Chapter 3 A web of lies

Cassidy's mind raced as she navigated the winding streets back to her apartment. Her thoughts were tangled-fragments of information, whispers of conspiracy, and the eerie sensation that she was already too deep to turn back. But despite the swirl of uncertainty and danger, one thing was clear: she couldn't stop now. She was closer than ever to uncovering the truth about Alexander Cross, and there was no way she would let herself get sidetracked by distractions-especially the growing pull she felt every time she thought of him.

Her phone buzzed again, snapping her from her reverie.

It was a message from her contact at Cross Industries: "Cassidy, I have something you need to see. Meet me at the usual place in an hour. Don't tell anyone. You'll want to hear this."

The usual place. Cassidy's pulse quickened. She didn't like the vague tone of the message. But her gut told her this could be the breakthrough she needed.

She dialed her editor as she made a sharp turn, heading for the quiet coffee shop near her apartment. "I'm meeting someone. I'll need more time on the next piece," she said, not waiting for a response before hanging up. The last thing she needed was to explain herself. She was on the brink of something, and this was too important.

The coffee shop was almost empty when she arrived. Just one other customer sat at the far end, absorbed in his laptop. Cassidy scanned the room, making sure no one was paying attention before slipping into the booth where she had arranged to meet her informant.

A few minutes passed, and Cassidy's fingers drummed impatiently on the table. She checked her watch. Five minutes later than they had agreed.

Just as she was about to text him, the door opened, and a figure stepped inside. Cassidy looked up, her heart skipping a beat.

It was him-Evan-her source inside Cross Industries. His eyes quickly scanned the room before he spotted her and made his way over. Cassidy's eyes narrowed at the worried expression on his face.

"What's going on?" she asked, keeping her voice low.

Evan slid into the seat across from her, his hands trembling as he pulled out a file. He glanced nervously around the room before speaking. "You were right. Alexander Cross isn't just a businessman. He's involved in something far worse than I thought."

Cassidy's stomach twisted. "What are you talking about?"

He glanced around again before sliding the file across the table. "The corruption runs deeper than just financial fraud. It's human trafficking, Cassidy. Cross Industries is tangled up in it. They've been using their global network to smuggle people-mostly women-from other countries for god knows what. But I've seen the evidence. They're involved. And Alexander Cross is the key to it all."

The words hit her like a slap. Cassidy had suspected that the billionaire might have dirty hands, but this? Human trafficking? She had to steady her breath. "How do you know this? And what does it have to do with Alexander?"

Evan's gaze dropped to the table, his hands clenched in fists. "Because Cross is the one pulling the strings. He may not be directly involved, but he's in control. His company has been manipulating governments, setting up fake NGOs, even paying off authorities to cover it up."

Cassidy's heart pounded in her chest. "This is insane. Why are you telling me this now?"

"I've been trying to gather more information, but they've already caught on to me," Evan said in a low voice. "I'm not safe anymore. I need to get out of here before they come for me. I'm telling you because you're my only hope to get this information out."

Cassidy's mind raced. This was much bigger than she had imagined. She had started her investigation with the goal of exposing financial fraud, but now, she was staring into a criminal empire that stretched far beyond what she had prepared for.

"Is this the whole file?" she asked, eyeing the thick stack of papers.

Evan shook his head. "I've got a more complete set of documents, but they're locked away for now. Cross's security is airtight. But I've got a few things that can prove his involvement. Just...be careful, Cassidy. These people don't play by the rules. And if they think you've figured it out, they won't hesitate to silence you."

Cassidy's fingers wrapped around the file, her mind already racing through her options. She couldn't afford to panic, but the stakes had just risen to a level she wasn't prepared for.

"Evan, you have to get out of here. Now. I'll take care of the rest," she said, her voice sharp with urgency.

He nodded, looking over his shoulder once more. "I'm trusting you with this. Don't let them get away with it, Cassidy." Then, without another word, he stood and walked briskly toward the door, leaving Cassidy alone with the file.

Cassidy sat there for a moment, staring at the file, the weight of the situation bearing down on her. Her hands shook as she flipped open the first page. It was all there-the names, the dates, the connections. Alexander Cross's company, Cross Industries, was deep in the web of corruption. And he was at the center of it all.

She barely registered the passing minutes as she read through the documents. Every page felt like a gut punch, each new revelation confirming what she had suspected-Alexander Cross was no hero. He was the villain in this story.

But there was one thing she couldn't shake. Despite the damning evidence, Cassidy couldn't help but remember the look in Alexander's eyes when they spoke earlier. The cold, emotionless CEO was there, but under the surface-just barely-there was something else. A desperation? A hint of guilt? She couldn't decide.

But the more she thought about it, the more she realized it didn't matter. Her job was to uncover the truth. Not to second-guess it.

Cassidy stuffed the documents back into the file and left the coffee shop, her mind already plotting her next move. She needed to meet with her editor, find more allies, and figure out how to expose this empire for good. The file Evan had handed her was just the beginning, and now, Cassidy Lane was in the fight of her life.

But there was one thing that kept her up at night, gnawing at her-Why did Alexander Cross seem like he had something to hide?