CHAPTER 3:

The next morning, James woke up, in bed alone. He yawned, rubbing his eyes. He leaned his elbows on the mattress while he looked around. Jen's bags had been neatly re-packed. Her gun bag was empty. James hurried to get dressed and he ran out of his room. He then bumped into the same guard from last night.

"Sorry Sarge, I didn't see ya coming."

"Listen, have you seen my wi- I mean partner?"

"Oh yes, Ms. Mui left here about half an hour ago, she was going to talk to Major Garrett. Is that all sir?" He said in his heavy drawl.

"No, that's all private." James dismissed the soldier, storming up to the main conference room. He had a feeling Jen was going to have a talk with Garrett and somehow get rid of their first contract. As he pulled open the door, Jennifer was just about to push it open. When their eyes met, she glared at him for a good moment before storming past him. James held up his hands, not knowing what he had done this time. He walked into Garrett's office.

"Holt, it's about time you showed up." Garrett swivelled around in his chair.

"I know. Listen…"

"Mui already filled me in."

"She did?" James stammered. They had agreed not to let anyone know that they were married.

"Yeah, she's not working with us. She said if you wanted to stay you could, but she was going off after she gathered her things."

"Right…"

"You know, when you two first met, I thought she was gonna kill you in that conference room right then and there. I'm surprised you're still working with her. I mean…she is a bitch to deal with but hey, she's good at what she does. It's a shame she's so damn expensive." James did his best to keep his mouth shut. He wanted to tell him the truth, he really did, but that would put them in severe jeopardy of losing any sort of contract deals.

"Well Sir, I'll go and consult with my partner before she leaves." James told the Major as he got out of the office. He practically ran back to their room. Jen was furiously packing things into her bag, not caring as to how neat it was.

"Jennifer! What are you doing?"

"Leaving. What the bloody hell does it look like?" She answered angrily.

"What did I do now?"

"You know what you did. Don't play stupid." James cautiously stepped closer. She just started zipping up her bags.

"Jen, I thought we went over this last night?"

"Yeah, we did. We're supposed to be checking out what the other factions have to offer. But no, you again went behind my back and already organised a contract that was supposed to be done today." She retorted, angrily throwing her luggage at the door. James sidestepped and barely avoiding being hit by a heavy leather bag.

"Look, you knew we were working for them at first!"

"It's too far gone. Either you can stay or you can come with me. Whatever you choose, I honestly don't give a fuck." She cursed, pushing him out of her way. James reached back and grabbed onto her arm.

"Jennifer! Seriously! What the hell? Ever since we arrived here you haven't been the same!"

"You know why, I told you. Now let go of me." James sighed, letting her arm swing back to her side. She grabbed her things and started walking down the hall to the front of the base. James was torn as to what he should do. He hoped she'd come back by the end of the day with no success in finding more expensive contracts, but something in the back of his mind was telling him that she wouldn't be coming back at all tonight.

Jen hurriedly walked down the halls of the A.N. base. She lugged her bags behind her over her shoulder. Suddenly, Major Garrett stepped out of his office.

"Ms. Mui, can I have a word with you?"

"I suppose." She growled, setting down her two bags outside of his doorway. She walked back into his pristine office for the second time that morning. He closed the door behind her slowly.

"All right, I've known you for a long time Mui and what I want to know is; why have you kept this partner of yours for over three years now?" Garrett asked, taking a seat. He stared up at the woman before him, resting his chin in his left hand, drumming his fingers on his other hand on the desk. Jen scowled, taking a seat in the corner of the room.

"It's complicated."

"Is it really? Because I think it's real simple."

"What are you suggesting?"

"Well, the way he sounded on the phone when he made arrangements, it was like…"

"Like what?"

"I'm going to take a wild guess here but…you're together, aren't you?"

"As partners, nothing more."

"Don't lie to me. I know a liar when I see one." Garrett glared into Mui's eyes. She was not about to admit the truth that James was her husband. It would ruin any sort of contract work for them, making them uneconomical in the eyes of the contract givers. Garrett continued his stare down tactics. Then, he saw it; his proof staring him straight in the face.