Bitcoin Billionaire: I Regressed to Invest in the First Bitcoin!-Chapter 90: Biggest Story

The VERITÉ Magazine headquarters wasn't an imposing skyscraper like the major media conglomerates like VOGUE and Fashion Weekly that dominated the industry.

Sophie didn't have the kind of money to start that big. Her parents were also not very keen on the idea of her running a magazine company.

But she had followed on with her dreams and built her magazine in a modest, fine building, no larger than a supermarket or a well-sized diner, nestled between quieter rows of other business establishments.

The glass-paneled exterior reflected the muted hues of the overcast sky, and the sign above the entrance gleamed in a sharp, minimalist font, advertising the word; VERITÉ.

Brooklyn Baker pulled into the small parking lot, turning off the engine with a flick of her wrist.

For a moment, she sat in her, flipping through a stack of papers she had placed on the passenger seat. Uncomfortable, she picked up the files and placed them on her lap, quickly reading one after the other.

Her focus was sharp, her journalist instincts engaged. She hadn't had much time last night to go through these papers when she received them, and the meeting had already been set for today.

So, she was trying to investigate as much as possible before a deal was signed. Every page she scanned held pieces of a much larger puzzle — one that she had been piecing together to hit Gareth Smithers hard and send a obese 'F' you to Business Everyday and Catherine Langley.

Exhausted, Brooklyn exhaled, feeling the lack of sleep beneath her eyes.

She finished the coffee she had with her, gathered the files into a neat stack and pushed open the car door.

The crisp air nipped at her skin once she stepped out, tucking the papers under her arm while adjusting the strap of her bag.

She took a quick look of the place. VERITÉ. 'Not bad,' she thought with pursed lips.

Then, she quickly made her way towards the entrance, the heels of her shoes clicking against the pavement while her mind ran through ways she'd present her pitch.

A woman, dressed in professional but simple attire, was waiting just inside the glass doors. "Ms. Baker?"

Brooklyn gave a curt nod. "That's me."

"Welcome, miss. Right this way. Miss McClain is excited to see you."

She was led inside, and immediately, her blue eyes scanned the VERITÉ offices with quiet assessment.

The interior was modern and also had enough practicality to it. The meeting rooms were glass-walled, the workstations were neatly arranged without the chaotic clutter of bigger newsrooms.

Even though Business Everyday had more funding and income for a larger office. Compared to them, this wasn't so bad.

The hum of printers and the distant murmur of journalists exchanging notes was in the air. There was no wasted space, no unnecessary frills. Not bad at all.

At the far end of the room, a door marked Sophie McClain – CEO and Editor-in-Chief stood slightly ajar.

Brooklyn's escort knocked lightly before pushing it open. "Ms. McClain, Brooklyn Baker is here."

Inside, Sophie McClain looked up from her desk, and for a brief moment, surprise flickered across her face.

Brooklyn Baker. She actually was here.

Ever since they talked on phone, Sophie still couldn't believe that Darren actually had her number and personally knew her.

She didn't want to question it. But it felt weird that she was grateful to him.

Darren Steele had somehow managed to bring one of the top ten business reporters in the entire country, to VERITÉ.

By the way, how the hell did Business Everyday let her go?

Sophie quickly masked her surprise, rising from her seat with the composed confidence of an experienced editor. She extended a hand. "Brooklyn Baker. Welcome to VERITÉ."

Brooklyn shook her hand, her grip firm. "Thank you for seeing me."

Sophie gestured to the chair across from her desk. "Please, have a seat."

Brooklyn sat, setting her files down with formality. After doing so many of these, she wasn't one for unnecessary pleasantries, not anymore.

But she also wasn't cold. "I'll be straightforward. I need a full page and half for my story. Like we talked on the phone, it's an exposè on Gareth Smithers. I need it fast. I don't know how long it is going to be before they come for me."

"Come for you?" Sophie arched a brow, leaning back slightly. "Is this dangerous business, Miss Baker? And one and a half pages. Hmm. That's quite the request."

"I promise you. You have nothing to worry about. I have everything you'll need. VERITÉ will never be accused of not doing its due diligence. I have sources, proof, documents." Brooklyn tapped a finger on the file. "It's airtight."

Sophie folded her hands together, studying her. "Let me see."

Brooklyn slid a neatly prepared document across the desk. Sophie took it, flipping through the pages. The deeper she read, the more the lines between her brows tightened.

She'd seen some scandals, but heck, this was a huge one. Even though it should have felt personal since this was Lily's father, Sophie couldn't afford to look at this any other way but business.

Darren himself didn't care. And he used to have sex with her.

Brooklyn watched as Sophie's eyes flicked over damning evidence, feeling confident in her stuff.

When she finished, Sophie exhaled sharply, setting the document down. "This is… explosive."

"Exactly." Brooklyn met her gaze. "I think we can both agree that it'll push VERITÉ to the next level."

'She's right,' Sophie thought. 'It's so scandalous and deep that I know for sure it would take my magazine high. But I also know it could bring the wrath of the top business owners in my company.'

Sophie brainstorms, weighing the issue. 'However, I've been looking for a big story like this to push my magazine. Now it has come, it would be so unwise to discard it.'

A beat of silence. Then, she nodded.

"You'll get two pages."

Brooklyn didn't smile, but there was a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes. Sophie pulled out a contract from her drawer, already filling in the necessary details.

She lifted her gaze to hand Brooklyn the contract so she could sign. But the woman seemed to be engulfed in something else.

As Brooklyn had been gathering her documents, she had come across a file she hadn't fully processed before. Her fingers hovered over it as she skimmed the contents, and now, her expression was filled with dread.

Sophie, catching the shift in her demeanor, frowned. "Everything alright?"

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Brooklyn didn't respond right away. Her gaze was locked onto the page, absorbing the weight of what she was seeing.

"Yes... it's just... I thought I understood the scope of this story," she murmured, her voice quieter now, tinged with horror. "But it's much bigger than I thought."

The headings on the page made it clear:

'The Teschmacher Weapon Empire Has Fallen.'

'Did They Really Do It?'

'Alfred Teschmacher in Hiding!'

'Ties to Gangs, Cults, Terrorists!'

'Billions in Profit from Deals with Terrorist Organizations.'

Her eyes moved over the evidence; documents, wire transfers, confidential reports. Logos of various groups; cartels, extremist factions, rogue militias, stamped onto confiscated weapons.

What the hell?!

This was proof, undeniable and overwhelming proof of the case from many years ago.

It was true. Alfred Teschmacher had been supplying arms to national enemies for years.

And buried within the pages, another revelation.

Alfred had fled. Archibald Mooney was protecting him. Gareth Smithers had been ordered to take in Alfred's daughter and keep her safe.

Brooklyn's gaze fell to a clipped photograph at the bottom of the page.

Rachel Teschmacher. That was her name. And that face on the picture.

Her stomach turned.

She recognized that face.

It was the same woman she had seen entering Darren's house.

Brooklyn swallowed, her grip tightening on the document.

'What the hell have you gotten yourself into, Darren Steele?'