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          ➰ 5 years later ➰

"Let's get a hot coffee, Miss Detective." Kate dragged her friend through the bustling streets of New York.
Everything seethed professionalism about Olivia. Her perfectly manicured hands smoothened her already creaseless polka dot dress. Her stoic face and penetrating eyes screamed business. Bold steps and hair held in a tight bun showed how well she had managed herself in the previous years.

Five years, it took five years for Olivia to encage her all emotions and throw the key into an abyss. During this period she faced a few more heartbreaks. The sudden disappearance of her brother after the death of her parents, the betrayal of a charming boyfriend, bullies and whatnot. But she learned to mask her feelings, learned how to face the facade world whose outer appearance encourages you to jump into it but when you are finally into it, the bristling teeth of it crush you into pieces.

She saw the world as a predator that will pounce on you whenever it gets a chance. So, she decided to become a hunter. The one who will knock down all the deadly predators in this world and bring them to justice.

Detective. The one thing she was always determined to become and now after five years she was the one. Her career seemed to take high steps after the successful cases solved brilliantly by her mind. Yes, mind and brain. Everything works well and good when mind is knocked at, brain is used and the heart is cast aside.

They reached a cafe and entered in. Kate quickly ordered for coffee while Olivia looked around. People. That was what she saw. The creatures as harmful as a contagious disease. You keep them at a distance and you are safe but when you are in their arms, they hurt you. She would look at anyone with such a penetrating gaze that he would fear that she had seen through his soul.

They took their seats and the orders were served.
"You know, now when I look at you, I feel as if I am living with someone else. Not that jolly Olivia who would joke around and make you laugh so much that your cheeks hurt." Kate said, her voiced toned down and sadness evident.

"It was you who wanted me to be brave." The emotionless voice belonged to Olivia.

"Yeah. Brave and confident but not like this !" Kate exclaimed while pointing her hand towards Olivia.

"Can you describe "this", huh?"

"Lia I want you to come back to life. Have some feelings and enjoy yourself."
Kate's face softened as if she felt the pain of her friend.

"Enjoy?" Lia chuckled. And then a bitter laugh followed.
After the death of her parents, life hadn't given her a chance to enjoy herself. Every time she had tried, she ended up being a failure.

"Please. Give yourself a chance to have all the good feelings." Kate said after a minute of contemplation.

"How? How can you expect me to be normal when my past has done nothing but given scars that can't be healed." Olivia argued seeming frustrated by the conversation.

"Love can heal even the deepest wounds. You have to let someone in."

Olivia chuckled. "Let someone in so he can destroy me and make me feel shit just like others?"

"See. This is what I am talking about. You should give someone a chance. Please just once for my sake."

Olivia sipped her coffee and the unnerving emotions started settling in like before but she immediately banished them.
"Fine but...."
Her sentence was cut short as Kate squealed in excitement
"Thank you. Thank you my beautiful friend!"

Lia didn't want to disappoint herself nor her friend but she knew that the result would be the same like always. Disappointment.

"I should introduce you to......." Kate couldn't finish when Olivia's phone rang.

Her finger swiftly swiped the screen and she held the phone to her ear.

"Officer Martin." Lia acknowledged the man on the otherside.

"Olivia I'd come to the point. We have a new case and I am sure it will gain your interest." Officer Martin spoke, his voice hard and harsh.

Lia straightened herself and her ears perked up. Excitement and curiosity upwelling.

"Tell me about it."

"Well, it's a murder case but a high profile. The Governor's daughter was found dead."

"And?" Olivia pressed, eager to get more information.

"I'll give you the file if you are in. Can't risk giving more information than that."
said Martin.
He was quite professional. He understood the capabilities of Olivia and knew she could be helpful. But to disclose some private information, he needed to make sure if she was in the game or not.

"I'll take the case gladly." She said with an air of ardor.

"I'm in the office right now. Reach here quickly and I'll give you the file."
Martin spoke from the other side.

Olivia quickly stood up. "Yeah I'm coming"
She picked up her Gucci purse and mumbled a quick sorry to Kate.
"I need to go. The case has got my attention."
With this she walked swiftly, high on her heels.

Murder cases were the ones that intrigued her. She thought they could give her a good experience to work on her parents murder.

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After twenty minutes her silver Porche was parked in the lot of Private Investigation Agency. Brisk and kinetic steps led her straight to the main office. The carving on the metallic board shined as she looked at it.
   "Chief Officer"
She knocked and entered in without waiting for permission.
Seated behind the desk, Martin was clad in his usual attire. Dark jeans, white shirt and grey coat. For a man of thirty five, he looked quite young. But one thing that stole all his glamour was the scar that run down from his left eye to the upper lip. On being asked from Olivia about it, he had only said,
"People and demons
Who's fighting who?"
And at the end, Olivia was nothing but puzzled.
     Sensing a presence, Officer Martin looked up and quirked his eyebrows.
"You are quicker than I expected." He complimented. "Have a seat Miss Olives."
Olivia reached for the seat in front of the mahogany desk, taken aback by the nick name. Olives.
In the past two years of their working together, Martin seldom called her Miss Olives. It only meant one thing.
He was happy.
Being happy was good but it was unusual for him, just like it was for Olivia.
The reason behind the happiness was also one.
He got hands on a good case.

Olivia took a sharp breath and forced out the words, anticipation killing her.
"I want the file for the case."
Martin chuckled. "Quite desperate, aren't you?"
Not waiting a second she replied, "Very much"

Seconds passed and no movement was observed. But then Martin rummaged through a few documents and pulled out a green file.
"Here you go." He said holding it out.

As her hand reached forward to grab the file, he retreated.
"You need assistance." His voice monotonous.
Olivia suddenly felt as if she had been degraded. She believed that she was capable of handling the problems alone. The way she had handled her life.
"I can manage it alone." She scowled.

Martin sighed. "Look, Olivia. This is not the murder of some minor. Governor is persistent. He wants the murderer in his hand within a week."

"But...." the objection was hung short in air.
"No buts. You need a hand and that's final. This is pretty serious and the mystery behind this murder is not unifold. You need two brains and four eyes at least to solve this case." Martin scolded, his voice growing deeper and louder.

Olivia was irritated. Working by herself she was capable of doing much more.
If there's another brain involved in my work then it will probably take an eternity to solve the mystery, she wondered. And if it's a male........

"Jackson Lauvrie will be your partner." Martin cut off her thoughts bringing a dread sensation all over her.
She contemplated on arguing but thought otherwise and nodded.
"I need words Miss Olivia," Martin was back to his professional self, the one whose cocoon he seldom left. On the other hand, Olivia preferred to imprison herself in the cocoon of professionalism all the time.
It woks better this way for me. She would say.

"Okay, I'll bear it." Her voice low and coarse.
Martin smiled and handed her file.
"You'll meet him in no time." He informed her.

Immediately after the words were said, a slight knock on the door pulled them out of their reverie.
"Must be Jackson." Martin murmured.
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Not edited. Please ignore mistakes.😇
Though I'm not that good in writing novel, but I'm trying.
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Q/A session 🦋
Your favourite singer 👨‍🎤 (male) ?
Mine:  "Charlie Puth and Shawn Mendis" 👌
      I can't prefer one over the other 😂
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