Chapter 25: Whispers in the Dark
The ride back from the interview was quiet. Ethan stared out of the window, watching the city blur by as his mind raced. The system's timer continued to tick down in the back of his head, reminding him of the limited time he had to clear his name and expose Oscar.
Mia sat beside him, scrolling through social media, monitoring the initial reactions to the interview. "It's already gaining traction," she said, her voice hushed but hopeful. "People are talking about your side of the story. Some are even calling out Oscar."
Ethan's chest tightened with a mixture of relief and anxiety. "It's not over yet," he said. "Oscar isn't going to let this slide. He's going to hit back, and hard."
As if on cue, Leo's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and frowned before answering. "Yeah, this is Leo."
A moment of tense silence followed as Leo listened, his expression darkening. "Understood. Thanks for the heads-up."
He hung up and turned to Ethan. "It's already started. Rumors are circulating online that you've been blackmailing people in the industry. Oscar's team is trying to spin this like you're some kind of villain."
Ethan sighed, rubbing his temples. "Of course, he is. He's not going to go down quietly."
Mia glanced over, her eyes filled with worry. "What do we do now?"
Ethan leaned back in his seat, feeling the weight of the system task pressing down on him. He couldn't afford to lose focus. The next 48 hours were crucial.
"We fight back," Ethan said, determination creeping into his voice. "We need to release the evidence against Oscar. We can't wait for him to spin the narrative any further."
Leo nodded. "I'll get in touch with our PR team. We'll make sure the footage gets out there, and we'll counter every lie he tries to spread."
---
Back at Ethan's apartment, the atmosphere was tense as the team gathered around the large screen in his living room. Leo had sent the footage to several trusted outlets, and now they waited for the bombshell to drop.
Ethan paced the room, feeling the weight of the situation crushing down on him. The system's task still hovered in the back of his mind, reminding him of the stakes.
---
**[Ding!]**
*Task Progress: 65%*
---
Every step forward was progress, but he still had a long way to go.
As the night wore on, Mia's phone buzzed. She glanced at it, her face lighting up. "It's out. The footage is live."
Ethan rushed over, his heart racing. On the screen, the footage of Oscar's shady deals was playing out for the world to see. Bribes, illegal contracts, and backdoor meetings—it was all there, in crisp detail.
Social media exploded within minutes. Hashtags about Oscar's corruption trended, and people began calling for investigations. Ethan could feel the tide turning in his favor.
Leo grinned, leaning back in his chair. "We've got him. There's no coming back from this."
Ethan exhaled, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. For the first time in days, he felt like he could breathe again.
But just as he was beginning to relax, Mia's phone buzzed again. She answered, her face paling as she listened.
"What is it?" Ethan asked, dread pooling in his stomach.
Mia hung up the phone, her hands trembling slightly. "There's... something new. A rumor is spreading that you're secretly gay. Oscar's team is trying to frame it like you've been hiding your sexuality for leverage in the industry."
Ethan blinked, stunned. "What? That's ridiculous!"
Leo frowned, his expression serious. "It's a low blow, but it's effective. They're trying to paint you as someone who manipulates personal relationships for professional gain."
Ethan's mind raced. "But it's not true! Why would they even—"
Mia cut him off gently. "Ethan, you know how this industry works. It doesn't matter if it's true or not. People love scandals, and Oscar knows how to use that to his advantage."
---
**[Ding!]**
*New Task: Address the Rumor*
**Objective:**
- Publicly address the rumors about your sexuality.
- Manage the fallout without losing your current momentum.
- Task Duration: 48 hours.
**Reward:**
- +15 Charisma
- New Skill: Media Manipulation (Level 1)
---
Ethan cursed under his breath. The system's new task was a cruel twist. Just when he thought he was gaining ground, another obstacle had been thrown in his path.
Leo sighed. "We need to get ahead of this, Ethan. If we don't, this could spiral out of control."
Mia nodded. "You have to make a statement. Address it directly. Otherwise, people will assume the worst."
Ethan felt trapped. The rumors were baseless, but in the cutthroat world of showbiz, it didn't matter. Perception was everything. He needed to respond, but how could he do it without playing into Oscar's hands?
"I'll make a statement," Ethan said finally, his voice heavy with resolve. "I'm not going to let Oscar win this."
Mia smiled, though worry still lingered in her eyes. "We'll help you craft the perfect response."
As they sat down to strategize, Ethan felt the weight of the system's task bearing down on him. Every move he made was crucial, and failure would come at a high cost.
But deep down, Ethan knew that this was more than just a battle with Oscar. It was a battle for his future—his career, his dreams, his life in this new world. And he wasn't going to back down.