Chapter 2:Whispers in the Shadows

The hum of the city buzzed faintly through the glass walls of Evelyn Chase's office as she reviewed the quarterly reports. She tapped her pen against the sleek black desk, her mind elsewhere. The numbers were steady, but her instincts told her something was amiss.

Her father's murder was officially labeled a robbery gone wrong, but Evelyn wasn't convinced. The man she'd idolized wasn't just a businessman; he had secrets, alliances, and enemies. Enemies who might now be hers.

A knock at the door snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Come in," she called, slipping the reports into a folder.

Adrian Black stepped in, carrying a tray with her usual—black coffee, a protein bar, and a small vase with a single red rose. He placed it on her desk with a practiced smile that could disarm even the coldest heart.

"I figured you'd skip lunch again," he said, his voice smooth, but his dark eyes held a flicker of something unreadable.

Evelyn glanced at the tray, arching a brow. "The rose is new."

"A touch of elegance for a hectic day," Adrian replied, his tone light. "Or maybe I thought you needed a reminder that not everything in life is numbers and meetings."

She allowed a small smile to curve her lips, though her guard stayed firmly in place. Adrian was too good at his job, too observant, and far too charming. Still, she couldn't deny his efficiency.

"Thank you," she said, dismissing him with a nod.

Instead of leaving, Adrian lingered, his gaze flickering to the framed photo on her desk—a picture of Evelyn and her father at a charity gala years ago.

"You miss him," Adrian said softly, not a question but a statement.

Evelyn stiffened. "It's none of your business, Mr. Black."

"Of course," Adrian said, stepping back with a faint bow of his head. "I'll leave you to it."

As he turned to leave, Evelyn's phone buzzed. She picked it up, her heart skipping a beat at the unknown number flashing on the screen.

"This is Evelyn Chase," she answered.

A raspy voice crackled through the line. "Your father's death wasn't an accident."

Evelyn's grip tightened on the phone. "Who is this?"

"Someone who knows the truth," the voice replied. "Meet me at the corner of 9th and Lexington. Midnight. Come alone."

The line went dead.

Evelyn stared at the phone, her pulse racing. She had received anonymous tips before, but this felt different—urgent, dangerous.

"Is everything alright, Miss Chase?" Adrian's voice pulled her back.

She looked up, masking her unease with practiced composure. "Just business."

Adrian studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "If you need anything, I'm a call away."

She nodded curtly, watching as he left. The moment the door closed, Evelyn leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. Whoever had just called might hold the key to unraveling her father's murder.

The streets of the city were eerily quiet as Evelyn pulled up to the meeting spot. She had ditched her usual sleek black sedan for a nondescript car, her black trench coat blending into the shadows.

She checked her watch—11:58 PM. The cold night air bit at her skin as she stepped out, scanning the empty intersection.

"Miss Chase," a voice whispered from the shadows.

Evelyn turned sharply, her hand instinctively reaching for the small pepper spray in her pocket. A man stepped into the dim light of a nearby streetlamp. He wore a hooded jacket, his face obscured.

"You called me," Evelyn said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through her veins.

The man nodded. "Your father was in deeper than you realize. He made enemies, powerful ones. They didn't kill him for money—they killed him for what he knew."

"What did he know?" Evelyn demanded.

The man hesitated, glancing around as if expecting someone to jump out at any moment. "He had files—documents that could bring down more than one empire. He hid them somewhere, but they're not safe. If they find them, you're next."

"Who's 'they'?" Evelyn pressed, stepping closer.

Before the man could answer, the sharp crack of a gunshot echoed through the night. Evelyn dropped to the ground instinctively, her heart hammering in her chest.

The man staggered, a crimson stain blooming across his chest. He collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. Evelyn scrambled to his side, her hands shaking as she tried to press against the wound.

"Who did this?" she asked desperately. "Tell me!"

The man's lips moved, but no sound came out. His hand clutched hers weakly before falling limp.

Evelyn stared at his lifeless body, her mind reeling. The sound of tires screeching snapped her attention to a black SUV speeding away down the street.

She stood, her jaw tightening. Whoever had killed her father—and now this man—was watching her every move.

Back in her penthouse, Evelyn paced the living room, her thoughts racing. She replayed the man's words over and over. Files. Enemies. Not safe.

She needed answers, but she couldn't trust anyone—not the board, not the police, and certainly not Adrian Black.

Her phone buzzed, breaking her thoughts. It was a message from Adrian.

"Still working? Don't burn out. You have a company to run tomorrow."

Evelyn stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Adrian's timing was impeccable, as always. Too impeccable.

She deleted the message without replying, tossing her phone onto the couch.

If she was going to uncover the truth, she needed to stay ahead of whoever was pulling the strings. And to do that, she needed to be as ruthless as the people she was up against.

Evelyn walked to the large window overlooking the city. Her reflection stared back at her, sharp and determined.

"They think they can scare me," she muttered. "But they have no idea who they're dealing with."

Far across town, Adrian sat in his modest apartment, a laptop open on his desk. He had been tracking Evelyn's movements all night, his jaw tightening as he watched her on the street corner through a hacked traffic camera feed.

"What are you up to, Evelyn Chase?" he murmured.

The image of her kneeling by the man's body lingered on the screen, her face a mix of fear and resolve. Adrian leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair.

The woman was a puzzle, and the more he unraveled, the harder it became to stick to his plan.

But one thing was clear—Evelyn Chase wasn't just a target anymore. She was a complication he couldn't afford.

And he was beginning to think he didn't want to.