Chapter 10 — The Truth He Hid
973 Words
The next morning, Emma woke before her alarm.
For several seconds, she stared at the ceiling, trying to convince herself that everything that had happened the night before had been nothing more than a bad dream.
Then she remembered the look on Daniel’s face.
The warning.
The mysterious phone call.
And the words she had overheard.
Someone had been watching her.
Emma sat up slowly.
She reached for her phone and checked the screen. There were no new messages, but one missed call from an unknown number appeared in her notifications.
Her heart began to beat faster.
She stared at the number for a long moment before finally calling back.
It rang once.
Twice.
Then someone answered.
“Emma?”
She froze.
“How do you know my name?”
There was silence on the other end.
Then the caller said quietly, “You need to stop asking questions about Daniel.”
Emma's fingers tightened around the phone.
“Who are you?”
“You don't understand what you're getting yourself into.”
“I think I deserve to know.”
“You deserve to stay alive.”
The call ended.
Emma sat completely still.
For the first time, the situation no longer felt like office gossip or a complicated relationship.
Someone was deliberately trying to frighten her.
She quickly got dressed and drove to the office.
When she arrived, Daniel was already there.
He stood beside the enormous windows of his office, looking over the city. His expression was unreadable.
“You're early,” he said without turning around.
“So are you.”
Daniel turned.
His eyes immediately went to her face.
“What happened?”
Emma hesitated.
“Someone called me this morning.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“Who?”
“I don't know. The number was unknown.”
“What did they say?”
“They told me to stop asking questions about you.”
Daniel walked toward her.
“What exactly did they say?”
Emma repeated the conversation.
By the time she finished, Daniel's jaw was tight.
“You shouldn't have answered the call.”
“I didn't know who it was.”
Daniel looked away.
“Emma, I need you to listen to me.”
She crossed her arms.
“I've been listening to you for weeks. The problem is that you haven't been telling me the truth.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You're right.”
The admission surprised her.
“What?”
“I haven't told you everything.”
Emma waited.
Daniel walked to his desk and opened a drawer. From inside, he removed a small black envelope.
He placed it on the desk between them.
“This is why I kept you away from my past.”
Emma looked at the envelope.
“What is it?”
“Proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“That my father's death wasn't an accident.”
Emma's eyes widened.
Daniel continued before she could speak.
“My father was the founder of the company. Everyone believed he died because of a business dispute. The official report said it was an accident.”
“And you don't believe that?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because three days before he died, he told me he had discovered someone inside the company was stealing millions.”
Emma looked at the envelope again.
“Did he know who?”
Daniel nodded.
“He was about to expose them.”
“What happened?”
“He died.”
The room suddenly felt colder.
Emma swallowed.
“And you think the person responsible is still here?”
Daniel's silence was answer enough.
“That's why you never wanted me involved,” Emma whispered.
“I never wanted you anywhere near this.”
“Then why did you hire me?”
Daniel looked directly into her eyes.
“Because I didn't expect to fall in love with you.”
Emma's heart stopped for a moment.
The words were exactly what she had wanted to hear.
Yet they frightened her more than anything else.
Daniel stepped closer.
“I tried to keep my distance. I told myself you were just another employee. Then you became the one person I couldn't ignore.”
Emma looked down.
“Daniel…”
“I know I've hurt you.”
“You have.”
“I know I've made you believe I don't care.”
“You did.”
“But that's not the truth.”
Emma finally looked at him.
“Then tell me the truth.”
Daniel reached for the envelope.
“There is a name inside.”
“Whose name?”
“The person I believe is responsible for everything.”
Emma stared at him.
“Why haven't you exposed them?”
“Because I don't have enough evidence.”
“And now?”
Daniel opened the envelope.
“Now I might.”
Before he could remove the papers, the office door suddenly opened.
Both of them turned.
Daniel's assistant stood there, pale and breathless.
“Sir, we have a problem.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“What happened?”
“The security system has been breached.”
Emma felt a chill run down her spine.
“Where?”
The assistant looked at her.
“Your office.”
Emma's blood ran cold.
“My office?”
“Yes.”
Daniel immediately stepped between Emma and the door.
“Stay here.”
But Emma grabbed his arm.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Whatever is happening, I'm not hiding anymore.”
For the first time, Daniel didn't argue.
He simply nodded.
Together, they walked toward the hallway.
Neither of them noticed the small camera hidden above the doorway.
And on the other side of the building, someone was watching them.
Someone who already knew that Daniel had finally told Emma the truth.
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