CHAPTER 6: First Day at Work

Emma woke up to sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows and, for a moment, had absolutely no idea where she was.

Silk sheets. Huge bed. City view.

Then it all came flooding back, Adrian, the contract, moving in, last night's conversation over dinner.

He's been in love with me for fifteen years.

Emma buried her face in the pillow and groaned. In the harsh light of morning, last night felt like a dream. Had she really sat in Adrian Cross's kitchen and basically admitted she was falling for him too?

God, what was I thinking?

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. A text from an unknown number:

Good morning. Coffee's ready in the kitchen. Take your time getting ready, we don't need to be in the office until 9. - Adrian

He texted me good morning. Emma stared at the message, her heart doing stupid things in her chest. Like we're... like we're together.

Which we're not, she reminded herself firmly. He's your boss. You work for him. Last night was just... dinner conversation.

But even as she thought it, Emma knew she was lying to herself.

She showered in the spa-like bathroom, trying not to think about the fact that Adrian was somewhere in the penthouse doing the same thing. Getting dressed. Having coffee. Being unfairly attractive probably.

Stop it, Emma told herself, pulling on one of the designer blouses from her new wardrobe. Professional boundaries. You can do this.

The blouse fit perfectly, of course. The pants too. Emma stared at herself in the mirror and barely recognized the woman looking back at her. She looked... expensive. Put together. Like she belonged in Adrian's world.

Fake it till you make it, she thought, and headed for the kitchen.

Adrian was already there, dressed in another perfectly tailored suit, reading something on his tablet while he drank coffee from a mug that probably cost more than Emma's old monthly rent.

How does he look that good this early in the morning? Emma wondered. It's not fair.

"Good morning," Adrian said, looking up with a smile that made Emma's knees weak. "You look beautiful."

Beautiful. Emma felt her cheeks heat. "Thank you. The clothes fit perfectly."

"I told you I pay attention." Adrian's eyes traveled over her appreciatively, and Emma felt her skin flush under his gaze.

Professional boundaries, she reminded herself desperately. Think about professional boundaries.

"Coffee?" Adrian asked, already pouring her a cup.

"Please." Emma accepted the mug gratefully, trying to ignore the way their fingers brushed when he handed it to her.

Everything he does affects me, she realized. Every look, every touch, every smile. This is going to be impossible.

"So what exactly will I be doing today?" Emma asked, focusing on the coffee instead of Adrian's mouth.

"Meetings, mostly. I'll introduce you to the key players, show you how things work around here." Adrian leaned against the counter, and Emma tried not to notice how the position made his shoulders look even broader. "Just observe today. Get a feel for the dynamics."

Dynamics. Emma nodded like she knew what that meant in a business context.

"Are people going to be... weird about me?" she asked. "About you hiring someone with no experience?"

Something flickered across Adrian's face. "Some people might have opinions."

Opinions. That sounded ominous. "What kind of opinions?"

"The kind that don't matter," Adrian said firmly. "You work for me, Emma. The only opinion that matters is mine."

You work for me. The reminder should have been reassuring. Instead, it made Emma's stomach twist with confusion.

What are we exactly? Boss and employee? Something more? Something complicated?

"Ready?" Adrian asked, finishing his coffee.

Emma nodded, even though she felt anything but ready.

…

Cross Industries was even more intimidating during business hours. The lobby was filled with people in expensive suits talking in hushed, serious tones. Everyone looked important and purposeful and like they knew exactly what they were doing.

I don't belong here, Emma thought as they walked toward the executive elevators. Everyone can probably tell.

But walking next to Adrian, she noticed something interesting. People moved out of their way. Conversations stopped when Adrian passed. There were subtle nods of acknowledgment, but also something else.

Fear? Emma wondered. Or respect?

Maybe both.

"Mr. Cross," the elevator operator said with a nervous smile. "Good morning, sir."

"Morning, David," Adrian replied warmly, but Emma noticed the man's hands were shaking slightly as he operated the elevator.

Why is everyone so nervous around him? Emma thought. He's intimidating, sure, but not scary.

At least, she didn't think he was scary. But maybe that was because she knew the nine year old boy underneath the powerful CEO exterior.

The fiftieth floor was buzzing with activity. Emma followed Adrian through the maze of offices and conference rooms, trying to memorize names and faces as he introduced her.

"This is Emma Parker, my new personal assistant," Adrian said to a woman with perfectly styled gray hair. "Emma, this is Margaret Chen, our Chief Financial Officer."

Margaret's smile was polite but assessing. "Welcome to Cross Industries, Emma. Adrian mentioned you come highly recommended."

Highly recommended by who? Emma wondered, but smiled back. "Thank you. I'm excited to be here."

"I'm sure you are," Margaret said, and something in her tone made Emma's skin prickle.

They moved on to the next introduction, then the next. Emma noticed a pattern, polite smiles, curious looks, and an undercurrent of speculation she couldn't quite identify.

They're all wondering the same thing, Emma realized. How did someone like me get a job like this?

The answer, of course, was complicated. And secret. And probably wouldn't make sense to anyone who didn't know about childhood promises and fifteen-year obsessions.

"And this is Jessica, who you met yesterday," Adrian said, stopping at the desk outside his office.

Jessica smiled warmly. "How was your first night in the penthouse? Did you find everything you needed?"

She knows I'm living with him. Emma felt her cheeks burn. "Yes, thank you. It's... very nice."

"Adrian has excellent taste," Jessica said, and there was something almost knowing in her voice.

Does everyone know? Emma wondered. Do they all know I'm living with him?

"Jessica handles my schedule and coordinates with the other departments," Adrian explained. "She'll be working closely with you to make sure you're up to speed on everything."

"I'm looking forward to it," Emma said, though she was starting to feel overwhelmed by all the information.

"Conference room in ten minutes," Adrian said to Jessica. "The Morrison Industries meeting."

"Already set up," Jessica confirmed.

Adrian turned to Emma. "Ready for your first real meeting?"

No, Emma thought. Definitely not ready.

"Sure," she said instead.

The conference room was dominated by a massive table surrounded by leather chairs that probably cost more than most people's cars. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered the same stunning city view as Adrian's office, and there was a presentation screen that looked like something from a science fiction movie.

This is where million-dollar deals happen, Emma realized, taking a seat next to Adrian. What am I doing here?

"The Morrison Industries proposal," Adrian said quietly to her as other people filed into the room. "They want to partner with us on a new development project. Pay attention to the dynamics, you'll learn a lot about how business really works."

Emma nodded, trying to look professional and competent instead of completely out of her depth.

The Morrison Industries team arrived, three men in expensive suits who looked like they'd stepped out of a business magazine. Emma recognized the type from her old jobs, the kind of men who looked right through service workers like they were invisible.

"Adrian," the lead man said, extending his hand. "Thanks for taking the meeting."

"Richard," Adrian replied, shaking hands. "Good to see you."

Emma noticed the handshake lasted a beat too long, and there was something almost challenging in the way the two men looked at each other.

They don't like each other, Emma realized.

"This is Emma Parker, my personal assistant," Adrian said, placing a hand on the small of Emma's back.

The touch sent electricity through her entire body, and Emma had to work not to react visibly.

He's doing that on purpose, she thought. Marking territory.

"Pleasure," Richard said, barely glancing at Emma before dismissing her entirely.

Typical, Emma thought. I'm furniture to him.

But Adrian's jaw tightened at the dismissal, and Emma felt his hand press more firmly against her back.

He's angry, she realized. He's angry that Richard ignored me.

The meeting proceeded with presentations and charts and financial projections that made Emma's head spin. She tried to follow along, but most of it was beyond her understanding.

What she could understand were the undercurrents. The way Richard kept making subtle digs at Adrian's age and experience. The way Adrian's responses got shorter and more clipped as the meeting went on. The way everyone else in the room seemed to be holding their breath.

There's a power struggle happening here, Emma realized. And Richard doesn't realize he's losing.

"The terms you're proposing are unacceptable," Adrian said finally, his voice quiet but carrying absolute authority.

"Come now, Adrian," Richard said with a condescending smile. "We both know you need this deal more than we do. Your company may be successful, but you're still just a kid playing in the big leagues."

Emma felt anger flare on Adrian's behalf. Just a kid? She'd seen the financial reports on Adrian's desk Cross Industries was worth more than Morrison's company could dream of.

Adrian went very still. When he spoke, his voice was so calm it was terrifying.

"Richard, you seem to be under the impression that I need something from you."

"Don't you?" Richard's smile was getting more nervous, but he pressed on. "Your expansion into the Northwest market"

"Will happen with or without you," Adrian interrupted smoothly. "In fact, it will happen much more efficiently without you."

Something shifted in the room. Emma watched Richard's face go pale as he realized he'd miscalculated badly.

"Now, Adrian, let's not be hasty"

"I'm never hasty," Adrian said, and there was something predatory in his smile. "I'm thorough. Which is why I know about Morrison Industries' recent cash flow problems. Your desperate need for this partnership. Your company's unfortunate history with safety violations."

How does he know all that? Emma wondered, impressed despite herself.

Richard was sweating now. "Those violations were minor"

"Tell that to the families of the workers who were injured," Adrian said coldly. "Tell that to the environmental cleanup crews still working on your last project."

What just happened? Emma wondered. Why does everyone suddenly look scared?

Emma watched in fascination as Adrian systematically destroyed Richard's position without raising his voice or making a single threat. It was like watching a master chess player corner an amateur.

This is why he's successful, Emma realized. Not just money or connections. He's brilliant.

"Perhaps we should table this discussion," Richard said finally, his voice shaking slightly. "Come back to it when we've all had time to reconsider our positions."

"There's nothing to reconsider," Adrian said pleasantly. "Morrison Industries is no longer a consideration for Cross Industries. In any capacity."

The dismissal was so complete, so final, that Emma almost felt sorry for Richard. Almost.

The Morrison Industries team left quickly, making excuses about other appointments. Emma could hear them whispering urgently as they waited for the elevator.

"That was incredible," Emma said when they were alone. "The way you handled that."

Adrian turned from the window, and Emma was surprised to see tension still coiled in his shoulders. "Richard Morrison has been trying to undercut my business for years. He thinks because I'm young, I'm naive."

"But you had dirt on his company."

"I have information on everyone I do business with," Adrian said simply. "Knowledge is power, Emma. And power is survival."

Survival. Something about the way he said it made Emma think there was more to the story.

"You're still angry," she observed.

Adrian's jaw tightened. "Men like Richard... they think they can push people around because they've always been able to. They don't respect anything but strength."

And you showed him strength, Emma thought. But she could see it had cost Adrian something to remain so controlled.

Without thinking, she reached out and touched his arm.

The moment her skin made contact with his, something shifted. Adrian's breathing deepened, and the tension in his shoulders eased.

"Better?" Emma asked quietly.

Adrian stared down at her hand on his arm, wonder in his expression. "How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Make everything quiet," Adrian said softly. "When you touch me, all the noise in my head just... stops."

Emma's heart started racing. "Adrian..."

"I need to tell you something," Adrian said urgently. "About what I am. About why people react to me the way they do."

This is it, Emma thought. The truth.

But before Adrian could say anything else, Jessica's voice came through the intercom.

"Mr. Cross? Ms. Chen is here for her appointment."

Adrian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Send her in."

No, Emma thought desperately. Not now. He was about to tell me everything.

The conference room door opened, and a woman walked in who made Emma's blood turn to ice.

She was stunning, tall, elegant, with long black hair and the kind of bone structure that belonged on magazine covers. Her designer suit probably cost more than Emma's old car, and she moved with the confident grace of someone who'd never doubted her place in the world.

But it was the way she looked at Adrian that made Emma's stomach clench with jealousy.

Like she owned him.

"Adrian," the woman said, her voice warm and familiar. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."

Important. The way she said it while looking directly at Emma made it clear she thought Emma was anything but important.

"Sophia," Adrian said, and Emma heard something complicated in his voice. "I wasn't expecting you today."

Sophia. Emma felt like she'd been punched in the stomach.

This was the other woman. The rival. The one who thought Adrian belonged to her.

And from the way she was looking at him, Emma had a terrible feeling she might be right.