SHADOW OF DECEPTION

They said the city never sleeps. But sometimes, it hides. The streets were slick with last night’s rain, and the glow of streetlights painted everything in gold and shadow. My press badge hung cold against my chest as I stepped under the yellow tape that marked the alley. Another missing girl. Another story no one wanted to tell. Her name was Leah Moore twenty-three, waitress, last seen leaving her shift at a downtown bar three nights ago. No struggle, no witness, just… gone. Like the dozen other women who’d vanished this year. I crouched beside a soaked newspaper, the headline already fading under droplets of rain. CITY GIRL DISAPPEARS POLICE BAFFLED. Same words, different face. “Bella Raymond,” a deep voice called behind me. “You’re not supposed to be here.” I turned. Detective Marsh tired eyes, coffee breath, and a patience thinner than cigarette paper. “Relax, Marsh. I’m not touching evidence. “You’re always touching trouble,” he muttered. “This case isn’t for headlines.” “Everything’s for headlines,” I said softly, standing. “Unless someone wants it buried.” He sighed and walked away. I stayed Something about Leah’s file didn’t fit the surveillance camera near the bar had gone dark two hours before she disappeared. A coincidence, maybe. But in this city, coincidence often had a name. My phone buzzed. Unknown number. A text blinked on my screen: > Stop digging, Bella. You won’t like what you find. I froze. The wind picked up, carrying the smell of rain and exhaust. I looked around no one. The same text had come before, two months ago, during the Pierman Case. The man I exposed ended up in prison. His lawyer? Adrian Cross a billionaire tech mogul who owned half the city’s security firms. And apparently, he didn’t forget. I tucked my phone away and whispered to myself, “Looks like we meet again, Mr. Cross.” --- The next day, the newsroom buzzed with noise — ringing phones, clacking keyboards, coffee cups half-empty and deadlines half-missed. My editor, Nora, waved me into her glass-walled office. “Bella,” she said, arms crossed. “You’re chasing ghosts again.” “I’m chasing patterns,” I corrected. “Patterns don’t pay for lawsuits. We’ve had calls. Someone powerful wants this story gone.” “Adrian Cross?” I asked. Her silence was answer enough. Nora’s lips pressed tight. “Drop it, Bella. You’ve already made enemies.” I smiled faintly. “Enemies tell the best stories.” --- That evening, I went to The Mirage, a high-end lounge where Leah had worked. The air smelled like perfume and secrets. Men in suits, women in dresses that cost more than my rent. The kind of place where truth got traded for a price. I showed Leah’s photo to the bartender. “You remember her? He frowned. “Yeah. Quiet girl. Kept to herself. Last night she worked, she left with a man. Black suit. Expensive car.” “Did you see his face? He hesitated, then said, “No. But I remember the logo on the car , Cross Enterprises.” My heart skipped. Adrian Cross. Outside, the night was loud horns, laughter, thunder rolling far away. I stood under the awning, my mind spinning. Why would a billionaire be connected to a missing waitress? A black car pulled up in front of me, window rolling down. A man inside tall, sharp jawline, dark hair slicked back, eyes the color of cold smoke. His presence made the air feel thinner. “Miss Raymond,” he said. His voice was smooth, confident — too calm for the chaos he carried. “You know my name,” I replied. “I know many things,” he said, lips curving slightly. “Including the fact that you’re walking into something far bigger than a headline.” I folded my arms. You sound like someone with something to hide.” His eyes lingered on me, unreadable. “Or someone with something to protect. Before I could respond, the car door opened. “Get in,” he said quietly. “You’re being watched.” Every instinct screamed no. But curiosity and something deeper ,whispered yes. I stepped closer, the city lights reflecting in his eyes. For the first time, I realized danger could look a lot like desire. And that was how I met Adrian Cross ,the man beneath the lies.