The Billionaire's Secret Contract

chapter 4

Victoria's smile never faltered as she approached Emily, the flash of amusement and shock in her eyes. The general buzz of activity in the background that usually characterized the lobby of Blackwood Corporation went on, but the glow of this meeting stole the rest of the hysterical quality of its lifeblood: a force field.

"Let's go out and get some fresh air?" she proposed

It had been slicked but edged with steel.

"I have discovered fresh air wonderfully stimulating."

She nodded and shuddered, shivers of fear along her spine. They were moving toward the light-glowing glass doors of the balcony of the building. Ahead of them, on the horizon, stretched the city, skyscrapers and lights. But she could only look at Victoria, whose temperament still remained an enigma.

She leaned against the railing and looked out to sea. "In fact, Emily, you've done a very good job of keeping me," she began to say, her own voice honey sweet and silken but lethal beneath. "There are just so many who come through and then leave this world; I've seen them. And then you… you are something very special."

Emily was holding her ground with an arm crossed. "And what do you have to say on that, huh?

Victoria seethed at her, lips twisting into a sneer. "You know, Adrian and I have a past, a complicated one. I'd love to hear what qualifies you to think that you're worthy of inserting yourself in the doorway of this world. It's not everything it's made out to be.".

Her gut churned with fear, and Victoria's eyes locked with Emily's. She knew the ripple of rage was against Victoria, and now everything made sense. "I am here because my family needs this marriage. I am doing what I need to do.".

Victoria's narrowed gaze reminded her that her brain was on fire with calculation. "That is admirably noble. But you're wrong about the work in front of you. Adrian is not predictable the way he appears, and neither is his firm. It's shark-eat-shark around here, Emily. Something greater than noble ideals is necessary to thrive around here.".

Just as Emily was about to speak, Victoria's phone rang again. She glanced at it and appeared outraged. "I'm sorry; I'll be just a minute," she said to her, and moved a couple of feet away to take the call.

Emily watched her, trying to get a sense of what all of Victoria's cryptic comments were meant to signify. This woman was obviously more than a business partner to him; she was one of the upper echelons of the matrix that surrounded him.

The instant Victoria had hung up the phone, she leaned back into a suavely conditioned state of equanimity. "So sorry, but I quite simply must take my leave," she told Emily, attempting to smile. "No doubt, however, we shall have many such encounters in the future between us. It was a sheer pleasure to make your acquaintance, Emily."

Victoria had retired with dignity, but with enough dignity to hide the tension behind the dying light of the afternoon. There had been a maelstrom in her stomach that was reminiscent of omens, for Victoria had left. This visit by Victoria was one firmly disturbing event, and Emily actually felt in her heart that this was only the beginning of her sickness.

Inside, Emily shook off the residual shudders of introspection about the dream as she fought to compose herself in preparation for leaving. She ached to be restored to herself in her own reality so that she could focus. But, no sooner did she push the elevator button than she was halted in her tracks by some recalcitrant movement at the doors.

The flustered young woman with the folder, face whiter than white, ran into the lobby, her eyes jumping from one point of attraction to another before at last coming to rest on Emily and running up to her, her words tumbling out in breathless haste.

"Miss Carter, I must speak to you. I am Jessica, Adrian's secretary."

She felt the shiver down her spine. "What is it?

Jessica's eyes were wildly flickering. "I have something to say to you; it is about the contract. There has been a change."

Emily trailed behind Jessica into a small conference room nearby, nervous. The woman closed the door and gave Emily a folder. "Please, read this," she said, shaking.

She unfolded the folder and there was a pile of documents and pictures inside. On top was a photocopied email detailing Adrian's confrontational outbursts and business conference arguments with some of her business associates. It was, however, the inclusion photographs that left her utterly flabbergasted to the core. They depicted Adrian attending seemingly undercover conferences with some people whose names she never learned.

"What's that?" Emily asked, her eyebrow furrowed at him but barely more than a whisper.

Jessica breathed in. "I overheard something that I wasn't supposed to. Other than this, they claim he's involved in a criminal enterprise. What these pictures prove is that Adrian did have some business dealings with some people who will invalidate the whole contract and further mar Blackwood Corporation's reputation.".

She was shocked as she tried to piece it all together. If this was the entirety of the truth, then all her sacrifices that she had been working so diligently to make for her family would be nothing but rags. But whatever in the world was Adrian ever going to do with this? What had she gotten herself into by making this deal?

Before she could even stand up to request another question, however, the door to the conference room creaked open and Adrian strode in. His face was unreadable. "What is this about?" he asked curtly, with an underlying sense of control.

Emily's heart was racing. "Jessica was simply reviewing some documents

Adrian's gaze snapped to Jessica, and anger blended with it. "Jessica, I instructed you to treat all the sensitive information with care. What in the devil's name is happening?

Jessica went pale and with desperate urgency clutched Emily's arm more firmly. "I was attempting to help. I did not wish to make any trouble."

Adrian looked at Emily with eyes weathered by the tears of Jessica. "Sorry for this. Jessica's been under a lot of pressure lately. Too much rumour and misunderstanding in our business. I assure you, it is all legitimate. I will investigate this case.".

She barely had a clue about what he was saying with his face against robbery possibilities. "I hope it is," she breathed very softly. "I hope it is, for if this thing should prove to be true, it would not pass lightly."

Adrian nodded, resolve spilling from his face. "I understand. I will explain what's going on right now. For goodness' sake, don't let this destroy your faith in me. I need you concentrated on what we both want so dearly.".

Impulsively, Adrian growled, "Come," and grasped Emily's arm, escorting her out of the room. Firmly, but not harshly. Walking down the lobby of the hotel, all of these were whirling in her head at the same time. Yes, she wanted to trust Adrian, but all of the evidence Jessica was offering was hard stuff. Was Adrian involved in something illegal or was there another reason for all of this?

Adrian halted at the door. "I'll be back if anything happens," he said, turning away. "Do your best to forget it until then, decide on what you are going to do next."

Emily nodded, both anxious and relieved. Going out would stop such pictures and pages from being demolished. She knew that she had some things to do, but things looked more perilous than ever.

She received another buzz on her phone as she stepped into the car. The one-sentence summary of the alert was:

*I know what you're trying to find out. Be careful. Not everyone is what they appear.*

Her heart was racing as she read the note. Who had sent it and what did they know? The vague threat did nothing to help her increasing anxiety. She got into the car with an ominous cloud of foreboding over her.