THE SECOND LEAD

Shadows and Secrets

Ella couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Mark's face—the intensity in his gaze, the way he seemed to know her, even though she barely knew him. She had spent the entire night trying to rationalize it away, telling herself that she was overthinking it. But deep down, she knew that was a lie.The morning light filtered through her blinds, doing little to lift the fog that clung to her mind. She barely heard Sophie's cheerful knock on the door, announcing brunch. Her body moved on autopilot, dressing, grabbing her bag, and walking out to meet Sophie, who was already waiting by the door, with a wide grin."Finally! I thought you'd locked yourself away for good!" Sophie teased, linking her arm through Ella's as they started walking.Ella forced a smile, but her thoughts were miles away, still locked on the name that had haunted her all night: Blackwood.As they approached the café, Ella caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head, her heart skipping a beat as she noticed a black car idling at the curb. The tinted windows gave away nothing, but she could feel eyes on her, watching.She quickened her pace, her pulse pounding in her ears. Sophie's voice faded into the background as Ella struggled to shake the feeling of being followed. It was probably nothing—a coincidence, she told herself. But that feeling in her gut was back, twisting and tightening.They sat at an outdoor table, the sun warm against Ella's skin. Sophie chattered away, oblivious to her friend's distraction, but Ella couldn't focus. Every few seconds, she found herself scanning the street, her gaze flicking back to that car. Was she being paranoid? Or was someone watching her?Just as Sophie began launching into a story about her latest dating disaster, Ella's phone buzzed on the table. She jumped, glancing down at the screen. The number was unknown.Her heart raced as she hesitated, fingers hovering over the screen. She knew she shouldn't answer it. Not here. Not with Sophie sitting right across from her. But her curiosity got the better of her."Sorry, I have to take this," Ella mumbled, pushing back from the table and walking a few steps away, her heart pounding.She pressed the phone to her ear. "Hello?"A pause. Then, a voice she recognized."Ella." Mark's voice was smooth, almost too calm. "I'm sorry for the sudden call. We need to talk."Her breath caught in her throat. "Talk? About what?""About what you discovered," he replied. "I assume you did your research."Ella glanced over her shoulder at Sophie, who was busy stirring her coffee, oblivious to the sudden tension in Ella's body."I don't know what you're talking about," she whispered, trying to keep her voice steady."Don't lie," Mark said softly. "Meet me tonight. We can discuss everything... and make sure you understand the situation clearly."The line went dead before she could respond, leaving Ella standing there, her mind racing. The calmness in his voice had been unnerving. He knew. He knew she'd looked him up. And now he wanted to meet—why?She walked back to the table, her stomach in knots. Sophie raised an eyebrow but didn't pry. Ella forced herself through the rest of brunch, though her appetite was long gone. Her thoughts spiralled. Why had Mark reached out? Was it a warning? A threat?---Later that night, Ella found herself standing in front of a nondescript building, the weight of her decision pressing down on her. She had debated this moment all day, wondering if she should show up at all. But now, she was here. Despite the fear thrumming through her veins, she couldn't stop herself from stepping forward.The lobby was empty, save for a lone elevator at the end of the hall. The doors slid open as if expecting her. Ella hesitated only for a second before stepping inside.When the doors opened again, she was greeted by a dimly lit room. Mark stood by the window, his silhouette stark against the city lights. He turned as she entered, his gaze piercing through the shadows."You came," he said quietly, his voice carrying an edge of surprise."I didn't have much of a choice," she replied, trying to sound braver than she felt.Mark crossed the room in a few quick strides, stopping just a foot away from her. The space between them crackled with tension, his presence overwhelming. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence heavy with unspoken words.Finally, Mark broke the stillness. "You shouldn't have looked me up, Ella."Her breath hitched. "You approached me.""I did." His gaze softened for a brief second, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. "But now that you know, you're in more danger than you realize."Ella's pulse quickened, fear mingling with curiosity. "What do you mean?"Mark didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his touch surprisingly gentle. "You're in over your head. But I won't let anything happen to you."Ella swallowed hard, her mind racing. She should have been terrified—should have walked away the moment she learned who he was. But standing here now, face to face with Mark Blackwood, she found herself drawn deeper into his world, unable to escape.And for the first time, she wasn't sure she wanted to.