Chapter 2 Trapped In His World

Emma felt her head spin as she walked out of Damien Blackwood's office. The elevator felt stuffy, like his words had sucked all the air out of it. She gripped her purse, her hands shaky, trying to figure out what had just happened.

*You are the solution*.

The words kept repeating in her head, sounding like something bad. What did he even mean? What was he planning? And why did she feel like she'd gotten mixed up in something way bigger than herself?

The elevator doors finally opened, and Emma hurried through the lobby, past the receptionist, not even noticing how the woman stared. Outside, the cold night air hit her, snapping her back to reality.

She pulled out her phone and called her dad, her hands still trembling.

Emma? His voice sounded rough, weak.

Dad, she said, trying to catch her breath. What did you do?

He didn't say anything.

Emma felt her stomach clench. He mentioned some huge debt you are unable to pay back. He wants me to be his solution. What is that supposed to mean?

Her dad sighed heavily. Emma... I didn't want you to get mixed up in this.

She gripped the phone tighter. But I am. So tell me what's going on.

A longer silence this time. When he spoke, his voice was a bare whisper. Blackwood isn't just some businessman, Emma. He's the real deal. You don't want him as an enemy. I thought I could fix things, but I messed up. And now... he sees you as a way to pay off what I owe.

Emma's heart raced. Pay off things in what way?

I don't know, he said quietly. I just know you need to watch yourself. Damien Blackwood always has an angle.

Emma swallowed hard. She wanted to yell, demand answers, but she knew it wouldn't help. The only one with the truth was Damien himself.

And that scared her witless.

The next day, Emma barely got any sleep. The previous night's talk weighed on her as she went to the small café where she worked. The routine helped take her mind off things, at least for a while. Soon, she had a bad feeling in her gut.

She was wiping down a table by the window when she noticed it.

A black car. Parked across the street.

She stopped what she was doing. The windows were dark, so she couldn't see inside, but she could feel someone watching her. A chill ran down her back. She tried to ignore it, but the car stayed put. Even after an hour.

She started to panic. Was it him? Was Damien already setting a trap for her?

Emma?

She jumped and knocked over a glass. Water spilled everywhere as she hurried to clean it up. Her manager, a nice lady in her forties, frowned. Everything okay, sweetie?

Emma forced a smile. Yeah. Just tired.

Her manager looked concerned but didn't push it. Go take a break.

Emma nodded and headed to the back. But before she left, she glanced out the window one last time.

The car was still there.

Watching.

Waiting.

The bad feeling had turned into real fear by the end of her shift. The car was still there when she walked outside.

She took a deep breath and decided to see if she was right. Instead of going straight home, she turned left, walking the other way. Her heart pounded as she quickly looked over her shoulder.

The car pulled out and followed.

It was tailing her.

Emma sped up. *Stay calm. Think*. She needed to lose them, but how? Her place was just a few blocks away, but if they knew where she lived, she'd never feel safe.

She turned a sharp corner and ducked into a crowded shopping area. Slipping into a clothing store, she moved through the racks, her heart racing. Peeking through the window, she saw the black car pull up outside.

Then, the driver's door opened.

A man in a dark suit got out.

Emma sucked in a breath. It wasn't Damien, but the man had the same cold, calculating vibe.

He looked around, then pulled out his phone.

A split second later, her phone buzzed.

She knew who it was without even checking.

Damien Blackwood.

Her fingers trembled as she read the message.

*There is no escape. I will find you, Emma.*

Her stomach sank.

He knew.

He knew she'd try to run.

And he had let her.

Her phone buzzed again.

*Come outside. We should talk.*

Emma squeezed her eyes shut. Her heart pounded as she realized the awful truth.

She was already caught in his game.

And there was no way to quit.

A few minutes passed. She could barely breathe as she stayed hidden behind the racks of clothes, gripping the fabric like it could keep her safe. Her mind was racing. *If I don't go outside, will he come in?* The thought made her panic even more.

A store worker approached her, giving her a polite but curious look. Ma'am, are you looking for anything special?

Emma quickly shook her head. No, just browsing.

The worker nodded and walked off, but Emma knew she couldn't stay there forever.

Another buzz. Another message.

*Emma.*

Just her name. Nothing else. But that one word felt like a ton of bricks, like a warning and a bad thing that will happen.

She took a shaky breath, then slowly walked to the exit.

As soon as she stepped outside, the cold air hit her, but it couldn't hide Damien's scary presence. He was there, waiting. A black car was parked at the curb, the man in the suit holding the door open.

Emma forced herself to move forward, each step feeling harder than the last. As she got closer, Damien looked at her through the open door.

His face didn't show anything, but his voice was still smooth. Get in, Emma.

And somehow, she knew she had no choice.