"Are you going to look into that case?" Silver asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"I will. If I find something, I'll let you know," Charlie assured her with a reassuring smile. Silver nodded, feeling slightly relieved.
"What are you doing here?" Silver asked, her gaze fixed on Charlie.
"Lily messaged me," Charlie replied.
"I see," Silver said, nodding slowly, her expression a mix of curiosity and worry.
"Silver, are you angry at me?" Charlie's voice was gentle, almost hesitant.
"No. Why are you asking that?" Silver responded, her tone a bit defensive.
"Yesterday you left so suddenly and didn't answer my calls," Charlie said, his brow furrowing with concern.
"Sorry for my behavior. I was jealous of Lily," Silver admitted, her cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment.
Charlie's eyes softened, and he smiled widely. "What?"
Silver's heart fluttered as she caught the look of affection in his eyes. "You love me that much? I thought only I loved you that much," he said, a hint of teasing in his voice.
Silver felt her face grow warm. She shot him an angry glance, though a smile played on her lips. "Shut up! If you really dated her, I would have already left you," she said, standing up and taking a few steps away, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and vulnerability.
"I promise you, I will never love anyone else but you. And I will never do anything with anyone else, if it's not with you," Charlie said, his voice earnest as he stood next to her, gently placing his hand on her shoulder.
"Really?" Silver asked, her eyes searching his face for sincerity. She knew she was being overly possessive, but the fear of getting hurt was real.
"Yes. Can I take you out for dinner tonight?" Charlie asked hopefully, wrapping his arms around her in a warm hug. Silver hugged him back, feeling a surge of affection and relief.
"Yes, my lion," Silver replied, her voice soft and loving.
"Then I will pick you up after your work," Charlie said, his tone filled with anticipation.
"Okay," Silver agreed, her heart lifting as they broke the hug.
"Then I will see you later," Charlie said, giving her a tender kiss on the forehead before turning to leave.
"Bye," Silver said, watching him walk away, a smile lingering on her lips.
"Who is he?" a voice said close to her ear. Silver turned around in a panic.
"Ma… you scared me," Silver said, her heart racing. Her mother laughed as she stood opposite her daughter.
"Tell me, who was he?" her mother asked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"He is my boyfriend," Silver replied, her cheeks still flushed.
"Oh… and when will you introduce him to us?" her mother inquired, a teasing edge to her voice.
"Soon," Silver promised.
Her mother sipped her tea with milk, her eyes fixed on Silver. "What's his name? What does he do?"
"His name is Charlie Howell. He is a police officer detective," Silver answered, feeling a mix of pride and nervousness.
"When did you two start dating?" her mother asked, genuinely interested.
"Not long ago," Silver replied, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
"Guess I'll have to wait for a proper introduction," Mrs. Miller said, smiling warmly.
"Yes, Ma. Thank you," Silver said, hugging her mother.
Her mother smiled and said, "He's quite handsome, more than Jayden, I must say. Just don't tell Parel I said that."
Silver chuckled and replied, "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. I'll keep it between us."
After work, Silver walked to the entrance of the building. Outside, it was raining hard, and she saw Charlie standing by his car, holding a black umbrella. When he saw her, he smiled warmly and walked over with a confident stride.
Some of the female staff saw Charlie and began whispering to each other, clearly admiring him.
Silver glanced at them for a moment before looking back at Charlie. He was very attractive, with deep blue eyes and a tall, confident stance. He's definitely worth the attention, she thought.
Charlie smiled warmly and offered his hand. Silver took it, and the female staff gasped in surprise. As they walked to the car, their whispers grew louder and more excited. Silver thought, By tomorrow, everyone will know that we're dating. The news will spread fast.
As Charlie drove, he glanced at Silver. "Where do you want to eat?"
"At home," Silver said, her voice steady but with a hint of shyness.
"Huh… you want to go home?" Charlie asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Yes, but to your home. Is that okay?" Silver clarified, her voice a bit hesitant.
Charlie's eyes widened in surprise. "You want to come to my place?"
"Yes. I thought it would be nice. Is that alright?" Silver asked, her cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment.
"Absolutely, it's alright! I was just caught off guard," Charlie said, his voice warm and inviting.
"I'm glad to hear that. I was thinking it would be nice to have a meal in a private setting," Silver replied.
"What do you want to eat? I'll cook," Charlie offered, his tone enthusiastic.
"You can cook?" Silver asked, her eyes widening with curiosity.
"Yes, after I moved out on my own, I had to learn," Charlie explained with a smile.
"That's nice. What dishes can you make?" Silver asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Just simple and easy ones," Charlie replied, his smile widening.
"How about creamy chicken pasta?" Silver suggested, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Sounds good. And for dessert, what would you like?" Charlie asked, his tone playful.
"How about something you like?" Silver replied, her voice light and cheerful.
"Alright, how about a classic chocolate lava cake? It's my favorite," Charlie said with a smile.
"That sounds amazing!" Silver said, her eyes lighting up. "I can't wait to try it."
Charlie chuckled as he continued to drive. "I'll make sure it's perfect. We're almost there, so hang tight."
Silver smiled, looking out the window as the rain tapped softly against the car. "I'm really looking forward to this evening."
"Me too," Charlie replied, glancing over with a warm smile. "It's going to be a great evening."
As they approached their destination, the rain continued to fall steadily. Charlie turned on the radio to a soft, relaxing tune. The inside of the car felt warm and comfortable, creating a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere despite the rainy weather outside.