Chapter 78: Cracks in the Foundation

The drive home from the gallery was silent, but Jake’s thoughts were anything but. Adrian’s admission of working with Peter replayed in his head like a broken record, each iteration building his unease. The cryptic text message haunted him as well, its meaning as murky as the sender's identity.
When Jake finally pulled into his driveway, the air felt heavier than usual. He paused before stepping inside, glancing at his phone again. The message stared back at him, taunting him.
You can’t trust either of them.
Adrian had tried to explain the collaboration as harmless, but something didn’t add up. Why had Peter looked so smug at the gallery? And why hadn’t Adrian told him sooner?
Jake stepped into his dimly lit apartment and set his keys on the counter, his mind still racing. He needed answers, but who could he trust to give them?
A knock at the door startled him, his pulse quickening. He crossed the room and opened it cautiously.
Peter stood there, his expression calm but his eyes sharp. “We need to talk.”
Jake stepped aside, letting him in without a word. Peter wasted no time.
“You deserve to know what’s going on,” Peter began, his tone measured. “Adrian and I… our collaboration isn’t just business.”
Jake’s stomach dropped. “What are you saying?”
Peter hesitated, then leaned in slightly. “Adrian’s been playing both sides. He’s working with me, but not for the reasons he told you.”
Jake felt a flash of anger. “Why would you tell me this now? Are you trying to drive a wedge between us?”
Peter shook his head. “You already know there’s a wedge. I’m just telling you what you refuse to see.”
Jake’s phone buzzed again, and he glanced at it instinctively. Another text from the unknown number:
Ask him about the deal.
Jake looked up sharply, his voice cold. “What deal?”
Peter stiffened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t lie to me, Peter,” Jake snapped. “What deal?”
Peter sighed, his façade cracking. “Adrian and I made a deal. He’d help me with a project—one that involves you—if I kept quiet about something.”
Jake’s breath hitched. “About what?”
Peter’s gaze softened, but there was no comfort in it. “Something from his past. Something he’s been keeping from you.”
Jake felt like the ground beneath him was crumbling. “Why are you telling me this now?”
“Because you deserve the truth,” Peter said quietly. “And because you’re in danger, Jake. Adrian’s secrets aren’t just his anymore. They’ve pulled you into a game you didn’t agree to play.”
Jake’s mind raced. Adrian had always been charming, always one step ahead. But what if that charm was a mask for something darker?
As Peter turned to leave, he paused at the door. “Be careful, Jake. The truth has a way of surfacing, whether you’re ready for it or not.”
The door closed, leaving Jake alone with his thoughts. He sank onto the couch, the weight of Peter’s words pressing down on him.
Could Adrian really be hiding something so big it put them both at risk? And if so, was he ready to confront the man he thought he knew?

The air felt colder in Jake’s apartment, as though Peter’s words had drawn the heat out of the room. He stared at his phone, the cryptic messages now more ominous than ever. Who was warning him? And why were they so intent on sowing distrust?
Jake’s mind spiraled with possibilities. Adrian’s actions had never seemed malicious before, but now, every memory felt tinged with doubt. The charm, the lingering glances, the carefully chosen words—were they genuine, or part of a larger game?
Unable to sit still, Jake stood and paced the room. He couldn’t ignore the growing feeling that something was wrong, deeply wrong. He had to confront Adrian, but not without some answers first.
His fingers hovered over his phone screen as he dialed a number he hadn’t called in months. When the voice on the other end answered, he braced himself.
“Claire, I need your help.”
Claire was a journalist Jake had met during his early days with Peter. She had a knack for uncovering truths others wanted buried, and Jake knew she was the only one who could give him clarity now.
“What kind of help?” she asked, her tone skeptical.
“It’s about Adrian. And Peter. Something’s going on, and I don’t know who to trust.”
Claire sighed, the sound of typing in the background. “You know this isn’t my usual beat, Jake. But I’ll bite. What’s the angle?”
“There’s a deal Adrian made with Peter, something he’s hiding. I don’t know the details, but it’s big. And I think it involves me.”
The typing stopped. “That’s vague, even for you. Send me what you have, and I’ll see what I can dig up.”
Jake nodded, though she couldn’t see him. “Thank you. I owe you.”
“Yeah, you do,” she said before hanging up.
Feeling a sliver of hope, Jake sat down and began combing through his messages and notes, piecing together anything that might help Claire.

Meanwhile, across the city, Adrian stood in his studio, the weight of his choices pressing down on him. The gallery had been a success, but the fallout was only beginning.
His phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. A single text from Peter:
He knows.
Adrian’s heart skipped a beat. He gripped the edge of the table, his knuckles white. Jake wasn’t supposed to find out, not yet.
A second buzz followed.
If you don’t tell him, I will.
Adrian cursed under his breath. He had always been careful, always stayed one step ahead. But now, the walls were closing in, and Peter was threatening to destroy everything.
Taking a deep breath, Adrian dialed Jake’s number. It rang twice before Jake picked up.
“Adrian,” Jake said, his voice guarded.
“Can we talk?” Adrian asked, his tone almost pleading.
Jake hesitated. “I’m not sure what there is to talk about.”
“Please,” Adrian said, his voice breaking slightly. “Not over the phone. Let me come over.”
Jake paused, then relented. “Fine. But you’d better have answers.”

When Adrian arrived, Jake’s expression was cold, his arms crossed as he leaned against the doorframe.
“Come in,” Jake said, stepping aside.
Adrian entered cautiously, his usual confidence shaken. The air between them was tense, thick with unspoken accusations.
“Start talking,” Jake said, closing the door.
Adrian took a deep breath. “I wanted to tell you sooner, but I didn’t know how. Peter approached me months ago with an opportunity—one I couldn’t refuse.”
“And that opportunity involved keeping secrets from me?” Jake asked, his voice sharp.
“It wasn’t like that,” Adrian said quickly. “At first, it was just business. But then things got complicated.”
Jake scoffed. “Complicated? That’s the understatement of the year.”
Adrian stepped closer, his eyes pleading. “I never wanted to hurt you, Jake. I thought I could keep you out of it, protect you.”
“Protect me from what?” Jake demanded.
Adrian hesitated, his gaze dropping. “From Peter. He’s not who you think he is.”
The words hung in the air, each syllable heavy with implication.
Jake’s phone buzzed again, breaking the silence. He glanced at the screen. Another message from the unknown number:
The truth is closer than you think. But are you ready for it?
Jake looked up at Adrian, his mind racing. “I need the full story, Adrian. No more half-truths, no more lies. What aren’t you telling me?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened, his inner conflict visible. Finally, he said, “You’re right. You deserve the truth. But once I tell you, there’s no going back.”
Jake met his gaze, determination etched on his face. “Try me.”