53

It was already Friday. 5 days since I last saw Thiago, let alone heard anything. I wrote to him that I miss him and I'm happy to see him again. But he doesn't answer. I knew he'd been back from his business trip since Wednesday, but he didn't seem to want to see me. I realized that when I called him on Thursday night and he pushed me away.

It hurt in my heart. However, I could already imagine what it was. He had probably found someone else who could give him what he wanted. Maybe Giulia or someone from the bank. It depressed me. The whole situation was depressing.

Every day the FBI was at work, going through every file, no matter how trivial. Agent Delugo, or rather Lucas, would bring me coffee every morning. It was meant nicely. However, it was too much for me.

I'm just saving my last customer profile before I switched off the computer. "Ms. Miles please come into the office" luce suddenly shouted into the open plan office. What did he want now? Annoyed, I made my way to him.

"Please close the door Alea". I followed his instructions.

"Alea, I want to be honest with you. We're investigating every little clue. If you have something to tell me. Better do it now." At his words, my heart sank. Did he know what?

I looked down but said nothing.

"Alea" he asked me again. "According to the Cheuffer, you were intimate with Matt. If you know anything, tell me... now."

He tried again.

"I used to have a friendly superior relationship with Matt. Not anymore. It's always been important to me to draw a clear line between private and professional life," I said in a sharp tone.

"But?" Urged me to continue talking to luce..

"Nothing but. It was never more from my side," I said again.

"But from his side?" He was pretty persistent.

"Apparently. A few weeks ago there was a gala. On the way back he confessed to me that he had feelings for me. However, he knew that this was not mutual. He said he would accept it and wait for me" I answer annoyed.

"And that was it?" Hooked up with luce again.

"Yes, that was it. No drama, nothing. Of course, our relationship has changed a bit. I withdrew and decided to distance myself as much as possible for the time being."

"And he just accepted that?" he threw at my head.

I narrowed my eyes "what do you want to hear from me Luce? Come on spit what you think" I demanded angrily.

"Do you know who informed the police about Mr. Barnes' disappearance?" He suddenly changed the subject.

"No you tell me" I answer bitchy.

"His wife". Its what???? He seemed to notice my shock. "Yes exactly his wife. And his two children. Did you know that he had a family?"

"No" I said, still shocked and quiet.

"Very few people in the office knew that after our interviews. He probably never wore his wedding ring when he was here. His wife was never allowed to come into the office. He forbade it and do you know why?" he asked bluntly.

I shook my head speechless.

"Because he's already had affairs with all the women in the office," he replied dryly. My eyes widened. "Serious?"

"Yes, seriously, and I think it's time to tell the truth to me Alea," he demanded again. It made me angry. Once again.

"Which truth?" I screamed now.

"The truth that you shagged your boss Alea Miles" he said now also visibly upset.

Without hesitation, I slapped him "You have no idea what you're talking about. He may have had a few affairs here in the office, but I wanted a professional relationship, which is why I always turned him down...every fucking day New ones. I never really ever slept with him. Never and I don't give a shit if you believe me or not. I'm not available for questioning from now on" then I packed my bag and left the office.

"Alea... Alea stop immediately" luce shouted after me. But I ignored him and quickly left the building. I ran my fingers through my hair, frustrated and agitated. I knew what I needed now. A martini. And I knew where I wanted to drink this. It was Friday evening. I went to the bar where Andy worked.

When I got there I saw Andy already working behind the counter. I walked over to him and sat in front of him at the counter. After a while he came over "what would you like it to be?" he asked coolly. "A double martini," I reply, exhausted.

Without hesitation he poured me the drink I wanted, handed it to me and immediately ran away. He was still angry. My God. But I just didn't care. I took a deep sip and it immediately burned my throat.

Suddenly I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. I pulled it out and Thiago's name appeared on the screen. I didn't feel like picking it up so I just pushed it away and then turned off my phone. For 5 days he couldn't even get in touch, now I didn't feel like it. I was too depressed. So the police really think I was having an affair with that bastard. Typical. All men immediately think that every woman immediately spreads her legs. It was unthinkable for her if it wasn't like that. And that although I kept protesting that I had nothing to do with him.

After my second martini, I saw the door to the bar open. This can not be true. Lucas Delugo walked in and headed straight for me.

"Alea can we," "no" I interrupted him annoyed.."Alea please listen to me, I'm sorry okay. It was just that it just fitted and..." he continued and I interrupted again him "fit well? It's unthinkable that a woman rejects her boss, isn't it?" I shook my head.

"I get it okay. I'm sorry. I believe you now," he asserted. "Oh how merciful" I bitched. "How do you even know where I was?" When I finally wanted to know, "Alea, I work for the FBI, it's easy for me to find my way out," he said, as if that was completely normal. "You tracked me? My phone?" I asked in shock.

"Listen I really had to talk to you and..." I interrupted him again "that's illegal luce, that's invasion of my privacy you're crazy" I snapped at him.

"Alea please listen, I'm sorry and..." "You're repeating yourself," I said coolly, turning back to my martini.

Luce grabbed my arm and pulled me to him "Let me go immediately" I teased him, but he was stronger and didn't even think about it.

"Luce let me l..." this time I was interrupted. But not by luce.

"Let her go immediately" growled Thiago, who was suddenly standing next to me.

"Sir go ahead and don't interfere," said luce dryly.

But thiago took a step forward and pulled me away from luce. "Leave them alone and go on the spot," Thiago repeated. And he had this look. Like he's about to kill.

"Sir, you're obstructing the judiciary, do you want me to arrest you?" Luce hissed, opening his leather jacket with his FBI badge on it.

But that left Thiago unimpressed. "My girlfriend said let go, so let her go. In the future you will only communicate with her in the absence of our lawyer. Otherwise I will show you to Mr. Delugo for denial of basic rights," he countered with a challenging raising of his eyebrows . I saw how luce was cooking and also Thiago was ready for everything.

"Okay, that's enough" I radioed in between and stood between the two. "We're going now," I said, looking into Thiago's eyes invitingly. However, he was just having a look duel with Luce. "Thiago we go" I said again in a slightly louder voice.

Without averting eye contact with Luce, Thiago answered "yes, we're going," put his arm around my shoulders and started walking with me.

I breathed a sigh of relief. For heaven's sake. When we got outside, I broke away from Thiago straight away. I walked down the street without saying a word. Thiago followed me "where are you going?". "Home," I reply coolly.

Thiago grabbed my arm and threw me against his hard chest before he held me. "What is going on here?"