staying away from Myles. I miss him so much. I miss how calm he makes me feel. Whenever I'm with him, I feel like I’m oddly settled. “Oddly” because Myles was the last person I thought I’d find peace with. It sucks when you’re getting used to someone and then suddenly have to pretend you don't want them around anymore. It messes with your head. It makes you disinterested in anything else. You just want to pick up the phone and talk to them. You want to hear their soothing voice.

I don't even know why I listened to her. I mean, she might still be married to him, but they're not together anymore. I don't know why she thinks she has the right to tell me to stay away from him. I'm not a pussy, oh no, I am not. But I care about Myles, and I don’t want him outed. That's the only thing keeping me in check. Although Myles had always been tight-lipped about her, from the little he said, I know she can be vindictive. Oh my God, my heart aches.

I told Ava about it, and she told me what any good friend would say.Stay away from him, Bria. He's not worth it. But how do I stay away from him when my heart longs for him every minute I breathe? How do I tell her that I've fallen deeply for him and staying away from him is taking my breath away?

"What's eating at you?" Daisy asks from her side of the office.

I didn't realize she's been watching me. I've been so absorbed in my woes. I've been trying to keep this away from her, but lately, I’ve been tempted to tell her about it. The urge to spill gets thicker each day. I want someone else’s opinion. I need advice. That’s what I think, but I know what I want is someone who’ll tell me to stay with Myles. I wish someone would tell me to ignore his ex-wife and her threats. I can't tell Aria. She thinks I'm happy. She's happy I'm finally letting someone in. Well, technically I was, until his wicked ex came and set fire to it.

I shrug my shoulders at Daisy and stare ahead, rolling my fingers on my pen.

"You didn't eat anything at lunch. Well, you ate a little, but basically nothing. Something has to be on your mind."

I toss a coin in my mind. Heads, I'll tell her. Tails, I don't. The imaginary coin rolls on its side and then tips to the floor. I peer with my mind's eye. Heads. I sigh. It really won't hurt to have a fresh opinion from someone else. Will it?

"I've been going through a lot lately."

She stops thumbing through a file. "What's wrong?"

"Okay, don't freak out. But the firm is being investigated."

She drops the file from her hands, shock slowly creeping onto her face. "Investigation? By who?"

"Law enforcement. It's a long story."

She gets up and pushes her chair back, coming to sit on the chair at my desk. "Is that why you've been down? What's going on? Why would anyone investigate the firm? And how did you find out about this?"

I sigh and lean forward. I want to tell her about Myles. I’m tempted to tell her his name isn't Jasper and that he isn't my boyfriend. Well, theoretically, we ended up dating. But I decide against giving details.

"I got an e-mail a few weeks ago and a person—an unknown person—told me about it." As soon as the lies leave my lips, I regret opening my big mouth. What's the point of saying anything at all if I can't tell the full truth? I'd thought I needed advice on how to move forward with Myles, but Myles told me not to tell anyone, so I don't say anything about him being behind the investigation.

"Can I see the e-mail?" she asks.

"Erm. I deleted it. Umm. I couldn't keep an email like that. I mean, it scared me."

She sighs and leans back. "What are they investigating the firm for?"

"Fraud. Tax fraud, I think. I’m not sure. I don’t know the whole story, but it's been messing with my head for weeks now."

"Now I understand why you've been zoning in and out and have been losing your appetite. Does Micha know?"

"Gosh, no. I could never tell her. She will be…" I intend to say devastated, but if truly she's engaged in fraud, then she should be brought to justice. But I still do not see Micha in that light. She's one of the most honest people I know. But Myles was sent here to get to the bottom of this. Something is definitely going down in the company. Something that Daisy, the other lawyers and I don't know about.

"Could Micha be involved in tax fraud?" she asks.

"I really don't know."

"This is messed up. If this comes to a head, we’ll definitely lose our jobs."

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