Faith of the Fallen

2.FirstDay

MAX's POV

"Hi, I'm Emily." She held out her hand to me as she gave me the most beautiful smile I've ever seen before in my whole existence.

"Hi, I am Max and I will be the supervisor over your field work until you are done with your training." I shook her hand but found myself unable to break contact with her glowing hazel eyes that seemed to glow in the awkwardly lit office.

"Well, I already got my files yesterday and this is not my first time working at CPS, so I really don't think it is necessary for you to be following me the whole day." Her tone had bite and her glare was met with confusion of my own.

I had a few options of what to do. I could always say it is mandatory, but it isn't... I was already caught by her gaze, something about the girl in front of me intrigued me and I had to find out what it is.

"I completely understand, but I also have to make sure that you feel at home here in the big city and help you get around, so think of me not as a supervisor but more a....tour guide. Let's go now, we are burning daylight!" I quickly went and grabbed my suitcase and made sure she was following me as I walked towards the elevator.

Emily seemed pleased with the plan I had made and followed me swiftly and she adjusted her shoulder bag as she entered the elevator and stood next to me. I could feel her sneaking a glance at me, trying to make it unnoticeable, but I had my gifts, and I had my curse to make me aware of the desires of those around me.

"So, Emily," She jolted slightly when I spoke, then looked up at me with those gorgeous eyes.

"First on our list we will be visiting the Winston-family, correct?"

"Uh...Yes and then the-"

"Nope, we only focus on one family at a time, I don't want mix-ups and I want you individually focused on every single case that you get, understood?" I asked her as the elevator came to a halt and the doors opened slowly.

"Yes, I understand." And we left the elevator and then the building.

I quickly got us a cab and the rest of the ride was spent in silence.

Yet, I could not for the life of me understand what about her made me feel uneasy…

***

I waited outside the apartment complex's door for Emily to return, replying to texts from Alexander.

Alex: DON'T be late. 6:30!

Max: I know, could I just show up in my work clothes, there wouldn't be time to change.

Alex: Of course, I love a man in a suit.

Max: It is just a fitted jacket with fancy pants.

Alex: Still super sexy, you can wear it, but only if I get to take it off.

Max: See you @ 6:30

"And that was our last stop for the day. Could we please go get something to eat?" Emily asked as she came down the small steps from the main entrance. I could feel a difference in her aura, a sudden darkness hanging over her like a plague.

"Was it that bad in there?" I asked as I started calling for a cab, eyeing her suspiciously.

She took a deep breath and stared off into the sky for a few seconds, followed by a slow exhale she looked at me, "They have 4 kids in a 2 bedroom apartment the size of a match box! Who allowed that!? I'd love to see who authorized that and have a long conversation with them!" She started rummaging through papers.

"It was me. No need to search through that disorganized mess right there." I said as the cab pulled up next to us.

We climbed in and the whole ride back to the office she was glaring at me. I could see the questions and fury in those eyes of her. I knew the moment we got out, she would bite my head off, so it was best to avoid the situation a little bit.

"I can feel your anger and confusion, just wait until we are back at my office, then we can talk about it, okay?" I stated. She only nodded.

* * *

I closed the office door and immediately she went off.

"HOW COULD YOU AUTHORIZE THAT!? There is barely any space for those kids, there are 2 adults and FOUR KIDS sharing ONE bathroom!! Do you understand how bad that is? I know that you probably don't know how it is to grow up in foster care, but it is horrible! Those kids don't have any privacy! They are almost teenagers! What were you thinking!! -Oh let me guess, you WERE'NT!!" She was out of breath and her eyes could burn a hole right through me, her bright hazel eyes now simmering in darkness.

I calmly sat down on the edge of my desk in front of her.

"Were they unhappy?"

"What do you-"

"Were the kids unhappy?" I repeated my question firmly.

"No but-"

"The Eastons love kids, they can provide and they have enough income to give those kids everything, except a bigger home. I ask you again, were the kids unhappy?"

"I guess not, but there isn't enough space for-"

"Do you think those kids care? They've been from one horrible home to the next, but now that they have found a loving family with the best care they've ever received, you really think they will care about having less space?"

"That is not the point, you need to-"

"You have to take those f****d up assumptions of yours and shove them. If you also checked ALL of the notes I left in their file, they are saving up for a bigger apartment. That was the condition I allowed Milly and Devin to be fostered there, along with Manda and Frankie. And your assumption of me not knowing how it is to be a foster kid is really f****d, you haven't even known me a full 24 hours and yet you seem to know my entire pedigree!? Don't you ever enter a home again with this mind set." I briefly checked my watch. "Now I do not want to be late for something very important, so I will leave you with this: Don't break something that isn't broken."

I left the office swiftly, without even waiting for her response. Her behavioral changes stuck with me, but I knew I would figure her out sooner or later.