The Truth Hidden In Cross Industries

Chapter 2: The Letter

Nadia's Pov

I sat by the side of the bed and my hands suddenly began to tremble.

“Come on, snap out of it!”

I took a deep breath and opened the letter.

My Princess,

I knew you would eventually find this, nothing gets by you after all. And don't worry, I wouldn't be mad if you had to wreck my things to get it. Haha. You always were stubborn, just like your mother.

I know things are different now, I know I'm not there now but I would've given anything to spend more time with you.

I found out some things, things that could put you in danger if you knew. And I would rather die than let anything happen to you.

So I need you to promise me something, please don't dig any deeper, don't ask any questions. I don't want you getting hurt.

Please Nadia. Let me protect you like I always did.

Dad.

I read it again, and again.

Tears blurred the words, I wiped them off and kept reading it till I had enough.

“You don't want me getting hurt? It's too late for that.”

“I was hurt the moment you left me.”

I folded the letter carefully and held it softly in my hand.”

“You found something, something dangerous, something that got you killed.”

I picked out the lighter from my pocket, one of the things found after the accident. The one thing that didn't belong to you.

“He was fine at home, he was fine with me. The only thing to consider was…”

I stopped.

“Cross Industries”

My father had worked there for over a decade. He never complained, he never had a problem talking about work. But that day he was different, and a bit sad.

“What did you find dad?”

I stood up, walked to his desk and ran my fingers over the wood.

“You didn't want me to dig, but I won't just stop, I'm sure you knew I wouldn't.”

“You said you found out things that you weren't supposed to know. Things that put you in danger. And said I wasn't safe if anyone knew that I knew.”

I paused.

“But I don't know anything yet. That's the thing, I'm not in danger because I don't know what you know.”

I turned towards the windows and looked at the city.

“But I can find out.”

“Cross Industries. The answers are there, they have to be.”

I pulled out my phone. I opened the browser while my fingers hesitated over the keyboard.

“I know you wouldn't want me to do this dad. But I can't stop till I find the truth. The truth hidden in Cross Industries.”

I typed: Cross Industries Careers. And scrolled through the job listings. Senior Financial Analyst. I was qualified. NYU Stern, two years experience.

“I can do this, I can get inside and find what you found.”

I clicked ‘Apply’, and filled out the application.

After I was done that I got a call from Stacey, asking if we could go grab a smoothie together and I agreed.

"Hey girlll! Glad you could make it."

"Of course! Like I would actually miss out on spending time with you."

"That's good to hear, because I've actually been a bit worried about you. It just seems like something's been bothering you."

"You know you can always talk to me," she said as she put her hand over mine.

I decided to tell her everything. How I still missed my dad. The letter I found and how I applied for a job at Cross Industries.

"Oh Nadia," she said as she comforted me.

"I know it's never been easy accepting the whole thing but I support you one hundred percent."

"I know you're going to find out what really happened but I really don't want you getting hurt," she said with a sad look on her face.

"I'll be careful, I promise. And thank you for worrying about me," I said as I hugged her.

"Anytime girl, anytime. Just be safe okay?"

"Okay.”

Days passed. Then a call came in, then another and another.

I aced every interview, my answers were sharp and impressive. When I was asked why I wanted to work at Cross Industries, I smiled and said, “I admire your growth strategy and want this to be part of something that will shape my future.”

I never mentioned my father and never let on that I was hunting for anything other than a career.

One week later I got a call.

“Congratulations Nadia, we'd like to offer you the position of Senior Financial Analyst.”

“Thank you, I accept.”

A sense of relief hit me. I had finally made it this far.

I called Stacey and told her I got the job.

"Well duhh, it's you Nadia. Of course you were always gonna get it."

I chuckled a bit.

"Thanks Stacey."

"Just be careful girl."

"Don't worry, I'll be careful. Bye Stacey," I said as I ended the call.

“I'm in Dad, I'm in. And I start Monday,” I said to myself proudly.