HER MAN?!

“We have decided for the consequence of your actions, Mr. Gomez.” The chief-of-police started, gliding gazes to Troye who stood firmly, while surrounded by his former colleagues, including his replacement.

“Since none of the sort of our usual disciplinary actions met the requirements as you are not part of us anymore, we resort to another alternative for you to comply as your punishment.” He added, making some close colleagues of Troye to get nervous, excluding him.

“Your reputation and achievements brought hopes to the citizens which was brought by your skills. Thus, we have decided to cut all of your name from your very own hard work.” The chief said with conviction, upbringing common reactions from the rest of the police who are in the same room.

Troye, on the other hand, deeply furrowed his brows. He didn’t see this coming.

“What, sir?!” Inspector Ryan slightly raised his voice.

“Sir, you mean to say, you’re putting down all the credits of Troye?” Luke seconded.

“Isn’t it unfair, though?” Bryan followed, which somehow brought surprise to some.

Meanwhile, Troye just unbelievably stared at the stoic chief. His silence, though, somehow caught the attention of some, as they expected him to oppose against it.

“Whose name will be credited, then?” he finally muttered, which is now the common question of all inside the conference room. Back then, Troye respected the higher-ups. But gradually it’s fading as per the deeds that they have done to him.

His question put the chief in silent as though a lump stuck in his throat. The chief avoided his gazes. “The new sergeant of your former station.”

Some gasped of flabbergast, and the others got bewildered even more. Especially to the new sergeant himself who was just leaning on the wall slightly away from them. Steven darted a puzzled look at the chief, but the latter just ignored them.

“What do you mean, sir?” Steven asked confusingly, but he was once again ignored.

“You’re dismissed.” The chief remarked. “And Mr. Gomez, don’t cause such things again, I beg.” He ended, and went off.

As soon as the chief reached his office, he then received a call from someone. He stared at it for a moment, and then let out a sigh before answering it.

“I did it.” He greeted without sense of any emotions.

“As you should as I was expecting that. Keep a record on him.” A voice from a lady replied back with only a few words, then instantly end it.

“What’s wrong with the system now…?” the very thing that he could only say to himself as he ran his eyes through the picture frames where Troye could be seen most of it. He looked at them with his faint and languid eyes, and memories from the past rushed back in his mind.

For the moment, Troye is leaving the building to get back to his work. It was a very uncalled ‘disciplinary action’, he could’ve lost all of his traces when he was still a cop. But there’s nothing he could do about it but to dwell in it. After all, he was after the justice of the victims, and not those papers.

A notification from his phone suddenly woken him up. He received a message from Hailey.

‘Bring a latte and cookies with you before coming back.’

He’s back on track now.

Half an hour later, he reached the Dixon building with the food and drink with him. As soon as he came into her office, a sight of her unlikely watching the television greeted his eyes. While June was the one using her cubicle, busy rummaging some documents.

“Hey.” Hailey greeted him, and averted her gazes to the television, indirectly telling Troye to watch it too.

But he was stunned upon seeing his own self on it.

“Wow, you always do look good, Troye!” a jovial voice from June echoed. “But… huh?” his reaction instantly switched upon seeing the headline of the news.

“News report. ‘The’ Troye Steven Gomez was apparently discredited from all of his achievements…” The reporter spoke, and a photo from the official site of the nation’s police force was shown on the screen, in which the e-certificate copies of his achievements can be seen, but without his name on it anymore.

Troye just took a light deep breath before coming to Hailey’s direction to give her food.

“That must have served as your disciplinary action, right?” Hailey threw at him, and picked a piece of cookie.

“Wow, impressive! You didn’t even include buying some for me!” June fired at her, upon seeing the food on the table. “Hello? Where’s your gratitude, madame? I’m acting as your position in here.” He sarcastically added.

Hailey just made a dismissing gesture at him, making him grit his teeth. “You can make it yourself. The coffee machine is literally just beside you.” She replied. She could have used it too, but she prefers the latte from a café.

“I can buy one for you, sir, or make you one.” Troye offered, since it’s on him to begin with as he was the one who bought it without knowing his presence here.

“What? Sir? Again?” June was flustered. “I told you to just call me by my name.”

“Ah, right.” Troye replied, and scratched the back of his head. “I’m sorry, June.” He said and paced toward as to where the coffee machine is to make one for him.

“If you want, you can actually call Hailey by her name, too. After all, she does not deserve the honorific.” He said to which Hailey raised her brow on.

Troye just smiled. He’s already used to them bickering around and throwing barbs to each other.

“If you want, June, I can actually throw this hot coffee on your face too. After all, you have been getting on my nerves.” She fired back at him, copying the way he spoke.

Should the day come that they’ll resort to physical—which is unlikely—Troye would be the one to part them and cause ceasefire.

A few minutes after, he’s done making his preferred coffee which is the caramel macchiato. He didn’t really do much but he received praise from him for making it so great. However, the atmosphere instantly lowered down, when someone from outside is pressing the passcode of the office.

Theresa emerged behind, with a wide smile plastered on her face, which Hailey find odd and suspicious at the same time.

“Hailey, my daughter…” she greeted her wholeheartedly, etching a cold and confusing look on Hailey. “I want you to meet this man with me…” Theresa looked beside her, emerging a figure of a man.

“I’m finally meeting you… Ms. Hailey.”