Deadly Affairs

Chapter 4

The next morning, Vivian's mind was still racing with questions. As much as she hated the secrecy surrounding Black Lotus, she knew that revealing it to the wrong people could put her in serious danger—and she didn't trust Liam enough to know if he was telling her the full story.

She decided it was time to take matters into her own hands. Liam might have given her a lead, but she wasn't about to let him control her every move.

She pulled out her laptop and opened her contacts list, her fingers stopping on the name Jordan Finn. Jordan was a tech wizard, someone she'd met during her first year as a private investigator. He owed her a favor, and if anyone could dig up hidden files or buried information, it was him.

Taking a breath, she dialed his number.

"Vivian Chase. I was wondering when you'd call in that favor," Jordan's cheerful voice came over the line.

"Hey, Jordan. I need your help with something... delicate," Vivian said, keeping her voice low. "I'm working a case, and I need some information on a man named Brentley and a project called Black Lotus."

There was a brief silence before Jordan's tone grew serious. "Black Lotus? Where did you even hear that name?"

Vivian frowned. "So you know about it?"

"I know that it's something people don't usually talk about unless they want trouble," he replied. "Give me a few hours. I'll see what I can find."

Vivian thanked him and ended the call, her stomach twisting with a mix of anticipation and dread. She knew that Jordan wouldn't be able to resist a challenge, but she also hoped he wouldn't dig too deep—Black Lotus had the potential to be far more dangerous than either of them realized.

Later That Afternoon

Vivian was sitting in her office, going over a few routine cases to pass the time, when her phone buzzed with a text from Jordan.

"I found something. Meet me at the pier in an hour."

She felt a thrill of excitement and headed out, the city's busy streets fading behind her as she drove toward the waterfront. The pier was empty this time of day, the air filled with the smell of saltwater and faint sounds of seagulls.

Jordan was waiting for her by the rail, his hands stuffed in his pockets, looking unusually tense. When she walked over, he handed her a slim folder.

"What's this?" she asked, opening it and flipping through the pages. The documents were grainy, as if they'd been photocopied in a hurry, but the details were clear enough to make her heart race.

"It's all I could find," Jordan said, his voice low. "Black Lotus isn't just a code name. It's a network—a private circle of wealthy elites who use their power and money to influence everything from politics to the justice system."

Vivian's eyes widened. "So Brentley's just a piece in this... conspiracy?"

Jordan nodded. "Exactly. And if what I've uncovered is right, Brentley's role is to make certain 'problems' disappear. People who get too close to the truth, whistleblowers, reporters—he's been connected to several disappearances."

Vivian's mind reeled as she absorbed the information. She'd thought she was dealing with a man having an affair, a simple cover-up, but this was far more sinister.

"Thanks, Jordan," she said finally, pocketing the folder. "I owe you one."

Jordan hesitated, giving her a concerned look. "Just be careful, Vivian. This kind of thing... people who get involved don't always come out clean."

Vivian nodded, a chill running down her spine. She'd wanted excitement, something dangerous, but now it felt like she was standing at the edge of something dark, with no idea what might be lurking below.

That Night

Back in her apartment, Vivian was going through the documents, trying to piece together Brentley's role in the Black Lotus network, when her phone buzzed. It was Liam.

"Meet me. Same place as last time. We need to talk."

She hesitated, feeling a surge of frustration. Every instinct told her Liam was only sharing what he wanted her to know, leaving her in the dark about the most important details. But she knew that if she wanted answers, she'd have to play his game.

At the Bar

Vivian found Liam already seated at the bar, a whiskey glass in his hand, his expression unreadable as always. She slid onto the stool beside him, dropping her bag on the bar top.

"So, care to explain why you've got me playing babysitter for a man involved in organized crime?" she asked, her tone sharp.

Liam didn't flinch. Instead, he took a slow sip of his drink, as if considering how much to reveal. "You're quick. I expected it would take you a bit longer to dig that up."

Vivian clenched her jaw. "I don't like being kept in the dark, Liam. If you want me to help you, I need the whole truth."

Liam set his glass down, meeting her gaze. "Alright. You deserve that much. Brentley is part of a powerful circle, people with influence and money who don't like having their secrets exposed. Black Lotus is just one of their operations—a way to handle problems quietly."

"So you're one of them?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"No," he replied, his gaze hardening. "I work for them, but only because they made it clear that it's safer on their side than standing against them."

Vivian felt a surge of anger. "And now you've dragged me into this."

Liam looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of regret and something else—something she couldn't quite place. "You chose to take this case, Vivian. I'm just trying to make sure you don't get hurt."

She looked away, her mind racing. She wanted to walk away from this mess, but something about Liam's words kept her rooted in place. Part of her sensed that he was telling the truth, that he genuinely didn't want her to get pulled under by the same shadows that had trapped him.

After a long silence, she turned back to him. "Fine. I'll keep helping. But if I find out you're hiding anything else, I'm out. And I'll make sure Brentley's secrets don't stay buried."

Liam nodded slowly, his expression grim. "Understood. Just be careful, Vivian. There's a reason most people who get close to Black Lotus end up regretting it."

They sat there in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, both aware that they were on a dangerous path that could lead to something neither of them could control.

Vivian drained the last of her drink, her decision solidifying in her mind. She'd stay in this game, but she wouldn't just play by Liam's rules. She'd find her own way to uncover the truth—no matter what it took.