Chapter 1

Emily's POV

Emily stood in the lobby of City Pulse press, holding a cup of warm coffee. She took a sip, while looking tense. Her Managing Editor, Carol had asked to see her.

If Carol asked to see you, it only meant two things –you’re either in trouble, or you're getting a big job. And Emily didn't know which one was going to be her fate.

“Emily, you're next”. Carol called out across the room.

Taking a deep breath, she headed towards her office. She was only a junior journalist, still trying to prove her dedication and competence.

“Sit, and shut the door behind you”, Carol said, pulling out a file with a picture on it and sliding it to her across the desk.

As Emily picked up the file, Carol continued. “Rex Hale, billionaire tech mogul. I need an interview from him”. She said, as Emily flipped through the file.

“Several articles, blogs and journalists have tried to get him to talk, but they all failed. And that's where you come in”.

She paused while leaning back, her fingers drumming silently on the desk as she looked at her like she was expecting a response.

“This is very important. I don't just choose anyone for jobs like this. I see your dedication and hardwork, that's why I'm giving you a chance”.

Emily had always wanted to be recognized, but now that she'd finally been noticed –it's an almost impossible job. How was she supposed to get an interview from him?.

What will make her different from others who have tried but failed?. How did he even get famous if he was so strict on privacy?.

“So umm…no one's succeeded in getting him? Not even once?”. Emily asked, trying not to sound nervous.

“Have you not been listening to me?, or are you just not ready for this?”. Carol said, with a furrowed brow –looking a little displeased.

“I'm ready”. Emily said, while avoiding Carol's gaze.

The visibility she's been praying for was finally here, she was not sure how, but she was going to do whatever it took to get Rex Hale to sit for an interview.

“Good. I need to know his secret to success, his life outside the tech world, if he has a girlfriend. Just anything that would entice the public, that's all I need”.

Rex Hale. Emily had heard about him a couple of times. Rude, proud and cold. You needed to be daring to get his attention.

Some said he bought his way to the top, others said he played dirty to succeed.

But what no one ever spoke about, was how he became a father. How his son just showed up.

And love? –he never flaunted any of his relationships, or maybe he had never been in one yet.

Emily gulped the coffee down her throat, then squeezed the cup –throwing it into the trash can nearby.

This was going to be really challenging. If she was doing this, there had to be some sort of reward or something.

“And if I do a good job?”. She asked with a low voice.

Carol leaned forward, with her hands on her desk. “If you get Rex Hales to agree to sit for an interview, I'll have your name on the desk of the editor-in-chief myself. You'd be considered for promotion”.

Emily's face was filled with excitement. A promotion!.

Finally!. After four years of hard work and sacrifices, all she needed was just one job that would make her be considered for promotion. Who said hard work didn't pay?.

Well, Ava did. “Take a break sis. You've been in the same position in the last four years, when will they ever see your worth?”. Ava would say.

“You need to loosen up, some fun and fuck won't kill you. You look like you need one”.

Fun?. She lost that vibe four years ago. And fuck?. It only destroyed things. At least Leo made her realize that.

She had seen him recently, on the news. He looked well and happy –like he hadn't destroyed her life.

To her, he was old news and didn't matter now. What mattered was her job and her job alone.

Emily left Carol's office with mixed emotions. She was happy to be noticed, but was also scared of failing.

This was the chance to prove herself more than ever, and Carol was counting on her to get the job done.

She needed to start somewhere, so she took out her phone.

Scrolling through I*******m, she hoped she could use Rex's activity to get to him. She typed ‘Rex Hale’, on the search bar.

His verified page appeared. He had only two pictures, but had over one million followers.

Two pictures. No bio. Yet over a million people followed him?.

As she scrolled through his list of followers, she saw her sister's handle, ‘All Eyes On Ava’ on the list.

Of course she followed him. She wasn't entirely surprised. Ava loved men like him –rich and photogenic. She was certain she was already in his DMs.

She headed out of the building, determined. If others couldn't get Rex Hale to agree to sit for an interview, she was going to do it.

Not that she cared to know anything about him, she only cared about her promotion. As annoying as it was, he was literally the key to that.

*********

Emily stood in front of the skyscraper, her arms folded together. Just on the front top of the building, a giant ‘R’ was mounted on the corner.

This was Rex Hale's building. The same address she saw on his file.

She noticed the cameras almost immediately. There were so many, nothing could go unnoticed.

“Difficult huh? We'll see about that”. She muttered quietly before heading inside.

Inside, she was welcomed with the cool breeze from the air conditioners. The lobby was spacious, wide and luxurious –with high ceilings.

The security guards were different. They weren't like the usual guards who wore uniforms; they wore suits instead –with an ear piece attached to their ears.

They stood at different corners of the lobby, monitoring the activities of the company. They looked like they were ready for anything, as they stood still with their hands crossed behind them.

The place was filled with serious minded people. You could tell from the way they moved with quick steps.

Emily slowly walked towards the receptionist, while she kept looking around the company, amazed by the beauty it portrayed.

“Excuse me, miss. Are you looking for somebody?”.

A professionally dressed lady stood in front of her. She wore a suit with the company's tag pinned to the right side of her jacket. She had a soft and welcoming voice.

Emily hadn't noticed her mouth was wide open from admiring the place. She closed it immediately, then cleared her throat softly.

“Yes”. She said, placing an arm on the counter. “I'm here to see Mr Rex Hale, is he available?”.

The receptionist smiled politely. “Do you have an appointment?”.

“No I don't”. Emily said, “but I'm a journalist. It's important I speak with him”. She said, trying to sound professional.

The receptionist’s expression remained the same. “I'm sorry, but Mr Hale only meets with people by appointment”.

This was why Emily hated big companies. They were always strict about appointments. Maybe she should have lied –because she definitely didn't come all the way here to be turned down.

If she couldn't get to talk to Rex, then she could talk to the receptionist. She seemed nice, asking her about the little she knew would be easy.

“I understand”, she said in a low voice, almost like she was trying not to be heard.

“But could you at least help me?. Tell me a little about him or his son. Just anything”. Noticing the unsure look on her face, she leaned in slightly.

“I know you're not supposed to give out information like that, trust me, they won't know you're the source”. Emily said, looking at her like she was her last hope.

She wasn't sure the lady understood this was supposed to be between them, because she pulled out the telephone and quickly dialled.

In the next few seconds, she heard her speaking into the phone.

“Camilla, there's a journalist here asking about Mr Hale's son. What should I do?”.

The receptionist’s voice was so loud, it drew the attention of a few nearby staff. They gave curious glances at her.

Emily's eyes shut tightly as she slightly looked down in embarrassment. It was too late to take back her question.

She hoped those not-so-nice looking security men wouldn't throw her out before she could get anything useful.

The receptionist hung up, then gave her a quick smile. “Someone will attend to you shortly”.

Yeah, right. She was supposed to be as smart as she looked, why did she call whoever that was?. And why did she make it about his son alone?.

The receptionist’s smile made her think about a lot of things. That could mean anything. What if it was a PR handler.

Those manipulators. She knew how they were. They'd treat her like she was a threat, and tell her answers that aren't correct, as a way of chasing her away.

Or what if it was security. They'd have her thrown out before she can find anything.

Just then, the elevator stopped. Emily looked up to see the door part. She could barely process who it was, when a voice came through.

“Is there a reason you're interested in things that don't concern you?”.