Shadows Of Deceipt

Chapter 13

Anna had spent the entire night turning over Tonny’s words in her mind. She had hardly slept, her thoughts consumed by doubt and confusion. The man she had trusted, the man she was falling for, was a mystery—one that she had never truly unraveled. By morning, she couldn’t bear it any longer. She needed answers. She called Tom and asked to meet him. Her voice had been calm, but inside, she was a storm of emotions. She had to know the truth, no matter how painful it might be.
When she arrived at his penthouse, Tom greeted her with his usual charm, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. He could sense something was wrong.

"Anna," he said, guiding her inside. "Is everything okay? You seem... tense."Anna stepped past him, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, not wanting to be charmed or distracted by the man who had been occupying her thoughts.

She turned to face him, her eyes searching his.“We need to talk,” she said, her voice firmer than she expected.

Tom’s brow furrowed as he closed the door behind them. “Of course. What’s going on?”

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “I talked to Tonny last night... at the gala.”

Tom’s face hardened instantly at the mention of Tonny. “And what did he say?”

“He told me about you. About what you do—what you’re involved in,” Anna continued, her heart pounding in her chest. She watched for a reaction, any sign that would tell her if Tonny had been lying. But Tom’s face was unreadable. “He said you’re not just a businessman, that you’ve been involved in illegal deals, drug trafficking, arms deals...”Tom remained silent, his jaw clenched. His silence was worse than words. It confirmed what she had feared—there was something to hide.“Is it true?” she demanded, stepping closer, her voice trembling now. “Is any of it true, Tom?”

For a moment, he said nothing, staring at her as if weighing his options. Finally, he let out a slow breath, shaking his head. “Tonny’s lying to you. He’s trying to manipulate you, Anna. I’m a businessman, yes. But I don’t deal in... illegal things.”

Anna’s eyes narrowed, frustration boiling to the surface. “I don’t believe you. You’re not telling me everything! I can feel it. You’ve always been secretive, always evasive. And now, all these things Tonny said... they make sense.”

Tom stepped closer, his expression softening as he reached for her hand. “Anna, listen to me. I would never put you in danger. I care about you, and I would never do anything to hurt you.”

She pulled her hand away, her voice rising with frustration. “That’s not what I asked, Tom! I’m asking you if it’s true! Are you involved in those things? Are you hiding that from me?”

Tom stood there, his silence louder than any answer he could have given. His eyes, usually so sharp and confident, wavered. Anna’s heart sank as she realized that his hesitation meant only one thing.

“I trusted you,” she whispered, the pain in her voice undeniable. “I let myself believe in you, in us, and now... I don’t even know who you are.”

Tom turned away, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He seemed torn, as though a battle was raging within him. Then, slowly, he turned back to her, his face etched with a mix of regret and resignation.

“You’re right,” he said, his voice low and strained. “I haven’t been completely honest with you. I’m... not just a businessman.”Anna’s breath caught in her throat as the weight of his words hit her.“I tried to keep you away from this part of my life,” Tom continued, stepping closer, his voice pleading now. “I didn’t want you to see it. I didn’t want you to get caught up in it. But yes, it’s true. I’ve made deals—dangerous deals. I’ve done things I’m not proud of. But I swear to you, I’ve always tried to protect you from it.”