Ashley tilted her head, watching Mia fidget with the hoodie she had pulled snugly over her head. With a sigh, Ashley drummed her index finger against the table to get her attention.

"Are you hiding from someone?" she asked, her brow arching in mild curiosity.

Mia glanced up at her, then leaned forward, lowering her voice. "Just trying to steer clear of paparazzi. You know, avoiding any scandals or... whatever nonsense they'd cook up," she said, flashing a faint, nervous smile.

Ashley nodded slowly, her gaze sweeping the coffee shop. Without another word, she stood and extended her hand toward Mia. "Come."

Mia blinked, confused. "Where to?" She looked from Ashley's outstretched hand to her face, searching for an answer.

"Just come," Ashley urged, her lips quirking into a reassuring smile.

Swallowing her hesitation, Mia stood and placed her hand in Ashley's. She let the detective guide her toward a secluded corner of the shop, through an unmarked door, and into a hallway. Ashley pushed open another door, stepping inside before beckoning Mia to follow.

"Are we even allowed to be here?" Mia whispered, her steps faltering.

Ashley shrugged as she released Mia's hand. "The coffee shop's mine," she said nonchalantly, walking over to a plush couch and dropping onto it. "Come on in."

Mia stared, baffled. "Wait a second. You wanted me to treat you to coffee, and now we're in your coffee shop?" she asked, sitting across from Ashley with an incredulous scoff.

"Exactly. So pay for the coffee," Ashley said casually, leaning her head back against the couch. She took off her cap and balanced it on her knee. "Oh, and for renting out this private room too."

Mia laughed bitterly, crossing her arms. "We agreed on just coffee."

Ashley opened one eye to look at her, her smirk returning. "You looked ridiculous out there, trying to hide from everyone. Isn't this better? A safe, private spot where you can actually enjoy your coffee?" She waved her hand lazily toward the door. "But hey, if you're not interested, you're welcome to head back to that table and keep dodging cameras. Not my problem."

Mia let out a long sigh, removing her sunglasses and mask before lowering her hoodie. "Fine. Thanks, I guess," she mumbled.

Ashley chuckled as she reached for a remote control, lowering the blinds in the room with a mechanical hum. "Must be tough being a celebrity."

Mia let out a short laugh, shaking her head. "Yeah, especially when you're constantly making headlines over a divorce," she said, her voice tinged with sarcasm.

Ashley gave a small nod, standing up. "Wait here. I'll grab our orders." Without waiting for a response, she disappeared through the door.

Left alone, Mia leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling. She groaned softly and smacked her forehead. "Of all the people I could've dragged into this mess, why did it have to be her?" she muttered, a bitter laugh escaping her lips.



Mia inhaled deeply, savoring the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee as she took a careful sip. A small smile graced her lips-this was the most peaceful coffee she'd enjoyed in what felt like forever. Ever since the news of her divorce broke, moments like this had been almost impossible to come by.

She glanced at Ashley, who was sitting across from her, sipping coffee in one hand while scrolling through her phone with the other. Is she really a detective? Mia mused silently, her curiosity piqued.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Ashley broke the silence, her gaze locking onto Mia's.

Mia blinked, startled. "Just wondering if you're really a detective," she admitted with a chuckle.

Ashley tilted her head and laughed softly. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Honestly, you don't look like one," Mia replied, shaking her head.

Ashley smirked. "I'm a private detective most of the time, but I do take calls from the authorities here and there," she said with a shrug. "Actually, the building above this coffee shop? That's where my firm is located."

"Oh," Mia murmured, nodding as she took another sip of her coffee.

Ashley's eyes flicked to Mia's hand. "How's your hand? I guess it's fine since you never called me about it," she said, gesturing toward it.

Mia glanced at her hand. The wound had healed, leaving only a faint scar. "Yeah, it's fine," she said simply.

Ashley nodded, her gaze sharpening slightly. "That guy earlier-he's your ex, isn't he? Zachary, right? I think I've seen him on TV. He's a celebrity too, isn't he?"

"He is," Mia confirmed, a bitter chuckle escaping her. "He got even more attention after our divorce hit the news. It was supposed to stay private, but that idiot just blurted it out to the media. Now here I am, being hounded by paparazzi and fans," she said, shaking her head with a laugh that didn't reach her eyes.

Ashley leaned back, tilting her head. "Why not just get it over with? Take an interview or something. You're already divorced. What's there to lose?"

Mia exhaled sharply, setting her cup down and leaning back against the couch. "Easy for you to say. It's not like I can just come out and tell everyone that it's his fault. People already assume the whole thing was my fault," she said, her voice tinged with frustration.

Ashley shrugged. "Why not get yourself a bodyguard? You're hiding for no reason. Just face the public, live your life the way you want. Sure, you're a celebrity, but you're human too. You're allowed to set your own rules. You don't have to hide like this."

Mia studied her for a moment, then smirked. "What, are you offering to be my bodyguard?"

Ashley raised an eyebrow. "Me? Your bodyguard?" She pointed to herself, a look of disbelief on her face. "I'm a detective, not a babysitter."

"At least you'd get to see a celebrity every day," Mia teased with a shrug.

Ashley chuckled, shaking her head. "If that celebrity is you, I'll pass," she said, taking another sip of her coffee.

"Ah, I see," Mia said, her smirk widening. "So you'd rather work with male celebrities?" she teased.

Ashley blinked, caught off guard. "What are you implying?" she asked, leaning forward slightly. "What exactly do you think of me?"

Mia frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

"My preferences," Ashley clarified, her lips quirking into a playful smile.

Mia tilted her head. "Aren't you... straight?"

Ashley burst out laughing, shaking her head. "No. No, I'm not. I'm an androgynous lesbian, I prefer women, not men," she said, her laughter fading into a grin. "So yeah, I'll pass on those male celebs you're imagining."

"Oh," Mia said, her cheeks flushing slightly. "My bad!" She gave Ashley a small, apologetic bow, her embarrassment softened by a laugh.