Chapter 4 - The man behind the mask

Cassidy stood on the roof of her apartment building, looking out at the metropolitan skyline, which looked like a sea of lights. The air was thick with anxiety. As she looked down at the file that had almost taken over her head for the past few hours, her breath came in short bursts. Her fingers brushed the margins of the pages, which were still shaking from the weight of what she had just learnt. "Cross Industries is tangled up in human trafficking," Evan said, and every word sank more into her gut. And Alexander Cross is the boss. Cassidy had been an investigative journalist for years, uncovering scandals and exposing corruption, but nothing had ever seemed as risky as this. She had a narrative that could bring down one of the world's most powerful men, but she also had a choice to make. Could she beat him now that she knew what she knew? Could she destroy a man's life based on what she saw, especially because she still felt pulled to him in ways she didn't understand? She snapped the file shut and looked down at the darkening city below. There were no easy answers or clear ways to move forward. Cassidy has never been afraid of a challenge, though. "I have to see him again." The concept came to her mind like a sudden, strange pull. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she couldn't shake the sense that she needed to gaze deeper into the eyes of the guy who may be her enemy to find out who he really was behind the cold, calculating CEO mask. But the stakes were different now. She couldn't treat this like any other case. She was in danger of losing her life, as were others. Cassidy was back at the Cross Industries headquarters the next morning, and she walked with determination to the building. She had set up another meeting with Alexander Cross, but this time it was a little tense. He didn't realize she was onto him, not all the way, but Cassidy knew that wouldn't last long. She thought he could be up to something. His charm and the way he could easily control every place he walked into were all part of the act, right? But what if there was more to him than that? What if he wasn't as distant as he seemed? Could he be part of the plot, or was he just a pawn? As she walked inside the big lobby, she looked about at the marble floors and the tall glass windows. It was the kind of edifice that smelled like money and power, with everything made to scare people. Cassidy, on the other hand, didn't care about looks. She had been around long enough to realize that a lot of it was just smoke and mirrors. The receptionist smiled tightly and told her that Alexander was waiting for her in his office. "He is waiting for you," she said. Cassidy nodded, and her heart raced. This was it. The time has come. She punched the button for the top floor, where the king of the empire lived, when she got on the elevator. The elevator moved slowly, as if it wanted to make her wait longer. Cassidy looked at her reflection in the shiny metal doors and saw the fight in her own eyes. She was about to step into a lion's den, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for the peril. Cassidy stepped out of the doors and into Alexander Cross's elegant, modern office environment. His office had a view of the whole city, and the vistas were so big that they made anyone feel small. But Cassidy had never been the kind of person to be scared of things like this. When she got closer to the desk, she spotted him seated with his back to her, and the skyline behind him. He looked as good as ever so tall, broad-shouldered, and with a presence that was hard to ignore. He didn't turn back right away. He tapped his fingers lightly on the desk in front of him. "Miss Lane," he said in a smooth, measured voice. "I wasn't sure if you would agree to meet with me again." Cassidy's breath caught, and for a second, she couldn't recall why she was there. Even if every logical portion of her mind told her to stay focused, his voice always disarmed her. "I have a few questions," she replied, her voice firm even though she was feeling very upset. Finally, he turned to look at her, but his face was blank. His piercing blue eyes locked onto hers, and for a second, Cassidy felt like the whole room had shrunk down to just the two of them. "What kind of questions?" he inquired, his eyes fixed on her. Cassidy had become ready for this, but the moment was so intense that her heart raced. She took a breath and put the file on his desk. "The kind that want answers." Alexander looked at the file, then back at her, and his lips turned up in a small smile. "I understand." You think you've found something, don't you? Cassidy squinted her eyes so she wouldn't let his smugness get to her. "I don't think. I know. Mr. Cross, this isn't only about crooked businesses anymore. This is about something much worse. For example, human trafficking. Your business is involved. He didn't move a muscle or even blink. Instead, his face got harder. "Miss Lane, you're wrong. You were given wrong information. Cross Industries has never done anything like this before. Cassidy's heart raced. She could tell he was lying. He wasn't really calm and chilly when he spoke. There was something behind the mask that was hidden. "Do you really want me to believe that?" She leaned forward a little and said, "What?" "The people engaged in this are trying to hide what they've done, but I've seen the proof. It has your name on it. Your business. Mr. Cross, this is not a mistake. "This is a plot." His jaw tightened, and for the first time, Cassidy saw a flash of something bad in his eyes. He asked in a chilly voice, "And what exactly do you plan to do with this information?" "You're already here." So, what's next for you? Cassidy thought about it for a second, but only because she realized it was a risky game. She didn't know what he would do next, but she had to be ready for anything. She was now playing with fire. "I'm going to tell everyone about you," she added in a quiet but strong voice. "And if you're involved in this, I'll make sure everyone knows." There was a tense pause between them, full with words that weren't said. Cassidy saw Alexander's eyes move around, like a predator looking at its prey. But there was something more there that made her doubt what she thought she knew about him. Then he finally spoke, but his voice was softer than before. Cassidy, if you tell the truth about me, you're not just going for my business. You'll be showing yourself, too. People will come after you. They won't stop. She couldn't catch her breath. Cassidy felt the weight of his warning in the air, and for the first time, she understood how much trouble she was in. This was no longer a story. She was already too far in to back out of this fight. She stood up tall, her determination growing. "Mr. Cross, I've been in danger before. But that won't stop me from doing the right thing. For a long time, their eyes were locked. They were two people standing on opposing sides of a line that neither of them was willing to cross. But Cassidy knew deep within that this was just the start. And with every step Alexander took, she got closer to finding out who the man beneath the mask was.