The moment Xylia walked into Aciel's office carrying the documentary assignment folder, she already knew the conversation wouldn't go smoothly.
Aciel looked up from several reports spread across his desk.
His eyes immediately landed on the folder then on her expression. Then, he looked back on the folder.
"No."
Xylia sighed. "We haven't even started talking."
"No."
"Aciel."
"No."
She dropped into the chair across from his desk. "This is becoming a bad habit."
Aciel calmly closed the report he had been reading. "You are not going."
"There it is."
His expression remained completely serious. "Bloomsdale is still unstable."
"The war is over."
"Criminal organizations don't disappear overnight."
"I'm not investigating criminal organizations."
"You're traveling half an hour away from here."
Xylia narrowed her eyes. "I'm working. And it's just in another city.
"Same thing."
"No, it isn't."
Aciel leaned back in his chair.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
