Chapter Two: A New Day

The morning sun was a liar.

Its golden rays painted my small bedroom with false promises of warmth and renewal, but they did nothing to untangle the knots in my chest. I sat on the edge of my bed, a porcelain mug growing cold in my hands, my eyes fixed on the dark liquid inside. The steam curled upward in lazy, shifting patterns—more alive than I felt.

It had been a month since that night.

A month since Eric ripped away what little self-respect I had left. A month of trying to piece together the wreckage.

With a slow exhale, I set the mug down and forced myself to move. My room was in disarray: discarded clothes draped over a chair, an overflowing laundry basket, and a half-empty suitcase from a story I’d covered last week.

Today, I told myself, is just another day.

I pulled open my closet and reached for my armor: a crisp white blouse, a high-waisted black skirt, and my trusty blazer. Each layer felt like a shield, a barrier between myself and the world outside.

As I fastened the last button, my eyes landed on the delicate anchor pendant resting on my jewelry stand. I hesitated before picking it up, the cool metal pressing into my palm.

“You’re stronger than you think, Adrianna.”

My father’s words echoed in my mind as I clasped the chain around my neck.

Maybe he was right. Maybe today I’d believe it.

By the time I stepped outside, the city was already alive. The distant hum of traffic, hurried footsteps on pavement, and the scent of rain-soaked concrete filled the air.

The subway was its usual mess—a crowded mass of bodies, stale air thick with yesterday’s exhaustion. I kept my head down, focusing on the rhythm of my breathing, counting the stops until I could escape.

When I finally stepped into the newsroom, the energy hit me like a wave. Phones rang, printers hummed, and the chatter of my colleagues filled the space.

“Morning, Adrianna!”

I barely had time to blink before Jenna was in front of me, perched on the edge of her desk, coffee in hand and eyes full of mischief.

“You look… tense,” she observed.

I managed a faint smile. “Just another day.”

Jenna raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Right. ‘Just another day’—except for the fact that Callahan is losing his mind over the Thompson project.”

My stomach twisted at the mention of Eric’s last name. I schooled my face into something neutral. “What project?”

Jenna’s grin widened. “Oh, you’re gonna love this.”

“I doubt that.”

She ignored me, leaning in conspiratorially. “So, apparently, Eric’s father wants leverage on him. He’s bringing in an expert to dig into all his shady dealings—someone who knows how to uncover dirt without raising alarms.”

I frowned. “And why is that our problem?”

“Because,” she sang, drawing out the word, “Callahan wants us involved. And guess who’s been chosen to work directly with the consultant?”

The unease crawling up my spine solidified into something heavier.

“Who?”

Jenna took a dramatic sip of coffee before grinning. “You.”

Before I could process her words, a sharp clap rang through the room.

Callahan.

He stood in the center of the newsroom, his sharp gaze sweeping over us. The usual newsroom buzz faded into silence.

“Listen up,” he barked. “We’ve got a major development in the Thompson project. I’ve brought in an outside consultant—a specialist in corporate scandals. He’ll be leading the investigation, and I expect all of you to give him your full cooperation.”

His eyes landed on me.

“Especially you, Adrianna. You’ll be working with him directly.”

The door to Callahan’s office swung open, and the air shifted.

The man from the park walked in.

My breath caught.

Damien Carter.

His dark hair was immaculately styled, his suit tailored to perfection, and his presence—commanding. Even in a room full of ambitious journalists, he stood out.

His gaze swept over the newsroom before landing on me. The intensity in his dark eyes made my pulse stutter.

No.

This wasn’t happening.

“This is Damien Carter,” Callahan announced. “One of the best in the business. He’s here to help us uncover every angle of this story.”

Damien strode forward with quiet confidence, his gaze never leaving mine.

“Miss James.”

His voice was smooth, measured—a voice that knew how to command attention.

I hesitated, then took his outstretched hand. His grip was firm, warm, unshaken.

“Mr. Carter.”

Callahan clapped a hand on Damien’s shoulder. “Adrianna here is one of our finest reporters. She’ll be your point of contact for this project.”

Damien’s lips curved slightly. “Looking forward to it.”

The way he said it felt like a challenge.

As Callahan turned to address the rest of the team, Damien leaned in slightly, his voice just for me.

“Well, isn’t this a small world?”

I stiffened, pulling back. “This is strictly professional.”

His smirk deepened. “Strictly professional,” he echoed, like the words amused him.

I turned to leave, needing distance, space, anything. But his next words stopped me cold.

“You should know one thing.”

I turned back, narrowing my eyes. “Is that a threat?”

His smirk didn’t fade, but something shifted in his gaze—something darker.

“Just a heads-up.”

He walked away, leaving a trail of tension in his wake.

The newsroom buzzed around me, but I barely heard it. My mind raced with questions.

Why was Damien Carter here?

What was his connection to Eric?

And why did it feel like he already knew exactly how this was going to play out?

I sank into my chair, my heart pounding.

This wasn’t just another day.

This was the beginning of something far more dangerous than I was ready to admit.

And somehow, Damien Carter was at the center of it all.