All Chapters of Behind Closed Doors: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Emily’s POVThe tires of the SUV crunched over the wet gravel driveway, bringing us to a halt in front of Blue Heron Cliff.The estate rose out of the thick coastal fog like an old stone fortress. Perched on a jagged rock face three hundred feet above the crashing Atlantic Ocean, it was completely cut off from the rest of the world. No neighboring houses, no city sounds—just the deafening, rhythmic roar of waves smashing against the rocks below."Isn't it breathtaking?" Victoria sighed from the front passenger seat, taking off her sunglasses as she looked up at the sprawling three-story manor. "I always tell Daniel we should spend more time up here away from the city.""It's isolated," I murmured, staring at the heavy wooden double doors of the entrance.Daniel turned off the ignition. His hands remained gripping the leather steering wheel for three long seconds, his knuckles pale in the dim coastal light. He hadn't said more than five words during the entire three-hour drive from the

Emily’s POV"Don't even think about making a sound," Daniel whispered, his thumb pressing firmly into my bottom lip to seal my gasp inside my throat.The dark bedroom was suffocating. Outside, the storm crashed against the glass, but inside Room Ivory, the only sound was the heavy, ragged rhythm of our breathing.I stared up into his storm-gray eyes, my hands pressed flat against the bare skin of his chest. His heart was hammering against my palms like a trapped engine."Daniel... please," I pleaded in a barely audible breath. "Ethan’s room is right across the hall. The floorboards in this corridor creak.""Then don't move," Daniel rasped, his head dropping down into the curve of my neck.His lips brushed against my pulse point, sending a jolt of liquid heat straight down to my toes. I bit my lip hard, my eyes fluttering shut as a soft, whimpering moan threatened to spill from my throat."Quiet," he growled against my skin, his large hand wrapping around my waist and pulling me flush

Emily’s POVLunch on the patio was torture.I sat across from Daniel, picking at my grilled salmon while he discussed quarterly earnings with Victoria as if he hadn't just threatened to destroy Ethan's family two hours earlier. My mother laughed at his jokes. She touched his arm. She had no idea that the man she was marrying was a monster in a five-thousand-dollar suit.Ethan sat beside me, still bleary-eyed from those thirty pages of compliance bullshit. His knee bumped mine under the table."You okay?" he whispered, leaning close. "You've been quiet all day.""I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile that made my cheeks ache. "Just tired."Daniel's gray eyes flicked toward us. That ghost of a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. He lifted his wine glass in a silent toast, and my stomach clenched so hard I thought I might be sick.By two o'clock, Victoria had broken out the good rosé."Day drinking is mandatory on vacation," she announced, already flushed and giggling as she poured thr

Emily’s POVThe private elevator shot up to the 50th floor of Walker Capital with a soft, steady hum.When the brass doors slid open, bright morning sunlight poured through floor-to-ceiling glass windows, reflecting off polished white marble and dark walnut paneling. The entire floor looked less like an office and more like a fortress built of money and power.Ethan walked beside me, his leather messenger bag slung over his shoulder, looking around with wide eyes. "Man. This place makes my dad’s office look like a shed.""Just stay close," I muttered, my heart pounding against my ribs."Ah. Miss Carter. And Mr. Reed."Evelyn, Daniel’s chief executive administrator, stepped out from behind a floating glass desk directly outside Daniel’s double mahogany doors. She wore a tailored gray suit, her hair pulled into a tight, immaculate bun. Her blue eyes were as cold as ice."Mr. Walker is expecting you," Evelyn said smoothly, stepping toward Ethan. "Ethan, Mr. Walker has arranged a temporar

Emily’s POVThe glowing screen on the mahogany desk felt like a bucket of ice water dumped directly over my head.Ethan: Em, we have to leave immediately. Professor is already in class.I froze. Every single muscle in my body went rigid.Daniel felt the sudden shift instantly. "Emily—""No!" I gasped, shoving against his chest with both hands. "No, no, no! Stop!"I scrambled backward off the edge of the desk, my heels clattering against the hardwood floor. My heart was hammering so hard against my ribs I couldn't draw a full breath.Daniel let out a heavy, frustrated breath, running a hand over his jaw. He sat up, his dark eyes stormy and unreadable as he stared down at me."He's on campus," I panicked, my voice cracking as I grabbed my skirt and yanked it down over my thighs. "He's waiting for me right now!""Calm down," Daniel ordered, his voice deep and raspy, though his own chest was heaving. He stood up slowly, pulling up his trousers and buckling his dark leather belt with stead