Sinful Flames

Chapter 4

I take a seat across from Gabriel Romano, trying to ignore the way his blue eyes track my every move. I pull out my recorder and notepad, keeping my hands steady even though I can feel my nerves bubbling beneath the surface. This is supposed to be a straightforward interview, but my instincts tell me there's something more here. I can't afford to be distracted by his charm, not when there's a chance to uncover the truth.

"Ready?" I ask, pressing the record button.

"Ready," he replies, his voice smooth as silk. He leans back in his chair, his posture relaxed but his gaze sharp.

I glance at the list of questions my editor gave me and start with the first one. "What inspired you to start Romano SecurTech, and what sets it apart from other security companies?"

Gabriel answers without hesitation, talking about innovation, technology, and the need for enhanced security in today's world. His words are polished, practiced, like he's given this speech a thousand times. But something about it feels off, like he's sticking to a script.

I move on to the second question, but as I read it, I realize this isn't what I came here for. I close the list and take a deep breath, deciding to take a different approach.

"So, why did you change the company's name from Romano Industries to Romano SecurTech?" I ask, watching his reaction carefully.

Gabriel's demeanor shifts ever so slightly. His smile tightens, and there's a flicker of something in his eyes. "We rebranded to reflect our focus on security technology," he says calmly. "It's a growing industry, and we wanted our name to represent that."

"Interesting," I reply, tapping my pen on my notepad. "But there are rumors that the name change was more than just a rebranding. Some say it's to disguise a different kind of business—one that's not entirely legal."

His calm façade cracks for a moment. His eyes narrow, and his smile vanishes. "I think we're done here," he says, his voice cold. "This interview is over."

"Wait, you can't just end the interview because I asked a tough question," I protest, but he glares at me, the intensity of his stare making it clear he's not in the mood to negotiate.

"Leave," he says, his tone icy. He calls for his assistant and Antonio, who appear almost instantly. Gabriel gives me a look that asks if I dare to defy him, but I refuse to back down.

"If you're doing everything legally, why are you so defensive?" I ask, meeting his gaze. "Why are you dodging the question?"

"Get out," he repeats, his voice a low growl. "I'll deal with your magazine for sending someone like you."

I stand up, feeling the heat of his glare on my back. "You can threaten me all you want, Mr. Romano," I say, refusing to back down. "But if you're hiding something, I'll find out. That's my job."

I walk out of his office, my heart pounding in my chest. I know I've pushed too far, but there's no turning back now. Gabriel Romano might be powerful, but I'm not going to let that stop me from finding the truth. Even if it means I have to take a few risks along the way.

I walked through the office doors, my heart still racing from the confrontation with Gabriel Romano. The hustle and bustle of "Insight City" felt like background noise to me now, every click of a keyboard and ring of a phone fading into a dull hum. I could sense something had changed, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

As soon as I sat down at my desk, the call came through. Andrew Smith, the chief editor, wanted to see me. I took a deep breath and made my way to his office. He was leaning back in his chair, his expression stormy as I entered.

"Chiara," he said without preamble, his voice tight with frustration. "What the hell were you thinking? You just had to go off-script, didn't you? Do you know what you've done to our magazine's reputation? Gabriel Romano is a powerful man, and you've damaged our relationship with him."

I folded my arms, keeping my cool. "I asked a few questions, Andrew. I'm a journalist; that's what I do. And by the way, it's not my job to cater to some CEO's fragile ego."

He leaned forward, slamming his hand on the desk. "You're fired. Pack your things and get out of my office."

I expected this. I had crossed a line with Gabriel, and there was no going back. "Fine," I replied, shrugging. "I knew this was coming." I stood up, ready to leave.

But Andrew moved from behind his desk, coming to stand behind my chair. I felt his hands on my shoulders, rubbing gently. It made my skin crawl.

"You're a smart girl, Chiara," he said in a low voice. "You shouldn't act rashly. Think smartly. There's always room for negotiation, you know?" His fingers pressed into my shoulders, the touch both patronizing and suggestive.

I stiffened, anger boiling beneath the surface. The nerve of this guy. I stood up quickly, twisting his elbow, forcing him to back off. "You should be ashamed of yourself," I snapped. "I'm not the type to do anything out of desperation, especially not for a creep like you." I grabbed my bag and glared at him. "I quit. You can't fire me. And by the way, I wouldn't negotiate with you if my life depended on it."

His expression shifted from surprise to anger as I stormed out of his office. I could hear him shouting something about how I'd regret this, but I didn't care. I was done playing it safe. The magazine might not have been the right place for me, but I knew I was on to something with Gabriel Romano.

As I left "Insight City," I vowed to find out the truth about Romano SecurTech. If Gabriel was hiding something, I would uncover it. I had nothing to lose now, and that made me dangerous. Maybe this was exactly what I needed to jumpstart my career in investigative journalism. I wasn't going to let a sleazy editor or a shady CEO stand in my way.