AN: Not sure when I'll get around to writing this story. Blame Potatopasta for getting it stuck in my head.
May 3rd 13:30- The Rhine Restuarant
Jules had been running a couple of minutes late. Traffic had been awful. Somehow, she knew it was the wrong choice to take the time to change out of her uniform, but the restuarant had a dress code. She tucked a loose strand of platinum hair behind her ear and approached the maitre d'. She put on a charming smile and hoped there wasn't going to be a scene this time.
"Hi! I'm supposed to be meeting someone for lunch," she said.
"Name?" he drawled out lazily in a snobby accent.
"Jules," she said simply, as if he was supposed to know who she was. "Or Julia Bielschmidt. Whichever is on your fancy list." She was really trying to play up the charm.
She saw him glance through his list without really reading it.
"Sorry, ma'am, but it appears you are not on the list," he said.
Jules could feel her teeth grit through her smile. "Really? How strange. Not even under Westley Bielschmidt?"
He scoffed. "You expect me to believe you're related to THE Westley Bielschmidt?"
"Yes." Jules was starting to lose her patience. This seemed to happen every time. "He should be on your list."
"Westley Bielschmidt is on every list. He owns half the city. I know Westley Bielschmidt," the maitre d' bragged. "And there's no way his wife would wear a dress from two seasons ago or shoes from three."
"Maybe not, but my sister can dress however she wants," a deep voice interrupted.
Westley Bielschmidt looked immaculate in a crisp suit. He was tall, buff, and unintentionally intimidating. His blond hair was neatly gelled back under a pound of product.
The maitre d' nearly collapsed. Jules grinned at the sight of her brother and linked elbows with him. "Half the city? You've been doing pretty well for yourself, huh West."
"An exaggeration," Westley said, leading his sister to their table. "But not by much."
"Then, taking your poor, old sis out to lunch is practically a charity event for you," she teased. "So what? Were you too embarrassed to put me on the list? Or did you not want all your corrupt CEO friends to know your big sis is a cop?"
"Trust me, they're not my friends. Congratulations on graduating from the police academy. How's the service treating you?"
Jules sighed as she sat down. She ran her finger over the rim of her glass of water. "Honestly? The cops here are a bunch of pigs. Sexist. Corrupt. It's no wonder people get away with what they do. I stand up for justice, call out my boss's bullshit, and they put me on meter maid duty. Same thing with the other new girls. Great female police officers forced to be secretaries and crossing guards. It's like we graduated top of the class for nothing."
"Have you ever considered a change in scenery?" Westley sat down across from her.
Jules sighed and looked out at the million dollar scene from the window. Blue skies, skyscrapers, and palm trees for as far as the eye could see. "I love this city too much. And you're here, so that's a plus. I know you'll just tell me to keep my nose to the grindstone, and they'll recognize my abilities, but it gets so frustrating sometimes."
"That's a nice sentiment, but that wasn't what I was going to suggest at all," Westley said. "Have you ever considered work in the private sector?"
Jules snapped her head to look at her brother. "Like a bodyguard? Come on, you know I need more action than that. And no way I'm going to take blows for some corrupt businessman or politician."
"I was thinking more along the lines of a private investigator. For a businessman not so corrupt."
Jules studied her brother carefully. "Just what are you suggesting, baby bro?"
"I can't take down this city's corruption on my own. I'm putting together a task force to topple this regime one leg at a time," he said.
Jules grinned. "I'm not sure I'm convinced. I raised you to be pretty capable. You could do this on your own. Be a real life Batman. Why me?"
"I already have a job. I simply don't have the time to do all I want to accomplish in a reasonable time frame. I'm only one man. However, I've worked hard to gain some financial means to pay a small team of professionals to gather the information and take down some of the worst members of society."
"Well, I'm listening. What's the first leg?"
"Human trafficking," Westley said.
Jules felt a sympathetic pain in her chest. "Oh West..."
"I need to know what happened to her. I need to stop the people who continue to take innocent girls like her and give them the justice they've been denied." Westley's face was stoic and composed as he brushed off her sympathy, but Jules knew that there was deeply engraved pain. She didn't expect he could ever get over her.
Jules picked up her drink and took a sip. "You certainly don't start small, do you?"
"Are you in?" he asked.
Jules set down her glass. "This elite task force of yours. They need to be the best of the best. The best investigators, the best manipulators. People who can work together flawlessly and look sexy while doing it."
"Sexy definitely is a plus for the sort of people I'm meaning to deal with. I take it you already have an idea?"
May 3rd 22:03- Eastland Apartments
Jules got back to her apartment exhausted. Her lunch with her brother had gone long, which meant she had to put in extra hours at the station. Not to mention nearly every male officer stopped to catcall and whistle at her while she was stuck writing reports in a dress. She couldn't wait to quit her job, but first, she had to find a way to convince the other two.
She picked up the scent of something cooking. With her keen detective skills, she knew there was only one possible explanation.
"Babe, you are an absolute angel." She trudged over to the kitchen and wrapped her arms around the man slaving over the stove. "Please tell me you've made enough for me as well."
"Of course, I did," Matthew said. "What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't have dinner ready when my girlfriend got home?"
Jules felt up her boyfriend over his cable knit sweater. He was surprisingly built for a pencil pusher. Definitely not what'd you would expect from a man most people wouldn't give a second glance. But Jules had seen past glasses and meek body language and fell in love with his kind nature, honey blonde hair, and violet-blue eyes. He always surprised her in the best of ways, exceeding expectations every time. He was a safe haven from the cold, cruel world. "Where have you been all my life?"
Matthew laughed. "Go sit down. I'll bring the food to the table."
Jules obeyed after giving his tight rear end a good smack. Matthew soon followed bearing a feast of pancakes and other breakfast items. He set down her plate and kissed her face. "How was your day?"
"Ugh," Jules groaned. "Terrible. I want to quit. Got to eat lunch with my brother though. He had an interesting proposition for me. I think he wants to hire me to be a spy to help take down the city's corruption. And I think I just might do it."
Matthew nearly choked on his water. "Really?"
"What? Don't think I can?" Jules challenged.
"Spies don't usually tell other people that they're spies," Matthew prodded dubiously.
"Yeah, but I trust you to keep my secret." She batted her eyelashes at him. "I know you wouldn't want anything bad to happen to me."
"No, I don't. And this sounds really dangerous, Jules. Are you sure?"
Jules shrugged. "It's no more dangerous than being a cop. I feel like I was made to do it, Matt. I can't serve justice with the system being the way that it is. Plus, this is something that is really important to my brother. And to me. I really would like your support in this."
"You have my support. But that doesn't mean I won't be worried about you all the time," Matt said, taking a bite of his pancakes.
Jules started to smile dreamily. "Remember the night we first met?"
"You mean the night you singlehandedly took down a gang boss and his personal entourage? A little hard to forget."
"How a guy like you got caught up in a place like that, I will never understand. Maybe it was fate bringing us together," Jules cooed.
"I'm still surprised you noticed me, let alone asked me out," Matthew said.
"Of course, I noticed you. You were the hottest guy in the bar. And it was the least I could do after ruining your night."
"You didn't ruin my night," Matthew said, a wistful look in his eyes. "I know how strong and smart you are, Jules. Can you at least promise me that you'll be careful?"
"Of course! And if it makes you feel any better, I won't be doing it alone. I-"
"Shh, say no more. The less I know, the better, right? Eat your pancakes, or I'm going to start the next Law and Order episode without you," he threatened.
Jules scarfed down her pancakes and raced Matthew over to the couch. The rest of their night was calm and sweet, nestled in love and reveling in the hope of justice.