Unveiling the Billionaire's Secret

Sophia

I tapped my fingers impatiently against the edge of my old laptop, the sound of my impatience reverberating in the quiet newsroom. My gaze drifted briefly away from the screen before me to the chaotic bulletin board on the wall a little distance away from my sitting position, where the newspaper clippings and post-its notes added to the picturesque of many untold stories. The familiar hum of printers and murmurs of my colleagues in their cubicles were a comforting background, but today they did nothing to help my impatience.

My gaze flitted away from the bulletin board, this time in direction of the glass wall in the other direction. Behind the glass wall was the office of Paul Grayson, my editor, who had been pacing behind the walls for the past fifteen minutes with his usually endearing face contorted in deep thought.

"Ms. Bennett, you can come in now," Paul finally called, snapping me out of my thoughts rather rudely. His voice was as gruff as ever but there was an unfamiliar edge to it today.

I had just spent the past minutes waiting for him to call me in after a prior summon with the promise of an 'important opportunity' but the anticipation had only given birth to a rabid impatience. I needed a big break, big enough to dig me out of the fix I had suddenly found myself in over the past year. My father, a once-celebrated journalist, had fallen from grace after a widely-spread scandal I definitely had no part in but whose shadow still loomed over me.

I cleared my mind with a little shake of my head and stood up, smoothing the wrinkles from my blouse as I did so. I straightened my posture before walking into the office, the door clicked shut behind me, efficiently muffling the newsroom noise entirely.

Paul motioned for me to sit, I took my seat graciously, trying to read the expression on his face.

"Do you know about the Blackwood Gala?" Paul asked, characteristically getting straight to the point.

I nodded slowly, "Of course, it is one of the most exclusive events in the world, Adrian Blackwood's annual show-off of his wealth and connections."

I didn't bother to hide the cynicism evident from my tone. The Blackwood Gala was widely famous, not only for the show of wealth but also for the secrets hidden amongst its carefully selected attendees.

Paul narrowed his eyes slightly at my tone but didn't comment on it, "As you know, Blackwood doesn't usually allow the press at his events but I have managed to secure an invitation for you. This is a huge deal Sopha."

My heart skipped a beat, this was it, the opportunity I have been looking for. The secrets whispered among the elites bound to attend the Gala could be enough to catapult my career to heights I could only dream of. But there was a hint of unease beneath my excitement.

"Why me?"

"Why not you?" Paul asked back without missing a beat.

"Well, it is just way high above my pay grade and you know, after what happened."

I closed my mouth, fully embarrassed.

He leaned back into his chair before replying to me. "You are one of the best we have, Sophia regardless of the happenings of the past year. And you are hungry, I can see it in your eyes and in your work. You've got a nose for a story and that is what we need for this deal. Blackwood doesn't like press and that alone has caused suspicions in the news industry. There must be something he is hiding that has made him a recluse despite his affluence. I need someone who isn't afraid to dig deep and that is where you come in."

I could feel the intensity of his words and the desperation behind them. There were a lot of unsaid words behind his proposition, the unspoken risks and dangers of poking into the affairs of one of the world's most powerful men. But the knowledge of those risks are what made it all the more tempting and juicy. Writing safe stories will only keep me behind the desk for the most of my prime years, but exposing something explosive could be the leap in career I needed.

"What is the angle?" I asked in a measured voice, hiding the flurry of thoughts in my mind.

"That'd be for you to find out, I'm giving you carte blanche on this. Start with Blackwood, there have been whispers of shady connections to the underworld for years, but no one has gotten anything concrete. Get in there, get close to him and find out what he is hiding."

"What about the other guests?"

"Adrian is your primary assignment, anything else you find is a bonus."

The enormity of the task hit me like a wave, but I was fully determined.

"Alright, I'll do it."

"Good," Paul replied, his voice laced with satisfaction. He handed me a sleek, black envelope.

"This is your invitation, the gala is in three days. You'll have to be smart and discreet, Adrian isn;t a man you want to cross."

I took the envelope, feeling the texture in my hands. It was made of a material that felt expensive, inside was an invitation card embossed with my name in delicate calligraphy.

"Anything else about him that I won't find on the net?" I asked.

Paul hesitated before replying, "His money isn't just old money from what I hear. He is involved in all the major industries but it is all hush hush. He is too clean, no scandals, no leaks and that is all unnatural. A man like him should have something slip but there is nothing."

My mind immediately went into overdrive, if Adrian Blackwood was that careful it would be a real challenge to find something incriminating on him. But if i did it, be the one to take down the untouchable billionaire, it would be a life-changing moment.

"And," Paul added as I stood to leave, "Be careful."

"I will." I met his gaze with unwavering resolve.

As I walked out of the office, I felt a mix of excitement and nerve bubbling within me.

Blackwood here I come.