Trapped in the Mafian's Web

Chapter Two

Aurora's pov

"What do you mean you can't cover the story?!"

I stood at my boss's office early the next morning as I was getting scolded. Lady night was horrible, the nightmare I had about Julian and the confrontation, still made me scared. I was not going to put my life in jeopardy for anyone else.

"It means I won't be covering the story.....give it to someone else, but I won't be doing it. It's too dangerous." I announced, my head held high and my face without an expression.

Marlene's expression was to die for, he was turning red with anger, and any moment from now he would explode.

"If you are not going to cover his story, then you better come up with a hot, new, trending, and juicy gossip to cover." He told me, trying to hold on to his last bit of professionalism.

I exhaled "I would...."

"By Tomorrow morning," my eyes widen in horror "or you are fired! Now, if you would please excuse me…..I was busy before you stepped in."

I stood there looking at him, first I was shocked, then I could feel my anxiety creeping up and the last was—-anger!

"Miss Thompson...." I snapped back to reality, turning back my attention to Marlene with a questioning look, "Please leave my office."

I turned and began to walk out when I heard him say "Remember a hot scope by tomorrow or you are...."

I did not let him continue before I slammed the door behind me. Everyone in the office turned their attention to me but I was too angry to care as I walked back to my desk.

"Arrghh! I needed a break from this toxic environment…." I said to myself as I packed my work bag.

Just then Jennet, my friend in the office slid into my corner "Hey...how did it go."

"Argh!" I grunted

"Okay…..I would take that as horrible! He didn't let you drop the story?" Janet asked me

"Oh….he let me drop the story, alright but I have to bring in a new, hot scope by tomorrow or I'm fired!" I slumped back in my chair as I ran my hand through my hair due to frustration.

Janet's eyes widen at the sound of the news "Fuck! That's not fair! It's normal to drop a story when you are not comfortable with covering it!"

"Exactly.....He just wants me gone, but I'm going to prove to him that he can't get rid of me like that." I said, with determination written all over my face.

I continue to pack my little backpack with my camera, recorder, pen, and all my work essentials.

"Sorry, to rain on your power trip but where would you find a hot scope by tomorrow morning? It's already noon!" Janet asked, her voice laced with concern.

I stood for a while, as I exhaled, nothing having a single clue on how to go about this challenge.

"I don't know, Janet but I can't stay in the office for a new hot gossip can I?" I asked and she nodded

"Okay….Girl, I'm behind you but I can't be behind you now, I still have a lot of proofreading to do, okay? Good luck, dear!" Janet said, giving me a side hug.

"Thank you!" I responded as she turned to leave. I picked up my bag and made my way from the office.

I won't let anyone bully me into submission.

I began to take a walk on the streets of New York in the hope of a bright story idea would fall down from the sky.

I wandered through the bustling streets of New York, the city's energy pulsing around me. Yellow taxis honked, pedestrians weaved in and out of each other's paths, and the constant hum of conversations and footsteps filled the air. Normally, I loved this chaos. It was inspiring, the perfect backdrop for uncovering hidden stories. But today, it all felt suffocating.

I stopped at a small coffee cart on the corner and ordered a black coffee, hoping the caffeine would jolt some inspiration into me. As I sipped the bitter drink, my mind raced. What was I even looking for? A scandal? A mystery? A quirky human-interest piece? The city was full of stories, but none of them felt reachable in the few hours I had left to save my job.

"Think, Aurora," I muttered under my breath, earning a curious glance from the man next to me. I ignored him and continued walking.

As I rounded the corner onto a quieter street, something caught my eye. A group of people had gathered near an alley, their faces filled with concern and curiosity. My journalist instincts kicked in immediately. I pushed through the small crowd, clutching my camera bag tightly.

"What's going on?" I asked a woman standing at the edge of the group.

"They found something—someone, I think," she said, her voice hushed.

My pulse quickened. I moved closer, weaving through the crowd until I reached the front. Two police officers were cordoning off the area, and beyond the yellow tape, I could see a figure lying motionless on the ground. It was a man, his clothes disheveled and his face partially obscured by shadows.

"Excuse me, ma'am, you need to step back," one of the officers said, his tone firm but polite.

I nodded and took a step back, but not before snapping a quick photo of the scene with my phone. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

Janet's voice echoed in my head: Where would you find a hot scoop by tomorrow morning?

Here. Right here.

I pulled out my notebook and started jotting down everything I could observe—the expressions of the bystanders, the positioning of the body, the murmurs of speculation. Was this a mugging gone wrong? A homeless man who had succumbed to the cold? Or something more sinister?

"Do you know who he is?" someone in the crowd asked.

"Not yet," one of the officers replied. "We're still investigating."

I lingered a little longer, gathering as much information as I could without drawing too much attention to myself. Then, as the police started dispersing the crowd, I slipped away.

This was it. My lead.

But I couldn't go back to the office just yet—I needed more. A nameless victim and a vague scene wouldn't cut it. I had to dig deeper.

Pulling out my phone, I called Janet.

"Please tell me you've got something," she said as soon as she answered.

"I might," I replied, my voice low. "A potential crime scene—someone found in an alley, police swarming the place."

"Whoa. That's serious. Do you think it's enough?"

"Not yet," I admitted. "I need to find out who he is, what happened, why it happened. Something that'll make this more than just another random tragedy."

Janet was silent for a moment. "Aurora, be careful. If this is dangerous—"

"I'll be fine," I said quickly, cutting her off. "I have to do this, Janet. For me."

After hanging up, I took a deep breath and started walking again. If I wanted answers, I'd have to find someone who knew the streets better than I did.

The thought made my stomach churn, but I knew exactly where to go.

Twenty minutes later, I stood in front of an old diner with a flickering neon sign. It wasn't much to look at, but it was the kind of place where you could always find someone who knew something.

I stepped inside, scanning the room until I spotted him—a man in his late forties, with a grizzled beard and sharp eyes that seemed to see everything.

"Hey, Gus," I said as I approached his booth.