Shadows of deceit : The Augustus secret

Chapter Twenty

Ashley

I sat at a large oak desk in the mansion's library, surrounded by towering bookshelves and the faint scent of aged paper. My laptop was open in front of me, yet my mind feels clouded, unable to find the right words. Frustration builds as I stare at the blinking cursor on the screen.

"Nestled within the storied walls of the Augustus mansion lies a tale as intricate as the labyrinthine corridors themselves-a tale that whispers of betrayal, suspicion, and the relentless pursuit of truth...."

I sighed then deleted what I had just typed. I just can't deal with this right now. I feel like a total mess and my mind is filled with a bunch of suspicions and possibilities yet no room for ideas to form a proper opening for my piece. I curse Will under my breath, he's the reason for my block. He's the reason why I am this frustrated. Maybe Mary was right, maybe I shouldn't be doing Will's job and just simply stick to my task. But I feel like I can no longer do that, it's like I'm stuck now. I know too much to drop it all yet too little to actually discover something.

Or maybe I shouldn't blame Will, maybe I should only just blame myself, maybe Stefan is right. All I managed to deliver to him were excuses instead of actual work in progress. I feel vulnerable for a second where I begin to even question if I'm up for this job and this task.

I get up from my seat and start to wander through the shelves, running my fingers along the spines of books that have weathered years of neglect, I feel a sense of reverence for the knowledge housed within these ancient tomes. Each volume carries a story, its pages whispering secrets of times long past. Curiosity propels me as I flip through the fragile pages of one of the books I picked up. I find myself lost in the ink of this book. I didn't even notice it when Isaac stood right behind me.

"What do you have there." His voice made me jump and drop the book.

"Jesus, what is it with you and creeping up on me, you could've just told me you're here!" I said as I pressed my hand against my chest feeling my racing heartbeats.

"I'm here." He looked at me smirking, I could see the amusement on his face. I rolled my eyes and fake laughed.

"You're a bit grumpy today, Journalist." He said picking up the book and handing It to me, I take it as I murmured under my breath "I feel everything but a journalist right now."

He tilted his head to the side waiting for me to continue and I sighed for a moment before I apologized. "I'm sorry, you're right I'm a bit grumpy but it has nothing to do with you, it's just I feel..." I stopped as realization hit me, I'm really losing it, I'm getting unprofessional and I'm really degrading my reputation. An emotional outburst in the last thing I should be doing right now especially in front of an Augustus.

I take a deep breath and I force a smile on my face, "I apologize, I assure you whatever I'm feeling right now, I won't let it impact my work in any way."

"Ashley." Isaac said as he took a step closer to me and held my hand in his own. "I'm not Stefan, I don't view you just as an employee and I certainly don't expect any work from you." his thumb rubbed my fingers slowly. "I'm the one who should be apologizing, for our last conversation. I didn't mean to lay all of that information on you like that." He pressed his lips into a thin line showing his apologetic side and looked at me before he continued "it's just... frustrating to be in here, and I'm sure it's not just for me, I can understand your frustration, but I want to hear you express them to me. The only reason I reacted the way I reacted is because I felt like I can be open with you, and I want for you to feel the same with me." He smiled at me, and for a moment I felt like all of this was an act, I felt the possibility of him manipulating me into trusting him and opening up, but at the same I didn't trust my own thoughts. In front of me was a handsome gentleman showing me affection and interest, and yet all I did was link his gesture to a murder mystery.