FORBIDDEN TRUTH

CHAPTER 006

An Inside Conflict

Adrian's POV

Trying to organize things, I moved about my workplace. Something else seemed out of line. Samantha had behaved more distantly, defensively than usual. I kept feeling as though she was keeping something absolutely crucial from me.

I looked over at the desk clock. Late, but I couldn't go till I worked this out. My brain kept going back to Jared. There was a past; Samantha's tensing up when I mentioned his name earlier today told everything I needed to know. He was not merely a throwback from her past. Right now he embodied a menace.

I settled down and rubbed my temples. I had always been rather good in reading people and in spotting someone else withholding anything from me. This was not like previous things, though. Samantha answered this. She was not merely an employee; she was someone I liked more than I should have and trusted. This piercing mistrust she was keeping me in the dark hurt.

I found her face alone unacceptable. Whatever it was, I had to know what Jared was dragging across her.

Still, exactly? She intended not to come inform me. I could see quite a bit. She was stubborn and somewhat independent. Samantha had always been the kind to handle things on her own, even if it wasn't the best idea.

When my phone buzzed on the desk, it drew me from my musings. Half expecting it to be another disaster simply waiting for my attention, I grabbed it. Instead, it was her.

*I have tomorrow here booked. I would be happy to talk*.

I stared at the message for a long time, a mixture of terror and hope covering me. At last she was going to be honest. But were I ready for her comments?

Early this morning, I found myself staring down at the metropolis below the window. My head was elsewhere, although the sun was only starting to rise and the buildings glowed warmly. Trying to make sense of everything, I went over the last several week's events again. I knew things would come about from this meeting with Samantha. Better or worse, the truth was going to show itself.

Startled from my ideas by the beating at my office door, I turned just as Samantha came in. Her face was white, her approach austere. She was straining to hold it together, but I could see the holes.

"Morning," I said, trying to keep a cool head. "Sit here."

She only stopped long enough to take a seat across from me. We were visibly tense, thick enough to cut through. She simply sat there, her hands gripping the armrests of the chair as if they were the only thing keeping her from floating away. I watched her, waiting for her to say something.

"I know something's going on, Sam," I said gently, disturbing the quiet. And then it's time you clarified what it is.

Her eyes flickered with something—probably fear, guilt, maybe both. She turned away, inhaled deeply, then came back to meet my sight. She said softly, just above a whisper, "It's about Jared."

of course it was. Even though I had guessed as much, seeing her say it aloud infuriated me. I tilted forward, trying to keep my voice cool. " What do you need from him?"

She stopped once again, and for a moment I thought of maybe running. Then she spoke, her words slow and methodical, as though she were trying to make sense of it all herself. Jared... he comes from my history as well. He has been actually blackmailing me.

That was all needed for the dam to crumble. Her entire narrative leaked out, every sentence more terrible than the next. Jared had been dragging threads behind the scenes, guiding her, using her to get at me. Her eyes showed me the suffering as she detailed the horrors he had committed and the threats he had generated. Not simply a shadow from her past, he was a towering storm cloud ready to sweep everything apart.

Unable to remain still any more, I stood up quickly. My hands clenching at my sides, my resentment for Jared was pouring forth. "Why didn't you come to me sooner?" I questioned, trying not to let my voice mirror the annoyance. I could have had a part.

"I didn't want to drag you into this," she said, her voice trembling slightly. Adrian, this is my mess. I likewise desired nothing to make it yours.

"That's not how this works," I responded, immediately regretting the severity of my voice. "You are not facing this from inside yourself. I informed you as well.

She shivered slightly, her shoulders hunched as though the weight of everything was at last intolerable. Yes, I know. Simply said, what else should I do? He has far too much power. And he won't follow me straightforwardly either. He will follow after you as well.

I turned aside and worked a hand through my hair. This was worse than I had expected. Jared threatened not only her but also all we had produced. I couldn't, though, just watch him succeed.

More to me than to her, then. "We will sort it out," I said. We will work out his stopping mechanism.

Her voice was subdued and weak, "How?" she asked. " Adrian, he is really robust. He produces knowledge. Things that could wipe out both of us.

Turning to confront her, determination wrapped me like a shield. "His influence hardly counts to me. We will work through a solution.

Samantha corrected me with tears flashing in her eyes. Unshelled She was clearly struggling inside—that between her instinct to protect me and her need for aid. She was not used to leaning on people, so I could appreciate how challenging it would be for her to admit she cannot handle things on her own.

"Trust me," I said softly as I headed near her. We'll make it through this. Overall.

She nodded, but I sensed she wasn't really convinced. Still, too many mysteries remained and too many shadows prowled the outskirts of this turmoil. I was not going to let her go through this on her own though.

Before I could say anything else, my phone whirled across the desk. I grabbed it, heart sinking at the screen name.

Jared.?

I answered softly and calmly. "What do you wish for?"

His chuckling across from chilled my spine. "Oh, Adrian," asked. You always followed that exact routine.

I gripped the phone more firmly. "Get to the point.

"I just wanted to check in," he said nonchalantly. "Look at things as they stand. You know, Samantha hasn't mentioned anything really awkward.

I gazed at Samantha, a wide-eyed viewer of me. I made myself cool under duress. She hadn't done it.

"Good," Jared murmured, his conceit igniting my anger. "Because, should she perform well, let's assume there would be ramifications. for you two.

The phone went off abruptly, leaving me standing there heart pounding. Turning now to Samantha, whose face was white as she grasped what had just happened,

Quietly, she asked, "What did he say?"

I lacked the empathy to fully explain to her the breadth of it. Not now. Nothing we are helpless of handling.

Deep below, though, I sensed we were in more than standard depth. Jared was not going to let up; he would press harder the more we fought. Still, triumph was not what I would let him.

Not from this period.

As I stood there watching Samantha attempt to put herself together, a notion occurred to me: Another could be able to help. One more informed than all about Jared's secrets.

Still, contacting them could compromise what we have produced.

Was I ready to stake that?