Chapter 5

A flicker of scrutiny passed through Michael's ice-blue eyes before they returned to their usual impassive coldness.

He watched Sarah's shy yet greedy expression for a moment, then said nothing more. Rising from his seat, he strode out of the café without another word.

Jessica knew nothing of this little episode. All she knew was that Michael seemed to have truly let her off the hook—for now, at least, she was safe.

This colossal mix-up finally allowed her frayed nerves a moment's respite. Even her fear of Michael diminished somewhat.

Until three days later, when the undercover operation officially began.

"Put this on." Michael tossed a designer garment bag onto the sofa, his tone brooking no argument.

Inside was a strapless gown in lake blue, its hem adorned with delicate diamonds that shimmered under the light like a river of stars.

Jessica recognized the brand—something she couldn't afford even if she saved her intern salary for ten years without eating or drinking.

"Tonight's a police department gala—our first public appearance together," Michael said, adjusting his cufflinks. Behind his glasses, his gaze was razor-sharp. "The target, a kingpin of the international smuggling ring known as 'the Professor,' will very likely attend through one of his proxies. Your job is to play my date convincingly. Remember every word in that background file."

Jessica clutched the dress tightly and nodded.

The gala was held in the ballroom of Halton's most exclusive hotel. Crystal chandeliers blazed overhead, casting light on elegantly dressed guests mingling with champagne flutes in hand.

Everyone present was either high-ranking law enforcement or social elite.

Jessica wore the expensive gown, her long hair swept up to reveal her slender neck. The carefully applied makeup transformed her into someone barely recognizable from the bare-faced probationary officer she usually was.

She followed nervously behind Michael, her palms slick with sweat.

Seeming to sense her discomfort, Michael naturally extended his arm and slipped it around her waist.

His palm was broad and warm, radiating heat through the thin fabric of her dress. That familiar scent enveloped her completely.

Jessica's body went rigid. She nearly walked with both arms and legs moving on the same side.

"Relax, Officer Brooks." Michael's voice was pitched low, his breath warm against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. "Right now, you look like you're about to face a firing squad, not attend a party."

His tone was clearly mocking, yet to outside observers, it appeared as intimate as lovers' banter.

Curious and probing glances immediately turned their way.

Everyone knew the newly appointed Chief Sullivan was famously uninterested in women. Yet here he was, arriving with such a beautiful date—naturally, it sparked wild speculation.

Jessica could only force a smile, though her body remained stiff.

Michael guided her through the crowd with practiced ease, every gesture radiating authority.

Jessica, meanwhile, felt like an ornamental accessory—smiling, nodding, not daring to say a word more than necessary.

"Three o'clock, left front—the man in the gray suit. See him?" Michael held his champagne glass, murmuring near her ear. "That's Henry Taylor. One of the Professor's frontmen—handles money laundering."

Jessica followed his gaze and committed the face to memory.

Just then, a warm male voice called from behind, tinged with uncertainty.

"Jessica?"

Jessica's body froze instantly. That voice...

She slowly turned around to face a figure both familiar and strange.

The man wore a sharp suit, his features handsome, his demeanor gentle. It was her ex-boyfriend, Daniel Wilson.

Daniel's gaze landed on her, then shifted to Michael's arm around her waist. Shock and complex emotions flickered in his eyes. "It really is you. What... what are you doing here?"

"I..." Jessica's throat went dry. She had no idea how to explain.

"Darling, aren't you going to introduce me?" Michael's gaze swept between Daniel and Jessica, his tone mild—but the hand at her waist tightened imperceptibly.

"We were... college classmates." Jessica's reply came out flustered.

It wasn't even an answer to his question. She bit her lip, feeling guilty.

A trace of bitterness crossed Daniel's face. He looked at Michael and politely extended his hand. "Chief Sullivan, I've heard so much about you. I'm Daniel Wilson."

Michael gave him a perfunctory handshake before releasing it, his ice-blue eyes revealing nothing.

"Jessica, can we talk?" Daniel's gaze returned to Jessica, carrying a hint of pleading.

"I'm afraid not, Mr. Wilson." Before Jessica could respond, Michael answered for her. He shifted slightly, drawing Jessica more firmly into his side in a possessive, intimate gesture. "My date isn't available right now."

Without giving Daniel a chance to reply, Michael steered Jessica toward another section of the hall.

He half-guided, half-forced her to a secluded balcony off the ballroom. The night breeze washed over them, and Jessica finally felt the suffocating pressure ease slightly.

"Who is he?" Michael released her, his voice cold as ice.

"Like I said, a college classmate." Jessica kept her head down, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Jessica." Michael stepped closer, his towering frame completely overshadowing her. That invisible pressure descended once more. "I warned you—I can't tolerate lying."

Jessica bit her lower lip, her nails digging into her palms.

"He's my ex-boyfriend." In the end, she chose honesty.

Michael fell silent for a moment, as if the answer didn't surprise him.

He turned away, gazing out at the city's nightscape, his voice icy. "Since we entered that ballroom, at least three groups have been watching us. One of them—tied to that Henry Taylor I pointed out earlier."

Jessica's heart lurched.

"I don't care what happened in your past. I don't care what went on between you and him." Michael turned back, his ice-blue eyes particularly penetrating in the darkness. "But from the moment you accepted this mission, you stopped being Jessica. You're Michael's girlfriend. Any emotional slip, any unplanned incident, could blow the entire operation."

He stared at her, enunciating each word with unmistakable warning.

"I need a partner who's absolutely focused, with no weaknesses—not a probationary officer who can be rattled by an ex-boyfriend. You need to have the resolve to see this mission through. Understood?"