Tamed

“Shit.” I heard him call out.

I mumbled all of the curses I knew in that moment as I realized that someone had run into me, causing me to drop all of the files I held in my arms. I had already been having a hard enough time trying to find my office and now this!

“I’m sorry about that.”

I looked up from the ground where I had been attempting to put my life back together, when I saw him. He had a strong build that was noticeable even under all of the fabric that made up his suit and the smile that crossed his lips could have made any girl fall into his arms. It almost made me wish that I had run into him instead of the other way around so that I would have had the chance to run my hands over the freckles that landed on the bridge of his nose and probably ran down to...

“It’s okay.” I replied in a whisper. “I’m lost, so I’m sure that had something to do with it.”

“Lost?” he asked. “So you’re new here.”

“Is it obvious?”

He chuckled and I felt my chest tighten at the deep octave of his voice. “Only because you don’t look like anyone else around here.”

I frowned.

“It’s a good thing, trust me.” He added. “I’m Mateo. Matt, for the colleagues.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Matt.” I replied. “I’m Scarlett. No short hand about it.”

He smiled. “So who do you belong to?”

I froze.

It was an innocent question and there was no reason for me to feel as uncomfortable as I did in that moment, yet I was. I finished gathering my paperwork and stood up, instinctively running my hand over the charmless bracelet around my wrist. “I will be working with the district attorney.”

“Ah.” He smirked. “She did mention something about that.”

I flinched when I saw him eyeing my bracelet.

I might have been seeing things but he seemed to hone in on the jewelry and it made me wonder if he knew...

...no, he couldn’t have known.

“Can you point me in the right direction?”

He nodded and held out his elbow for me to grab on to. I could feel the heat rushing to my cheeks as I accepted his prompt and let him lead me around the hall. He stopped in front of a large door and held the hand that had been placed on his elbow. “This is your stop, madam.” He smirked.

I opened the door and look back at him, as if waiting for him to disappear into thin air like the dream he seemed to be. Matt smirked and leaned across me, to hold the door open so that I could make my way inside. He stood there, leaning against the door frame, watching me as I set my files down on the large oak desk and surveyed the room. There were a couple of chairs for visitors and a couch off to the side underneath a large window. Other than those items, the office was bare and I began to think of the little plants and trinkets I could bring from home to help it along. After giving the space a once over, my sights landed on Matt again and how he casually stood there, watching me with ice blue eyes and running his hands through blonde hair. He licked his lips and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

What was wrong with me?

As if he could read my mind, the sexy smirk spread across his face as he placed his hands in his pockets. “If you want to hang out or anything...outside of work, let me know.”

“Um...yeah.” I replied, suddenly feeling my throat drying. “I mean, I’ll let you know what’s going on when I know my schedule.”

“Rita is pretty flexible so I don’t think you’ll have a problem there.” He started to walk away before he continued. “I’m right down the hall so let me know.”

I let out the air in my lungs with a huff and realized that I had been barely breathing that entire time. I had already begun kidding myself with the thought that this Adonis of a man might have been interested in me and making up these scenarios in my head when all he had done was ask whether or not I wanted to hang out. Hanging out could have been anything from getting coffee to being with a group and getting beers after work and yet I was thinking that maybe he...

I shook my head of the thought and decided that my time would be better spent finding my new supervisor and figuring out what I should be starting with. When I grabbed the top file, I heard a small knock on the door and looked up.

“I see that you found the place.”

She was very tall and the length of her limbs was almost comical but she was still very beautiful in the way that she carried herself and her smile. I returned that smile in a way that I hoped wouldn’t portray the nerves that I felt. “I did find it after a little bit of hunting.”

“Is it big enough?”

“For what I need to do, yes.” I replied. “I was actually just coming to find you and ask what you wanted me to start with.”

She took a step inside of the office and shut the door behind her before walking over to the couch and staring out of the window. “We have two missing persons and you were suggested based off your experience with the lifestyle that they are a part of.” She crossed her arms. “While I understand the gist of it, I have to wonder what exactly makes you an expert and how you plan to help me find them.”

I placed my hands on the flat surface of the desk and thought about how to answer such a complicated and yet necessary question. She had taken a leap of faith in going forward with the suggestion of bringing me in and I had no issue with giving her the information that she craved, I just didn’t really know where to begin. “Well...first and foremost, I am not an expert.” I replied. “I just so happen to frequent the club that Mr. and Mrs. Beckett are a part of and I know the ins and outs of their lifestyle.” I sighed. “I haven’t been there in quite a while so I don’t have much information on the Becketts at the moment but I do know that the witnesses you have been attempting to question would feel more comfortable with someone that at least understands.”

She nodded. “I have got to figure out what happened to the Becketts, Scarlett and you are honestly the Hail Mary.”

No pressure or anything.

“I can’t promise that me coming into this thing is absolutely going to solve the case, but I do know that it will make things a little easier for the detectives going forward.” I replied. “I would like to sit in on interrogations and gain a better understanding not only of the Becketts but their circle.”

“Do you know them?”

I shook my head. “I only know of the owner, my brother and his wife.” I replied. “They know them as well as any bar owner would know their patrons but they have agreed to help me in any way that they can.”

She sighed and walked towards me, holding out her hand. “Welcome to the team Ms. Han.”

“Scarlett is fine.”

“Good.” She grinned. “I’m Rita.” Once she released my hand, I could see the tension leaving her shoulders and she too glanced at the bracelet along my wrist. “If you need any guidance or have any general questions, my office is down the hall but other than that, you are a free agent here.” She explained. “Just come to me with the news and we will pave a way forward depending on what you come up with.”

I nodded. “Thanks, Rita.”

She gave an exhausted half smile and left the office, shutting the door behind her.

It had been well over a month since the Becketts were last seen in public and I could tell that the exhausted look on Rita’s face was that of defeat. She had given up the chase when I was suddenly brought into the fold and she no longer had any hope left. While the training received would have preferred that the investigators and the team associated believe that the missing persons were alive and well, I could tell that Rita was struggling.

It just meant I would have to have enough hope for the both of us.

There was another knock on the door before I could get to work putting my files away and I smiled when I saw Matt standing here with a brooding and yet equally as handsome companion. “Scarlett, this is Caesar.”

He took a couple of long strides forward to stick a hand out and I met my grip with his. His hands were calloused and hard, sort of like the expression that crossed his face as he made eye contact with me. While he said nothing, Matt spoke for him in a manner that was cheerful and the complete opposite of the brooding Caesar. "He is another attorney on the team and the three of us will be working closely together with the investigators."

"Welcome." He released my hand and walked out the door without another word.

I raised an eyebrow. "What the hell?"

Matt shrugged. "He's a tough nut to crack but you'll get there." He chuckled. "Let's start with drinks after work."