THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET VOW

“Emma, are you up?” The voice of Claire broke the silence that prevailed in the early hours of the day, making Emma Hart rise from her troubled sleep. Emma groaned and rubbed her eyes. “Almost. “What time is it?” “It is time to wake up, sleep head. “Big day, remember?” Emma glanced at her cell phone lying on the bedside that was vibrating loudly. “Yeah, yeah, I am awake,” she grumbled, pushing the blankets aside and getting up rudely, and making her way to the kitchen where, thankfully, the smell of coffee had been wafting into the air. Claire handed her a steaming cup. “Feeling anxious?” “No more like scared,” Emma replied and took a timid sip. “It’s not an everyday thing to start a job in a new city and especially at one of the largest companies in the place.” “But you’ll be alright,” Claire pacified her as she hugged her from the side. “Just remember the reason as to why you accepted the offer.’ Emma bowed her head, looking at her cup, and turned as if the solution she desperately needed was bound to be found at the bottom of the cup. “Yes. You are right. “Fresh start and all that.” She slouched and smiled bitterly. “I need to get going. The cab has already been ordered. “You can do it, Emma,” Claire cheered as Emma seemed to have modified her pace to that of a sprint while clutching her handbag with a strap dangling over her body. All that Emma could recall on their way to Thornton Industries was a series of traffic lights and buildings that seemed never-ending as her mind was already off immersed in the billions of possibilities of how her first day would unfold. She blanked out the other job requirements which were obvious: organizational skills: check. Please handle it delicately. Is Grace crumbling? This one was still a work in progress resume. Emma’s breath caught in her throat as the car drew closer to an enormous glass structure. “Whoa,” she whispered as her eyes gazed upwards at the gigantic building. “It’s amazing.” The lobby was an airy marble and chrome affair crowded with people who seemed to be very sure and purposeful about their whereabouts. Emma did not have the luxury of apprehension. She sidled up to the reception where a smartly dressed and well-coiffed lady faced her with a pleasant smile. Miss Hart, good morning. Mr. Thornton is waiting for you. Elevator on your right side.” Emma simply nodded her head in return. “Thanks.” It took eons to reach the topmost floor. As the elevator car started to move, Emma rose, stomach in knots, bag strap clenched within nervy fingers. Daniel Thornton, she knew, was a tycoon who achieved everything he had through hard work. Articles of him were few and painted a picture of a brilliant, cutthroat business executive who was also a mystery. However, all the preparation could not help when it came to him, physically. The elevator rumbled, and the doors parted with a soft tune to reveal a brightly-lit office with an expanse of space. The tall glass panes offered unmatched views of Manhattan to the occupants, but a silhouette close to the pane managed to take Emma’s gaze first. Daniel Thornton. He was tall and broad-shouldered just as the rumors suggested – in a tailored suit, his black hair shadowy and sleek, and those strange piercing blue eyes that looked right into her Hector. Emma stiffened her back and walked towards him, the echoes of her heels making tiny but sharp sounds on the hard, smooth surface. “Miss Hart,” Daniel’s voice was velvet, but there was a frost to it which was consistent with his demeanor. “It is a pleasure to have you at Thornton Industries.” “Thank you, Mr. Thornton,” Emma replied naturally, giving up the battle of her heart against the rhythm and movement of her disturbed breathing. He cut straight to the point. "You have received your brief, have you not?" "Yes, of course!" she answered promptly, catching the tiniest hint of impatience in his tone. There was enough literature on Daniel for her to appreciate that it was always business before pleasure with him. “Since we are clear on that, this is not just about booking appointments and running errands. It calls for a degree of judgment and an appreciation of the sensitive work that I do back, which I do not imagine you will feel comfortable with." Emma held his gaze in a stubborn manner. “I can, Mr. Thornton.” Daniel’s expression remained impassive as he nodded his head. “We shall see.” He faced the window again and dismissed her by doing so. The next hour Daniel spent speaking about her position in short, precise and rather cold sentences. Emma wrote everything down, slinging her pen back and forth across her notebook. She sometimes raised her eyes above him, trying to read the man behind the barrier, but nothing was given by Daniel. He was a wall, strong and closed off. While Daniel was saying the last few words of their meeting, his phone began to vibrate on the desk in front of him. He glanced at the screen, and for an instant, the irritation was visible on his face before he hid it. “I have a prior engagement,” he answered coldly. “We will continue this tomorrow.” Emma turned to her seat and started to stand up, picking up her things. “Yes, sir.” She was halfway through the door when he called out to her. “One last thing, Ms. Hart.” “This is far too advanced for most people; it is not just about being competent. It requires allegiance and a certain level of silence. I hope you get what I mean.” Emma nodded in silence as her heart raced. “I do, Mr Thornton.” With that, she spun on her heel and left, the door behind her shutting quietly. As she entered the lift, Emma’s brain spun with a hundred thoughts. What was it that she had actually agreed to work on? Daniel Thornton was not just any supervisor; he was an enigma that Emma was determined to decode. But Emma could not shake the feeling as the elevator went down that she had grossly underestimated the complexity – and the intimacy – of this new job. I’ve had enough of this, thought Emma, taking a deep breath when they walked out into the crowded lobby. This is just the beginning, but already there’s something dangerous teasing close by. Emma was not going to allow this overbearing woman get in her way, particularly when the likes of Daniel Thornton were hiding in the shadows to and she was ready for the storm that was about to come.