A Woman Worth Billions Dated the Wrong Brother novel Chapter 459

A Good Reporter

A Good Reporter

Amber POV

The woman who had been looking between me and the television stood up.

I noticed her movement immediately, although I pretended to be occupied with my phone. She was probably in her late twenties or early thirties, with shoulder-length brown hair, a large camera hanging around her neck, and a canvas bag filled with what appeared to be notebooks and newspapers.

She glanced at the television one more time before approaching my table.

I considered getting up, but the man searching for me was still near the food court entrance. Moving suddenly would only draw attention, and I had no way of knowing whether this woman intended to help me or expose my location.

To my surprise, she simply pulled out the chair opposite mine and sat down.

“Mrs. Asher,” she whispered, opening a newspaper and holding it between us and the main walkway. “Please don’t look surprised. I’m a reporter, and I promise I’m not here to cause trouble.”

I stared at her.

“That’s a rather unusual introduction.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” She adjusted the newspaper, making sure it concealed most of my face from anyone passing behind her. “But I recognized you, and then I noticed that you were trying very hard not to be recognized.”

I glanced toward the entrance through the reflection on my phone.

The man in black was still scanning the tables.

“Then perhaps you can understand why I’m not particularly interested in talking to a reporter right now.”

“Actually, I was hoping you might agree to an interview.”

I slowly turned my attention back to her.

“Now?”

She gave me an apologetic smile.

“I realize the timing is terrible.”

“That’s one way of describing it.”

“My name is Cynthia Shultz,” she said quietly. “I work for a small independent magazine. I’ve been following your career for years, particularly your involvement in exposing corruption and challenging powerful families. Unfortunately, our publication isn’t nearly large enough to compete with the major networks, so I’ve never managed to secure an interview with you.”

I studied her expression.

She didn’t appear nervous about approaching me, but her eyes kept moving toward the food court entrance. She had noticed something was wrong, and rather than calling attention to me, she had chosen to sit down and provide cover.

That was interesting.

1/7

A Good Reporter

“Which magazine?” I asked.

+25 BONUS

She told me the name, and I recognized it vaguely. It was a small investigative publication that occasionally appeared in the reports Pamela prepared for me. I remembered seeing a few articles that questioned the official narratives surrounding several corporate scandals.

“You’ve written about Asher Corporation before,” I said.

Her eyes widened slightly.

“You’ve read our articles?”

“Some of them.”

“Then you might remember the series we published about the financial irregularities involving the Wyatt family’s business partners.”

I nodded.

“I remember. Your publication was one of the few that bothered examining the financial records instead of simply repeating the official statements.”

Cynthia smiled, clearly pleased.

“That was my series.”

“Then you have my compliments.”

“Thank you.” She hesitated before lowering her voice even further. “Mrs. Asher, may I ask you something?”

“You’re a reporter. I imagine you’re going to ask regardless.”

She almost laughed.

“Are you in trouble?”

I didn’t answer immediately.

Cynthia glanced toward the television, where my photograph was still displayed beside the president’s

accusations.

“I saw the news,” she continued. “Then I recognized you sitting here, without your usual security detail, looking as though you’re trying to avoid someone. I also noticed the man near the entrance. He’s been watching the crowd rather than shopping.”

I looked at her more carefully.

She was observant.

Very observant.

“You’re good at your job,” I said.

“I try to be.”

“Then you’ve probably already connected most of the dots.”

Her expression became serious.

2/7

A Good Reporter

+25 BONUS

“Someone is following you.”

wasn’t a question.

I glanced at my phone again, using the dark screen to check the reflection behind Cynthia.

“Someone attempted to abduct me,” I admitted quietly. “Or worse. I’m not entirely certain what their objective is.

Cynthia went still.

“What?”

“I was followed by several black SUVS on my way to the Asher estate. One of the men appeared to be preparing to shoot my tires. I managed to escape and came here because I thought it would be easier to lose them in a crowded shopping center.”

Her eyes widened.

“You’re telling me someone chased you through River City with armed men?”

“Yes.”

“And they’re here?”

“At least two of them. Possibly more.”

Cynthia’s gaze flickered toward the entrance.

“Are they the men dressed in black?”

I nodded.

“Please don’t turn around too obviously. I don’t want them realizing that we’ve noticed them.”

She swallowed, then adjusted the newspaper again.

“Have you called the police?”

“My husband is coordinating with our security team and military contacts. Help is on the way.”

“Good.”

I looked at her for a moment, then smiled faintly.

“Actually, Cynthia, I should thank you.”

She blinked.

“For what?”

“For sitting with me.”

“But I haven’t done anything.”

“You have, whether you intended to or not. Those men are looking for a woman alone. They followed me into the mall, and the last time they saw me, I was by myself. Now I’m sitting here with another woman, apparently enjoying a conversation.”

3/7

A Good Reporter

Cynthia glanced at the newspaper in her hands.

they might not recognize you because you’re no longer alone?”

+25 BONUS

“Exactly. People tend to search for what they expect to find. They know what I was wearing, how my hair looked, and that I was traveling alone. I’ve already changed my appearance, and now you’ve changed something else about the situation.”

I smiled at her.

“Thanks to you, I’m much more likely to escape without being recognized.”

Her expression softened.

“Then I’m glad I sat down.”

“So am I.”

She looked toward the entrance again.

“Mrs. Asher, do you think this has anything to do with the president’s accusations?”

“That’s something I would very much like to know myself.”

“So you don’t know?”

“No. And I’d rather not accuse anyone without evidence. I’ve had quite enough of people doing that to me.”

Cynthia nodded.

“Fair enough.”

I appreciated that she didn’t press further.

Most reporters would have seized the opportunity to demand a statement, particularly after discovering that the woman at the center of an international political scandal was apparently being hunted through a shopping mall.

Instead, Cynthia seemed more concerned about the men searching for me.

“Mrs. Asher,” she whispered, “the men are moving.”

I checked the reflection on my phone.

She was right.

One man was approaching from the main entrance, while another had appeared near the opposite side of the food court. Both were dressed in black, and neither seemed particularly interested in the restaurants or shops around them.

They were searching faces.

“Jason,” I whispered.

“I’m here,” he answered through my earbud. “I can see them. Emory is almost there.”

“How close?”

“Less than two minutes.”

4/7

A Good Reporter

+25 BONUS

Two minutes.

der normal circumstances, that was nothing.

When armed men were searching for you in a crowded shopping mall, it felt like an eternity.

Cynthia noticed my expression.

“They’re coming this way, aren’t they?”

“Yes.”

She glanced toward the newspaper, then at the large professional camera hanging around her neck.

Her expression changed.

I watched as she slowly folded the newspaper and placed it on the table before reaching for her caméra.

The moment her fingers closed around it, I understood exactly what she intended to do.

I smiled.

“Cynthia, that’s brilliant.”