Chapter 26: Arriving home.

Steve finally arrived at Melissa's apartment building. He parked the car, and as they said their goodbyes, he handed Melissa a small piece of paper.

"What's this?" she asked, curiously.

"It's my house address. I'm hosting a party this Friday, and I would love it if you came," Steve explained, a warm smile on his face.

Melissa hesitated for a moment before responding, "I would love to, but I'm not really a party person."

Steve chuckled and reassured her, "Just give it a try. You can bring whoever you want with you."

"Okay, I'll think about it," Melissa replied, appreciating his understanding.

"Great. See you later, my new friend," Steve said with a wink before driving off.

"New friend," Melissa repeated to herself, feeling a sense of excitement as she entered the apartment building. Lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice the police car parked outside.

She took the elevator up to the fifth floor and rummaged through her bag to find her keys. As she approached her apartment, s