Chapter Thirty One: Lunch Date*

Marie sat at her desk in the bustling police station, absentmindedly flipping through reports, trying to focus. Her mind, though, kept wandering back to the case, and the unsettling interaction she'd had with the man in the suit. She hadn't heard back from Officer Green yet, but something about that encounter still gnawed at her.

Just as she was starting to lose herself in the paperwork, a familiar voice cut through the noise.

"Marie! Got something for you."

She looked up to see Kevin striding confidently through the station, holding a gourmet lunch bag in one hand and a bouquet of roses in the other. A wave of irritation surged through her, but she forced a smile, slipping into her well-practiced flirty persona.

"Kevin," she greeted, her voice lilting with the higher pitch she knew he liked. "This is a surprise."

He flashed her that politician's smile, the one she was quickly growing to hate. "Thought I'd treat you to something special. You deserve a break, don't you think?"

As he placed the flowers on her desk and began setting out the food, Marie could feel the eyes of the other officers on them, especially the sheriff. A few of the guys started murmuring, loud enough for her to catch bits of the conversation.

"Look at that, she's finally cracking," one of them snickered.

"Maybe Kevin's melting the ice queen," another chimed in, grinning.

Marie ignored them, focusing on Kevin. He wasn't oblivious to the comments; he was basking in them. He shot her a smug grin as if he was winning some unspoken competition.

"Shall we eat?" Kevin asked, pulling out a chair for himself next to her desk. "I brought your favorite." He gave her a wink that made her stomach churn. She knew he didn't actually know what her favorite anything was, he was just forcing her into the image of her he had in his mind.

Marie kept her expression light, grateful that the flirty act was so deeply ingrained by years of

practice when she was younger. She leaned in slightly, making her tone playful. "You're too good to me, Kevin. I don't know what I did to deserve all this."

He chuckled, clearly pleased with himself. "You know, I can't help but want to spoil a woman like you."

As they began eating, she could feel the heat of the room's attention. Officers were watching, making comments under their breath, all of which she had to force herself to ignore.

"You're lucky he's taking an interest, Kanker," one officer called from across the room. "Maybe you'll finally start acting like a real woman, huh?"

The sting of the comment hit harder than she wanted to admit. But she kept her face composed, batting her eyelashes at Kevin as she leaned forward. "Some things just take the right kind of man to bring out, I guess," she said with a teasing smile, making sure Kevin and the rest of the room could hear her.

Kevin's eyes gleamed at her response, but she noticed something else—a flicker of something in the sheriff's expression as he leaned back in his chair, watching the interaction closely. She couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just about her and Kevin. The sheriff was studying her, almost evaluating if her interest was genuine or part of a game.

Marie decided to lean into it, just to see what would happen. She tilted her head, resting her hand lightly on Kevin's arm. "I have to say, Kevin, you're persistent. I like a man who knows what he wants."

Kevin's grin widened as he glanced around the room, enjoying the attention. "You're worth the persistence, Marie. It's been a long game, but I always win."

The officers snickered at that, one of them even muttering, "She's finally warming up."

Marie's blood boiled beneath her skin, but she stayed composed, keeping the act going. "Is that so?" she asked, her voice sweet. "And what exactly are you trying to win, Kevin?"

His smile took on a predatory edge. "Let's just say, when I want something, I don't stop until it's mine."

The comment made her skin crawl, but she forced a laugh, casting her eyes down like a shy schoolgirl. "Good to know."

The sheriff's gaze was burning into her now, his eyes narrowing as Kevin's hand lingered too long on her thigh. She didn't move away, despite every instinct telling her to. This was a performance, and she was committed to the role.

She wondered what the sheriff thought of all this. He was a man who thrived on control, and for all his faults, he wasn't oblivious to Kevin's sleazy charm. But was he complicit in Kevin's schemes? Or was he watching, waiting to see if Marie was playing Kevin or genuinely falling for his manipulations?

The thought made her stomach tighten, but she stayed focused on Kevin, playing the game just as much as he was. She would have to discuss this later with the Eds, especially with Edd—who was the only one she knew would understand the deeper complexity of what was happening here.

Kevin leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "So, about that date we had... I hope you're as excited as I am to repeat the experience. We can have a private night, just us two." His hand slid further up her thigh, and Marie's pulse spiked, but she kept her demeanor calm, even playful.

"I'm looking forward to it," she replied, her voice carrying just enough enthusiasm to sound convincing.

The officers exchanged knowing glances, and Marie caught the sheriff's eye for a brief moment before he turned away, his face unreadable.

The tension in the air was suffocating, but Marie kept her composure. She smiled, flirted, and played her part, wondering just how much longer she could keep this charade going—and what it was really costing her.