Seeing Jason so straightforward, Detective Rivera’s face showed a satisfied smile.
"If everything looks good, we’ll sign the retainer now. I’ll take your number, and if things go smoothly you should have results within three days."
He opened a drawer, pulled out a short contract, and slid it across the desk.
Rivera hadn’t expected to misread the kid. A university student who could casually put up five thousand dollars? Maybe the guy came from money after all.
Jason took the contract, read every line carefully, then signed his name in clean, steady strokes.
"Card’s fine."
He handed over a debit card. Rivera ran it through the reader with practiced ease. A moment later the machine chirped and the receipt printed. He returned the card along with the slip.
"Thank you, Detective. I’ll wait for your call." Jason stood and shook the man’s hand. "Appreciate you taking this on. I’ll see myself out."
"Take care, Mr. Carter. If everything checks out, you’ll have the evidence in three days. Any progress, I’ll phone you directly."
Jason walked out of the slightly run-down office building and drew a long breath of evening air, as if he could push the last of the day’s weight out of his lungs.
By the time he got back to the house, dusk had already settled over the neighborhood. The windows glowed with warm yellow light, and the moment he stepped inside the rich smell of dinner filled the living room.
Victoria was busy in the kitchen, moving carefully but still on her feet.
"Aunt Victoria, why are you cooking again? How’s the ankle?"
Jason crossed the room quickly, eyes dropping to her smooth, pale foot. The swelling had gone down, but he still didn’t like seeing her stand for long.
Victoria turned, a gentle smile on her face.
"It’s a lot better. Staying in bed all day was driving me crazy. And honestly, your mother’s cooking... well, let’s just say I’d rather not risk another hospital visit."
She gave a small, helpless shake of her head.
"You still should’ve waited for me."
"It’s fine, it’s fine. Go call Emma for dinner. She’s been locked in her room all afternoon making weird little noises. I have no idea what she’s doing in there."
Jason nodded. "Got it."
He walked down the short hallway and knocked lightly on Emma’s door.
"Emma, food’s ready."
A soft rustle came from inside. After a few seconds the door opened just a crack and Emma peeked out.
Her face was flushed, almost feverish, and her eyes looked bright and a little watery.
"Emma... what were you doing in there? Your face is really red."
Jason’s voice was pure curiosity. He couldn’t look away from the shy color on her cheeks.
Emma quickly shook her head.
"N-nothing."
She bit her lower lip, voice slightly unsteady, and kept her gaze lowered so she wouldn’t have to meet his eyes.
"You’re not doing anything shady, are you?"
Jason’s curiosity only grew. He leaned in a little, trying to see past her into the room.
"Hey~no!"
Emma moved fast and shut the door firmly in his face.
"You little brat, don’t look! Just... go eat first. I’ll be out in a minute. Promise."
Her voice carried a soft, almost coaxing note, and even through the wood he could tell her face had gone even redder.
Jason stood there for a second, then smiled helplessly.
"Alright, hurry up or everything’s gonna get cold."
"I know..." came the muffled reply.
He went back to the living room and sat at the table.
"Emma’s doing something in her room. Said she’ll be out soon."
Victoria nodded with a small smile. "Then we’ll start without her."
A few minutes later the bedroom door opened again.
Emma stepped out wearing a simple white dress that moved lightly around her legs with every step, the fabric soft and clean like fresh petals. Her hair fell neatly over her shoulders. She had put on light makeup~just enough to make her features sharper, her eyes brighter, her mouth softer. The small mole near the corner of her left eye stood out more than usual, giving her face a delicate, almost fragile charm.
Jason, who had been focused on his plate, looked up and completely forgot what he was eating.
She looked... different. Softer. Almost luminous under the kitchen light.
Even with everything he had seen in his previous life, the sight still caught him off guard.
Emma noticed his stare. A shy little smile curved her lips. She pinched the side of her skirt and turned once, slow and graceful, letting the hem float around her knees.
"Do I look okay?"
Her peach-blossom eyes curved into gentle crescents, a faint pink blooming across her cheeks.
Jason swallowed without meaning to.
"You look... really beautiful. Like something that shouldn’t be walking around an ordinary house."
Emma’s smile deepened, clearly pleased. She had spent the entire afternoon getting ready for tonight~their first real outing together~and the way Jason was looking at her made every minute worth it.
In her mind she still thought of him as too pure, too inexperienced. That was how Olivia had managed to take advantage of him before. But the way he was staring at her now felt like progress. Real progress.
She quietly cheered herself on.
The three of them sat down to eat. The atmosphere at the table was strangely quiet and a little charged.
Victoria kept her eyes mostly on her plate. Part of her genuinely hoped Emma and Jason would grow closer~it would keep the families tightly connected~but another part of her felt an unexpected, quiet ache she didn’t want to examine.
Emma picked at her food, sneaking glances at Jason every few seconds and then smiling to herself when she thought no one noticed.
Jason, for his part, was only half-present. His mind kept drifting back to the first real money he was about to make, the SwiftBite negotiation, and the clock he had just started on Olivia.
Eventually the plates were empty.
Jason looked at Victoria.
"Aunt Victoria, Emma and I are going to take some food to Mom at the hospital, then we’re catching a movie tonight. You should stay off that ankle and rest. Don’t push it again."