Chapter 14
Emma gingerly pulled her blouse on, trying not to wince at the aches that spread throughout her body. She easily tucked it into her high waisted skirt, which had taken her a ridiculous amount of time to struggle into. Graham had assured her that if she needed any help that he would be able to provide assistance. She had felt a blush warm her cheeks at the thought of his 'help' and had quickly reassured him that she was fully capable.
'Fully capable,' the thought nearly made her laugh as she reached for her pain killers and water bottle. She took double the required amount as her head was throbbing and the pain in her ankle needed to be dulled out.
Emma had allowed herself extra time to prepare having been in this situation before. The extra time hadn't really helped and she found herself dangerously close to running late. She whipped her head forward and gathered her hair into a rough yet sleek pony tail. Graham would start having a fit if he knew that the 'schedule' may be running a little behind.
He had insisted that they sit together and work through her daily schedule. Emma knew he was trying to find choke points and high risk areas, very professional and something she would do herself. She had already minimised her own risks when taking this assignment, never taking the same route to work and using cash as much as possible.
If she made things difficult with Graham then Killian would instantly be breathing down her neck. A visual of him doing just that popped into her head and she found it more pleasant than terrifying.
A knock sounded on her door, "Emma, are you ready?"
It was time to face the music.
Graham had been given his own work space and left Emma at the executive lift doors. The security risks at the office were extremely low and she was allowed some freedom to move around alone.
Emma hobbled to her desk and practically threw her belongings down. Sinking into her seat she let a long moan of relief. It was only 8.30am and she felt like it was time for bed.
"Excuse me?" A soft voice questioned inquisitively from the door. Emma glanced up and noticed Mary-Margaret standing in the door frame with a steaming mug.
"Emma!?" recognition flooded Mary-Margaret's face, "You should be at home!"
"I am dedicated," Emma smiled repeating the words Graham had told her yesterday.
"Mr Jones had assigned me to cover your work," Mary-Margaret placed her mug in front of Emma. It was steaming hot-chocolate with a marshmallow and cinnamon delicately sprinkled.
She started to protest but Mary-Margaret simply shook her head, "I will make another when I get back downstairs. You look like you need it."
"Mary-Margaret," Killian's voice boomed from the intercom. She glanced at Emma and indicated silently that she was going to leave. Emma gave a small wave and reclined back in the chair, ignoring Killian's voice.
Emma knew it wouldn't take Killian long to venture out of his office.
"Is the damn intercom not..." his voice trailed off as he recognised the blonde perched behind the desk. A thunderous look crossed his face in an instant.
"Swan?"
"No! No!" His words were short and to the point. Dark shadows and wrinkled clothes implied Killian hadn't had the best night's sleep. He was usually so impeccable and Emma felt a stab of guilt.
"Tough." She responded just as succinctly. Killian strode rapidly to her desk and slammed his hands down with a loud thump. He didn't say anything but Emma could see the fury seeping out of his pores as his eyes bored into her skull.
"You need me here," Emma whispered, attempting to calm him down. He had once told her that he needed people who would stand up to him.
"You need someone you can trust!"
Killian listened to her words in silence before turning on his heel and storming into his office. The resounding bang of the door echoed throughout the office and sent a shudder down Emma's spine.
She lifted the mug Mary-Margaret had left, barely taking a sip before the intercom buzzed.
"I need everything you have...in my office at 10 sharp."
Looks like Killian was starting to warm up to the idea that she would not be a push over. That she was needed on this case.
The damn woman infuriated him!
He'd walked out of his office and had nearly lost the plot. Could she not listen to anything he requested of her? Was it too hard for her to take a few days off to recuperate?
Killian had not seen Emma Swan since he had stormed out of her hospital room. Granted he had lost control of his emotions and needed to prove to himself that she was alive and well.
'By kissing her?'
The attraction to Swan was bubbling out of control and Killian feared it was moving beyond pure attraction. The helplessness and fear that had rushed through him upon learning of her 'accident' had nearly crippled him. It wasn't healthy!
Being a powerful man meant that he was always going to be targeted by someone looking too profit. The risks were his to take and he consciously made the decisions each and every day. Emma was innocent, she was following his orders and he had put her in harm's way. Trying to get her to back off was definitely not going to happen so he needed to find out what the hell was happening...and fast!
Muffled laughter coming from the outer office disrupted his thoughts. Quickly glancing at his watch he realised that it was nearly 10am. Killian pushed his chair back and moved around his desk to pull open his office door.
Emma was smiling up at a man perched on the edge of her desk. Killian was startled to recognise the man as Graham. He perched against his doorframe and absorbed the scene in front of him.
Graham was muttering things to Emma and she was soaking it in, laughing at his small innuendos. He pulled a white paper bag from behind his back and passed it across the desk to Emma's eager hands. She pulled the bag open, glancing inside before licking her lips and giving Graham a cheeky grin. Emma pulled out a crumbling pastry and Killian watched as she raised it to her lips and took a big bite.
Graham reached out his fingers and they brushed away the crumbs that still lingered on Emma's face. Killian felt his eyes narrow and a rush of dread ran right through him to settle like concrete in his gut.
Emma was grateful for Graham's thoughtfulness and playfully swatted his hand away from her face. She felt eyes burning into her skin and glanced towards Killian's office. The man himself was standing in the doorway with a large scowl marring his handsome face.
"Swan. My office...now!" Killian demanded and Emma knew that he still wasn't in a great mood.
Emma mouthed 'Sorry' to Graham and collected up all of the research she herself had done and the folder David had given her at the park. They needed to start making progress.
Emma watched as Killian stretched his arms above his head, muscles bunching under his dress shirt. They had been sitting on his office floor for 2 hours straight and had still not made any relevant connections.
Killian had called for Chinese to be delivered after Emma's stomach had made the most unladylike sounds. He had laughed and it had broken a lot of the tension clouding the air. Killian had been quite stilted when she had first entered his office and had been hesitant to sit on the floor with her. They had kept the conversation strictly business and ignored the rising tension.
Emma had ignored his wariness and proceeded to set up a work space right in the centre of his office carpet. It was how she had solved cases in the past and she was not going to mess with her mojo. Killian had insisted that she be surrounded by pillows to assist with her recovery and make her comfortable. She had smiled at his thoughtfulness.
A knock at the office door had Emma silently cheering for food. Robin entered moments later and if the smells wafting from the bags he held were any indication than the food was going to be delicious.
"Found anything?" Robin questioned as he set the dishes down on Killian's desk.
"Nothing,"
"They have to be connected," Emma groaned in frustration, "If we can just find the link..."
Robin handed Emma some food and she took several bites before flicking back through the paperwork. "Tell me what you know; maybe a fresh mind will help."
"There are 3 companies shipping more cargo than they are arriving with," Killian told his head of security.
Emma was listening to Killian recount what they currently knew. The information David had collected had helped give a background to the 3 companies and what they traded in but there seemed to be no obvious shady dealings.
"AU-INC, Bullion Tech and Zlato Industries. They are all legitimate business that were vetoed before we commenced work with them."
She heard the company names all together and it was as if fireworks had exploded in her head, "Wait,"
Killian and Robin turned to look at her as she scrambled to grab three pieces of paper and put them down next to each other in front of her.
"I'm not sure if this means anything but it's worth a shot," Emma told them before indicating to the names of the first 2 companies.
"AU-INC. Au is the symbol for Gold. Bullion Tech...Bullion is another term for gold, right?" Emma told the two men who were just staring at her. "I'm not sure what Zlato means?"
Killian's eyes lit up before he released an extremely unpleasant expletive and abruptly jumped to his feet.
"Son of a bitch," He muttered before pacing his office frantically.
"What does Zlato mean?" Emma questioned him softly, feeling like she was missing a piece of the puzzle.
Killian was now running his hands through his hair agitatedly, "It's Slavic."
"For?" She prompted getting worried at how troubled Killian seemed. He stopped his pacing and turned to stare directly at her.
"Gold."
'Okay,' Emma thought, 'all of the companies are linked by 'Gold'.
"That bastard is going to pay," Killian growled fiercely before resuming his pacing.
"Who?" Emma questioned confused. Robin shot her a look that told her to keep her mouth shut.
"Gold!"
To Be Continued
