The billionaire's secret guardian

The rain dropped like a black, unending veil. As Cassidy Lane walked into the Cross Industries high-rise office building, the heels of her shoes clicked loudly on quotes on the marble floor. She had been looking into the company for months. The metropolitan skyline was hidden by fog and rain. She drew her cloak tighter over her body, and even though her breath was weak, her will was stronger than ever. The building was as frigid inside as its owner, Alexander Cross, who was hard to find. She had never seen the man in person. But his name rang out throughout the halls of business like a siren call strong, menacing, and out of reach. She will acquire the answers she needs tonight. Cassidy had been an investigative journalist for a long time, and she had seen a lot of bad things in the corporate world. But this time felt different. Cross Industries had a smell of corruption, lies, and hidden agendas. Cassidy was determined to reveal everything. The secret meetings, the dubious financial arrangements, and the killing of a whistleblower all linked back to Alexander Cross. Her heart raced as she walked toward the elevator. She wasn't only here to get information. She came to face the guy who might have ruined lives, including her own. She wasn't so stupid that she thought it would be easy. Alexander Cross was not a normal person. People say he was cold, heartless, and made of iron. The steel doors of the elevator closed with a hiss as Cassidy got in. She glanced at her reflection in the shiny metal as the elevator went up. She had her dark hair put back into a neat ponytail, and her makeup was perfectly done. But her eyes showed how heavy the task ahead was. She knew she was playing with fire. The doors of the elevator opened, and Alexander Cross's rooftop office lobby was huge. There was a subtle smell of polished wood and expensive cologne throughout the building. The receptionist at the counter smiled, but it was a polite, distant smile that showed she had seen a lot of customers come and leave. "Hello, Ms. Lane. "Mr. Cross is waiting for you," the receptionist said, her voice as smooth as the marble floor under Cassidy's boots. Cassidy said, "Thank you," and forced a pleasant grin even though her stomach was in knots. She had been getting ready for this meeting for weeks, but now that it was occurring, the reality of what she was about to do hit her like a frigid slap. Before she could knock, the door to the private office opened, showing a big space that was only partially lit. The city seemed like a swirl of lights through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Alexander Cross himself sat behind a huge mahogany desk. Cassidy knew it was him before he even turned around, even though his back was to her. There was something about him that drew people in and made them pay attention without him saying anything. He stood up, and his wide shoulders filled the space. The fabric of his suit was dark and sumptuous, exactly like the man. It fit him perfectly. Cassidy had seen a lot of pictures of him over the years. His sharp jawline and calculating stare were in a lot of them, but none of them were as good as the real thing. She couldn't breathe. This was him. The man who could ruin everything she believed in and who might be to blame for the deaths of so many others. When he turned to look at her, their eyes met, and for a second, Cassidy felt like the world had shifted on its axis. His eyes were cold, like an impenetrable wall. "Ms. Lane," he murmured in a low, controlled voice. "I knew you were coming." He pointed to the chair across from him and didn't look away. "Please sit." Cassidy gulped down hard. She felt her heart race, but she didn't let it show. She came here to obtain answers, not to give in to the magnetic draw he clearly had. When she sat down, she saw a tiny spark of amusement in his eyes, as if he could see through her mask. She was an unknown factor, an outsider, and in his universe, outsiders were just a pain. "Ms. Lane, your reputation comes before you," Alexander replied as he folded his hands neatly on the tabletop. "I guess you came here to get answers." But I'm curious: why do you think you'll get them? Cassidy's lips twisted into a tight smile. "I didn't come here to ask you for answers, Mr. Cross," she said. "I'm here to give you a choice: tell the truth or have it come out." He sat back in his chair and looked at her with a cunning look. Cassidy couldn't read his face, but she could feel the tension in the air the challenge that wasn't spoken between them. "Exposed?" He raised one eyebrow. "Ms. Lane, are you threatening me? If you are, you should know that threats have effects. You don't want me as an adversary. Cassidy's heart raced. She had to stay cool and collected. She had been ready for this kind of fight: manipulation, threats, and power games. But she wasn't scared of him. She had a task to perform, and nothing was going to stop her. "I'm not threatening you, Mr. Cross," she said in a calm manner. "I'm just giving you a choice. You may tell me everything about the firm, the falsehoods, and the corruption, or I will tell everyone about it. Your reputation isn't the only thing at stake. "I won't let you get away with it. Lives are at stake." There was a lengthy gap, and Cassidy believed for a second that he might laugh at her. But instead, he merely stared at her with eyes that were almost too intense. "I don't respond well to ultimatums, Ms. Lane," he remarked in a low, steady voice. "Also, I don't like being blackmailed at all." You'll find out soon enough. Cassidy kept looking at him. She realized she was on thin ice. The information she had may ruin him, his business, and his legacy, but it could also ruin her. If she didn't play this right, she would lose the same struggle she had started. "Then let's get to the point," Cassidy remarked, her voice getting stronger. "Mr. Cross, I know what you're doing. I know about the illegal deals, the offshore accounts, and the killing of your competitors. I know that your family is connected to some of the world's top crime groups. And I know what you've done to keep people from talking about you. Alexander's eyes flashed for a moment, just a flicker, but that was all it took. She had hit a nerve. He didn't move, but Cassidy could tell she was bothering him. He leaned forward a little and remarked, "You're very brave." "But being brave can be risky." Cassidy didn't give up. "And you can too, Mr. Cross." For a moment, they were both silent, which was scary. They didn't say anything, but they both knew what was going on. Alexander's eyes contracted, and his face became shadowy. He was planning and judging what she would do next. But Cassidy stood her ground. She couldn't let on that she was weak just now. Finally, he got up, moving slowly and on purpose. "Ms. Lane, you're out of your depth." But I'll play along with your little game for now. Cassidy's heart raced. This was it. The game had started. But none of them understood that what happened tonight would change everything. The tempest they were about to go through would challenge them both, forcing them to face the lies they had based their lives on and the love they had never thought they would discover.