Ivy was not prepared for Adrian Cross's job. It wasn't a tycoon showing off his wealth in a lavish, garish lair. Rather, it was sleek and understated, with each inch thoughtfully and precisely built. A breathtaking view of the city skyline, shimmering softly in the fading evening, was provided by the tall floor-to-ceiling windows. Only one abstract image, which mirrored the madness roiling in Ivy's head, adorned the serene slate gray walls.
The place felt oddly... calm for a man who is meant to be harsh and vicious.
Ivy moved, the leather chair underneath her letting out a soft murmur as she did so. Her pen was ready for the interview she had scheduled following their brief meeting at the banquet, and her notes were resting on the polished mahogany desk between her and Adrian. It was her first action, her first opportunity to try things out and learn the secret about the mysterious man on the other side of her.
Adrian, who seemed to have easy power, sat quietly in his chair and watched her. His dark, cunning, and perceptive eyes appeared to see everything. He exuded a sense of calm that made the room seem smaller simply by being there.
Adrian whispered, "Ms. Harper," in a glassy smooth voice. "I have to say, I'm curious. I don't think you're the type of person who becomes enthralled with the spectacle of events like the gala last night.
Feeling the pressure of his gaze like a spotlight, Ivy forced a smile. With deliberate phrase choice, she stated, "I'm more interested in the people behind the spectacle." "There is always more to a narrative than meets the eye, even if your achievements are clear.
Adrian sank back in his chair, a faint smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.
"A journalist's motto is that every story has layers."
"Exactly." She refused to take her eyes off of him.
Adrian folded his hands in his lap and whispered, "Then let's make a deal." "You pose your inquiries, and I'll choose which layers to disclose. Fair?
Ivy nodded even though that wasn't fair—not even close. She couldn't afford to show him how frustrated she was. "All OK. First, let's talk about CrossTech. AI integration and cybersecurity have been redefined by your company. Why did you choose this course of action?
Adrian's expression softened somewhat, but his voice stayed calm. "Required. Growing up in a dysfunctional system where trust is a luxury that you cannot afford teaches you to build your own safety nets. I had that control thanks to technology, which allowed me to protect what little I had and then build something bigger.
The comment had an air of authenticity despite being polished and somewhat rehearsed. Leaning forward, Ivy took advantage of the situation. "You mean when you were in foster care?"
Something flickered in Adrian's eyes for a brief moment. Perhaps pain. But it gone just as suddenly. "You've completed your homework," he said, a tight smile forming on his lips.
"The public is aware of it," Ivy said. You've previously discussed in interviews how you moved from living in foster homes to starting a billion-dollar business. However, it seems to me that there is more to it than what you have mentioned.
Adrian remained motionless for so long that Ivy's skin tingled. "People like a good redemption story," he added at the end. If people can link my current self to a difficult child who overcame adversity, it makes it simpler to believe in me. The messier the reality is.
"Messy how?" Ivy pushed, her pulse quickening.
Adrian's grin disappeared. "Ms. Harper, some stories are better left unsaid."
His tone was decisive rather than dismissive, as though saying it out loud would summon something too sinister to confront. Ivy hesitated, but her journalistic instincts drove her to push harder. Despite his guarded demeanor, Adrian didn't seem like a man in need of protection, yet his silence betrayed a vulnerability.
She changed direction. "Let's discuss Victor Hale."
Adrian's formerly calm expression wavered just enough to reveal a hint of tension as his jaw tightened. He said calmly, "Victor and I haven't been associated for years." "I have my path, and he has his."
Ivy remarked, "But your paths used to overlap." "You mean he was your mentor?"
Adrian responded, his voice now sharp, "That's one word for it."
"What term would you employ?" Ivy inquired.
Adrian leaned forward a little, and she nearly winced at the intensity in his eyes. Victor Hale is a man who claims ownership of things that are not his. I refused to participate in his games, therefore our partnership ended.
"Games?" With her pen rushing over the paper, Ivy repeated.
With a tone that begged for no argument, Adrian went on, "That's all I'll say about Victor."
Beneath the surface, Ivy could feel her frustration simmering. Adrian was evading, giving her just enough information to keep her curious but not enough to make her feel anything. Nevertheless, she couldn't get rid of the feeling that there was a more profound story hiding in the shadows, one that linked Adrian and Victor in ways she hadn't yet discovered.
She chose to try an alternative perspective. Some claim that you rose to prominence too quickly and that it is impossible to create an empire like CrossTech without taking shortcuts. How would you respond to these critics?
The air between them altered, but Adrian's look remained the same. He said, "People are quick to criticize what they don't understand." "Success draws attention. I'm not that naïve as to believe otherwise.
Despite the tension building in the room, Ivy stated in a firm voice, "That's not a denial."
A subtle, nearly imperceptible smile twisted Adrian's lips. "Ms. Harper, you're skilled at what you do. I will grant you that.
The sharp beep of Adrian's phone cut them off before Ivy could respond. His expression hardened as he looked at the TV. "You'll have to pardon me," he said, getting up.
Reluctantly, Ivy got up, her head buzzing with questions she hadn't yet asked. With his hand briefly resting on the handle, Adrian led her to the door and opened it.
"A word of advice," he added in a quiet voice. "Be cautious when digging. What you discover may not be to your liking.
The weight of his words caused Ivy's chest to tighten as she looked into his eyes. Was it a threat or a warning?
She declared, "I don't fear the truth."
Adrian had a stunning smile and unbreakable dark eyes. "Then, hopefully, you're ready for it."
Ivy felt both excited and uneasy as she left his office, the door softly closing behind her. Adrian Cross was not what she had anticipated. Despite his intelligence and caution, there was something about him that simultaneously made her skin crawl and her chest hurt.
Eager to record her observations while they were still fresh, she reached inside her backpack and took out her phone. However, a fresh text message appeared as she opened the smartphone.
The message was brief and came from an unnamed sender: "Stop investigating Adrian Cross, or you'll regret it."
As Ivy stared at the television, her blood turned to ice. Her initial reaction was to dismiss it as a ploy, an effort to scare her into ignoring the situation. But she knew better in her heart.
Adrian Cross was surrounded by deeper shadows than she had expected, and the stakes had just increased.
Ivy squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and gripped her phone hard. The sender of the message are unaware of who they were dealing with.
She had no intention of backing down.