DESIRE IN SHADOW'S

Lily Morgans point of view: The city never slept. It pulsed to a low, steady hum of life, an orchestra of faraway horns, muffled conversations, and an occasional bark of a street vendor huddling well past midnight. From my vantage point in the newsroom office on the thirtieth floor, the streets below seemed almost serene. Almost as though there were no rough life at allI pulled my coat tighter, the icy draft from the cracked window sending a push of cold air along the back of my neck. My editor, Mike, always joked about my working late, but this time, it wasn't dedication, it was obsession. The folder on my desk was a tangle of names, financial transactions, and blurry photos of men who would not take too kindly to being exposed. And at the very heart of this had to be tech mogul Nathan Cross, cover boy for numerous glossy magazines. I leaned backward in my chair and cracked my knuckles. "Get some rest," Mike had said earlier. "The story will still be here in the morning." He just didn't understand, this was not any story; it was a crime exposing, aimed at bringing down one of the city's most untouchable men.The sound of the printer whirring to life startled me. I hadn't sent anything to be printed. My heart skipped for a minute as I looked around. The office was empty, the overhead lights casting long shadows across the desks. My mind racing, I stood slowly, the worn carpet mucking my steps as I moved toward the printer.A single sheet of paper was in the output tray, its ink still shining. I picked it up and stared at the bold, slanted words."Stop digging, or you'll regret it."The message was simple. Chills ran down through my spines. My fingers shook a little as I flipped the paper over, half expecting to find more. Tere was nothing on the other side of the paper. The room felt colder now, as if the shadows had drawn closer and the tempo of my heart racing seemed to have risen with the action.A loud crash shattered the silence. I looked around, clutching the paper to my chest. The office door swung on its hinges, the wind from the broken window blowing papers off nearby desks. “Someone had been here” I thought to myself.I grabbed my bag and made a run for the elevator, my high heels sounding like gunshots in the deserted corridor. My thumb pressing into the button over and over until finally the doors opened. It was a painfully slow descent. Every creak in the cables made my stomach flip.The door to the lobby opened, and I did not waste time further to step out. Out into the chilly night I stepped, with the sweet smell of rain hitting my nostrils. Save for the passing cars rushing with a haste, the streets were silent. I took a look at my shoulder, half-expecting someone to tail me from behind, but to the least of my expectation, it was empty there.I walked across the street into a little coffee shop, the warmth of the small space wrapping around me immediately made me a bit tensed free. The barista greeted me with a polite smile, but I waved her off and made my way to a corner table where I could see the door. I replayed the last hour like a tape in my head, the snap of every twig, the hoot of every owl, the cry of the baby, the barks of eye dog. "Lily Morgan?The voice was deep, smooth, and unfamiliar. I looked up to find a man standing a few feet away from me. He was tall, his dark safari coat unbuttoned to expose a well-tailored suit underneath. His eyes were bright and calculating, eyes that now focused on mine with an intensity that had me straightening up in my seat."Who's asking?" I said, my voice sounding a bit confident despite the racing in my chest.Ethan Voss," he said, taking a step closer. He jumped into the chair across from me, uninvited. "You've been busy lately, haven't you?"I leaned back, narrowing my eyes. "What do you want?""To help." He placed a folder on the table between us. "You're not safe, Ms. Morgan. The people you're investigating don't play fair, and they've noticed you.I leaned back, crossing my arms over my chest. "And you're here out of the goodness of your heart?" I said, out of the uprising fear and confusion on why he was sitting in front of me.A hint of a smirk tugged at the edge of his mouth. "Not exactly. Let's just say I have my reasons for wanting to see Nathan Cross taken down."My stomach rumbled at the mention of Cross. "And what makes you think I'd trust you?"You don't have to," he said boldly. "But I would say browse through that folder before you decide."Curiosity got the better side of me within the moment. I opened the folder, my breath catching at the contents. Detailed reports, surveillance photos, and even timestamps from private meetings, all damning evidence against Cross."How did you get these?" I demanded, looking up at him.That's not important," Ethan said. "What is important is that you're not in this alone. Cross has eyes everywhere, and if you keep pushing without protection, you aren't going to make it to your next deadline."I studied him searching for a fissure in that confident façade. He didn't so much as blink under my scrutining. Still, I felt there was something in his face—a flicker of vulnerability?"I don't need a bodyguard," I said, snapping the folder shut."Maybe not," he said, standing. "But you'll need an ally. Call me when you're ready to take this seriously."He slid a business card across the table before walking away, his long strides carrying him out the door and into the rain. I stared after him, torn between anger and intrigue.Who was Ethan Voss? And why did he seem so interested in my survival?As I tucked the card into my bag, a chill ran down my spine. The shadows outside the coffee shop seemed darker now, as if the city itself was conspiring to keep its secrets hidden.But I wasn't going to stop. Not now, not ever.