Chapter Five

Chapter Five

It is obvious that they are being watched. As Emily looked hard at the picture, shivers ran down her spine. There was a time-stamp beneath the picture which says 7:42 am Damian’s penthouse. Damian’s elevator. Her face was clearly visible. She looked at all those details with her curled around the phone. Emily How could this be? her panic mode was interrupted by Ryan's curious voice. She closed the phone immediately but it was too late because he had already noticed the picture and demanded to know what was going on. “It is nothing.” “Tell me the truth, Emily.” She put her phone back in her clutch immediately. Across the ballroom, Damian was still watching. As he was looking at them, he knew something had changed. He noticed everything. The anxiety in Emily’s face, the panic, he saw it all.  Ryan moved closer to Emily. “Who sent you that message?” Emily got agitated immediately, “How does my message concern you?”  “Because you look like you are in a hot mess” Before she could reply Ryan, another shiver ran down her spine because  her phone vibrated again. Unknown Number. Another message. She knew she shouldn't have opened it but she opened it anyway. The new message says “I need to have a word with you in private.”

That was it. No explanation. Ryan saw her hands trembling and demanded she showed her the phone in a softer but more dangerous tone this time. Emily vehemently refused and asked h to back off. Some of the people close to them were starting to observe what was going on but Emily didn't need another public scene. Vanessa came to inform Ryan that the press is going inside but couldn't get his attention. She tried to touch his arm but Ryan didn't give her any attention. He was focused on getting answers from Emily. Vanessa knew she made a wrong move so the tension in her face tightened immediately. She kept wondering. Emily turned around to leave because she wanted to breathe, she needed space and solitude. Anything. Before she took three steps, she was stopped by a male voice which said behind her ear “move”  It was Damian. She stood still. Damian didn't speak in a dramatic way, he was subtle. Close enough for only her to hear. Ryan got angry instantly. “What do you mean by that?” Damian kept a straight face. “This is not your decision”  Damian eventually turned around in a calm and controlled way. “Your board members are expecting you” Ryan was so shocked.” What?” Immediately, two worried members of the board ran towards him. “There is a serious issue.” one of them said. Ryan was stuck between a work emergency and a family emergency. And Emily loved every bit of it. Almost. He gave her one stern look and said “We are not done with this conversation yet” and left with the members of the board. Vanessa ran after him immediately and Emily was relieved.

Damian looked quickly at her fisted hand and said “The text message” Emily was shocked and said “What message are you talking about?” “I mean the message that made you breathe heavily."

Emily was stunned and she asked “How did you know?” “You have looked at your phone two times in one minute and your eyes almost pop out each time you look at it. Who sent you that message.” Emily paused, she knew better than to trust someone she barely knew. But there was something about the certainty question that made her feel she could trust him so she reached for her phone, unlocked it and showed him the texts and the picture.

The change in Damian was instant. He wasn't shocked, it was more than that. He collected the phone from Emily and looked at the picture carefully. “Where and when did you get this photo?” “It was from an unknown sender and I got it a few minutes ago.” Damian asked who else has seen the image and Emily thought hard before telling him “only me.” “That's good.” Those euros came out quickly. “You are responding to this in a serious manner and it is surprising.” Damian gave back the phone to Emily. “I am responding this way because this image shouldn't be in existence.” Another wave of shock was sent down her spine. “What do you mean by that?” “The elevator in that place is in a heavily secured area. No outsider has access to that area.” Emily became more frightened. “Can you explain to me in simpler terms so I can understand?” “It means that somebody that is inside my penthouse snapped that picture.”  Emily continued looking at him. So somebody was inside his house watching them. Sending anonymous texts. This had suddenly become much bigger than embarrassment. “Who on earth would do such a thing?” Damian was still uneasy. “Nobody that I can think of right now, but trust me, I am going to fish them out.” Both Emily and Damian kept quiet for a while. The pressure among them moved from rage to threat. Emily opened the message again and looked at the picture. “There is no way Ryan can see this picture.” These name words rushed out from her lips before she realized what she said. Damian looked at her with anger. “You still care about protecting your cheating husband?”

She said no and turned away. “I am only interested in living through tonight.”

“You are trembling.” Damian said it softly. Emily didn't like that he noticed. “My marriage exploded yesterday.” “Yet here you are, still standing.”  The assurance im his voice kept her on the edge. No sympathy from him or grand gesture. Just the truth. Before she could respond, another vibration hit her palm. Another message came in, making it the third one.

Damian saw her hesitation. Read it aloud and she tried to. This one had no words. It was yet another picture but this time, it wasn't from the hotel or Damian's penthouse.It was from tonight. The gala.

Taken only minutes ago. The picture that was sent to her captured Damian's half wrapped around her waist and she almost fainted. It was clearly an intimate moment, according to the picture. Damning. Attached beneath it was a single sentence.

The next person receiving these is your husband. Emily went cold. Damian read the screen. His entire expression changed.

The controlled calm vanished into something darker. “I am sure that this person, whoever it is, is just joking.” Emily raised her face and looked at Damian. She is beginning to lose her composure. She was trying too hard to hold back her tears. “What are we going to do now?” Damian was also confused but he is trying his best to be confident. He put his hand in his pocket and brought out his phone. Immediately his phone started ringing. There is only one question in his mind. “Why is my head of security calling me?” He said that in a calm but uneasy way.

Incoming call.

SECURITY BREACH — PENTHOUSE LEVEL.