Shadows Of Deceipt

Chapter 10

The morning after their intimate night, Tom found himself caught between conflicting thoughts. He had spent years building his empire, never letting emotions interfere with his operations. But now, Anna was different. She was starting to mean more than just a pawn in his game against Richard Greenfield. Yet, there was no denying the looming threat Tonny Russo posed—not just to his business, but to his personal life.

Anna, on the other hand, was torn. The chemistry between her and Tom was undeniable, and last night had left her breathless. But the mysterious message from Tonny weighed heavily on her mind. What did he mean by “much to discuss”? And why would Tonny even want to meet with her? She hadn’t mentioned it to Tom yet, afraid of his reaction. But deep down, Anna was curious. She had heard of Tonny Russo—a notorious name in business circles, but nothing close to what she knew of Tom. She was still unsure how these two men knew each other, but the vibe she had gotten from Tonny’s message was strange, and she couldn’t shake the sense that something wasn’t right. As she sipped her coffee, lost in thought, Tom entered the room. He smiled at her, but she could sense a shift in his demeanor. Was it something she said or did?

“Good morning, beautiful,” Tom said, kissing her cheek. His charm still melted her, but she felt something brewing beneath the surface.

“Morning,” she replied, watching him carefully.
“Anything on your mind?”

Tom hesitated for a split second but quickly masked it with a smile. “Just thinking about the business,” he said smoothly. “I have to finalize a few things with Rico. I have a meeting with some people"

Anna nodded, her heart racing. The mention of the meeting reminded her of the invitation from Tonny. Should she bring it up? She wasn’t sure, but the knot in her stomach told her she couldn’t ignore it any longer.

“So, um... about that...,” Anna began cautiously. “I got a message from Tonny Russo. He invited me to some... exclusive gathering. I thought it was strange because I don’t really know him.”

Tom’s face remained calm, but she could see his jaw tighten slightly. He gave her a small nod, keeping his voice neutral. “Tonny’s always been the type to muscle his way into every scene. He probably just wants to connect with the art crowd.”

Anna watched him closely, sensing that there was more to the story. “Is there something I should know about him?” she asked, biting her lip. “I mean, it feels like there’s a history between you two.”

Tom looked at her, debating how much to reveal. He couldn’t outright tell her the truth—not yet, anyway. “Let’s just say Tonny and I go way back,” he said carefully. “We’ve crossed paths in business, but I wouldn’t trust him too much. He’s not as harmless as he looks.”

Anna frowned, sensing the tension. “Should I go to this event? Or should I be worried?”

Tom smiled, leaning in to kiss her forehead. “I don’t want you getting mixed up in Tonny’s games. He’s trouble. If he’s reaching out to you, it’s probably because he knows you’re important to me.”

Anna’s heart fluttered at his words. The thought that she meant something to Tom made her feel giddy, but the unease lingered. “Maybe I’ll just skip it then,” she said, though the curiosity still nagged at her.

Tom, pleased with her decision, nodded. “Good. I’ll keep you away from that mess.”

But as the day went on, Tom couldn’t stop thinking about Tonny’s interference. He knew Tonny was after more than just Anna’s attention. He was playing a bigger game, and Tom wasn’t going to let him win. Rico had informed him that Tonny was digging into Anna’s background as well, trying to find some leverage to use against them. It was only a matter of time before the two would collide.