Mia clutched the article Maya had handed her, running her fingers through her hair in frustration as she hugged her knees. Her head rested on them momentarily before she glanced at Maya and let out a scoff.

"Mia," Maya called, her tone firm but gentle. "You don't need to address this in an interview right now."

Shaking her head, Mia exhaled sharply. "I don't know what Zachary's problem is," she muttered. "Why does he keep pulling stunts like this? What does he even want—attention?"

Maya sighed, massaging her temples. "Mia, listen. These pictures—they involve you and your personal bodyguard, who also happens to be Detective Ashley. This plays directly into your ex-husband's hands," she explained, her voice low but urgent.

"Are we still looking for a replacement for Ash?" Mia asked, her voice quieter now, as if avoiding the topic entirely.

"We are, but we haven't found anyone suitable yet," Maya replied, crossing her arms. Her gaze sharpened. "But, Mia, these pictures—are they real?"

Before Mia could respond, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

"Good morning, sugarplum."

Mia's feet slid from the couch to the plush carpet as she froze. Ashley shuffled out of Mia's bedroom, wearing an oversized shirt and short shorts. Her hair was a mess, and she rubbed her half-closed eyes as she yawned.

Maya's jaw dropped. "Sugarplum?" she echoed, her wide eyes darting between Mia and Ashley.

"Oh, good morning, Maya," Ashley greeted casually, making her way to the kitchen. Mid-step, she froze, her entire body stiffening. Her sleepy eyes shot open. "Maya?" she gasped, spinning around. Her hand flew to her mouth as realization hit. "Oh, fuck."

Mia buried her face in her hands, laughing softly. "Oh, gosh."

"What. Is. Going. On?" Maya demanded, her voice rising.

Ashley opened her mouth, fumbling for words, but Mia sighed, stepping forward. Gently, she pushed Ashley toward the kitchen. "Go," she murmured to Ashley before turning back to Maya.

"The truth is..." Mia began, rubbing the back of her neck nervously. "I'm in a relationship with Detective Ashley."

Maya blinked, stunned. "What?"

Mia bit her lip, her voice steady but hesitant. "That's why I've been asking about her replacement. I know this could cause issues, but—"

"But we don't have a replacement yet," Maya interjected firmly. "Mia, isn't this a conflict of interest for Ashley? I mean—"

"Why would it be?" Mia frowned, genuinely puzzled.

Ashley's voice came from the kitchen doorway. "It actually is."

Mia turned sharply, glaring at her. "Why do you keep walking in and out like that?!" she snapped, throwing a pillow at Ashley.

Ashley caught it with ease, shrugging. "It's a conflict of interest because protecting you is my job," she explained. "Being in a relationship with you could cloud my judgment in certain situations."

Mia blinked, startled. "Then why didn't you tell me sooner?" she asked, her worry evident.

Ashley leaned against the doorframe, sipping a glass of water. "Inspector Weiss—Natalie—is aware. She's my superior. But yeah, if this gets out to the higher-ups, I could face sanctions. Worst-case scenario? Suspension or even license termination as both a police detective and a private detective."

Mia's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?!"

Ashley scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "It's not like I've been handling your cases. The first one—your attacker—was purely coincidental. I just detained him but wasn't involved in the investigation. The second case? I got stabbed, sure, but again, I wasn't solving it. Technically, my work as your bodyguard, even temporarily, is where it gets sticky."

With that, she gave a small wave and disappeared back into the bedroom, leaving Mia and Maya alone.

Maya threw her hands up. "So these pictures are real?"

"Are you seriously more worried about the pictures than Ashley's job?" Mia asked incredulously, though a small laugh escaped her lips. "I didn't realize how serious this could be for her career..."

Rolling her eyes, Maya relented. "Fine, I'll prioritize finding a replacement. But as for these," she said, gesturing at the articles and photos, "you're not giving any interviews until we do. Got it?"

Mia sighed, nodding. "Got it."

Ashley lowered her phone, stretching her legs out lazily on the mattress. Crossing one over the other, she glanced at Mia, who was glaring daggers at her.

"Is Maya gone?" Ashley asked, setting her phone on the bedside table.

Mia nodded, her expression darkening. "And why didn't you tell me this could get you suspended?" she hissed, flopping onto the bed beside Ashley. Without warning, she playfully bit Ashley's arm.

Ashley laughed, tugging her arm away. "Would you have dared to date me if I had told you?" she teased, her lips curling into a mischievous grin.

Mia paused, taken aback. "I..." She stared at Ashley, her voice softening. "I honestly don't know." She sighed, the weight of the situation sinking in. "You've been doing this job long before we met, and now you're risking everything because of me—walking a tightrope between keeping your career and being with me."

Mia sat up, hugging her knees to her chest. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't want to be the reason you lose your job."

Ashley sighed, sitting up beside her. "Then fire me," she said casually.

Mia blinked, her jaw dropping. "What?"

"You heard me—fire me," Ashley said with a shrug. "Request a new bodyguard, ask for my reassignment. Problem solved."

"Are you nuts?" Mia frowned. "Why would I fire you when all you've done—"

Ashley cut her off with a quick kiss, her voice calm but firm. "I'm not saying you'd fire me because I'm bad at my job or anything. I mean, if you're feeling guilty about my potential suspension, then just fire me. It's that simple."

"But what about you?" Mia asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Ashley shrugged again. "Whether you fire me or not, the suspension is still on the table. It's not like I'm getting out of this unscathed," she said with a small laugh. "But losing my license? That's unlikely. It's not like I let my emotions compromise my work. I haven't even taken any cases involving you directly." She chuckled, leaning back on her hands. "All I did was unexpectedly fall for you while working as your bodyguard. Believe me, this wasn't part of the plan."

Mia buried her face in her knees, groaning. Ashley clicked her tongue, leaning forward to pat her head gently.

"Don't stress about it too much," Ashley said with a grin. "Even if I lose my detective license, I still have my coffee shop. I'll survive."

Mia lifted her head to glare at her. "Don't joke about something like that!" she scolded, giving Ashley a light slap on the arm. "I'm just worried about your career. It's not easy to build credibility, and once it's gone, it's so hard to get back. How can you be so calm about this?"

Ashley scoffed. "I told you, don't worry about me. It's not the end of the world." She smirked, crossing her arms. "It's not like I'll starve if I lose my job. I can live lavishly if I want to."

Mia frowned. "Still. It's your job, your career. How can I 'not worry' when—"

Ashley silenced her with a finger to her lips, laughing softly. "You're acting like I'm some stray living off scraps in the street. Trust me, I'll be fine. This isn't the first time my career's hit a bump in the road, and it probably won't be the last." She grinned, pulling Mia closer. "Now stop stressing about nonsense and just give me a hug."

Mia rolled her eyes as Ashley wrapped her arms around her, pulling them both back down onto the mattress.

"You're impossible," Mia muttered into Ashley's chest, her voice muffled but affectionate.

Ashley chuckled, stroking her hair and planting a playful kiss on the top of her head. "I love you more."