Ramona entered the modest office building of Stone & West Publications with a sense of cautious optimism. The firm wasn't as huge or influential as the bigger names in the business, but it had served her well over the years. It wasn't glamorous, but it was steady, and for someone like her—someone driven by a need for justice rather than fame—it was enough.
She made her way through the small open-plan office, exchanging greetings with a few colleagues who were busy typing away at their desks or discussing deadlines. "Morning, Ramona!" said Clara, a cheerful reporter who worked on the lifestyle beat.
"Morning, Clara," Ramona replied with a smile, her voice warm. She knew most of the people in the office by name, and despite the modest nature of their workplace, there was a camaraderie here that she cherished.
As she walked further into the office, she noticed Neil, another reporter who worked on investigative pieces. His desk was cluttered with papers and coffee cups, as usual. Ramona couldn't help but laugh as she approached him. "How's the research coming along, Neil?" she asked.
"Same as usual," he said, glancing up from his stack of papers. "Nothing worth writing home about. Just the regular scoops and leads."
Ramona nodded. "Well, if you ever get a juicy story, you know where to find me."
"I'll be sure to let you know," Neil said with a grin.
Ramona couldn't help but feel a slight flutter in her chest as she reached the glass-walled office at the back of the room. Inside sat Andrew, her boyfriend, the CEO of Stone & West. Andrew had worked hard to get to where he was, and while the firm wasn't huge, he'd managed to keep it running smoothly with his charm and strategic mind. Ramona had admired him from the very start—his determination, his passion, and the way he always seemed to find solutions to the most difficult problems.
Andrew looked up from his desk as she entered, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her. The warmth that spread across his face was enough to make Ramona's heart skip a beat. She had always loved him, but lately, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more—something beyond their love—that she couldn't resolve.
"Hey, gorgeous," Andrew said, standing up and walking toward her. "How's my favorite reporter this morning?"
Ramona smiled, her lips curling up at the edges as she closed the distance between them. "I'm good, just another day in the life of an investigative reporter," she said with a sigh, though her eyes betrayed the exhaustion she was feeling inside. She had spent countless sleepless nights working tirelessly on the Killian case, gathering whatever intel she could find.
Andrew wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a soft kiss. Ramona melted into the kiss, momentarily forgetting the weight of the world on her shoulders. But as the kiss broke, she was reminded of the reality she was living.
"I missed you," Andrew said softly, his voice filled with a tenderness that Ramona had come to expect from him. He stepped back, running a hand through his messy brown hair. "You're the best thing that's happened to me, you know that?"
"I know," Ramona said, her voice low. "I feel the same way."
They walked over to his desk, where a map of their leads and notes about Killian's movements was spread out on the surface. Ramona's eyes went straight to the section that detailed Killian's possible whereabouts in the coming weeks. She'd spent so many sleepless nights chasing every lead, piecing together fragments of information.
Andrew slid a new report toward her. "I've got some good news. I've managed to confirm Killian's location for the next few weeks. He's supposed to be at a casino two weeks from now. He has to go check on some business matters, and I've got a source who confirmed it."
Ramona's heart raced. "That's it. We're finally getting close," she whispered, her hands shaking with excitement as she traced the name of the casino on the paper. The closer they got, the more she could feel the weight of her father's death lifting from her shoulders, even if just a little. This was her chance for justice.
Andrew leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "It's been a long road, but we're almost there. You've worked so hard for this, Ramona. It's time for us to finally take him down."
She smiled, but there was a sadness in her eyes, a lingering fear that even once they captured Killian, something would still feel incomplete.
Andrew's gaze softened as he reached for her hand. "Ramona, I've been thinking. It's been years now. I know you're focused on your mission, but I can't help but wonder if maybe it's time we started thinking about our future. About us. About settling down."
Ramona's smile faltered for just a moment. She had known this conversation would come. She had known Andrew was growing tired of waiting. They'd been together for years now, and every time he brought up marriage, she had put it off, always saying that her father's death was the only thing that mattered. Always telling him that she couldn't think about starting a family until she got justice.
"Andrew, I… I'm not ready for that," she said, her voice soft but firm. "You know why."
Andrew's face tightened, his jaw set. "But Ramona, don't you love me? I've been with you through this entire journey. You've been so focused on getting revenge for your father, but what about us? What about our happiness? I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Ramona's heart ached as she met his gaze. She loved him—she really did—but there was a part of her that wasn't sure if this was her forever. She couldn't give him the commitment he wanted when her mind was consumed by the need for justice. And more than that, she wasn't sure she could be the person he wanted her to be, the woman he could settle down with.
"I love you, Andrew," she said, her voice breaking with emotion. "But until I get Killian arrested, until I get the justice my father deserves, I don't think I can settle down. I'm not ready for that kind of life. I'm not ready to have a family."
She saw the hurt flash in Andrew's eyes, and it nearly broke her heart. She didn't want to hurt him, but this was something she had to do.
Andrew stood up, his hands pressing against the desk as he leaned forward. "Ramona," he started, his voice thick with emotion. "I've been patient. I've supported you through this, but I need to know. Do you even see a future with me? Are we ever going to have the life we talked about? Or is this just about Killian for you?"
Ramona opened her mouth to speak but closed it again. She didn't know how to answer. The truth was, she wasn't sure. The man she loved, the life they could have together, felt so far away. She couldn't think about it until she had revenge, until Killian was behind bars.
"I have to go," she said, her voice strained. "I have work to do."
Andrew looked at her for a long moment, his eyes searching hers. "I hope you find the justice you're looking for, Ramona. But I hope you also remember what we have, before it's too late."
Ramona forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I'll see you later, Andrew," she said, turning away.
As she walked out of his office, her heart weighed heavy. She loved him, but she knew there was something inside her that wasn't ready to give him what he wanted. The guilt gnawed at her, but she couldn't help it. Until Killian was dealt with, nothing else mattered.