Chapter 7: A Secret From Emily's Past

Marcus placed the thick file on Dominic's desk before closing the office door.

"Everything I found about Emily Hart is in here," he said.

Dominic opened the folder and quietly reviewed the documents.

Her academic records were excellent.

Her previous employers praised her professionalism.

There was nothing suspicious until the last few pages.

"What is this?" Dominic asked.

Marcus sighed.

"It's about her father."

Dominic continued reading.

"Robert Hart... former financial director of Kingsley Holdings."

"He disappeared eight years ago after exposing a multi-million-dollar fraud case."

"He disappeared?"

"No body was ever found."

"The case was quietly closed."

Dominic looked up.

"Does Emily know?"

"According to the reports, she believes her father abandoned the family."

"Only a handful of investigators knew the truth."

Dominic leaned back in his chair.

"And now someone is following his daughter."

"Exactly."

"Do you think it's connected?"

"I do."

"Someone may believe Robert Hart left evidence behind."

"And they think Emily has it."

Dominic closed the file.

"Don't tell Emily anything yet."

"Not until we're certain."

"Understood."

Outside the office, Emily continued working, unaware that her entire past had just become the center of an investigation.

A few minutes later, Dominic stepped out.

"Emily."

"Yes, Mr. Steele?"

"Cancel my afternoon appointments."

"We're leaving."

"Leaving?"

"Where?"

"Lunch."

Emily looked surprised.

"A business meeting?"

"Something like that."

Twenty minutes later, Dominic drove them to a quiet restaurant overlooking the river.

"This place is beautiful," Emily said as they sat down.

"I come here when I need to think," Dominic replied.

For the first few minutes they discussed work.

Then Dominic looked at her carefully.

"Can I ask you something personal?"

Emily hesitated before nodding.

"Of course."

"Tell me about your family."

She smiled sadly.

"There's not much to tell."

"My mother raised me alone after my father disappeared."

"I was sixteen."

"He never called."

"Never wrote."

"Nothing."

"Do you hate him?"

Emily stared at the glass of water in front of her.

"For years I did."

"Now... I honestly don't know what to feel."

"Sometimes I wonder if he's still alive."

Dominic remained silent.

Every word confirmed Marcus's findings.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"It's alright."

"Life moves on."

Their food arrived, ending the emotional conversation.

As they finished lunch, Emily finally smiled again.

"Can I ask you something now?"

"Go ahead."

"Why did you become a businessman?"

Dominic chuckled softly.

"Because my father believed emotions make people weak."

"He taught me that success comes before everything else."

"Do you believe that?"

Dominic looked out the window.

"I used to."

"Not anymore."

Emily noticed the sadness hidden behind his calm expression but chose not to ask further.

When they returned to Steele Empire, Marcus was waiting anxiously.

"Dominic, security just called."

"What happened?"

"Someone entered Miss Hart's apartment while she was at work."

Emily's face turned pale.

"What?"

"Was anything stolen?"

"No," Marcus answered.

"That's the strange part."

"Nothing was taken."

"It looks like someone was searching for something."

"My apartment..." Emily whispered.

"We'll go there now," Dominic said immediately.

"I'm coming too," Marcus added.

An hour later they arrived at Emily's apartment.

The front door had been forced open.

Inside, drawers had been emptied.

Books were scattered across the floor.

Cushions had been cut open.

Someone had searched every corner of the apartment.

"Oh my God..." Emily whispered.

She slowly walked into the living room.

"Who would do this?"

Dominic carefully inspected the room.

Nothing valuable was missing.

The intruder had clearly been looking for a specific item.

"Emily," Dominic asked gently.

"Did your father ever leave you anything?"

She thought for several seconds.

"Wait..."

"There is one thing."

"A small locked box."

"My father told me never to throw it away."

"Where is it?" Marcus asked.

Emily hurried into her bedroom.

Moments later she returned carrying an old wooden box.

"It was hidden inside my closet."

"I don't think they found it."

Dominic accepted the box carefully.

"Do you have the key?"

"No."

"I've never been able to open it."

The three of them stared silently at the mysterious box.

If someone had broken into Emily's apartment searching for answers...

Perhaps those answers had been hidden inside this forgotten box all along.