The CEO’s dark secret

Chapter five :Too deep already

MAYA'S POV

5:30 am felt like the middle of the night,I sat in the back of the car Adrian had sent for me, watching the city blur past in shades of gray before sunrise,

It was just me and the driver, I couldn't ask him a question

I barely slept that night, I was thinking about any possible reason why he would want me in his office that early,

Lord please help me, save me from this monster

I whispered. We got there faster than i imagined and I went straight to his office, he was there alone the Windows shut, the only source of light was from the chandelier that hung at the top of the room

“You're early” he said

“You said 5:30” I replied almost immediately and looked at my watch 5:29

He asked me to sit then came really close to me

“What you heard yesterday” he said

“sir I told you I didn't –”

“I didn't invite you here to try and defend yourself” he said “ you heard something and don't even try to lie because I saw you from the cameras”

Shit! How did I not think about that

“im not going to punish you for being curious, I mean everybody gets curious as to what goes on around here” he paused then took few steps away from me “but I need to know exactly how much you're willing to unknown because there's a difference between people who can handle what does on here and those can't “ he paused and smirk “the latter doesn't last here”

I swallowed my spit and I could feel my body tremble in fear. Is he bout to wipe me off the surface of the earth? I can't disappear, I have too much to do too much, my mom, dad, Ava, the house, no no

“What happened to the last” I asked before I could stop myself

His face changed

“Just as curious as you, she thought she needed answers to feel safe here”

“Is she alive?” I asked

He smiled at me

Don't do that! Don't smile at me you monster!

“She's alive, just not here anymore”

“Is—” before I could continue he cut in

“She isn't the subject of this conversation, you are”

I wasn't terrified

“You're brave” he said as he opened his drawer and brought out a gold card

“You didn't run away like others would, haven't you heard about me?” He asked

I'm finally getting it, he's trying to keep me closer

“I heard”

“This tells me something” he said

“That I'm reckless?”

He scoffed “I like you”

I couldn't believe what I heard, they felt heavy, my heart started racing faster I thought it'd burst out

“You're not reckless but instead you're capable of trust and you play by the rules, confidentiality” he said

“Here” he hands me the gold card “with this comes more responsibility, more danger” he paused “if I'm honest I'd understand if you walk away now”

I thought about my situation back at home

“I'm not walking away” I said as I gripped the card harder

Something shifted in his expression, something unguarded slipping through his shield, for just a moment, he looked less like the untouchable CEO everyone feared and more like a man carrying something far too heavy for one person alone. I loosened up

“Careful Ms. Whitfield, this isn't a joke” he said calmly

“And I'm not joking either” I responded immediately

He stepped closer, close enough to feel his breath on my face

“Those who go against me, suffer” he said in almost a whisper

I was silent, cold chills ran down my spine

“Are you warning me?”

“Yes, I'm warning you to run now you have the chance, I'm supposed to be warning you to run

“but?”

“but some part of me doesn't want you to”

I froze, the words hung between us, it was unexpected and I didn't know how to feel. We stared at each other and multiple emotions ran through me at the same time, I was breathing loudly and everywhere was mute

Buzz

His phone interrupted the moment and he stepped back to pick it up, after 30 seconds

“Go set up” he said in a cold voice “ we have a long day ahead”

I couldn't move for an instant, the gold card still in my hand and trying to shake off what just happened

He looked at me again and looked at the door

“Move” he said

I quickly picked up my back and phone that was on the table and walked out of the room. That's when I realized that I wasn't just an employee trying to save her family but I was now in something far more dangerous than I had intended to be in.

I couldn't tell anybody, they warned me, both Ava and my dad and I didn't want to put them in the mess I already am in.

Atleast I'm alive, I thought, I handled the situation very well and then it hit me

The card

“s**t! I didn't ask him what it was for” I said to myself “I can't go back inside the room go ask” I pondered

Just then he came out of the office and saw me outside

“Let's go” he said almost immediately and his bodyguards moved with him

“Uhm sir?” I said

“What?” He said without stopping

I wondered if I should ask about the card in the open, that'd be foolish I thought

“Where are we headed?” I asked instead

“What did I mention about questions?” He asked as the elevator opened

I went mute and just moved with him instead. Just then a message came from dad

“She's in a critical condition” the message came up. I didn't know what to do, I started to panic

“What?” He asked emotionless

“I-i, sir my mom is in a critical condition” I said

“And so?” He asked

I was stunned, does he have no emotion?I can't afford to look pitiful in his eyes! No!

“What?” He asked again.

“Nothing sir, my father has it under control we can carry on” I said firmly

Instead of fleeing, something foolish and reckless inside me had already decided I didn't want to back out, I was already too deep inside to leave.