The soft chime of Emma's email notification pulled her from her thoughts, as she had been staring quite blankly at her computer screen while the words of the mystery note and the threatening messages gnawed at her brain. The e-mail inbox was full of tense mails regarding the layoffs, but one caught her eye. Its sender line read: Adrian Cross.
She paused before clicking. Her breathing hitched as she read the contents.
Emma,
Join me at the Arcadia Charity Gala this evening. Wear something formal. A car will pick you up at 7 PM. This is not optional.
Her heart thudded in her chest. A thousand questions swirled in her mind. Why her? What could possibly require her presence at such a high-profile event? And why had he phrased it so imperiously?
She looked around the office floor to find Adrian talking with Malik, his head of IT. He stood composed, commanding, as ever. But as his eyes strayed to hers for one brief second, there was something in them that seemed almost feral in their calculation.
By 7 PM, Emma was a nervous wreck. She had borrowed a sleek emerald-green dress from Lucy before she left and teamed it up with some simple jewelry. The car Adrian had sent to pick her up was parked at the curb, a black Mercedes that reeked of exclusivity.
"Where are we going?" Emma asked as she settled into the leather backseat.
"To the Northgate Grand," he said briefly, and that was all that passed between them.
The drive took place in strained silence. Emma sat staring out of the window. Her mind was racing. Adrian's invitation seemed a little less an offer of friendship, more an order. Then there was the note still in her bag. Was it connected somehow?
It wasn't until the car finally pulled up in front of the lavish hotel that Emma's breath caught. The building was lit up like a jewel, its grand entrance buzzing with well-dressed guests and flashing cameras.
Adrian was waiting near the entrance, looking effortlessly commanding in a tailored black tuxedo. He greeted her with a slight nod, his gray eyes scanning her as though assessing whether she was ready.
"You clean up well, Ms. Hayes," he said, his voice low and smooth.
Emma bristled at his nonchalance. "You didn't give me much of a choice, Mr. Cross."
His lips twitched, almost forming a smile. "Come with me. We have people to meet."
Adrian offered her his arm, and though she hesitated, she took it. Together, they entered the gala, the opulent ballroom sprawling before them. Crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow over the crowd, and the hum of polite conversation filled the air.
With a polished sense of ease, Adrian swept Emma through the sea of people, introducing her to important figures from the world of business. Smooth, enigmatic, and utterly comfortable being in command, Emma was simultaneously impressed and unnerved.
As the night progressed, Adrian guided Emma to the more quiet part of the ballroom. He handed her a glass of champagne; she barely touched it.
"Why am I here, Adrian?" she finally asked, her voice low but firm.
He raised an eyebrow. "Straight to the point. I respect that."
"Well?"
Adrian's expression darkened slightly. "You're observant, discreet, and capable of handling pressure. Tonight, I need those qualities."
Her brow furrowed. "Handling pressure? For what?"
He looked around cautiously, making sure no one was listening in before leaning in closer. "There's someone here who might be involved with the breach at Arcadia. I need you to keep an eye on them."
Emma's stomach tightened. "You want me to spy for you?"
"Call it surveillance," he said, his tone even. "You're less conspicuous than I am."
Emma's protests died in her throat as a striking woman approached them. She was tall and elegant, her gown shimmering like liquid silver. Her sharp eyes flicked between Adrian and Emma, her red lips curling into a sly smile.
"Adrian," she purred. "You're as magnetic as ever. And who is this lovely creature?"
"This is Emma Hayes, one of my most trusted associates," Adrian said smoothly. "Emma, this is Cassandra LaRue, CEO of LaRue Enterprises."
The way Cassandra was studying Emma, her skin began to crawl, like she was trying to dissect her bit by bit.
"Trusted, hmm?" Cassandra said, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "You don't let many people into your inner circle, Adrian. She must be special."
Adrian didn't even bat an eye. "She is."
The weight of his words made Emma jump, but she didn't have time to dwell on it. Cassandra whirled back toward Adrian, her manner suddenly cold.
"Enjoy your evening," she said coolly before melting into the crowd.
As soon as Cassandra was out of earshot, Emma rounded on Adrian. "What was that about?"
She's the one I suspect," he said in a low tone. "Cassandra's been sniffing around our contracts. I need to know what she's after."
Emma stared at him in disbelief. "And you think I can get that information?"
"I think you can do more than you realize, Ms. Hayes," he said, his eyes piercing.
The hour thereafter became a blur of tension: Emma was mingling as Adrian had bid her, maintaining a keen distance from Cassandra while watching every movement that she made. Quick exchanged looks, quieted whispers called Emma's pulse into an elevated state.
Once, Cassandra stepped onto the balcony, and after only one moment of hesitation, Emma followed. The air was crisp and the city lights laid out in a sea of stars.
"What do you want with Adrian?" Emma asked bluntly, her voice shaking slightly but firm.
Cassandra turned, her expression unreadable. "Bold, aren't you? I like that."
"I'm serious."
Cassandra's lips curved into a smirk. "If you must know, I'm looking for leverage. Arcadia isn't as untouchable as Adrian likes to think. And neither are you."
Emma's heart began to pound as Cassandra brushed past her, leaving her alone out on the balcony with more questions than answers.
When Emma made her way back into the ballroom, Adrian was waiting for her. "What did she say?"
"She's looking for leverage," Emma said quietly. "And she knows about me."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "Of course, she does.
But before Emma could ask what he'd meant by that, the room suddenly was plunged into darkness. It got quieter, then murmurs spread among the people.
Adrian snatched Emma's arm, clamping his fingers firmly upon her. "Stay with me."
The lights flickered back on, and from everywhere came gasps of outrage. One of the crystal chandeliers had shattered itself, sending shards glinting like deadly stars over the floor below.
Emma's breath caught as she spotted a piece of paper among the glass. Adrian moved quickly, retrieving it before anyone else could. His expression darkened as he read the single word scrawled on it:
"Run.