Chapter 18: Whispers in the Dark
Ethan had never been more aware of the stakes as he sat across from Mia in the dingy diner. This wasn't a simple conversation—this was war. And Oscar had more weapons at his disposal than either of them could imagine.
Mia leaned in, her voice barely a whisper. "If we're going to do this, you need to know one thing: Oscar is protected. People owe him favors, and he's not afraid to cash them in. If you dig too deep, they'll bury you—like they tried to bury me."
Ethan's pulse quickened. The idea of a shadowy network protecting Oscar wasn't surprising, but hearing it from someone who had been caught in its crosshairs made it all too real. "Why didn't you speak up before? Why run?" he asked.
Mia's eyes flashed with pain. "I was just a girl who thought she could play the game. I didn't know how deep the rot went. When things got ugly between us, he threatened me—said he'd make sure I never worked again. And he did."
Ethan nodded, feeling the weight of her words. "But now you have nothing to lose."
Mia smiled bitterly. "Maybe. But you do. Are you ready for that?"
Ethan thought of the System. The tasks. The rewards. This was bigger than his rise to stardom now. If he could take down Oscar, he wouldn't just be clearing his path—he'd be exposing a toxic power structure that had controlled the industry for far too long.
"I don't have a choice," he said firmly. "I'm in too deep to back out."
Mia studied him for a moment before sighing. "Alright. Then we're going to need proof. Real, hard evidence that ties Oscar to what he did. I'm talking about documents, recordings, something that can't be denied or covered up."
Ethan frowned. "Do you know where we can get that?"
Mia nodded slowly. "There's a storage unit. Oscar kept everything there—contracts, recordings, even the blackmail material he used to keep people quiet. If we can get in, we'll find everything we need."
The System chimed in Ethan's mind.
**New Objective: Infiltrate Oscar's Storage Unit. Reward: 10,000 Fame Points.**
---
Back in the city, the rumors had already started. Ethan had noticed the glances, the snickers, the whispers behind his back. It wasn't long before he found out what they were saying: Ethan Hale, the rising star, was gay.
It wasn't just a rumor; it was spreading like wildfire. Tabloid headlines screamed the same message: *"Secret Gay Romance Scandal! Ethan Hale's True Love Revealed!"*
He could feel the tide turning against him. No one had outright confronted him yet, but the weight of the gossip was tangible. As Ethan walked into the studio the next morning, his assistant, Jane, was already by his side, holding a tablet with today's headlines.
"Did you see this?" she asked, her voice tense.
Ethan glanced at the screen, the salacious gossip glaring back at him. He grimaced. "Yeah, I've seen it."
Jane hesitated, looking worried. "Do you want to make a statement? Deny it?"
Ethan thought about it for a moment. He knew better than anyone how fast rumors could grow, but addressing them head-on often gave them more power. "No," he said finally. "If I make a big deal out of it, people will think it's true. Let it die on its own."
Jane nodded but didn't seem convinced. "People are already talking, though. If Oscar's behind this, he's playing dirty."
Ethan clenched his jaw. Of course, Oscar would resort to this. It was an easy way to chip away at Ethan's credibility and throw him off-balance. But Ethan wasn't going to let that happen. Not now.
"Let them talk," Ethan said, his voice steely. "I'm not going anywhere."
---
That evening, Ethan and Mia prepared for the most dangerous part of their plan: breaking into Oscar's storage unit. Leo had already done the groundwork, providing them with a location and a way in. But it wouldn't be easy. Oscar's paranoia meant the place was likely locked down with more than just a padlock.
Mia was nervous, her hands shaking slightly as they sat in the car outside the storage facility. "Are you sure about this?" she asked. "If we get caught…"
"We won't get caught," Ethan said, though his heart was pounding in his chest. "Leo said security's light this time of night. We'll be in and out before anyone notices."
Mia wasn't convinced but nodded anyway. They got out of the car, moving quickly and quietly toward the entrance. Ethan's mind was racing as they slipped inside, avoiding the cameras just as Leo had instructed.
The storage unit was at the far end of the building, isolated and locked behind a steel door. Ethan's hands trembled as he worked the lock, and for a moment, he thought it wouldn't budge. But then, with a soft click, the door swung open.
Inside, the air was thick with dust. Stacks of boxes filled the small room, each one labeled with dates and names. Ethan felt a strange thrill as he stepped inside—this was it. The proof they needed.
Mia moved to one of the boxes, opening it carefully. Inside were papers, old contracts, photographs, and… a small stack of cassette tapes. She pulled one out, her eyes wide. "This is it," she whispered. "This is what he used to blackmail people."
Ethan's heart raced. They had found it. The evidence that could bring Oscar down.
But as they started to pack up the tapes and documents, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway outside. Mia froze, her eyes wide with fear. "Someone's coming."
Ethan's pulse quickened. He moved quickly, grabbing as much as he could and stuffing it into a bag. They couldn't afford to be caught.
The footsteps grew louder, and a shadow passed by the door.
Mia's breath hitched as they huddled behind a stack of boxes, praying they wouldn't be discovered. The shadow lingered for a moment, then moved on, the footsteps fading into the distance.
Ethan let out a shaky breath. "We need to go. Now."
They moved swiftly, slipping out of the unit and back into the night. As they drove away, Ethan couldn't help but feel a rush of adrenaline. They had done it. They had the proof.
But he knew it wasn't over yet. The real battle was just beginning.
---
The next morning, Ethan stood in front of a mirror, staring at his reflection. The rumors were still swirling, but now he had something bigger. He had the means to bring Oscar down.
And this time, he wouldn't be fighting alone.