chapter 3
1412 Words
I am not telling you anything I said my voice shaking as I tried to pull my wrist from his grip
Damien didn't let go. His fingers were warm against my skin, his chest so close I could feel the steady rise and fall of his breath. An anonymous envelope arrives at a struggling local paper and a young journalist breaks into my office using a borrowed badge. Who told you about the drawer Elena?
No one It was an anonymous tip
The file code you mentioned is the one you used to find the foundation logs That code isn't public record Damien said his voice dropping into a dangerously calm pitch Only three people in this entire conglomerate have access to that archiving system I am one of them So unless I sent you that letter to destroy my own life someone is using you to put a noose around my neck
You’re trying to confuse me I breathed trying to ignore the way my heart was hammering against my ribs You’re trying to make me think there's a conspiracy so I won’t publish the photo
If I wanted to stop you from publishing I would have already broken your phone Damien said softly He slowly released my wrist stepping back just an inch giving me room to breathe though the air still felt thin Look at me Do I look like a man who is panicked?
I looked at him He stood under the dim office lighthis white shirt unbuttoned at the collar.his broad shoulders relaxed It was maddening how much control he had
If you have nothing to hide I said straightening my spine then why do you keep his things on your desk? The watch The hardhat Why keep the evidence locked away?
Damien’s expression darkened the calm mask slipping for a fraction of a second to reveal something raw and incredibly heavy beneath it Because it’s not evidence of a crime Miss Carter It’s a reminder of the day I trusted the wrong person
Before I could ask what he meant a loud-sharp buzz cut through the room It was the intercom system on his desk
Damien frowned, stepping away from me to press the button I thought I told you I was done for the night Frank
Mr Blackwood I apologized the security guard’s voice crackled through the speaker sounding anxious But Mr Kane is downstairs He says he saw your car outside and needs to see you immediately regarding the morning board adjustments He’s already in the private elevator
My heart stopped Victor Kane?I whispered
Damien’s grey eyes snapped to mine, narrowing instantly. How do you know that name Elena?
The anonymous note I stuttered my mind racing as the elevator chime echoed from the hallway outside It said someone on the board was watching It mentioned Kane
Damien?a smoothsilver-toned voice called out from the lobby The heavy office doors began to swing open
Hide Damien commanded in a sharp whisper grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the side door of his office the one leading to his private pent house living quarters
Wait my phone
Go he ordered shoving me gently through the doorway and closing the dark wooden door just as the main office doors clicked open
I pressed my ear against the wood holding my breath
Victor Damien’s voice carried through the door perfectly calm and distant once again I didn't expect you until seven tomorrow
I saw the lights on from the street my boy Victor Kane replied his voice oozing a fake warmth that made my skin crawl I thought we might review the asset sheets before the rest of the sharks arrive in the morning You look tired
I’m fine
Are you? You left the Waldorf gala early People talk Damien The board needs to see a leader who is focused not one haunted by old ghosts Especially with the ten-year anniversary of the collapse approaching next month
The board is taken care of Victor
A silence followed My stomach twisted into knots My phone was still lying face down right next to the computer monitor on his desk If Victor saw it everything was over
What’s this? Victor asked
I clamped a hand over my mouth, my heart pounding so hard I was certain they could hear it through the walls
A work phone Damien replied without a hint of hesitation A temporary line for the logistics team
Victor murmured Of course WellI noticed the custodial staff was still downstairs when I came up A young woman Dark hair I don't recall seeing her on the regular shift rotation before Security said she was headed up to sixty for a spill
I bit my lip so hard I tasted copper He knew someone was up here
We expanded the deep-clean contract this week Damien said smoothly. Is there a point to this late-night visitor or are you just auditing my housekeeping?
Victor chuck dry humorless sound Just keeping my eyes open Damien In this business the smallest crack can bring down the entire tower See you at seven Mr Blackwood
The heavy office doors clicked shut
I waited for what felt like an eternity before the private door in front of me opened Damien stood there holding my phone in his hand His face was pale his eyes darker than before
He knows I whispered stepping back into the office Victor Kane sent me that tip, didn't he? He's trying to use me to ruin you
Damien looked down at my phone then slowly handed it back to me Victor didn't send you that tip Elena
How can you be sure?
Because Victor doesn't have the file code Damien said his voice dropping into a hollowchilling whisper The third person who had that code was Marcus
I stared at him the room spinning slightly But Marcus has been dead for ten years
Exactly Damien said looking past me toward the dark rain-soaked windows Which means someone has been sitting on my brother’s diary for a decade waiting for the perfect moment to hand it to a journalist And Victor is downstairs right now waiting to catch whoever it is
Downstairs? I gasped I thought he left
He’s waiting in the lobby.Damien said walking over to his computer screen and pulling up a live security feed Look He's standing by the security desk He knows you didn't come down yet If you walk out there with that custodial badge he'll have security detain you, take your phone and find those photos
I looked at the screen Victor Kane was sitting on a leather couch by the revolving doors casually reading a tablet
was hunting
Oh my God I whispered pressing a hand to my forehead I’m trapped
We are both trapped Damien corrected softly turning his grey eyes to mine If he gets that phone he gets the story he needs to oust me If he gets you go to jail for corporate espionage
So what do we do? I asked desperation finally breaking through my defenses I can’t stay in your office forever
You’re not staying in the office Damien said reaching into his desk and pulling out a heavy silver key ring My private elevator leads directly to the basement garage My inches from my face before he slowly tucked a loose damp curl behind my ear His touch was electric a sharp contrast to the cold fear in my gut
If you say no , he whispered I open the main doors I call Victor up and I let him destroy you
My phone vibrated violently in my hand I looked down at the screen A bright pink push notification from my banking app flashed in the dark room
Alert: Account balance is $1242 Notice of Lease Termination: 48 Hours Remaining
I looked back up at the billionaire standing in front of his storm-grey eyes waiting, offering a lifeline that felt exactly like a noose
Fine I whispered my voice thick with a sudden heavy dread I’ll do it
Damien’s lips twitched into a faint humorless smile Smart girl Let's go
- Writer
