Shadow of Deceit

The roar of the McLaren’s engine was thrilling—a symphony of power and precision. Sebastian handled the car effortlessly, his hands steady on the wheel, his posture relaxed yet commanding. As we weaved through the bustling city streets, I couldn’t help but marvel at the way he dominated the road. Every downshift, every calculated acceleration sent a ripple of excitement through me.

This was my first time out of the mansion during the day in what felt like forever, and the experience was exhilarating. The morning light painted the world in golden hues, casting a warm glow over the cityscape. I gazed out the window, my excitement barely contained.

“You’re smiling,” Sebastian said, glancing at me briefly before returning his attention to the road.

I laughed softly, feeling a little embarrassed. “It’s just… it’s been a long time since I’ve been outside like this.”

His brow furrowed slightly, and the smile on his face faded into a look of contemplation. “That’s not right,” he said, his voice quieter now.

I immediately shook my head, trying to reassure him. “It’s fine. Really, Sebastian. Don’t think about it too much. That’s all in the past now.”

But he didn’t seem convinced. His grip on the wheel tightened, and his jaw clenched slightly. “I should’ve—”

“Sebastian,” I interrupted, leaning closer to him. “It’s okay. I’m here now. And I’m happy. Don’t let this ruin your mood, alright?”

He sighed, his tension easing just a little. “You’re too forgiving, Ariella.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I simply smiled.

I knew he would overthink this, but frankly, I am just happy to be outside, let the past be.

The journey continued, and I found myself losing track of time, too engrossed in the vibrant sights and sounds of the city. Pedestrians stopped to gawk as the sleek McLaren sped by, its low growl commanding attention. I could tell Sebastian noticed too, but he remained focused, navigating the streets with ease.

Arrival at the meeting.

When we finally arrived at our destination, a modest building tucked away in a quieter part of town, Sebastian parked the car with precision. The contrast between the sleek vehicle and the unassuming building struck me, but I didn’t have much time to dwell on it.

Sebastian stepped out first, walking around the car to open my door. The gesture made my cheeks warm, but I quickly pushed the feeling aside and followed him inside.

The air inside was thick with tension. Several men and women were already seated around a large table, their faces a mixture of impatience and unease. As we entered, all eyes turned toward us.

Sebastian nodded curtly at the group before taking a seat at the head of the table, gesturing for me to sit beside him. The conversations that had been bubbling moments ago quieted immediately.

One man, who seemed to hold some authority among the group, cleared his throat and began to speak. “Sebastian, thank you for coming. I assume you’ve been briefed about the situation.”

Sebastian’s expression was unreadable as he leaned back in his chair. “Briefed? Yes. Satisfied? No. Let’s get to it. Where are my containers?"

The room fell silent for a moment. Then another man, younger and less composed, spoke up nervously. "We... we don’t know. The containers vanished somewhere between the port and the warehouse.”

Sebastian’s gaze sharpened. “Vanished?”

The man shifted uncomfortably under Sebastian’s intense stare. “We’ve traced the routes, checked with the drivers, and questioned the dockworkers. But there’s no clear trail. It’s like they disappeared into thin air.”

Sebastian’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, his frustration evident. “I disappeared into thin air. That’s what you’re telling me?”

The first man spoke up again, his tone firmer this time. “We’re doing everything we can, but this isn’t a simple theft. Whoever’s behind this knows how to cover their tracks.”

“you.” He pointed to one of the men at the left.

“What did I employ you for? “he asked as everyone looked in the direction he pointed at.

“I was employed to be a spy in the docks, sir.” He said, as he cautiously looked back at Sabastian.

“Now educate me, what did you notice when the ship arrived on Tuesday at 3:55 AM?” He asked.

“I was allowed to inspect the containers at 4:12 that morning; I opened each one, and they all were impact; what you said I should normally check for was present, so nothing was missing.” He explained.

“Alright, now let me educate you; it all was checked out, and then by 12 PM, the movement to the warehouse started; everything went smooth until 2:14 when your network was jammed, am I right?” He asked as he looked at the spy.

“Now 10 minutes later, you had a reconnection, am I right?” He asked as everyone in the room voiced "Yes, sir.”

“You made no mention of what is in the cargo, because you didn’t want the drivers to know what’s in there, for his betterment and for the betterment of my privacy, right?” He asked again, and they all voiced out. “Right sir”

“Now 45 minutes later, the truck went missing, and the driver called, saying he was robbed. This robbery took 10 minutes, and after that, everything in the 2 cargoes was moved and taken, right?” He said, and they once again said yes.

“Now explain to me how that’s possible. How is that ideal? I had heavy things in that cargo, one being a golden Ferrari 488, and not just anyone but any 488 but a pista piloti that was hidden under a red paint, and some other significantly heavy things. Maximum, it will take around 30 to 40 minutes to offload just one container, so explain to me how it was all done in 10 minutes.”

“It was taken before it was ever transported.” I said as the realization hit me like a bomb.

“Precisely, you see, even she gets it, so why didn’t you all think of this?” Sabastian said as he then went silent.

Sebastian’s silence was unnerving. His eyes scanned the room, landing on each individual as if searching for a hint of guilt.

I watched the exchange quietly, unsure if I should speak up. The tension in the room was suffocating, and I could feel the weight of Sebastian’s presence pressing down on everyone.

After several minutes of back-and-forth, it became clear that no one in the room had any solid answers. Frustration bubbled under Sebastian’s calm exterior, but he managed to keep his composure.

Stepping Outside

As we stepped out of the building, the afternoon sun casting long shadows on the pavement, I noticed the way Sebastian’s shoulders were set—tense and rigid.

“Nice work there, Detective.” He said, forcing out a smile as he glanced at me.

“Thank you,” I said, letting out a smile, “but I know you are furious under that smile.” I said after.

“They’re lying,” he said, his voice low but firm.

I glanced at him, surprised by his certainty. “You think so?”

“I know so,” he replied, his tone unwavering. “Someone in there knows more than they’re letting on. And I’m going to find out who.”

He stopped walking and turned to face me, his expression serious. “You’ll be coming here from time to time,” he said.

“Me?” I asked, taken aback.

“Yes,” he said simply. “You have a way of seeing things others don’t. And I need someone I can trust to keep an eye on this place while I deal with other matters.”

I felt a mix of emotions—honor, anxiety, and confusion—but I nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

Sebastian’s gaze softened, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. “I know you will,” he said.

As we made our way back to the car, my mind raced with thoughts. The missing shipment, the cryptic meeting, and now this new responsibility—it was a lot to take in. But as I looked at Sebastian, I felt a strange sense of determination.

Whatever was happening, I would do my part to help him uncover the truth.