Emily
Putting on lipstick is almost like a ritual for me.
I stood in front of the mirror in my apartment and carefully applied my favorite shade of red. I took my time, making sure every line was neat.
If they notice the lipstick, they won't notice your eyes.
And if they don't look into your eyes, they won't see everything you're hiding.
I tied my dark hair into a neat high bun, making sure not a single strand was out of place. It made me look polished, professional, and completely in control.
That was exactly how people saw me.
At twenty-five, everyone at Rivers Enterprises knew me as the CEO's secretary. Efficient. Calm. Reliable. The woman who never made mistakes.
I straightened my charcoal blazer over a silk blouse, picked up my briefcase, and left my apartment.
By 7:55 a.m., I walked through the company's marble lobby like every other workday.
To everyone else, I looked confident and put together.
What they couldn't see was how my eyes constantly scanned every corner of the room, every unfamiliar face, every possible exit.
Five years, I thought as I approached the security gates. Five years of pretending to be someone else and trying to blend into society.
"Morning, Em!"
I turned and saw Sarah from Marketing walking toward me with two cups of coffee.
"Morning, Sarah."
"You're here early."
"So are you."
She sighed dramatically.
"Quarterly review today. Mr. Rivers is going to destroy our department if these presentations aren't perfect."
I smiled.
"Just stick to the important numbers first. He likes things simple."
Sarah laughed.
"Easy for you to say. You're his favorite."
Before I could answer, Marcus from HR joined us.
"I heard he rejected three executive assistants because they couldn't organize files like you."
I couldn't help smiling.
"I don't think that's true."
"Oh, come on."
"I just know how he likes things."
Then I glanced at Marcus's watch.
"Weren't your compliance reports due at eight?"
His eyes widened.
"Oh shit!"
He rushed toward the elevators while Sarah burst into laughter.
"You just saved his life."
"As usual.", I said to her in a whisper.
She smiled.
"See you at lunch?"
"If my schedule allows."
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside.
As soon as the doors closed, my smile disappeared.
The silence always made it easier for memories to creep in.
Old wooden floors.
The smell of cheap alcohol.
A voice I never wanted to hear again.
Jake.
My stepbrother.
His hands gripping my wrists, the thought of it making my skin crawl and raising goosebumps all over.
His voice whispering that no one would believe me.
Then my father's face.
Looking away, with disappointment. Ignoring every cry for help.
I closed my eyes.
Stop.
I dug my nails into my palm until the memories faded.
That girl doesn't exist anymore.
She's gone.
The elevator stopped on the sixty-fifth floor.
I walked into the executive office and headed straight for my desk.
Like every morning, I checked Mr. Rivers' schedule, organized his meetings, reviewed the international market reports, and made his coffee exactly the way he liked it.
Black.
A splash of almond milk.
Nothing else.
Thinking about him made me sit a little straighter.
Thane Rivers wasn't just my boss.
He was one of the most powerful businessmen in the country.
He was calm, demanding and always in control.
For the last five years, I'd managed every part of his schedule. I knew his meetings before he did, remembered every deadline, and made sure nothing slipped through the cracks.
Control mattered to him and I couldn't blame him or see fault because it mattered to me too.
At exactly 8:30, the office doors opened.
Mr. Rivers walked in.
As always, he looked perfectly put together in a dark blue suit that hugged his toned arms.
His footsteps were calm, confident, impossible to ignore.
"Good morning, Emily."
"Good morning, Mr. Rivers."
I stood and handed him his coffee and today's briefing folder.
"You have the board meeting at nine, the Tokyo conference call at eleven-thirty, and lunch with Senator Hayes at one."
He accepted the coffee.
His fingers brushed mine for only a second, sending a jolt through my body.
I pulled my hand back before I could stop myself.
He noticed.
He always noticed.
"You're tense today," he said.
It wasn't a question.
"I've just had a busy morning."
His eyes stayed on me a moment longer.
Then they moved over my face, my neatly tied hair, and finally my red lipstick.
He stepped a little closer.
"Are you sure everything's alright?"
The question caught me off guard. It wasn't in his nature to break character and show care for anyone.
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
My heart started beating faster, but I kept my expression calm.
"I'm just focused on work."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"We'll find out."
He turned toward his office.
"Bring the quarterly reports in ten minutes. We'll review them together."
"Yes, sir."
The office door closed behind him with a soft click, only then did I let out the breath I'd been holding. Reaching for the quarterly reports to prep them for the review, when suddenly something caught my eye. It was rather out of place, sticking out like a sore thumb amongst other things.
A white envelope.
It was taped to the bottom corner of my computer monitor. My stomach tightened.
It hadn't been there before.
Slowly, I picked it up.
No stamp, or name indicting the sender and also no return address.
Just one word typed neatly across the front.
"Cora".
I dropped to my seat in a loud gasp, looking around to see if anyone noticed my reaction. That was my old name written boldly on the Envelope
My fingers shook as I opened it. Inside was a photograph.
It had been taken that morning.
Me.
Walking out of my apartment.
I turned it over.
Written in thick red ink were five words that made my blood run cold.
"I see you, little murderer".