The Billionaire's Secret Contract

chapter 5

It was a sleepless night of reflection for Emily. The cryptic note that she had previously was haunting her brain like a bog of quicksand as it was charging her with horror at Adrian's most probable involvement in some illicit plot. But something pushed her to probe deeper down in an attempt to stand out more solutions to circumstantiate that but, again, she had no means of knowing who among the people around her was reliable. It looked like the revelation Jessica gave her and the warning notice warned her of something larger in terms of conspiracy involved.

Deciding that she had to get some answers, Emily visited Jessica the following morning. There was something in what Jessica had mentioned that had an urgent and frightened tone, and Emily had to be filled in on more details about whatever it was that Jessica had somehow gotten hold of. Emily arranged with Jess the following day to have a one on one meeting at a nearby coffee shop, literally a stone's throw from the office, to have a private and honest discussion as was possible.

The coffee house was an appropriate haven from corporate madness; she had gotten there early and had taken a corner table. It was set serenely, a soft hum of voices providing background as she breathed in the scent of coffee. She looked at her watch, waiting for Jessica. Her mind was reeling with possibilities and questions, each one worse than the last.

In less than a minute, Jessica arrived, her face pale; she sat down in front of Emily, fighting furiously with the strap on her bag. "Thanks for seeing me," she began; her words were slightly unsteady.

Emily smiled reassuringly. "Of course; I have to know what's actually happening. So what did you actually hear Adrian say?

Jessica took a deep breath. "It's hard to describe to you all, but I've overheard Adrian discussing over an issue with some lads who weren't among our own crew. They spoke about some kind of arrangement that seemed. dodgy. It was internal jargon, the kind which is codes for life outside. But essentially, they were discussing over the transfer of something which, if this came into the public domain, would destroy the business.".

Emily stepped further in now, interest carved across her face. "How did you obtain the documents and photos?"

Jessica's gaze shifted nervously in her sockets. "I overheard something I wasn't supposed to hear. It was a breach of security, and I shouldn't have gone to look. But I thought that I ought to inform you. I didn't intend to get someone in trouble."

Jessica heard Adrian's declaration, and she nodded her head towards Jessica. Adrian dived into something too deep and too risky than a typical business offer, exactly the way Jessica described. She would have taken the stakes really higher.

Their conversation was just beginning when Emily's phone had begun ringing against her pocket and she caught a glimpse of a text message that she hadn't yet gotten around to reading. She picked it up, her heart racing at the content: * quoting, "Meet me outside the old warehouse on 5th Street at midnight. It's about Adrian." *

Emily felt a pounding within her chest. The content itself was ambiguous—the little she was able to comprehend of it seemed very solemn. She walked up to Jessica, who seemed distraught then, and mentioned, "I have received yet another message. It appears another person wants to see me and discuss Adrian. I need to leave."

Her eyes grew wide with shock. "Walk carefully, Jessica. Of whoever else is involved in this I am not sure, but things are starting to take quite the turn for the worse.".

Nodding, Emily ran from the café and accelerated away into her head. She went to the warehouse old, a dilapidated structure out on the edge of town, boards over the windows, usually a stench around it of being in disrepair on the outside. All was vacant; everything seemed to foretell evil. She drew far enough back and made for the warehouse, looking around her for something amiss.

She would be aware, as she went towards the door, of a weak struggle with the light which came in through the weak gaps from within. She would hesitate for a while and then move in opening the creaky door and would enter. It was but faintly lit with a few electric lights set about here and there in dejected attitudes. Frayed shadows rolled and slid over whitewashed walls that grew more and more indistinct. The same as muffled in some heavy weightless dul-gray cloak smeared with grime.

She proceeded along the little passage, and she could have sworn her footfalls rang out coldly back to her from the walls. Someone waited there in darkness at the end of the passage. Stepping into light, he showed her the face Emily recognized, Victoria Ashford.

Victoria's face was fixed in a cold calculating stare. "I'm so glad you could make it, Emily," she said suavely on purpose. "I hope you received my message."

Emily's heart was racing now. "Where are we going, Victoria? Why did you wish to meet with me here?"

Victoria pinned her eyes on him. "There are things, well, you don't know about Adrian and his business. He has been a part of things that can ruin everything he has worked for. I thought it was your right to know."

Emily's head was reeling. "And why did you tell me? What's your motive?

Victoria's lips curl into the promise of a smile. "Just let it be enough that I have my reasons. What Adrian does has consequences and hurts too many people, including me. To keep you and your family safe, you have to know what is really happening.".

A second passed me by and the far door of the warehouse creaked open and into the light stepped Adrian, his expression twisted in grim resolve. "Victoria," Adrian said, and running through his voice was a strand of disapproval.

Emily's heart was racing in her chest. Adrian's presence and Victoria's ominous words were another aspect of confounding mystery. Adrian merely pushed forward the mystery. "Adrian, what's happening?" Emily tried to sound calm.

Adrian glared at her, irritation and a hint of worry spreading across his eyes. "You don't know everything, Emily. Victoria has to do with deceptions and lies, tends to manipulate things between people in the manner she wishes. You are playing with fire, and I have to take the heat for you.".

Adrian was standing awkwardly before Victoria. Emily's head was spinning; there was Adrian and Victoria, and tension between the two of them, and it wasn't nearly as simple as she should have found it. "Then why bother, Victoria? Why did you bring me here? What do you want from me?

Victoria's gaze was frosty. "I wanted to inform you in person. Adrian's affairs are not as simple as they appear. He dallies with unsavory ventures that will sever the worse reputation he has earned. You will be well advised if you reconsider your involvement in all this villainy.".

Since Emily was now facing the direction in which she was to respond, a crash and shouting came from outside the warehouse, then another outburst of shouting, followed by a ruckus outside, and the sirens were wailing their way nearer.

Adrian's face set. "We have to leave. Now."

Victoria's did not falter. "You will have to make your decision, Emily. But never forget that appearances are not always what they seem.".

On the note, Victoria whirled quickly and was rushed into the darkness as quickly as possible, whirling Emily and Adrian around.

The warehouse was almost overwhelmed by tension and anarchy, and therefore, in actuality, the ideas in her mind were racing with opposing thoughts.

Adrian grasped Emily's hand. "We must get out of here before things get worse. I'll explain everything once we're safe."

They ran down the darkened corridors and out into darkness. They did not make it to Adrian's car until they heard the fires breaking out outside after they understood that the warehouse was on fire. The sirens were approaching louder now second by second, and realization of what had just occurred was slowly dawning on them.