Chapter 2 BREWING STORM 2

"Let's talk later, Samuel," I said, quickly following our boss back to his office as I stood in front of him, already bracing myself for what was to come.

But he wasn't saying anything-he just kept staring at me.

"I'm sorry, sir," I said when I met his gaze, quickly tearing my eyes away from his.

"You're sorry? You were supposed to be leading your team, but instead you left them in the middle of a mission when they needed you the most as their team leader!" he barked.

"It was an emergency, sir. My sister had an attack and I had to be there for-"

"Detective Nancy..." he called out in a warning tone, cutting off my explanation.

"I am tired of you leaving work to tend to your sister, but for crying out loud, you were also in the middle of an emergency," he said, and I found myself staring at him like he had lost it.

Was he insinuating I should have waited until Mr. James was arrested before leaving?

"But sir, my sister was-"

"Enough! I'm tired of you and your silly excuses. From now on, you are no longer the team leader of the Major Crimes Unit, Team C. Samuel will take over from where you stopped."

My eyes widened in shock-I couldn't understand a thing.

"But sir, I gave my all for this case-with my team members, including Samuel, being unable to come up with any idea of what could have happened to Stacey. This case was nearly closed. You told me to close this case myself, but I held on only to get a demotion?" I couldn't help but ask him.

"As much as that is true, I need someone who can differentiate her work from her personal life. And I would hate to send you to another department away from Hollowmere because you wouldn't be close enough to run to your sister when it's needed.

I will suggest you head downstairs, clear off your desk, and move to the Major Crimes Unit, Team D. You are now their team leader."

I felt anger surge through me-I felt like hitting this heartless man standing in front of me.

What did I ever do to deserve this?

I was the one leading Major Crimes Unit Team B, and when it was time for the promotion I deserved, he demoted me by making me the team leader of Major Crimes Unit Team C-and now he's doing the same again.

"You are dismissed," he said, and all I wanted was to punch him in the face.

I angrily marched out of his office without looking back. The first person I met was Samuel, standing there chatting so casually. He always wanted to have my position-I hope he's happy now.

With one glance at him, I tossed my ID away as I walked out of the station, feeling like my life had just come to an end.

I tried to swallow it all-the pain, the blame, the disappointed looks-but it was all too much.

I just kept walking until I arrived at a local bar downtown, and I found myself making my way in.

I took a seat at the long oak table in the dimly lit tavern, the sound of slow blues humming through the speakers as the bartender set a steaming glass of spiced whiskey before me, and I stared at it.

I grabbed the shot and poured the liquor down my throat in one go. I felt the not-so-familiar burning sensation as it made its way down my throat. A shiver ran through my body.

"Do you need another shot?" the bartender asked, and I finally brought myself to stare at the young figure in front of me.

I wanted to say yes, because I needed something to keep me from going insane, but then I just couldn't imagine myself drinking more of this liquor.

"No," I replied, and he quickly left to attend to the others.

Just then, I felt the buzzing of my phone in my pants pocket.

Taking it out, I was so relieved to see Harry as the caller ID, because I so needed someone to vent my anger and frustration at-and he was the only one who has ever listened and understood me.

"Hey Ha-"

"Why on earth weren't you taking my calls all fckng day!"

His outburst had me shocked, and I couldn't even finish my greeting. Why on earth is everyone yelling at me?

"Why on earth would you be asking me that question when you obviously know the nature of my work? Harry, I wasn't with my phone all day because we had a murderer on the loose to catch-and you know about it," I replied in the calmest voice I could find.

"That's all you ever say, Nancy. It's always work, work, and work," he said, and I just couldn't understand why he was so angry.

"I don't understand. Why are you sounding so angry, like I did something wrong? Did anything happen at work today?" I asked as I immediately stepped outside the bar.

"Nothing happened at work, Nancy. But you happened. I'm tired of all of this. This is my limit. This is how far I can go. I think everything about us was a mistake."

Panic surged through me.

"Harry, please calm down and talk to me. Why are you suddenly sounding this way? Did I do something wrong? If I did, then I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't pick your calls. I promise I will make it up to you," I said, trying to stay as calm as possible.

"Don't you get it! You are the closest to me, but yet you don't notice how unhappy I am in this relationship. I thought we could push things through-no, I thought I could push things through. But it was a mistake. I can't do it anymore."

I could hear the anger and sadness in his voice, but I just couldn't understand what I had done wrong. We were fine until now.

"Harry, please, just tell me where you are so I can come meet you. Let's just talk things through," I said, but I already knew what was coming.

"There is nothing to talk about. Let's call it quits. I'm calling our engagement off, Nancy. I can't keep up with you. All you ever cared for or talked about has always been-and will always be-work."

And with that, his line went dead.

I don't know how long I stood there with my phone hanging on my ear, as tears streamed down my face.

I wanted to scream-to let out the pain that had drowned in my heart, wanting to explode from my chest-but when I opened my mouth to let it out, I couldn't find my voice, just like I felt so lost at that moment.

I immediately dialed back Harry's number, but I couldn't seem to get hold of his line, no matter how long I called, and it felt like I could lose it any minute from then, as my cheeks were drenched by my own tears.

I quickly got a hold of myself as I took a taxi to Harry's apartment.

When I got there, I remembered I left my key to the apartment back at the station. I rang the door over and over again until it felt like forever.

Harry's neighbor had to peep her head out-an elderly woman who had been living next to Harry for quite some time.

"He's not around. I thought you, of all people, would know he left this morning," she said, but that only made me confused.

"What? He left? To where?" I asked, but that only made her frown.

"You actually don't know he went on a business trip? Why on earth wouldn't you know such information about your partner?" she said.

It was only then I remembered-Harry had talked about a business trip the last time we met. He even pleaded with me to come with him if I was able to close up my case after then.

I can't believe I forgot all about it.

Before I could look up again, the woman was gone.

Then it dawned on me that Harry was right.

I was paying little to no attention to our relationship, and I ruined it.

            
            

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