THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET VOW

Episode four:A rivals shadow

As the social elite of New York assembled in the interior of the grand ballroom at The Ritz-Carlton under the dazzling chandeliers, the air was filled with lively chatter. Emma Hart was positioned at the entrance, holding a tiny black clutch, and arranging her emerald green gown. It was her first time attending a charity gala that she expected would be gratefully remembered. Meanwhile, she has attended other similar events in the past. Albeit being a guest was in her mind, she was, moreover, Daniel Thornton's assistant and this was a different case. The responsibility of that position is what she felt. She also searched the room in hopes of spotting Daniel, who was amidst the enthusiasts, the politicians, and the business moguls. Although she arrived a little bit earlier to ensure that everything was, in fact, alright, at this point of the event, there was an uncomfortable buzzing feeling under her skin.

“There you are,” a voice that Emma was very familiar with said behind her and sent shivers through her body. Emma turned around and the figure of Daniel standing a few steps away met her, scanning the surrounding room, his blue unperturbed eyes commanding respect as if he was meaning to do so. He looked dashing in a fitted black tuxedo that accented his broad shoulders and slim body. But tonight was different, for one reason or the other; sons of ankle immediately made her pulse quicken.

“Mr. ‘I-don’t-do-all-this-bureaucratic-nonsense’ Thornton,” she said and made an effort to speak normally. “Everything’s all right. The charity representatives are very happy with the number of people in sight, and the auction starts in about sixty minutes.”

He tilted his head down as he nodded and actually gave her his attention for the first time. In that instant, she saw the expression on his face that seemed to drop the veneer of controlled indifference that he sported, the guy Emma saw in his loft, one that was broken and suffering over something that he chose not to speak of.

“Thank you, Emma,” he breathed out averting his gaze away. That was gentler than she thought. “You did good.”

Her heart reacted unusually when she received the simple praise. She nodded her head, not knowing how best to respond. And just before she opened her mouth, Daniel's gaze drifted past her and turned steely.

“Caldwell,” Daniel sneered, barely above the level of a whisper.

Emma turned to see who had captured Daniel’s attention. Striding toward them, undoubtedly calm and composed, was Richard Caldwell, the very same she had met in the office days before. He had the same muscular statue as Daniel and bore an arrogant presence. His hair was swept back, revealing fierce cheekbones which turned into a smirk the moment he spied Daniel.

“I see the boy is back in town,” Richard said, shaking his hand. It’s been ages, dearie.”

Freezing their facial expressions, Daniel and Richard shook hands. “Richard,” the tourist bore no sign of offense, unlike Emma. “I did not think I would meet you here?”

“You’re wondering if I am here,” Richard laughed, his smile broadening as he shifted his stare to Emma. “You’re that new assistant. Emma is right?”

Emma’s heart was warm with courtesy, but she knew that there was something distasteful in Richard’s look. “Yes, Emma Hart,” she responded, and went for her hand. He took it and the moments passed, and one moment became the second before he decided to let go of her hand.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Richard replied promptly. “Let’s hope Daniel has not overworked you.”

Emma laughed lightly, but still, Daniel stepped right in between her and Richard. “Emma’s more than capable,” he remarked, but there was an undertone of warning which neither of them appreciated.

Richard’s smile did not wane, but a darkness passed briefly in his eyes. “I have no doubts about her,” he said, contemptuously. "But tell me, Daniel, how have you been managing business these days? Filling the quota with enemies, I suppose?”

The anger in Daniel's jaw was obvious, but his expression was remarkably unchanging. "Business is booming," he said flatly. "Though I cannot say the same about all."

The air in the room was thick and tense between the two men, and it was apparent to Emma that there was a good deal of history between them that had also affected the nature of the conversation. She turned to Daniel and saw, at his sides, his fists were a little clenched, which was a clear indication of how much restraint he was exercising at that moment.

"Now, come on, someone's hostility isn't called for," Richard remarked with a smile, piercing gaze still on Daniel. "We are, after all, on the same side for a good reason, aren't we? How about we go forward and choose to forget about whatever happened?"

Daniel’s lips were sealed into a tight line, however, that was before he could speak, Richard’s attention shifted to Emma. “I must say, Daniel. you are one fortunate man,” he began, his voice now a malicious drawl. “You sure are lucky to have Miss Hart around. I can’t believe you have not—”

“Now that’s quite enough, Richard” Daniel said, cutting him off with some quiet menace. “If you’ll pardon us, Emma and I have business to get back to.’

Richard lifted his brow, but the smile remained plastered on his face. “Sure,” he said, retreating a little. “But remember, Daniel, some secrets are never buried for good.”

Those words, delivered as they were with a finality, threatened her, and made Emma feel a cold chill in her spine. Turning her gaze towards Daniel, she found that his expression was now a calm stone, although the penetrating glare in his eyes contradicted that as he seemed to lock on Richard’s retreating back.

“Let’s go,” Daniel announced, cutting off any arguments that could ensue. He guided Emma with a hand on the lower part of her back and herded her through the crowd rather quickly.

They kept walking in the ballroom until they reached another corner of the hall where there was minimal chance of being overheard or observed. Once in that location, Daniel took his hand off her back and looked at her, his face impossible to read.

“Are you okay?” he asked in a soft voice that almost came out as a whisper.

Emma nodded, but she was still in shock. “I’m good,” she said, though the incident had rattled her more than she would have liked to admit. “What was that all about? It felt like—”

“Forget about the thing he mentioned,” Daniel cut in with a stronger tone. “Richard Caldwell is a vile machinating creature. He takes pleasure in making people feel dislocated.”

“But he appeared to know something,” Emma kept insisting. “Something that concerns you.”

Daniel's expression clouded, and she thought he would explode. Instead, he just breathed out and relaxed the tautness of his shoulders a little. “Richard and I go back a long way,” he added, his voice low. “He has always tried to destroy whatever empire I have built and does not shy away from using cheap tricks such as personal attacks to do that.”

Emma was all set to ask about it along the lines of the background and context of the feud, which really seemed to stem from more than just business even, but the look on Daniel’s face persuaded her against that. “If he tries to talk to you again,” Daniel said, turning to a protective tone, “you come to me immediately. Do not give in to him.”

Emma nodded decisively, fruiting the gravity in his statement. “I Will,” she said with a promise. “But Daniel if there is such a thing—”

“There is no other point,” Daniel once again interrupted her. “Let us concentrate on the event.”

Emma choked her questions back, knowing that quite the opposite of what she intended would happen if she hounded him at this moment. “Okay,” she replied quietly, still attempting to clear her mind of its chaos.

And as the evening wore on, what continued to niggle at Emma's mind was the notion that it was possible that Richard Caldwell was aware of something concerning Daniel’s history that could potentially destroy everything. The manner in which Richard spoke and his vague yet ominous caution had suggested there was more to the story, something even more sinister.

At the outset of the bidding, Daniel was already positioned at the head of the conference room addressing the crowd with extreme confidence. Yet, Emma perceived the stiffness of his body language and how every so often he would shift his eyes to the back of the room, which was home to Richard, who was more like a lurking lion than anything else.

After the last of the pieces up for auction was sold amid the applause of the crowd, Daniel came into view from the other side of the room. For a second, she was able to see something in his eyes – did it seem like fear or guilt? Maybe it was both – either way, it lasted for a second and disappeared, revealing only the cold resolve that she had known.

When the clock signified the end of the event and guests were trooping out, Emma could not suppress the notion that it was Daniel’s past that had turned into ghosts that would soon swallow the two.

And that was the moment Emma would recall vividly: as the other guests took turns exiting the ballroom, Richard Caldwell wore a smirk, which, conscious of the wearer, put Emma on high alert. Daniel’s ‘skeletons in the closet’ were not all that safe.

She was ready to confront the danger because she wanted the truth.