THE WHISPERED

Vanessa’s heels clicked against the marble floor as she moved through the crowd with Damien at her side “keep your voice low i need to hear everything,” she whispered leaning toward him.

Damien’s dark eyes scanned the room, lips curved into a faint smirk “everything?” he asked “so you want me to be a spy too now?”

“You already are,” she replied without looking at him. “Eyes everywhere with your ears open “that’s your job tonight.”

He chuckled softly “fine but you owe me one for this or maybe more than one.”

Vanessa didn’t respond because she had no time for jokes. Across the room a man in a sleek black suit leaned in close to some group of officials Vanessa caught pieces of conversation carefully filtering out the irrelevant ones.

Damien’s voice was low in her ear. “I think our friend over there just mentioned your father’s old case files on Something about evidence that disappeared.”

Vanessa froze and her eyes narrowed “which ones?” she asked.

“The documents from the Lucas family estate. The ones that were supposed to vanish years ago.” Damien’s voice lowered further “seems like someone wants them back… or someone wants you to find them.”

Vanessa’s jaw tightened. “I’ll handle it.”

Damien raised an eyebrow “handle it, huh? Careful...this is not a social gathering anymore. It has become a trap disguised in champagne and polite smiles.”

“I know,” she said keeping her tone neutral “Stay close and watch my back and no unnecessary moves.”

A waiter brushed past offering hors d’oeuvres. Damien grabbed a plate taking a bite with his eyes never leaving the crowd “nothing says danger like caviar and fake smiles,” he muttered.

Vanessa didn’t respond. Her gaze locked on a man standing by the far balcony. He was tall with broad-shoulder and his face was partially blocked by shadows but she recognized the little twitch of his left eye....the same man who had been following her movements since the beginning of the night.

“There,” she whispered nodding toward him.

Damien followed her gaze “ah, our friendly shadow, are you planning on making a move?”

“I don’t know but I intend to find out,” Vanessa admitted.

The shadowy man made a slight gesture and a woman approached Vanessa from the behind moving like a soft breeze across the crowded hall. Vanessa sensed her immediately and spinned around just in time to intercept.

“General Lucas,” the woman said smoothly, her smile thin “I've been looking for you.”

“Who are you?” Vanessa asked with a low but sharp voice.

“My name doesn’t matter,” the woman replied leaning closer “what matters is that you stop asking questions. Those files you’re looking for are dangerous and some people would kill just to secure those files for themselves.”

Vanessa’s eyes hardened. “And you’re here to warn me huh?”

“I’m here to survive,” the woman said simply. “Just like you so keep your eyes wide open and trust no one.”

Damien’s voice was a whisper in her ear “well, that’s ominous.”

Vanessa nodded slightly. “I have handled worse so you need to keep your distance while watching every one of them.”

The woman vanished into the crowd before Vanessa could ask another question.

Jacob stepped closer, voice low “Vanessa…”

“Don’t,” she interrupted “do not come close me.”

He paused with guilt flash in his expression “I just… I don’t want you to get hurt I know I’ve made mistakes but…”

“You’ve made plenty,” Vanessa said coldly, her eyes piercing. “And I don’t need any protection from you.”

“Vanessa,” he said softer now, almost pleading “Please just… let me help.”

She shook her head “I don’t need help ok i need answers.”

Damien tugged her gently toward the exit “Come on let’s see who’s really watching.”

Vanessa followed scanning the room. The shadowy man was gone and Jacob’s attention was distracted by other guests. She felt the tension tighten like a vise around her chest with every step and every glances that could change the outcome.

Outside, the cool air hit her face and she signed sharply giving herself a brief moment of relief.

Damien rested against the car with his arms crossed “well that was fun.”

“Fun?” Vanessa’s lips twitched in a faint bitter smile. “Nothing about tonight is fun.”

Damien chuckled “It’s thrilling, though just admit it. The danger, the intrigue, the mystery. You love it.”

“I survive it,” she corrected. “And that’s different.”

He stepped closer lowering his voice “survival can be fun if you let it. Trust me. I’ve done it enough times to know.”

“I don’t have time to have fun,” Vanessa said her tone blunt. “I'm here for a mission so Focus.”

“Right,” Damien said, giving her a respectful nod. “Mission first, heart second. Got it.”

Vanessa’s gaze remained on the balcony imagining the shadowy figure watching and calculating. “Someone is always watching,” she muttered.

Damien’s dark eyes flicked to hers. “And someone is always protecting. Guess who?”

Vanessa allowed herself a faint smile but it did not reach her eyes “you’d better not fail me.”

“I never fail,” he said simply, his voice low and steady.

Vanessa exhaled sharply letting the tension ease just slightly. “Good. Because tonight, failure isn’t an option.”

Damien’s grin was naughty. “I like your confidence. Dangerous, sharp, untouchable. That’s my girl.”

Vanessa didn’t respond. Her eyes scanned the night again with her mind already racing through plans, eventuality and possibilities.

Their car approached quietly with the headlights cutting through the darkness. Damien opened the door for her like a defense between her and the world.

“Where are we going to now?” he asked.

Vanessa paused, gaze sharp. “We follow the trail and we find the truth.”

“Truth,” Damien echoed stepping into the car. “Sounds dangerous.”

She shot him a glance, her amber eyes cold and focused. “The most dangerous.”

And with that they drove into the night, a shadow and a storm moving toward the secrets that could destroy them both or give them the brink they needed.