Chapter 2 Chapitre 2

Chapter 2

In the days following the gala, my thoughts remained muddled. The memory of Jaxon, of our exchange, haunted me like a dream from which I could not free myself. I remembered his look, both cold and intrigued, and the mysterious smile that had accompanied his goodbye. However, now was not the time to let my emotions take over. I had a specific objective: to make him fall under my spell in order to better destroy him.

To do this, I had to get noticed. Let me introduce myself into his world, slowly, by showing myself to him as an irresistible and captivating woman. I had always known how to use my charm to get what I wanted, but with Jaxon, everything seemed more delicate. He seemed insensible, as if he had erected an impenetrable wall around himself. However, I knew he had his weaknesses too, and I just needed to find where to strike to crack him.

This is how I began to frequent the places he used to go: his favorite cafes, the receptions where he was invited, and even his sports club. Each time, I made sure to cross his path by "chance", taking care never to appear too insistent. My goal was to pique his curiosity without arousing his suspicion.

One day, as I was leaving a chic café, I met Jaxon's gaze, who was sipping an espresso at a table near the window. I pretended not to notice him, but I knew he was watching me. I felt his gaze following my movements, as if he were trying to decipher something hidden within me.

Finally, I passed by his table, pretending to be absorbed in my thoughts. Just as I was about to go out, he called out to me.

"Emma." »

I turned around, surprised, then made an effort to smile naturally. "Oh, Jaxon, what a coincidence! »

He raised an eyebrow, smirking. "It's funny how fate often puts us on the same path, isn't it? »

I felt my cheeks turn pink, but I quickly regained control. " Maybe. Or maybe I just frequent the right places. »

He invited me to sit down, and I took my place opposite him, feigning a detached attitude. For a few minutes we talked about small talk, but I felt that he was analyzing my every word. Then the tone changed when he asked me a question that surprised me.

"Tell me, Emma, what are you really looking for? »

His gaze darkened slightly, and I understood that he was testing me. I decided to play the sincerity card – or at least, a version of it.

"I guess I'm trying to understand why you're so intriguing to so many people," I replied, looking him straight in the eye. "You have this reputation as... as someone formidable, but I only see one man. »

He laughed softly, a laugh without warmth. "Maybe you're right," he murmured, looking down. "But be careful, Emma. Curiosity can be dangerous. »

A shiver ran through me, but I refused to show the slightest sign of weakness. "I'm willing to take the risk. »

There was silence, then he leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between us. "Okay, Emma. In that case, perhaps I could suggest a way to satisfy that curiosity. »

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. " Oh yes ? And what would that be? »

"You could work for me." »

The idea took me by surprise, but I did my best to hide my surprise. Work for him? It was an unexpected opportunity, much more direct than anything I had envisaged. This would allow me to approach him continuously, to enter his world and discover his flaws from the inside. However, one should not appear too eager.

"Why me? » I asked, giving a skeptical smile. "I'm sure you have dozens of qualified candidates vying to join your company. »

He shrugged, a calculating glint in his eyes. " It's true. But I'm looking for someone... different. And you, Emma, you have this curiosity which seems interesting to me. »

For a moment, I felt that something in his eyes had changed. Maybe he was testing me. Perhaps he saw in me a challenge, a woman who refused to bow to his simple authority. Whatever the reason, I was ready to play this role.

"In that case, I accept," I replied, holding out my hand. "As long as I don't regret venturing into your world. »

He grabbed my hand firmly, squeezing it a little tighter than necessary, as if to remind me who I was dealing with. "Trust me, Emma. You may regret a lot of things working for me. »

Barely a week after this meeting, I joined Jaxon's company as an assistant in one of his departments. It was a small, discreet division, far from the core of his operations, but it still gave me access to certain information, and, above all, allowed me to interact directly with him.

The first days were strange. Jaxon appeared distant, focused, his face closed, almost expressionless. I observed his behavior carefully, studying his every move. Quickly, I discovered darker aspects of his personality. The employees seemed to walk on eggshells in his presence, and he did not hesitate to reprimand them for the slightest mistake. He demanded absolute perfection, total control, and those who dared to contradict him were dismissed without hesitation.

One evening, as I finished arranging files in his office, he stormed in, his features drawn with fatigue, but also with visible anger. He looked at me, and the intensity of his gaze froze me.

"Emma, come here," he ordered, his voice low and strained.

I stepped forward cautiously, wondering what he could possibly want.

"Have you read these documents?" » he asked, placing a thick file on the table with an abrupt gesture.

I shook my head, slightly nervous. "No, I just put them away. »

He sighed, exasperated, then seemed to change his mind. " Alright. You'll quickly learn that in this business, no one has the luxury of just doing the minimum. You are here to support me, Emma, not to be a simple administrative assistant. »

I took a breath, trying not to flinch under his piercing gaze. "I understand, Jaxon. And I'm ready to do anything to rise to the occasion. »

His lips curved into a smile, but there was nothing warm in that expression. " Perfect. In this case, you will provide me with a detailed report of these documents by tomorrow morning. And make sure that no errors slip in. »

I nodded, aware that it would be a sleepless night, but determined not to fail. I hadn't chosen this path for ease, and I knew that if I wanted to gain his trust, I would have to prove my determination.

That night, alone in my small office, I delved into the files he had entrusted to me. What I discovered left me perplexed. The documents revealed questionable transactions, market manipulation strategies, and even compromising information about some of Jaxon's partners. It gave me a direct insight into his world, his methods. He would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, and I began to understand why so many people feared him.

In the early morning, with tired eyes but a determined heart, I gave him my report. He looked through it without a word, then looked up at me, his features impassive.

"Not bad," he finally declared, placing the file on the table. "You did a good job, Emma. Maybe even better than I expected. »

I felt a mixture of pride and uneasiness. Working for him was like walking on a wire above the void. But I still had this little inner voice, the one that reminded me that all of this was just a means to achieve my true goal. I had to hold on to this thought, even though I already felt that something inside me was wavering.

Ait.

As I was about to leave his office, he stopped me with a soft but firm voice.

"One last thing, Emma. Never forget that in this business, loyalty is essential. You're loyal, aren't you? »

I turned around, looking him straight in the eye, and said confidently, "As loyal as it comes, Jaxon. »

A glint flashed in his eyes, as if he had just guessed something invisible to me. For a moment, I thought he had understood everything. But he just stared at me for a moment, then nodded.

"Perfect," he replied in a whisper. "So I made the right choice in hiring you. »

With each day that passed, I felt the threads of my plan weave more and more around him, but also around me.