The Jouney Within

Chapter 7: The Secrete in His Office

The elevator doors closed behind Elena, but she couldn't make herself move.

She stood alone in the silent hallway, staring at the silver doors as if they might open again and reveal Adrian standing there.

Her heart was still racing.

His words echoed in her mind.

You were never supposed to find out.

Find out what?

Elena had spent the entire night trying to convince herself that she had misunderstood him. Maybe Adrian had been talking about something else. Maybe there was an explanation.

But deep down, she knew better.

There was a secret.

And somehow, she was connected to it.

The next morning, Elena arrived at the company earlier than usual. She barely slept the previous night, and the dark circles beneath her eyes were impossible to hide.

She walked toward her desk, hoping Adrian wouldn't be there yet.

Unfortunately, the moment she stepped into the executive floor, she saw him.

Adrian stood beside the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. His back was turned toward her, but she knew it was him immediately.

He seemed to sense her presence.

Without turning around, he said, "You're early."

Elena stopped.

"So are you."

Adrian finally turned.

Their eyes met.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Adrian walked toward her.

"Come into my office."

Elena's stomach tightened.

"I have work to finish."

"I didn't ask."

His tone was calm, but there was something underneath it—a warning.

Elena followed him.

The moment the office door closed, she turned toward him.

"What were you talking about last night?"

Adrian's expression hardened.

"I don't know what you mean."

"Yes, you do."

She stepped closer.

"You said I was never supposed to find out. Find out what?"

Adrian stared at her.

Then he walked toward his desk.

"Forget what you heard."

"I can't."

"You can."

"No, Adrian."

Her voice trembled, but she refused to back down.

"You brought me into your life. You hired me. You keep protecting me from things I don't even understand. And now you're telling me to forget something you clearly meant?"

Adrian's jaw tightened.

For the first time, Elena saw something close to fear in his eyes.

Not fear of her.

Fear for her.

He opened a drawer in his desk and removed a small black envelope.

He placed it on the desk.

Elena stared at it.

"What is that?"

"Something you shouldn't see."

"Then why did you show it to me?"

"Because I don't know how much longer I can keep you away from the truth."

Elena slowly reached for the envelope.

Adrian caught her wrist.

"Elena."

She looked at his hand around hers.

"Let go."

He immediately released her.

His eyes softened.

"I'm trying to protect you."

"From what?"

He didn't answer.

Elena opened the envelope.

Inside was an old photograph.

Her breath caught.

It showed a younger Adrian standing beside two people.

One was a woman Elena had never seen before.

The other was a man.

A man who looked strangely familiar.

Elena's fingers began to shake.

"Who is he?"

Adrian said nothing.

She looked at him.

"Adrian, who is this man?"

His silence was answer enough.

Elena stared at the photograph again.

There was something about the man's eyes.

Something she remembered from childhood.

A memory suddenly flashed through her mind.

A man's voice.

A warm hand holding hers.

A promise whispered in the darkness.

I'll always come back for you.

Elena's heart pounded.

She looked up.

"My father."

Adrian's expression changed.

"How did you—"

"That's my father."

Her voice cracked.

"My father disappeared when I was six."

Adrian slowly nodded.

"I know."

Elena froze.

"You know?"

"I knew him."

The room seemed to spin.

"You knew my father?"

"Yes."

"How?"

Adrian looked away.

"Because he worked for my family."

Elena stared at him in disbelief.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because your father's disappearance wasn't an accident."

Silence filled the room.

Elena felt as though the ground had disappeared beneath her feet.

"What are you saying?"

Adrian's eyes met hers.

"Your father was investigating someone."

"Who?"

Adrian hesitated.

"Someone very powerful."

"Who?"

Before he could answer, there was a knock on the door.

Adrian immediately turned.

A man's voice came from outside.

"Mr. Blackwood, we have a problem."

Adrian's expression became cold.

"Come in."

The door opened.

His assistant stepped inside, holding a phone.

"Someone has been asking questions about Elena."

Elena's blood ran cold.

"Who?"

The assistant looked at Adrian.

Then at Elena.

"We don't know yet."

Adrian took the phone.

A message was displayed on the screen.

I know you found the girl.

Below it was another message.

And I know she has her father's blood.

Elena's face went pale.

Adrian's fingers tightened around the phone.

Another message appeared.

Tell her the truth before I do.

Elena looked at Adrian.

"What truth?"

He didn't answer.

She stepped toward him.

"Adrian."

He looked at her, and for the first time, she saw genuine fear in his eyes.

"Your father didn't abandon you, Elena."

Her lips parted.

"What?"

"He was taken."

The words shattered whatever hope she had left.

"Taken by who?"

Adrian looked toward the window.

"The same people who are looking for you now."

Elena swallowed hard.

"Why would they want me?"

Adrian turned back to her.

"Because your father left something behind."

"What?"

Adrian's eyes locked onto hers.

"Something that could destroy one of the most powerful families in the country."

Elena couldn't breathe.

"And you know where it is?"

Adrian slowly nodded.

"Yes."

"Where?"

He stepped closer.

"It's been with you all along."

Elena's eyes widened.

"What are you talking about?"

Adrian reached toward her neck.

She instinctively stepped back.

His hand stopped in the air.

"You wear it every day."

Elena touched the necklace around her neck.

The necklace her father had given her when she was six.

The only thing she had left from him.

Her fingers trembled.

"This?"

Adrian nodded.

"Your father told me never to let anyone take it from you."

Elena stared at the necklace.

Suddenly, it felt heavier than it ever had before.

Then her phone rang.

Unknown number.

She answered.

"Hello?"

For several seconds, there was only silence.

Then a man's voice whispered:

"Your father should have stayed dead."

The call ended.

Elena's face drained of color.

Adrian took the phone from her hand.

His expression had completely changed.

"They found you."

Elena looked at him.

"What do we do?"

Adrian grabbed his jacket.

"We leave."

"Where?"

"Somewhere they can't reach you."

"And if they find us?"

Adrian looked directly into her eyes.

"Then I'll make sure they regret it."

Elena didn't know whether to be frightened by his words or comforted by them.

But as Adrian took her hand and led her toward the private elevator, one thing became painfully clear.

Her father's disappearance was only the beginning.

And the secret hidden inside her necklace could change everything.