Emma’s POV

The office is quiet at night. Too quiet.

I sit at my desk, staring at Alexander Cole’s file in front of me. It’s a contract of some sort. His message said I missed something. I read through the pages again, but everything looks fine.

Except…

Page seven. There’s a date wrong.

I grab a pen and fix it, my hands shaking a little. I double-check the rest. My phone buzzes on the desk. Another message.

Good. You’re learning.

I glance around the room like someone might be watching me. But it’s just me here. Alone.

I close the file and let out a slow breath. Then I gather my things and head home.

By the time I get back to the apartment, it’s past ten. Liam is asleep on the couch again. His empty plate sits on the coffee table. He’s still wearing his school uniform. I kneel beside him and brush his hair away from his face. His forehead is warm but not feverish. Good.

I cover him with a blanket and sit down on the floor, leaning my back against the couch. My legs are tired. My head hurts. I’m so tired of being tired.

But I have to keep going. For him. For both of us.

The next morning, I wake up early. I make Liam breakfast—eggs and toast. He comes into the kitchen rubbing his eyes.

“You didn’t have to,” he mumbles.

“I wanted to.” I hand him a plate. “Eat before it gets cold.”

He sits down and starts eating. We don’t talk much. We don’t need to.

Before I leave, I hand him five dollars for lunch. “Don’t spend it on video games,” I say.

He grins. “No promises.”

I pull my coat on and leave before I cry.

At work, Marissa corners me by the elevator. She’s holding a coffee cup and wearing a sharp red suit.

“You’re still here,” she says, tilting her head.

“Where else would I be?” I ask.

She sips her coffee. “Most people don’t last a week.”

I press the button for the elevator. “Maybe I’m not most people.”

She laughs softly. “He’ll eat you alive, you know.”

The elevator doors open. “Not if I bite first.”

Her smile widens, but there’s something cold in her eyes. “Good luck.”

The day starts the same. Meetings. Files. Alexander is on the phone for hours. He doesn’t look at me much. He doesn’t need to. He knows I’m there.

At lunch, he calls me into his office.

“Sit,” he says.

I sit.

He looks at me like he’s waiting for something. When I don’t speak, he nods. “You’re getting better.”

“Thank you,” I say, even though I don’t know what he means.

He leans forward. “I need you to do something.”

“Of course.”

He pushes a folder toward me. “Deliver this to David Tran.”

I open it. Inside are contracts. Legal stuff. But there’s something strange about it. There’s no address. Just a phone number.

“How do I find him?” I ask.

“You’ll figure it out,” he says. “You’re smart.”

I nod slowly and stand. “Anything else?”

He smiles faintly. “Don’t be late.”

I spend an hour trying to track down David Tran. He’s not in the company directory. He’s not listed in the building.

I finally call the number on the folder.

A man answers. “Who’s this?”

“Emma Carter,” I say carefully. “I work for Alexander Cole. He asked me to deliver something.”

There’s a pause. Then, “Where are you?”

“At the Cole Industries building,” I say.

“Come to 47th and Pine. The old café.”

The line goes dead.

I stare at my phone for a second. Then I grab my coat and head out.

The old café is closed. Boards cover the windows. The door is cracked open. I push it gently.

Inside, it’s dark. Dust floats in the sunlight that slips through the cracks.

A man stands by the counter. He’s tall, with dark hair and a scar across his cheek. His arms are crossed over his chest.

“Emma Carter,” he says.

“David Tran?” I ask.

He nods once.

I hold out the folder. “This is from Alexander Cole.”

He takes it without a word and flips it open. His eyes scan the pages fast. Too fast.

“You didn’t read this?” he asks.

“No,” I lie.

He gives me a look like he doesn’t believe me. Then he closes the folder.

“Tell Cole it’s done,” he says.

“That’s it?” I ask.

“For now,” he says.

I turn to leave. But before I can open the door, he speaks again.

“Be careful, Emma Carter.”

I glance back. “Why?”

He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”

“I’m not playing anything,” I say.

He shrugs. “You are now.”

Back at the office, Alexander is waiting.

“Well?” he asks.

“He took the file,” I say. “Said it’s done.”

Alexander studies me. “Anything else?”

“He told me to be careful,” I admit.

Alexander smiles faintly. “Good advice.”

I frown. “What was in that file?”

“You don’t need to know,” he says.

I cross my arms. “Maybe I do.”

He stands slowly and walks around his desk until he’s standing right in front of me. “Why?”

“Because I work for you,” I say. “Because I’m the one delivering things in dark buildings.”

He tilts his head. “You’re brave.”

“I’m not stupid,” I say.

He watches me for a long time. Then he nods once. “No. You’re not.”

Later, when I leave for the night, Marissa is waiting by the elevator again.

“You went to see Tran,” she says.

I say nothing.

She steps closer. “You shouldn’t get involved.”

“I already am,” I say.

She sighs like she’s disappointed. “He’ll ruin you.”

“Maybe,” I say. “Maybe not.”

The elevator doors open. I step inside and press the button for the lobby.

As the doors close, she says softly, “You can’t save him.”

I don’t answer. I’m not trying to save Alexander Cole. I’m trying to survive him.

At home, Liam is watching TV. He looks up when I walk in.

“You’re late,” he says.

“Busy day,” I say.

He pats the couch beside him. I sit down.

“What’s he like?” Liam asks.

“Who?” I play dumb.

“Your boss. Alexander Cole.”

I think about it. “Complicated.”

Liam laughs. “You like him.”

I give him a look. “I like getting paid.”

“Sure,” he says. But he doesn’t believe me.

Neither do I.

*

The next morning, I wake up to another message.

Be ready at 8. Wear something formal.

I stare at it for a second. Then I get up and open my closet. I don’t have much. A black dress that’s a little tight. A pair of heels I bought on sale. It’ll have to do.

Liam whistles when he sees me. “Fancy.”

“Don’t get used to it,” I say.

Alexander’s car is waiting outside. He holds the door open for me.

“You clean up well,” he says.

“Thanks,” I say. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

We drive in silence. The city blurs past. I watch him from the corner of my eye. He’s too calm. Too quiet.

Finally, we stop in front of a tall building. Glass and steel. Expensive.

“This is the Grayson Building,” I say.

He nods. “We have a meeting.”

We take the elevator to the top floor. A man is waiting for us. Tall, with silver hair and a sharp suit.

“Alexander,” he says. “And this must be the new assistant.”

“Emma Carter,” I say.

He shakes my hand. His grip is cold.

“I’m William Grayson,” he says.

We sit in a large conference room. Papers are passed around. I take notes. The men talk numbers and deals. I focus on writing everything down.

But I can feel Grayson watching me.

After the meeting, Grayson pulls me aside.

“You’re smart,” he says.

“Thank you,” I say.

“Be careful,” he says softly. “Cole is dangerous.”

“I can take care of myself,” I say.

He smiles faintly. “I hope so.”

On the way back, Alexander glances at me.

“What did he say?” he asks.

“Nothing important,” I say.

He doesn’t believe me. But he doesn’t push.

That night, I can’t sleep. I sit on the couch, staring out the window.

Liam comes out of his room. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I lie.

He sits beside me. “You’re scared.”

“I’m fine,” I say.

He takes my hand. “You don’t have to do this alone.”

I squeeze his hand. “I know.”

But I do.

Because Alexander Cole is pulling me into something deep. And I don’t know if I can get out.

Yet I don’t walk away.

I don’t run.

Not yet.