Shadows in the Media

As the news anchor's voice filled the room, the weight of the released footage weighed heavily on my chest.

"There are significant concerns over Damon Sinclair's previous activities raised by this video, which is purportedly from a private meeting years ago. Did he participate in his father's dubious business dealings? What does this signify for Sinclair Enterprises' future?

The scene switched to a split screen, with a panel of experts prepared to dissect Damon on one side and the blurry, edited film on the other.

Jax muttered an expletive. "Your head is on the way."

Damon stood erect, his jaw so clenched I was afraid it might break. "I didn't realize how desperate they were." His voice was uncannily quiet, the type of silence that forewarns of a storm's impending eye.

I turned off the TV. "Damon, this isn't simply an assault on your company. They are attempting to ruin you.

Then, with dark, unfathomable eyes, he turned to face me. "Give them a chance."

I gave a quick breath. "We must overcome this obstacle. They will take charge of the story if we don't.

Jax gave a nod. The media sharks smell blood, but I've already begun contacting our PR staff. They're looking for something more substantial.

I shook my head and mumbled, "They want a confession." "Or a scandal."

After rubbing his temple, Damon turned to face me. "After that, we give them something else to discuss."

Jax's eyebrows went up. "You think we should fabricate this?"

Damon didn't think twice. "No, before they can bury us, I propose that we bury them."

The headlines were unrelenting the next morning.

"Damon Sinclair: The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree?"

"Exposed: The Dark Deal That Could Bring Sinclair Enterprises Crashing Down!"

"The villain or the heir? "The Secrets of Damon Sinclair Revealed"

I gripped my phone tighter as I browsed through article after article. This was a full-scale conflict, not only an assault.

My phone then rang.

An unidentified number.

I was hesitant to respond. "Hello?"

A voice came through, distorted. "Emma, doesn't the past always catch up with you?"

My blood froze.

I sprang out of my seat. "Who is this?"

A laugh. Is it important? No matter how much you and Damon fight, claw, and deny, what about this empire you're creating? Shadows are its foundation. And the light always finds the shadows.

The line then stopped working.

My heart was racing as I gazed at the phone.

When Damon entered, he saw my look right away. "What took place?"

My voice was tight as I turned to face him. "They're not finished."

As I gave him my phone, I saw his expression as he went through the call history. His face darkened as his grip tightened.

After a lengthy pause, he replied, "They're trying to scare us."

I took a deep breath. "It's functioning."

The situation only worsened by lunchtime.

Another piece appeared, and it was a personal one.

My childhood, my hardships, and even the unpleasant parts I believed were hidden had all been uncovered by a journalist. My father's shortcomings, my mother's disappearance, and how I had fought my way out of nothing.

Additionally, there is one damning question at the article's very end:

"If Emma Sinclair is so different from Damon’s world, why does she fit so perfectly into it?"

I was ill.

Jax barged into the room, and I could hardly hear him. "It's awful."

Damon's fists clenched. "How bad is it?"

A file was thrown onto the desk by Jax. "They're not content with just articles. A comprehensive exposé is being prepared. A documentary. Damon, they want to make you the bad guy. Additionally, Emma serves as their sad lead character.

I reached for the file and looked through it. In three days, the documentary was scheduled to debut. A full-scale investigation into Damon’s past, his father’s sins, and now—my role in all of it.

“They’re going to twist everything,” I whispered.

With an enigmatic look, Damon turned to face me. “Then we give them something they can’t twist.”

Jax frowned. “What do you have in mind?”

Damon stared at me. “The truth.”

I gasped. “You want to go public?”

He nodded. "I've let my father's past control my future for far too long. We provide them with a narrative on our terms if they want one.

Jax paused. "That's dangerous."

Damon's mouth clenched. "Letting them dictate the story is also a good idea."

I let out a slow breath. Then we take action. Together.

Damon steadied his hold on my hand. "With each other."

Jax's phone buzzed before any of us could continue. He paled as he looked at the screen.

His voice was stern as he gazed up at us.

"The documentary is no longer merely conjecture."

I took a swallow. "What do you mean?"

Jax gave a quick breath. They've got a witness. Someone around. Someone who is open to conversation

Damon's whole body froze. "Who?"

Jax paused. The phone was then passed across the table by him.

I glanced down.

I felt my heart stop.

I was surprised to see a name on the screen.

Evelyn.

The lady who had served as my mentor. She was the one who had helped me so much.

The lady who was going to turn on us immediately.

The air became thicker with silence, pushing down on my chest like an unrelenting weight.

Evelyn.

I attempted to make sense of her name, but it blurred on the screen. My thoughts were racing over every time we had spent together, every lesson we had learned, every encouraging word I had heard, and every assurance that she had faith in me.

She was now addressing those who wanted to destroy what Damon and I had created.

Damon had a deep, lethal voice. "The interview was recorded at what time?"

Jax checked the information by swiping at his phone. "It is currently occurring."

My breath caught. "She hasn't said anything yet?"

Jax gave a headshake. "Off-camera. She is, nevertheless, prepared to testify, according to the sources. Anything she says might permanently alter how the public views you two.

The blood in my face started to run out.

Damon was on the move already. "We must put an end to this."

Jax tightened his jaw. The broadcast is live. We are unable to prevent the media from publishing their tale.

I took hold of Damon's arm. "We then speak with her."

His eyes blazed with treachery as he turned to face me. "Emma, she made her decision."

"No," I demanded. "Not until she tells me."

When Jax's phone rang once again, he read the message and went pale.

"She will go live in just twenty minutes."

Damon's body curled tightly in anger, his hands tightened. "Twenty minutes is not enough for us."

I reached for my coat. "Then we'd better get moving."

When Damon and I looked at one other, I could see the struggle going on inside of him—the drive to defend, the need to fight, the deep, painful scar that Evelyn's treachery had already caused.

He gave a quick breath. "Leave now."

Damon's grip on the driving wheel was white-knuckled as we sped into the metropolis. Since Evelyn wasn't picking up, my phone was worthless.

When I eventually met her, I wasn't sure whether I wanted to demand answers or beg.

Ahead, the news studio loomed, the bright lights of the cameras inside reflected by its glass windows. I could see Evelyn through them, seated on a chair with a microphone hooked to her shirt and a serene smile on her face.

She seemed prepared to speak. All set to bury us.

As we rushed through the main doors, my heart raced.

"Just stop there."

Our path was barred by a security officer.

Damon's voice has a sharp edge. "Go."

The guard remained unflinching. "This area is restricted."

I was filled with panic. Evelyn hadn't seen us yet, but we would be unable to repair the damage if we didn't get to her within the next few minutes. She would say whatever she had come to say.

Jax came up to me, his voice demanding. Emma, we lose control of everything if she speaks first.

I gulped forcefully, my thoughts racing.

There was just one choice.

I forced my voice to calm and looked back at the guard. "So I suppose I'm creating my own news stories."

And I ran past him and right into the television studio—toward Evelyn—before anybody could stop me.

Her face flashed with alarm as she glanced up.

The cameras were in motion.

The world was now observing.