Chapter Five: The Mask Behind the Mirror

Isla Winters had faced a lot in her career—tight deadlines, skeptical executives, clients who thought they knew better. But nothing prepared her for the silent war happening within her own heart.

It had been exactly four days since dinner with Ethan Hale.

Four days since he looked at her as if he could see all the unwritten stories hiding behind her calm exterior.

Four days since she told herself she wouldn't fall.

And yet, every night since, she found herself replaying his words in her mind, like a song she couldn't turn off.

"I want more of your mind."

What did that even mean?

She was used to being pursued for her skills, not for her spirit. For deliverables, not dreams. But Ethan? He wanted both.

And that made him dangerous.

By Thursday morning, Isla had buried herself in work, drowning in deliverables.

She had just finished a 70-page proposal for a fintech brand. One of her newest clients—referred through her growing Webnovel audience—was paying top dollar for her storytelling-driven marketing strategy. She was also working on a ghostwritten ebook for a Nigerian entrepreneur about real estate investment, and had five cover design requests from her Gumroad store, Best Ebook Cover Designs.

And yet… she kept checking her phone.

Waiting.

Wondering.

Until it rang.

Ethan.

"Meet me on the rooftop. Thirty minutes."

That was all he said.

Isla found herself on the private rooftop lounge of Hale Tower, a panoramic view of the skyline stretching before her. She had barely stepped into the open space when she saw him.

Ethan was standing by the railing, shirt sleeves rolled up, hair tousled by the wind. He wasn't looking at her. He was staring into the horizon like a man with too much to lose.

"You came," he said, finally turning.

"I had a break between chaos."

He chuckled. "Still can't just say 'I missed you,' can you?"

"I didn't."

"Didn't what?"

"Didn't miss you."

"That's a shame. I missed you," he said simply, and her heart skipped.

There was a pause—then he handed her a small folder.

"What's this?"

"Company secrets."

"Excuse me?"

"Things you need to know before we go any further."

Her brows furrowed. She opened the file slowly—and what she saw made her inhale sharply.

A document outlining funds redirected to a shell company. Memos between two board members discussing insider leaks. An unsigned contract involving a media scandal and someone named Vivian Carrington.

Isla looked up, stunned. "Why are you showing me this?"

"Because you're not just a consultant anymore, Isla. You're in this."

"In what, exactly?"

"My world."

He leaned in closer. "There's someone trying to ruin me. Someone inside. They've planted stories, made moves with our investors, leaked false numbers."

"And you want me to… what? Write a rebuttal? Spin the narrative?"

"I want you to help me uncover the truth. And then tell the real story—in your words."

She stared at him. "You want me to ghostwrite a war."

"I want you to ghostwrite a revolution."

That night, Isla couldn't sleep.

She stared at the documents for hours, heart racing. Names, numbers, secret partnerships, planted PR leaks. Whoever this Vivian Carrington was, she was at the center of it.

A former PR executive for Hale. Fired. Sued. And then quietly buried.

But not forgotten.

Because now she was back.

Operating under a different alias. Working with an anonymous blog that had been attacking Ethan's reputation for months.

This wasn't just business.

It was personal.

And it was risky.

But for Isla, there was something intoxicating about knowing the truth. And even more intoxicating about being the one chosen to tell it.

She powered on her laptop and opened a blank document.

File Name: The Hale Redemption - Ghostwritten by Chizurum Enyinnaya.

She stared at the screen.

Then added a subtitle:

"A story of betrayal, power, and the man behind the empire."

And beneath it:

Written by Isla Winters (for Ethan Hale)

Services provided by INTELLECTINSCRIBED.

She smiled.

Even if no one ever read the final draft… she would know she wrote it.

That night, her inbox pinged again. Another reader from her story on Webnovel had sent a message:

Hi, Chizurum! I saw your note in your chapter about ghostwriting and book creation. I'd love help writing my memoir about surviving cancer. Do you take on personal stories too?

Isla—Chizurum—typed back:

Absolutely. Everyone has a story worth telling.

Email me: chizurumchidimma2000@gmail.com

Or reach out on WhatsApp: +2347044469125

We'll make your truth unforgettable.

Two days later, Isla walked into a discreet art gallery in Midtown. Ethan had arranged a private showing. No assistants. No distractions.

Just him.

And a single painting on display.

A woman.

Alone. Standing in a storm. Drenched, yet defiant.

Ethan stood beside her, watching her reaction.

"Do you know what it's called?" he asked.

"No."

He leaned in. "The Unbroken."

Isla swallowed hard.

"That's you," he whispered.

"No. That's every woman who's ever had to fight for space in a world built to silence her."

He looked at her.

"I want you to be my voice, Isla. But not just for the company. For me. For the man beneath the empire."

She turned, meeting his eyes. "Then you have to promise me something."

"Anything."

"No more secrets."

He hesitated.

Then nodded.

And for the first time, she believed him.

Later that night, Isla posted a new chapter of her novel on Webnovel. She always snuck in personal truth beneath her fiction. And this time was no different.

But at the end, her author's note read:

Behind every powerful story is a writer with vision.

I'm Chizurum Enyinnaya, and I help people like YOU craft unforgettable narratives—be it through ebooks, business strategy, or emotional storytelling.

Let's create something remarkable together.

Services include:

Full-length fiction & nonfiction ghostwriting (up to 200k words)

Book formatting, editing & publishing (especially for Amazon KDP)

Marketing content, personal branding, and copywriting

Stunning ebook cover design via Best Ebook Cover Designs

LinkedIn & newsletter content for thought leaders

Contact me directly:

WhatsApp: +2347044469125

Email: chizurumchidimma2000@gmail.com

Business Name: INTELLECTINSCRIBED

Let's make your words matter.

As the final line was posted and the reader notifications rolled in, Isla realized she hadn't just built a story.

She was building a legacy.

One powerful client at a time.