Emma Hayes wasn't ready for this.
She had been at Arcadia Corp. for nearly a year, just trying to stay under the radar, head down. But today, everything was different. The note. The whispers. The unexpected meeting with Adrian Cross himself. It was all happening too fast. Too dangerously.
"Ms. Hayes," her boss, Amanda, had called earlier in the afternoon, her voice clipped with an air of authority Emma had learned to recognize. "Adrian Cross wants to see you in his office. Now."
At the sound of those words, Emma's heart had skipped a beat. Adrian Cross, the CEO of Arcadia Corp. The man who embodied everything the company stood for—cold, calculated, and untouchable. A man who was rarely seen by anyone outside the upper echelons of the company.
Her palms were damp as she gathered her things and made her way toward the sleek glass-and-steel structure that housed Adrian's office. Each step felt heavier than the last, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. Why had he called for her? Was this about the note? Or worse, was he onto her digging?
She came to a stop in front of the entrance to the CEO's office: polished wood doors that loomed before her like sentinels. She took a deep breath, pushed them open, and stepped inside.
The instant she did, she felt the weight of his gaze upon her. Adrian Cross stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, the city skyline stretching out behind him like a labyrinth of steel and glass. His presence was suffocating, and for a moment, Emma forgot how to breathe. He was every inch the enigma she had heard about. His tailored suit hugged his broad shoulders perfectly, and his dark hair was styled with effortless precision. But it was his eyes that unnerved her-icy blue, piercing, as if they could see straight through her.
"Ms. Hayes," Adrian said, his voice smooth with an edge. He didn't look at her directly at first, his attention still faced on the view. "You're early. I appreciate punctuality."
Emma swallowed, feeling the weight of the words more than the praise. She wasn't sure if this was a compliment or just a statement. Either way, she could force out a response. "Thank you, Mr. Cross. I—"
He cut her off with a wave of his hand, turning halfway towards her but not quite. "Please, sit down."
Emma paused for a moment and then did as she was told, sinking into the chair opposite his massive desk. The tension in the room was palpable, nearly tangible, and it felt like everything—every word, every glance—was being measured, calculated. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being sized up, assessed.
Adrian's eyes flickered over her once more, his lips twitching as though weighing up something. "How are you finding your time here at Arcadia?" he asked casually enough, though the question itself was heavy.
Emma blinked. It wasn't what she had expected. This wasn't about the work she had been doing, or the file she'd been reviewing. It wasn't about her performance or the note she had found. It felt more personal, like he was testing her in some way.
"I—" Emma tried to say, but the words stuck in her throat. Was he trying to fathom her? She ought to be careful. It was a moment before she said, "It's. challenging. But gratifying. I like doing the work."
Adrian's lips quirked-slightly-as if he'd found something in her response decidedly amusing. "Good. We do the most challenging jobs. That's what Arcadia's all about."
He fell silent, the quiet settling between them like an unspoken challenge.
Emma waited, her heart pounding in her chest. What was he really asking?
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly, the look hardening into something more intense, more scrutinizing. "Do you believe loyalty is earned or given?"
The question hung in the air, its implications reverberating through Emma's mind. She had to be careful here. The power dynamic in this room was impossible to ignore. She could feel the weight of every word, every decision she made. But how could she answer? How could she give a response that wouldn't make her seem naive or overly cynical?
Loyalty. It was a tricky thing. Emma had always believed in earning it. She had worked hard for everything she had in her life, and she expected others to do the same. But she couldn't outright say that to Adrian Cross, not when his reputation demanded respect-perhaps even fear.
"Loyalty," Emma began carefully, "can be both. Given at first, but it's the actions that follow that make it earned. It's a relationship. One that requires trust, consistency, and above all, integrity."
She held her breath while she waited for his reaction.
Adrian stared at her, his face inscrutable. He didn't say anything for several moments, and Emma had no idea whether she had been right or wrong. Was he criticizing her? Examining her for hidden meanings in every word?
Finally, he nodded slightly, barely enough to indicate he had heard her response. "Interesting," he murmured. His voice had softened, and for the first time, Emma felt that something more-something like approval-flickered in his eyes.
Before she could say anything, Adrian had turned and walked toward the window again. "It's a trait I admire," he said, his back still to her. "Loyalty."
Emma couldn't tell if he referred to her or to something else entirely. But in the way he said it, a chill was left hanging in the air. As though there was something deeper at play. Something that ran beneath the surface.
He stopped and then continued in a completely different tone. "I'm sure you're aware that Arcadia is facing some. internal challenges." His voice was flat, yet Emma felt she was being pulled deeper into something. "Things that need to be dealt with swiftly and without distraction. It's important that I know who I can trust, and who I can't."
His words struck a chord with Emma. She couldn't be sure, but there was a slight emphasis on "trust," as though it were a test, an unspoken challenge. The note. The sabotage rumors. The internal strife Lucy had mentioned-it was all connected. Emma suddenly felt very aware of how dangerous this situation could become.
Adrian turned his head slightly, his icy eyes locking onto hers. "I expect you'll do your part. Be loyal, Emma. Don't disappoint me."
The intensity in his gaze was enough to make her pulse race. This wasn't a request. It was a command.
"I won't," she said, her voice steady, though inside, her mind was reeling. She wasn't sure what he wanted from her, or if he even believed in the answers he was asking for. But she couldn't back down now.
Adrian's lips twitched again, this time more decidedly. It was the merest hint of a smile, but it sent a surprising wave of warmth cascading through her chest. For an instant, an instant only, the glacial facade cracked, and she saw something else altogether-something human, something frail. But it vanished almost as soon as it appeared.
"Good," he said. "That's all for now, Ms. Hayes. You may leave."
Emma got up, her legs feeling a little shaky as she moved toward the door. She turned back one last time to face him. Adrian Cross was already focused on the skyline again, his attention fully returned to whatever thoughts consumed him.
But as she stepped out, Emma had the unrelenting feeling that this might not be her last sighting of Adrian Cross. And it might not go down easy next time.
The question he had posed still laced her thoughts. Do you believe loyalty is earned or given?
Was this just a test? Was there something beyond an answer to that question?
One thing was for sure: Arcadia was a high stakes world, and Adrian Cross—enigmatic, calculating—was at the very heart of it. Emma had just scratched the surface.
And she was already in too deep.