Bound by Secrets

Chapter six

The morning sun bathed the glass walls of Cross Enterprises in golden light as Emma stepped out of the elevator on the executive floor. Today marked her first official day shadowing Damian’s current assistant, Clara, before her maternity leave. Her heart was pounding, but she maintained a calm exterior. She couldn’t afford to show weakness—not here.

Clara greeted her with a warm smile, her heavily pregnant belly evident beneath her chic blouse. "Morning, Alexandra," she said cheerfully. "Ready for the whirlwind?"

Emma nodded, forcing a smile. "Absolutely. I’m eager to get started."

Clara chuckled. "Good. You’ll need that energy. Mr. Cross has high expectations. If he seems cold, don’t take it personally—it’s just his way. He’s brilliant but…intense."

That much, Emma already knew. Damian Cross wasn’t just intense; he was a fortress of discipline and control. She followed Clara into the spacious outer office that connected directly to Damian’s.

The desk was stacked with documents, post-its with reminders, and neatly labeled files. Clara gestured for Emma to sit beside her as she explained the workflow.

“Mr. Cross doesn’t tolerate lateness or mistakes. Every meeting is timed to the minute, and every file must be perfect. He notices everything,” Clara said, her tone serious but not unkind.

Emma nodded, listening intently as Clara walked her through the intricacies of Damian’s schedule, preferences, and quirks. It was overwhelming, but Emma refused to falter. This was her in—her chance to get closer to Damian and his secrets.

By mid-morning, Clara excused herself for a short break, leaving Emma alone to sort through emails. The quiet hum of the office was broken by the sharp click of shoes approaching. She looked up to see Damian standing in the doorway.

“Miss Collins,” he said, his tone clipped.

Emma stood immediately, her pulse quickening. “Mr. Cross.”

He strode into the room, his gaze sweeping over the desk. "Clara told me you’d be shadowing her. I expect you to pick up the pace quickly. I don’t have the luxury of training assistants for weeks on end."

“Understood,” Emma said, keeping her tone professional.

For a moment, he simply stared at her, his expression unreadable. It felt like he was peeling back layers, trying to see beyond her carefully constructed facade.

“Good,” he said finally. Then, as if dismissing her presence entirely, he turned to the files on the desk.

Emma sat back down, watching him out of the corner of her eye. His movements were precise, his focus unshakable. When he finished skimming through the files, he glanced at her again.

“You’re from Phoenix?” he asked suddenly.

The question caught her off guard. “Yes,” she lied smoothly. “I moved here recently for this opportunity.”

He nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Let’s hope you make the most of it.”

Emma exhaled as he walked back into his office, closing the door behind him. She had been under his scrutiny for less than five minutes, but it felt like hours.

---

By lunchtime, Clara returned, her cheerful demeanor a stark contrast to Damian’s icy presence. Emma tried to absorb as much as possible, asking questions and taking notes.

As the day wore on, Emma found herself more intrigued by Damian than she cared to admit. His reputation as a ruthless businessman was well-earned, but there was something else beneath the surface. She saw it in the way he interacted with certain employees—not warm, but not entirely devoid of humanity either.

Her thoughts drifted to her father. She couldn’t shake the memory of his reaction when she told him about the job. His fear had been palpable, his words clipped as he warned her to be careful. But why? If Damian’s family had wronged them, shouldn’t he be glad she was finally taking steps to uncover the truth?

That night, Emma sat at her kitchen table, staring at the case file she’d managed to compile over the years. Pictures of Damian’s parents, articles about the Cross family’s rise to power, and reports of the scandal that had rocked the company years ago.

She was closer than ever to unraveling the truth, but doubts began to creep in. Damian’s coldness, his piercing eyes—they unsettled her. He was nothing like she’d expected, and it unnerved her more than she cared to admit.

Still, she reminded herself of her goal: to expose the Cross family for what they were. Damian might be intimidating, but she wouldn’t back down. Not now.

---

The next morning, Emma was at her desk early, reviewing Damian’s schedule for the day. Clara had given her full control, insisting it was time for Emma to start handling things independently.

When Damian arrived, he barely acknowledged her, his focus already on the calls and meetings ahead.

“Miss Collins,” he said sharply, snapping her attention back to him. “Are you prepared for the quarterly review?”

“Yes, sir,” Emma replied confidently, handing him the documents he’d requested.

He took them without a word, his eyes scanning the pages. “Adequate,” he said finally, though his tone suggested he expected better.

As he turned to leave, he paused, looking back at her. “I’ll need you to accompany me to the construction site this afternoon. Be ready by two.”

Emma nodded, her stomach tightening. This was it—her chance to observe him up close.

As the clock struck two, Emma joined Damian in the private elevator, the air between them thick with silence. He didn’t look at her, his gaze fixed on the city skyline as the elevator ascended.

When they arrived at the site, Damian’s presence commanded attention. Workers stopped what they were doing, their respect for him evident in the way they straightened and waited for his instructions.

Emma followed him closely, taking mental notes of his interactions. He was cold but efficient, his orders precise and his knowledge impressive.

At one point, he turned to her, his eyes narrowing. “I trust you’re paying attention, Miss Collins. This is your chance to prove you can keep up.”

“I won’t disappoint you,” Emma said, meeting his gaze.

For a moment, his expression softened, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. “We’ll see about that.”

As the day ended, Emma found herself more determined than ever. Damian Cross was formidable, but she wasn’t afraid. She had come too far to let him intimidate her.

But as she watched him from across the room, his sharp eyes scanning the construction plans, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was watching her just as closely.