THE BILLIONAIRE'S UNSEEN HEART

CHAPTER 5

Emily's fingers held the conference table's slick, polished surface as though it were the only thing keeping her anchored to reality. James's numbers, graphs, and legal jargon swirled in her head like a turbulent storm of data she was trying to sort through for the past hour. She tried her best, but she couldn't get rid of the sense that James wasn't telling her—that something more existed beyond the surface of all these numbers and statistics.

James sat across the table with his customary cool detachment; his dark eyes were invisible as they skimmed over the papers before him. He was so calm, so under control that it simply made her irritation worse. Given everything was crumbling around her, how could he be so callous?

She had been buried in study for the past few days attempting to grasp the whole extent of her father's business, its assets, and its debt. Her curiosity piqued as her knowledge grew, and James remained evasive when she sought his answers.

She couldn't take it anymore. She slammed her fist down on the table and cut off him midway through.

She said, "James, stop," her voice stern. "Enough with the business discussion." We really have to talk.

James raised his cool, calculated gaze, but there was a flutter of something else in his eyes—probably irritation. "I assumed we were working like this, Miss Hayes."

"Don't patronize me," Emily said, throwing the papers aside. James, “I am not a moron. I know there is more going on here than you are telling me. After doing some research, I discovered that your family stands to benefit greatly from the sale of the company should I fail to take over.”

James's jaw tightened almost slightly, but he said nothing, which simply served to aggravate Emily. She got up, and leaned over the table, facing him with a mix of hurt and wrath in her voice.

"Is that the reason you're actually here? Make sure I fail so your family may swoop in and grab everything. Is that all this is about?"

James only looked at her for a moment, his eyes sharp and uncompromising. Emily could see the strain in his posture, the way his hands squeezed into fists on the table, yet he stayed silent, not giving her the answers she so sorely needed.

Her irritation boiling over, she yelled, "Damn it, James! "Now I'm starting to think you're just using me—just like everyone else in this godforsaken company—instead of actually helping me."

The room went quiet as her comments hung weighty in the air. As Emily waited for James to reply, she could feel her heart hammer in her chest and her breath came in brief, rapid bursts. She yearned to think he was unique, that despite their differences he was on her side. But his quiet stabbed her to the very deep and was deafening.

James spoke last, after what felt like a lifetime. Though his voice was low, nearly a whisper, there was an edge to it that made her shudder.

His eyes fixed on hers, he murmured, "You're right." "My family does stand to benefit if you fail. But Emily, that is not why I am here.

"Then why?" Emily asked, her voice wavering. "Why are you doing this? Why would you not simply tell me straightforwardly?

James sighed and ran a hand through his hair in an unusual display of frustration. "Because it's not that simple," he answered, softening his voice. "You have no idea what is at risk for both of us here."

Then explain it to me, Emily begged, her fury giving way to desperation. "Help me understand, James. I'm not sure who to trust anymore."

James stopped momentarily, his eyes darting hers as though he were trying to determine how much to say. He sighed resignedly then got up and moved to the window to gaze down at the city below.

"It's true that my family would benefit if you failed to take control of the company," he said, his voice low. "But the narrative is not quite that simple. Actually, I have felt conflicted from the time I learned about your identity. Though I was sent here to defend the interests of my family, I did not expect to come across someone like you.

Taken aback by his direct candor, Emily blinked. James had never displayed any actual emotions or any vulnerability, and this left her unstable.

Her voice almost above a whisper, she questioned, "What do you mean?"

James turned to meet her; his face inscrutable. " Emily, you are not what I expected. I assumed you'd be like everyone else in the world: selfish, power-hungry, and prepared to do whatever it takes to succeed. However, you are different. You seem genuinely invested in the success of this business and its employees. Though it means losing everything, you value doing the right thing.

Emily gulped hard; her throat constrictive with feeling. "James, then what are you saying? Are you with me or not?"

James paused, staring at her with fierce concentration. "I don't know," he said, his voice loaded with contradictory feelings. "All I know is that although it goes against everything I was taught to believe, I am here right now and I am trying to help you."

Emily's heart hurt at the ambiguity in his voice, the vulnerability he was at last letting her view. She wanted to believe him—that he was being honest. Still, the stakes were too great for her to afford to let her guard down.

Her voice shaking, "I need more than that, James," she murmured. "I have to know I can trust you.

James looked at her for a long while, with his dark and inscrutable eyes. He nodded then with a weary sigh. "I understand," he whispered softly. “And Emily, I will do whatever it takes to build that confidence. But you have to realize this goes beyond just you or me. Here there are forces at work larger than both of our combined weights.”

Her phone buzzed on the table, breaking the quiet strain before Emily could answer. Her heart skipped a beat when she looked at the screen and saw an unidentified number.

She picked up the phone with a grimace and answered, her voice apprehensive. Hi?

On the other end, there was an initial silence then a low, distorted voice that made her spine shiver.

"You don't know the truth about your father," the voice growled. You will, though. And the moment you do, whatever you believed you understood will be shattered.

Emily grabbed the phone and her palm shook as her breath became caught in her throat. Her voice faltering, she asked, "Who is this?"

The voice gave a grim chuckle. "Miss Hayes, all in good time. Know this, though: your inheritance is not simply riches. It is in fact a curse. Plus, the more you search, the more you will discover that some secrets are best hidden."

Emily stood in shocked stillness as the queue went silent, the weight of the threat hovering large in the air. Her mind ran a thousand thoughts, she fixed her gaze on the phone in her palm. The caller mentioned dark secrets, which ones? Why was someone so determined to protect her from learning the truth, and what had her father been hiding?

A sound from the corridor snapped her out of her thoughts. Her pulse quickened as she looked up at James.

"Did you hear that?" She asked in a low voice

James's expression changed to one of worry. "Stay here," he whispered, hurrying to the door.

But before he got there, there was a loud bang from behind the house—a window had shattered. James walked toward her without thinking, grabbed her arm, and pulled her close.

"Stay behind me," he whispered with a quiet but steely voice. Even though her heart was racing, she felt his warm hand guiding her through her sleeve and his firm grasp calming her.

Another sound; heavy, measured footsteps. They had company.

James stood rigidly between her and the entrance, his grip on her arm growing firmer. "Run for the study if something goes wrong. Behind the bookshelf is a secret doorway "

"James—" she started, but he cut her off with an intense stare.

Emily felt her heart race as the sound of approaching footfalls intensified. She felt stuck, caught between terror and an unidentified emotion, and wanted to break away to defend herself.

The knob on the door turned.

Emily held her breath as the door slightly opened, showing a figure in the shadows. A combination of unexplained adrenaline, rage, and terror surged through her thoughts. James's grip on her arm became tighter. It anchored her and reminded her that she wasn't alone.

James crouched down and spoke in a low voice as the invader entered the room. "On my signal, run."

For an instant, she met his eyes, and despite her fears and mistrust, she felt an irresistible attraction. But there wasn't time to think about it. There was an urgent and genuine threat, and staying alive was the only concern.

She nodded sharply and prepared herself. No matter what happened after that, she and James were in this together.