Nosy Reporter

Chapter 8:

ROSALINE'S POV~

"I love my woman more than life itself," Damien said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "I would do anything to prove that to the world.”

I could feel my blood boiling as Damien continued to spin his web of lies. "Rosaline is my queen, my everything. And I'm willing to take her back with open arms, even if she's been sleeping with other men." He paused, letting the words sink in. "Because I know that deep down, she belongs to me. She's mine, and I'm hers."

My stomach turned as I watched Damien manipulate the media with ease. How could I have lived with such a monster for so long without realizing the truth? I felt like an utter fool for trusting him, even for a fleeting moment.

As I turned to face Ezra, I expected to see the expression of disgust on his face as well but instead I noticed his amused expression. "Wow, Damien could give Hollywood a run for its money with that performance," he said with a smirk.

I couldn't bring myself to crack a smile.

I felt my blood boil as I stood up. Without thinking, I picked up a vase and smashed it against the stool with a loud, violent crash. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to fight back the tears that threatened to spill over.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, not daring to meet Ezra's gaze. "I shouldn't… I shouldn't have done that. I'll replace it, I promise."

"Hey, don't worry about it," Ezra said. "Sometimes you just need to let it all out.”

Ezra stepped closer to me, his hand gently brushing against my hair. "You can break more things if it'll make you feel better," he said softly. "I'm here to support you, no matter what."

I shivered as his lips brushed against my hair, my heart fluttering at his kindness. "Thank you," I whispered.

Ezra guided me back to the couch, his hand gently resting on the small of my back. "So, what's the plan?"

My eyes were fixed on the television screen, my finger pointing at the brave reporter who had dared to challenge Damien. "I need to know who she is," I said. "Damien won't let this slide. He'll destroy her life, unless we do something."

Ezra's face hardened as he leaned back on the sofa, his arms folded.

"So what's your suggestion?" Ezra asked, his voice cold.

I met his gaze, unflinching. "I want you to offer her a job at your company. Immediately."

Ezra raised an eyebrow, a dark chuckle escaping his lips. "You want me to hire her, knowing what Damien's capable of?"

"Damien may think he's untouchable, but he's no match for you. You hold the cards, Ezra. You have the power to destroy him. And I think it's time we start playing our hand. Use all the confidential papers I offered you. Use them now.”

A malicious laughter bubbled out of Ezra's throat and he leaned forward, brushing some strands of hair away from my shoulders and I have no idea why he always does that. Our relationship wasn't that official yet.

He then whispered. “As my lady wishes."

~ ~ ~

I woke up to the sound of a baby crying, but the room was so dark I couldn't see anything. I reached for the lamp, and when I finally managed to switch it on, I realized the crying was coming from outside my door. A chill ran down my spine as I slid on my slippers and tucked my robe tightly around myself.

With trembling hands, I crept towards the door, peering through the peephole. Nothing. I cracked open the door, only to be greeted by an empty hallway. But the baby was still crying, the sound echoing in my ears like a siren's song.

I followed the cries, my heart racing faster and faster with every step. They led me to the front door of the house, where a child wrapped in a white blanket lay on a little cot. A small card sat beside the baby, bearing a single name: Elanora.

It was the same name I had in mind for my dead child. What manner of prank was this?

My heart skipped a beat as I bent to pick up the child, but when I touched the blanket, it was soaked with blood. Horror gripped me as I watched the baby's body begin to decay before my eyes.

Just as I opened my mouth to scream, I jolted awake, my heart pounding in my chest.

The piercing sound of my alarm clock shattered the eerie silence of the room, and in a fit of rage, I hurled it at the wall, watching it shatter into tiny pieces. Only then did I realize that I wasn't even in my own home, and my stomach dropped at the realization of my mistake.

As I stared at the wreckage, a series of loud knocks echoed through the room, sending my already racing heart into overdrive. My hands trembling, I crept to the door and pulled it open to reveal Ezra standing outside, his brows furrowed with concern. Behind him stood his assistant and a bodyguard.

"I heard screams," he said, his voice laced with worry. "Are you alright?"

I nodded, forcing a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, really," I lied. "Just a nightmare."

Ezra's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What kind of nightmare?"

My heart was hammering in my chest as he stepped into my room, closing the door behind him and dismissing the bodyguard. The assistant lingered outside, and I could feel Ezra's intense gaze on me.

Slowly, he approached me, a deep frown marring his features.

"Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice quiet and tender.

I wiped away the tear on my cheek, embarrassed by my display of emotion. "It's nothing," I murmured.

But Ezra wasn't satisfied. Gently, he tilted my chin upward, forcing me to look him in the eyes. "Rosaline," he whispered, using my name like a secret. "You can tell me. What's wrong?"

I was lost in Ezra's dark, fathomless gaze, feeling myself being pulled into the depths of his soul. Part of me longed to tell him about the nightmares that haunted me, about the child I lost and the monsters who took my unborn baby from me. But could I trust him? Even though we were allies in our mission to destroy Damien and his mistress, I couldn't bring myself to trust anyone completely anymore.

With a forced smile, I reassured Ezra once again. "It's nothing," I lied. "Just having a bad night and thinking of ways to bring down Damien."

Ezra hummed noncommittally, and I couldn't help but wonder if he believed me or not.

Suddenly, he pulled away and called out to Sebastian, who entered the room with a handful of files. Ezra smirked, handing the files to me with a knowing look.

I frowned, taking the files from his hand. "What are these?"

"Just a little something that might help with your mission," Ezra replied, his voice teasing. "I think you'll find them quite interesting."

My curiosity piqued, I flipped through the files, and my breath caught in my throat as I recognized the reporter's face, one who I had asked Ezra to trace. A small, satisfied smile curved my lips as I looked up at Ezra.

Ezra's eyes crinkled with amusement at my reaction. "I take it you like my little gift?"

"It's perfect," I replied, grateful for his assistance.

Ezra nodded, his smile widening. "Use it well, Rosaline. And don't worry about how to get there. Sebastian will drive you wherever you need to go."

I turned to watch him leave, watching as he dished out orders to Sebastian and I turned around to slam the file shut, a dark glint flashing through my eyes.

~ ~ ~

The car jerked to a stop outside the small newspaper office, and I peered through the tinted windows, studying the building with a critical eye. It was a tiny, dilapidated office that seemed on the brink of collapse. My brows rose.

“We are here, ma'am." Sebastian announced, and I nodded silently, already lost in thought. Flipping through the file, I noted the office hours—5 pm sharp. Glancing at the setting sun, I realized we were cutting it close.

Impatient, I watched the office door, waiting for the workers to leave. But minutes stretched into eternity, the office remained shut tight. "Go check her out, Sebastian" I finally snapped, my patience wearing thin.

Sebastian nodded and made a move for the door. But before his hand even touched the handle, a woman emerged from the office, blonde hair cascading down her shoulders as she locked up for the night. My pulse quickened. This was her, the reporter I'd been searching for.

Just as I was about to open the door, Sebastian swore, “Fuck!" his eyes wide with alarm. A gunshot rang out, shattering the quiet evening, and two men emerged from a car parked nearby.

Oh God!

My stomach twisted as I realized who they were just like I expected. Damien's men, sent to silence the nosy reporter who had dared throw him an annoying question.