Chapter Four: The File

Emily tried to forget the message, but every time she looked toward Alexander's office, the words returned. She had only been working at Sterling Group for a few days, yet someone already seemed to know enough about her to warn her about the man who had given her the job. She didn't know what to believe, so she chose the safest option.

Work.

By Tuesday morning, Emily was at her desk before most of the department arrived. She opened the presentation Alexander had assigned to her and began reviewing the figures. She wanted to prove that hiring her had been the right decision.

For several hours, she barely looked away from her screen , and Sophie appeared beside her desk.

“Mr. Kingsley wants to see you”.

Emily's fingers paused over the keyboard.

“Did he say why?”

Sophie shook her head.

“Just that he needs you upstairs”.

Emily saved her work and followed her to the executive floor.

Alexander was standing behind his desk when Emily entered. He looked up from the documents in front of him.

“Emily, come in.”

She walked inside and sat across from him. Alexander picked up the report she had submitted that morning.

“I've gone through your work.”

Emily waited nervously and anxiously, waiting for his response.

“You've done well.”

Relief washed over her.

“Thank you.”

“I'm putting you on the executive presentation.”

Her eyes widened slightly.

“The presentation?”

“It involves some of our most important clients. I want you to assist with the final preparation.”

Emily nodded.

“I won't disappoint you.”

“I know.”

The simple confidence in his voice caught her off guard, and for a moment, their eyes met. There was something almost warm in his expression. Emily quickly looked down while Alexander closed the file.

“You should get some lunch before you continue.”

She smiled.

“I'll try.”

“Don't try. Do it.”

A small laugh escaped her.

“Yes, sir.”

Alexander's lips curved slightly.

“Good.”

Emily stood and headed for the door. As she reached it, she glanced back and saw that Alexander was already looking at her. Their eyes met again, neither spoke. Emily quickly turned away and left. She didn't notice the faint smile that remained on Alexander's face after the door closed.

By late afternoon, most of the department had become quiet. Emily was still working on the presentation when Sophie asked her to retrieve several older reports from the executive records room. She took the list and headed upstairs. The records room was almost empty. Emily found the reports and began arranging them. As she reached for another folder, something caught her attention. A black file lay slightly apart from the others, and there was a name written across the front of it boldly.

EMILY CARTER.

Her first thought was that it must be part of her employment records, but why was it kept in the executive records room? Curiosity overcame her, and she picked it up.

The first pages contained information like her résumés, her previous employment, and her qualifications just as she expected. Then she turned another page. Her eyebrows drew together when she saw her financial records. She hadn't provided those during her interview, so she continued looking. There were notes about her father's medical expenses, her former workplace, and even the neighbourhood where she lived. Her stomach tightened.

“Why does he have all this?”

She turned another page, and a photograph fell onto the desk. Emily picked it up. It was her standing outside Sterling Group on the morning of her interview. Rain was falling around her, and she was holding her handbag.

The photograph had been taken from across the street.

Emily stared at it. She remembered that morning, standing there, nervous and frustrated, but she hadn't noticed anyone taking her picture. She turned the photograph over and saw that a date was written on the back. The same day she had first met Alexander.

Emily slowly turned to the next page. There was a single sentence.

The subject made contact with Alexander Kingsley at 9:17 a.m.

Her heartbeat quickened.

Subject?

Who had written this? and why was she being watched before she had even been hired? She flipped through the remaining pages, some were filled with short notes like financially vulnerable, the father is currently hospitalized, and there no known connection to Sterling Group. Emily stopped. No known connection? Then why was someone investigating her?

She reached the final page, and there was almost nothing on it, only one line.

Continue monitoring.

A chill moved through her. She heard footsteps outside, so she quickly looked toward the door as it opened. Alexander stood there. His eyes immediately went to the file in her hands, and for a moment, his expression revealed nothing, then his gaze settled on the photograph. He walked into the room and closed the door behind him.

Emily held the file tighter.

“What is this?”

Alexander didn't answer immediately.

“Where did you find it?”

“In here.”

He looked at the file again.

“Give it to me.”

Emily didn't move.

“Why?”

“Emily.”

His voice was calm, but there was warning beneath it. She slowly closed the file.

“You've been investigating me.”

Alexander's jaw tightened.

“That isn't what you think.”

“Then tell me what it is.”

Silence.

Emily stepped closer.

“You knew things about me that I never told you.”

Alexander remained still.

“You knew about my father's illness. You knew about my financial situation. And apparently, someone was taking pictures of me before I even started working here.”

His expression hardened.

“You're asking questions you aren't ready to hear the answers to.”

Emily stared at him.

“Then maybe you shouldn't have kept a file on me.”

For the first time, Alexander looked genuinely troubled.

He reached for the file, and Emily allowed him to take it. He closed it and held it against his side.

“You weren't hired because of this.”

Emily studied his face.

“Then why was I?”

Alexander hesitated, and that hesitation was enough to make her suspicious.

He finally stepped toward the door.

“Go home, Emily.”

She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

“That's your explanation?”

“That's all I can give you right now.”

He opened the door and left.

Emily remained where she was. Something told her this wasn't over, not even close.

That night, Emily sat on the edge of her bed staring at her phone. She couldn't stop thinking about the photograph. Someone had been watching her before she ever became an employee at Sterling Group, and Alexander knew why.

She opened her messages looking for the unknown number, and it was still there. After several minutes of hesitation, she typed.

Who are you?

She stared at the screen, but nothing came up. After waiting for a few more minutes, her phone vibrated. A new message appeared.

You finally found the file.

Emily's blood immediately ran cold, but before she could respond, another message arrived.

Now ask Alexander why he chose you.

Her fingers trembled. Then came a final message.

And don't trust the answer.

Across the city, Alexander stood alone in his office. The same photograph Emily had found lay on his desk. As he was about to pick it up, his phone vibrated.He looked at the message, and his expression darkened. Someone had sent him the same photograph, but there was one difference. Written across the bottom were four words.

She knows too much already.

Alexander's eyes hardened. For the first time, he realized the situation had changed. Emily wasn't simply someone he needed to monitor anymore because someone else was watching her and whoever they were. They had just made it clear that Emily was no longer safe.