Chapter 65 Sixty five
Mira’s eyes continued scanning the crowd.
The man who had spoken to her had disappeared as though he’d never been there.
A strange feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.
“You alright?” Salvatore’s voice came from beside her.
She forced herself to look away from the crowd. “I’m fine.”
He studied her face for a second longer but didn’t press the issue.
“Mr. Corvin!” A member of the event staff hurried toward them with a welcoming smile. “We’ve been expecting you.”
Salvatore gave a polite nod. “Please follow me. The mayor is already inside.”
The ballroom doors were pulled open. Warm light spilled onto the entrance as soft violin music drifted outside.
Mira stepped inside beside Salvatore.
The ballroom was breathtaking.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling like falling stars. Hundreds of guests filled the room dressed in expensive gowns and tailored suits. Waiters moved gracefully through the crowd carrying champagne while an orchestra played from a raised platform.
Conversations echoed through every corner of the room. Mira instinctively began observing everyone around her.
Politicians. Business executives.Judges.
Police commissioners. Media owners.
Almost everyone important in the city seemed to be there. This was exactly the kind of place secrets were made.
And exposed.
She had barely taken three steps into the ballroom when someone called her name.
“Mira?”
She froze.
That voice…It couldn’t be. Slowly, she turned around.
Her eyes widened. “Anna?”
Anna stood only a few feet away, wearing a deep navy blue evening gown that hugged her figure elegantly. Her dark hair had been swept into a neat bun, and a press badge hung discreetly inside her clutch.
For several seconds they simply stared at each other.
Anna looked just as shocked.
“What are you doing here?” they asked at the same time.
Anna recovered first. “I should be asking you that.”
Mira glanced briefly toward Salvatore before stepping closer to Anna.
“I…”
She couldn’t answer. Not here.
Not with Salvatore standing only a few feet away.
Anna followed her gaze. Only then did she seem to notice who Mira had arrived with.
Her eyes slowly moved to Salvatore. Then back to Mira. Then to Salvatore again.
“…No way.”
Mira immediately shook her head. “It’s not what it looks like.”
Anna folded her arms. “It looks exactly like you walked into a charity gala on the arm of the man you’ve been investigating for the last month. Dresses like this.” Anna said, her eyes travelling over her body.
“I didn’t.”
“You literally did.”
“I was forced.”Mira blurted out
Anna blinked. “…Forced?” Anna asked, “ What do you mean by forced?”
Before Mira could explain, Salvatore walked over.
His calm smile appeared as though nothing in the world could trouble him.
“Mira.”
She immediately took half a step away from him.
Anna noticed.
His attention shifted politely toward Anna. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
Anna straightened instinctively. Years of interviewing powerful people had taught her professionalism.
“I’m Anna Brooks.” She extended her hand.TruthScope.”
Salvatore accepted the handshake. “Salvatore Corvin.”
“I know who you are,” Anna said
“I’m sure you do,” Salvatore replied, smiling, looking from Anna to Mira.
Anna smiled politely, though her journalist instincts were already screaming. She had covered dozens of high-profile businessmen over the years.
None of them looked at people the way Salvatore looked at Mira.
The realization made her stomach tighten.
She looked at Mira again. Something wasn’t right.
“You clean up nicely, Miss Brooks,” Salvatore said.
Anna smiled. “So do you.”
He nodded once. “I’ll leave you two to catch up.”
Without another word, he walked toward a group of politicians waiting across the ballroom.
The moment he was out of earshot, Anna grabbed Mira’s wrist.
“What the hell is going on?”
Mira quickly looked around to make sure Salvatore wasn’t watching. He found out.”
Anna frowned. “What do you mean?”
“He knew,” Mira said, letting out a soft, frustrating sigh.
“Knew what?” Anna asked
“Everything,” Mira said, her eyes sadly meeting Annas
Anna’s face drained of color. “ That can't…”
“He knew I was a reporter from the first day I entered his house.”
Anna stared at her. “That’s impossible. We made sure he couldn't find out”.
“I thought so too.”
“Mira…”
“He admitted it.”
Anna looked genuinely shaken. “And you’re still staying in his mansion?” She whispered, trying not to yell” What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I don’t have a choice,” Mira said frustratedly
“What do you mean you don’t have a choice?”
Mira hesitated. She couldn’t tell Anna about the threats.
Not when it could risk putting her in danger.
Instead, she said quietly, “It’s complicated.”
Anna looked unconvinced. “No, Mira.” Her voice became serious. “This isn’t complicated.”
She glanced toward Salvatore. “This is dangerous.”
Mira followed her gaze. Across the ballroom, Salvatore was speaking with the mayor.
Yet even from the other side of the room…
His eyes briefly lifted. They found hers instantly.
He gave the smallest nod. Then continued his conversation as if nothing had happened.
Anna noticed it too. “…He’s watching you. The way I see it his not going to let you go easily.”
Mira forced herself to smile. “I know.”
Anna slowly turned back to her. “Let's get out of here.” Her hands grabbed Mira. “ This is your turn to run for your life.”
“I can't... “ Mira said softly "
Anna's voice had dropped to a whisper. “I don’t think you understand.”
A chill crept up Mira’s spine. “What?”
Anna leaned closer. “I’ve been here almost an hour.”
“So?”
“I’ve watched him speak to at least twenty people.”
Mira frowned.
“And?”
Anna’s eyes remained fixed on Salvatore across the ballroom.
“…You’re the only person he’s been watching all night.”
Mira glanced over instinctively.
Salvatore was speaking with the mayor, listening as several city officials laughed at something one of them had said.
Yet somehow… His attention drifted back to her for the briefest second.
Just one glance.
Then he returned to the conversation as though nothing had happened.
Mira looked back at Anna. “So?”
Anna hesitated.
“The last time I saw him look at someone like that…” Her voice dropped. “…a body was found two days later.”
Mira’s stomach tightened. “What do you mean?”
Anna looked around to make sure nobody was close enough to overhear.
Then she leaned in.
“Three months before you moved here, TruthScope sent another reporter undercover.”
Mira stared at her. “What?”
Anna nodded slowly. “Her name was Claire Donovan.”
Mira searched her memory. “I’ve never heard that name.”
“You weren’t working on investigative assignments yet.” Anna swallowed. “The case was kept quiet.”
“Why?”
“Because Claire disappeared.”
The noise of the ballroom suddenly felt distant.
Mira’s grip tightened around her clutch. “Disappeared?”
Anna nodded. “For almost three weeks.”
“And then?”
Her expression darkened. “They found her.”
Mira already knew she wasn’t going to like the answer. “Where?”
Anna looked away for a moment before answering.
“In the river…. Dead.”