Bound by Secrets by Anastasia Riley

Damian Cross was never the type to take a break. His office, perched on the top floor of Cross Enterprises, was both his sanctuary and his prison. The floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a panoramic view of the bustling city, but he never paused to admire the view. His focus was always inward on the numbers, the strategy, and the next move.

Day after day, Damian sat at his desk, eyes glued to spreadsheets and reports, his mind racing with calculations. He was the head of one of the most successful business empires in the world, but to him, it was never enough. Success was an addiction, one he couldn't shake. He had to keep pushing forward, and had to keep the empire growing.

His father, Peter Cross, had built the company from the ground up, but it was Damian who had turned it into a global powerhouse. And yet, despite all his accomplishments, he remained cold, distant, and alone. Trust was something Damian had learned to do without after that fateful night years ago when he lost everything, his parents, his home, his innocence.

The memories of that night were seared into his mind. He had been a young boy, no more than fifteen, when he had witnessed his father's murder at the hands of someone he had once trusted. His father's business partner, Aaron Blake, had conspired with Gary Salvatore, their rival, to kill Damian's parents in cold blood. The betrayal was so deep, it shattered the very foundation of his world.

Damian had barely survived the attack. He wasn't even supposed to be there that night, but fate had a different plan. He had seen it all-the cold, calculating murder, the blood, and the way his father had begged for his life. Damian's whole world had crumbled that night, and it had left him with one bitter truth: people could not be trusted.

Since then, he had lived under the guidance of his uncle, Henry Cross. Henry was the only family Damian had left, the only one who had not betrayed him. Damian respected him deeply, not just for taking him in when the world turned its back on him, but for his integrity. Henry had been a business partner to Peter Cross before the tragedy, and after the loss, he had taken the reins of the company, slowly rebuilding what had been lost.

But Damian didn't share Henry's optimism. He didn't trust anyone, and that included his employees, his colleagues, and even his closest allies. Every day, he worked tirelessly to prove that he could rise above the pain of his past. He trusted only himself, his intelligence, and his ability to make calculated decisions. He was meticulous, always five steps ahead, and never once let his emotions cloud his judgment.

For Damian, the business world was a battlefield, and he was always prepared for the next fight. Love, friendship, and social connections were foreign concepts to him, luxuries he could never afford. The only thing that mattered was the next victory, the next deal, the next step in building his empire. And so, he worked, and worked, and worked.

Emma Collins sat at her desk, reviewing her latest piece for The New York Times. As a journalist, she was known for her sharp instincts and even sharper pen. Emma had worked her way up from the bottom, building a reputation as a tenacious reporter, unafraid to uncover the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it might be. But this latest assignment was different.

This wasn't just another story, this was personal. For years, Emma had listened to her father's complaints about the Cross family, and over the years, she had internalized the narrative. Aaron Blake, her father, had lost everything when Damian's father, Peter Cross, had betrayed him and ruined his business. According to her father, it was Peter Cross's greed that led to his downfall, and Emma had believed it.

Her entire life had been built around that belief. She had witnessed her father's bitterness, his slow descent into financial ruin, and the anger that festered within him for years. The Cross family was to blame, and Emma was determined to take back what was rightfully her father's. The Cross empire had been built on a lie, and she was going to tear it down, piece by piece.

Her father, Aaron, had lost everything in a business deal gone wrong with Gary Salvatore, and he had blamed the Cross family ever since. The company, once a symbol of prosperity, had been left in ruins when Damian's father betrayed Aaron and sided with Salvatore. The long-standing partnership between Aaron and Peter had dissolved in blood and betrayal, and the scars had never healed.

As Emma sat at her desk, typing up her latest article, her eyes flicked over the headlines about Cross Enterprises. It was undeniable, Damian Cross had rebuilt the empire his father had left behind, turning it into one of the most powerful conglomerates in the world. But Emma was certain that Damian's rise to power had been built on lies, manipulation, and, most importantly, his father's ruthless betrayal of her own family.

Emma had never been one to back down from a challenge, and this time, the stakes were higher than ever. Her father had sacrificed too much, and it was time to reclaim what was lost. Emma wasn't just looking for a story. She was looking for a way to bring down Cross Enterprises, to destroy the legacy that Damian's father had left behind. And she knew just how to do it.

The assistant position at Cross Enterprises was the perfect opportunity. The job was a stepping stone, Emma had made sure of that. She would infiltrate the company, work closely with Damian Cross, and uncover the truth that had been buried for years. Her father's betrayal and the Cross family's role in it would no longer be a secret.

But Emma also knew that getting close to Damian wouldn't be easy. The Cross family had a history of distrust, especially after the fallout with her father. Damian was a shrewd businessman, a man whose intelligence and ruthlessness had built the empire her father once had a stake in. If Emma was going to succeed in her mission, she couldn't afford to reveal who she was too soon.

She had a plan, one that involved changing her identity. It wasn't enough to simply infiltrate the company; she needed to shed her connection to her father. The Blake name was too synonymous with betrayal, too tied to the scandal that had ruined her father. She would have to distance herself from it if she wanted any chance of earning Damian's trust.

For months, Emma had been preparing for this. She had consulted with a lawyer and arranged for a legal name change. She would now go by Alexandra Collins, a name that held no ties to her father's past or the bitter history between the Blakes and the Crosses. It was a fresh start, a clean slate that would allow her to get closer to Damian without raising suspicion.

But the decision to change her name wasn't easy. Emma had spent years living with the Blake legacy, the good and the bad, and it had shaped her into who she was. However, if she was going to succeed in taking down the Cross empire, she needed to become someone else. Alexandra Collins would be an anonymous assistant, someone who wasn't burdened by the weight of family history.

Her father wouldn't approve, but that didn't matter. This wasn't about him. This was about justice, about getting back what was taken from them and exposing the truth. She would become someone new, someone Damian wouldn't see coming, and she would take down the empire he had inherited.

The assistant position at Cross Enterprises was the perfect opportunity to get close to Damian, to find the cracks in the empire that could bring it all down. Emma wasn't sure how long it would take to gain his trust, but she was willing to do whatever it took. Her father's bitterness, the ruined family name, all of it, Emma was determined to rewrite their story.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. This was just the beginning.

Emma adjusted her blazer as she stood outside the towering Cross Enterprises building, her stomach churning with a mixture of nerves and determination. The sleek, glass-walled skyscraper loomed above her, a symbol of power and influence that made her mission feel even more daunting. She tightened her grip on her portfolio, silently reminding herself that this was her moment. She wasn't just walking into an interview she was walking into enemy territory.

The moment she stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. The air was cool and sterile, the reception area buzzing with quiet efficiency. Security guards flanked the entrance, their sharp eyes scanning every movement. Emma joined the line of applicants waiting to be cleared for entry, her fake ID and new name, Alexandra Collins ready to be tested.

The search process was thorough, almost invasive. Each applicant was asked to hand over their bags for scanning, walk through metal detectors, and undergo a brief interrogation about their purpose. Emma noted the way the guards scrutinized every applicant, their questions sharp and curt.

"Purpose of visit?" one guard asked, his tone clipped.

"Interview for the personal assistant position," Emma replied evenly, keeping her voice steady.

The guard nodded but didn't soften. "ID and appointment confirmation?"

Emma handed over the forged ID and printed email. She held her breath as the guard studied the documents. After what felt like an eternity, he waved her through, and she exhaled silently.

Inside the waiting area, the hostility was palpable. The other applicants sat stiffly, their eyes darting between one another with suspicion and competition. Most were dressed impeccably in designer suits and heels that screamed wealth and privilege. Emma's modest attire, while professional, felt plain in comparison.

She felt the judgmental stares before she even sat down. A woman with perfectly coiffed hair sneered slightly as her eyes swept over Emma's outfit. A man in an expensive watch smirked as he adjusted his cufflinks. The tension in the room was thick, but Emma refused to let it intimidate her.

One of the applicants, a tall brunette with an air of entitlement, leaned toward Emma. "You know, they're only taking one candidate. Maybe you should try somewhere less... competitive." Her tone was syrupy with condescension.

Emma smiled tightly, meeting the woman's gaze head-on. "Thanks for the advice, but I think I'll take my chances."

The brunette raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting a response, and turned away with a dismissive shrug. Emma straightened her shoulders, refusing to let the judgment get to her. She hadn't come this far to let a roomful of strangers shake her confidence.

When her name was finally called, Emma stood up and walked into the interview room, her heart pounding but her expression calm. The room was stark and imposing, with a long table where three interviewers sat, their faces unreadable. A fourth seat at the head of the table remained empty, but Emma suspected it belonged to Damian Cross himself.

The lead interviewer, a stern woman with steel-gray hair, wasted no time. "Miss Collins, what makes you think you're qualified to work as Mr. Cross's personal assistant?"

Emma launched into her rehearsed answer, highlighting her organizational skills, her experience in high-pressure environments, and her ability to manage complex schedules. But before she could finish, the second interviewer, a man with sharp features, cut in.

"This position requires absolute discretion and loyalty. What assurance can you give us that you won't compromise the company's confidentiality?"

Emma paused, carefully considering her words. "I understand the importance of confidentiality in a role like this. My professional record speaks for itself, I've never compromised the trust of my employers, and I don't intend to start now."

The questions came rapidly after that, each one more challenging than the last. They grilled her on her problem-solving abilities, her knowledge of Cross Enterprises' operations, and even hypothetical scenarios designed to test her quick thinking.

"Mr. Cross is known for his demanding schedule and high standards," the gray-haired woman said. "How do you plan to keep up with someone like him?"

Emma met her gaze steadily. "By being adaptable, proactive, and meticulous. I understand that Mr. Cross's time is valuable, and I'm confident in my ability to support him effectively."

The final question caught her off guard.

"If you discovered something unethical within the company, how would you handle it?"

Emma's pulse quickened. She knew the answer they wanted a reassurance that she would remain loyal to the company no matter what. But she also knew she couldn't afford to appear dishonest.

"I would address it through the proper channels," she said carefully. "It's important to maintain integrity, but also to respect the company's procedures for handling such matters."

The panel exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.

When the interview finally ended, Emma walked out of the room feeling drained but proud. She had held her ground, even when the questions became intense. The atmosphere had been cold and intimidating, but she had refused to let it rattle her.

Back in the waiting area, the other applicants barely spared her a glance as she sat down. They were too busy whispering among themselves, their expressions a mix of confidence and anxiety. Emma couldn't help but wonder if she had done enough to stand out.

As she sat there, replaying the interview in her mind, she felt a small flicker of hope. She had faced worse challenges before, and she wasn't going to give up now.

No matter what it took, Emma was determined to get that job.