The Fine Print

Invitations

The Governor's Foundation Gala was the kind of event detectives only attended when they had no choice.

Nyla found the cream-colored envelope on her desk the next morning.

She frowned.

"No! Please tell me this isn't what I think it is."

Marcus looked over his monitor.

"If that's an invitation, congratulations."

"If it's an invitation, condolences."

He reached over and took it from her before she could stop him.

"'The Office of the Governor requests the presence of Detective Nyla Micheals...'" He looked up with a grin. "Look at you."

She snatched it back.

"I don't even own a dress."

"You've got a week."

"I've got excuses."

Captain Brooks appeared as if summoned.

"You'll be attending."

Nyla sighed dramatically.

"I was hoping you'd say I wouldn't."

"Well, I didn't."

Brooks folded her arms.

"The Governor's security detail requested two detectives from our precinct. Reed and Michaels."

Marcus pointed at himself proudly.

"I've always wanted free food."

"You'll be working."

"So... free food while working?"

Brooks ignored him.

"The guest list includes politicians, judges, business executives and foreign investors. We don't anticipate trouble."

"Then why detectives?" Nyla asked.

"Because wealthy people like seeing uniforms when they're spending money."

Marcus nodded.

"That actually sounds about right."

---

By noon, Nyla had forgotten about the gala.

Until Carla appeared beside her desk.

"What color?"

"What?"

"The dress."

"There is no dress."

"There has to be."

"There absolutely does not."

Carla gasped dramatically.

"You cannot attend a governor's gala in one of your depressing oversize work blazers."

"They're practical….and fashionable"

"They're tragic."

“How dare you!” she faked a hurt look.

Marcus didn't bother looking up.

"She's right."

Nyla glared at both of them.

"I hate everyone in this building."

---

Her phone buzzed.

A message from Jacobi.

«Can we meet? Just once. I owe you a proper apology.»

She stared at it.

Typed.

Deleted.

Typed again.

Finally...

«One coffee. Public place. Twenty minutes. That's all.»

His reply came almost instantly.

«Thank you.»

She locked her phone.

Marcus watched the entire exchange.

"You know..."

"I'm not getting back together with him."

"I wasn't going to say that."

"What were you going to say?"

"I was going to ask if he'd pay for my coffee too."

She threw a pen.

He caught it without looking.

---

Three days later...

The café was almost empty.

Jacobi stood the moment Nyla walked in.

"You came."

"I said twenty minutes."

"I know."

He waited until she sat before taking his seat again.

For a few moments...

Neither of them spoke.

Finally...

"I'm sorry."

She nodded once.

"I know."

"No."

He looked down at his coffee.

"I'm sorry that I built our relationship on something that wasn't true. And that I cheated" he lowered his head “it was a one time thing, I swear and I was drunk. I'm sorry”.

Nyla stayed quiet.

"I kept thinking... if I worked hard enough..."

He laughed bitterly.

"...one day I'd become the man I pretended to be."

"You didn't have to pretend."

"I know that now."

He met her eyes.

"But I didn't know it then."

For the first time since the breakup...

Nyla believed him.

Not enough to forgive him.

But enough to understand him.

"I hope you become that man someday."

His face brightened.

Then she continued.

"I just won't be there when you do."

Whatever hope he'd carried into the café quietly disappeared.

He smiled anyway.

"You deserve better than who I was."

"I deserved the truth. And loyalty"

"...Yes."

He didn't argue.

When they left twenty-five minutes later...

They walked in opposite directions.

Neither looked back.

---

Across the city...

Adrian Cole stood before a wall-sized screen filled with lines of code.

His lead engineer rubbed tired eyes.

"We found it."

Adrian walked closer.

"You sound unconvinced."

"Because I don't think this was an accident."

The engineer enlarged several transactions.

Millions of dollars had moved through legitimate companies.

Perfectly.

Legally.

Until they vanished overseas.

"Someone's cleaning their trail," Adrian murmured.

"Can you prove it?"

"Not yet."

He studied the screen another moment before turning away.

"Keep digging."

His assistant knocked gently before entering.

"The Governor's office confirmed your attendance next Friday."

"And?"

"Mr. Quincy Grey also confirmed."

Adrian smiled faintly.

"Looks like dinner won't be boring."

---

Friday arrived faster than Nyla expected.

Carla and Priya stood in Nyla's apartment holding up two dresses.

"The blue."

“The silver”

"I like the black."

"The blue girl, don't be boring"

"The black hides coffee stains."

“Silver matches your skin tone perfectly and accentuates your figure”. Priya said proudly.

“She didn't lie. You hide that beautiful body all day in oversize suits. Do something different for a change”. “The silver it is, no room for arguments”. Carla and Priya share a satisfied look.

Nyla sighed.

"I regret giving you guys a spare key."

"You'll regret wearing black more."

Twenty minutes later...

Nyla walked out wearing a stunning silver dress with rain drops design, and a full open back.

Looking bright and beautiful like it was custom made for her.

Priya folded her arms triumphantly.

"I hate being right."

"You love being right."

"I do."

---

As the city lights reflected against the ballroom windows...

Luxury cars rolled one after another beneath the grand entrance.

Inside...

Staff hurried across polished marble floors.

Musicians tuned their instruments.

Servers arranged crystal glasses with military precision.

Somewhere upstairs...

Quincy Grey adjusted the cuffs of his tuxedo as Sachiel handed him the evening's program.

"Three speeches?"

Quincy looked mildly offended.

"I donated money."

"Yes sir."

"So why am I being punished?"

Sachiel almost smiled.

"The Governor insisted."

Quincy sighed.

"I should've donated less."

Outside...

Another car pulled to the entrance.

Marcus stepped out first.

Then offered Nyla his hand.

She ignored it and climbed out herself.

"You know..."

Marcus straightened his tie.

"One day you'll appreciate my manners."

"I appreciate that you tried."

Together...

They walked toward the entrance.