Chapter 2 · The Billionaire's Trap For His Runaway

The day I finished my minor cosmetic procedure, I stood in front of the mirror for a long time.

The woman staring back at me looked somewhat like me, Emily Ortega, from three years ago, but the vibe was totally different.

Back then, I had long hair, wore floral dresses, and when I smiled, two dimples appeared.

Now, I had shoulder-length hair, wore non-prescription black-rimmed glasses, and my expression was distant. I spoke in a deeper, more subdued tone than I used to.

I got myself a brand-new name, Emma Ortega.

The woman in that photo was a total stranger to Emily.

Rivers Group was hiring a secretary for the CEO's office. The requirements were a master's degree, at least five years of administrative experience, and a polished appearance.

I sent in my resume.

Three days later, I got an interview invitation.

On the day of the interview, the HR asked, "Ms. Ortega, which company did you work for before?"

"Brightway Corporation. I was the CEO's secretary for three years," I answered.

That part of my resume was legit. After I left Daniel three years ago, I spent two and a half years at Brightway, enough time to build up solid experience.

The HR nodded and asked, "You know how intense things get at Rivers Group, right? The CEO's secretary is basically on call 24/7, no days off."

"No problem."

"One more thing. Mr. Rivers is pretty demanding, and his temper... Be ready for that."

I gave a small smile and said, "I'm ready."

Truth was, I was way more prepared than any of them could imagine.

First day on the job, I got to the office at seven, up on the sixty-second floor, the CEO's office.

When I walked in, three secretaries were already busy at their desks.

One of the girls looked up at me. "You're new, right? Your desk's over there. Don't leave your stuff all over the place. Mr. Rivers only drinks hand-brewed coffee at 185°F. Don't ask, don't look around, and don't say more than you have to."

"Got it," I said.

Just as I sat down, the intercom buzzed.

"Emma, come in." It was the head secretary, Yolanda, calling me.

I pushed the door open and saw Yolanda standing by Daniel's office door. She leaned in and whispered, "Mr. Rivers will be here in ten minutes.

"Stand here and take his coat and briefcase. Remember, don't look him in the eye, and don't say a word unless he speaks to you."

"Got it," I replied.

The elevator arrived. As the doors opened, my heart was racing so fast that I could hear my heartbeat.

Daniel stepped out.

Three years had gone by, but he hadn't changed at all.

He stood tall and lean, with deep-set eyes, his jaw clenched tight as he walked.

The only thing that had changed was his gaze. Three years ago, when his alternate personality, Danny, looked at me, his eyes were blazing with possessiveness.

Now, Daniel's eyes were empty, clear, hollow, like a mirror with no reflection at all.

He walked up to the door and casually handed off his coat.

I grabbed it without missing a beat.

His fingers grazed the back of my hand, lingering for a split second.

I stayed perfectly still.

He shot me a sidelong glance. "New here?"

"Yes, Mr. Rivers. I'm Emma Ortega," I replied.

He stared at me for a couple of seconds. "You look familiar."

My fingers tightened around the coat, but my face stayed blank. "Guess I have one of those faces, Mr. Rivers."

He nodded, walked into his office, and didn't say anything else.

I turned back to my desk, sat down, and slipped my hands under the surface.

My fingers were trembling.

On my third day at Rivers Group, I met Ophelia Sweeney.

At two o'clock that afternoon, the front desk called, "Mr. Rivers' guest has arrived."

Yolanda told me to go down to the lobby and pick Ophelia up.

I picked up the visitor badge and headed downstairs, stopping by the revolving door.

A woman stepped out of a sleek black town car.

I froze on the spot.

She had a round face, slightly pointed canines that gave her a cute edge, and long hair cascading over her shoulders. The way she walked had a soft, gentle vibe.

This woman looked a lot like me three years ago.

No, it was more than looking alike. The cut of her dress, the earrings, and the exact lipstick shade all matched the style I used to have.

She flashed me a smile. "Hi, I'm here to see Daniel."

I handed her the visitor badge. "Please come with me."

Inside the elevator, she used her phone as a mirror to touch up her lipstick.

I watched her reflection in the stainless-steel elevator doors and caught the shade she was applying, TF16.

Three years ago, when Daniel was in Danny's control, that was the very first lipstick he ever gave me.

Chapter 2

The day I finished my minor cosmetic procedure, I stood in front of the mirror for a long time.

The woman staring back at me looked somewhat like me, Emily Ortega, from three years ago, but the vibe was totally different.

Back then, I had long hair, wore floral dresses, and when I smiled, two dimples appeared.

Now, I had shoulder-length hair, wore non-prescription black-rimmed glasses, and my expression was distant. I spoke in a deeper, more subdued tone than I used to.

I got myself a brand-new name, Emma Ortega.

The woman in that photo was a total stranger to Emily.

Rivers Group was hiring a secretary for the CEO's office. The requirements were a master's degree, at least five years of administrative experience, and a polished appearance.

I sent in my resume.

Three days later, I got an interview invitation.

On the day of the interview, the HR asked, "Ms. Ortega, which company did you work for before?"

"Brightway Corporation. I was the CEO's secretary for three years," I answered.

That part of my resume was legit. After I left Daniel three years ago, I spent two and a half years at Brightway, enough time to build up solid experience.

The HR nodded and asked, "You know how intense things get at Rivers Group, right? The CEO's secretary is basically on call 24/7, no days off."

"No problem."

"One more thing. Mr. Rivers is pretty demanding, and his temper... Be ready for that."

I gave a small smile and said, "I'm ready."

Truth was, I was way more prepared than any of them could imagine.

First day on the job, I got to the office at seven, up on the sixty-second floor, the CEO's office.

When I walked in, three secretaries were already busy at their desks.

"Got it," I said.

Just as I sat down, the intercom buzzed.

"Emma, come in." It was the head secretary, Yolanda, calling me.

I pushed the door open and saw Yolanda standing by Daniel's office door. She leaned in and whispered, "Mr. Rivers will be here in ten minutes.

"Stand here and take his coat and briefcase. Remember, don't look him in the eye, and don't say a word unless he speaks to you."

"Got it," I replied.

The elevator arrived. As the doors opened, my heart was racing so fast that I could hear my heartbeat.

Daniel stepped out.

Three years had gone by, but he hadn't changed at all.

He stood tall and lean, with deep-set eyes, his jaw clenched tight as he walked.

The only thing that had changed was his gaze. Three years ago, when his alternate personality, Danny, looked at me, his eyes were blazing with possessiveness.

Now, Daniel's eyes were empty, clear, hollow, like a mirror with no reflection at all.

He walked up to the door and casually handed off his coat.

I grabbed it without missing a beat.

His fingers grazed the back of my hand, lingering for a split second.

I stayed perfectly still.

He shot me a sidelong glance. "New here?"

"Yes, Mr. Rivers. I'm Emma Ortega," I replied.

He stared at me for a couple of seconds. "You look familiar."

My fingers tightened around the coat, but my face stayed blank. "Guess I have one of those faces, Mr. Rivers."

He nodded, walked into his office, and didn't say anything else.

I turned back to my desk, sat down, and slipped my hands under the surface.

My fingers were trembling.

On my third day at Rivers Group, I met Ophelia Sweeney.

At two o'clock that afternoon, the front desk called, "Mr. Rivers' guest has arrived."

Yolanda told me to go down to the lobby and pick Ophelia up.

I picked up the visitor badge and headed downstairs, stopping by the revolving door.

A woman stepped out of a sleek black town car.

I froze on the spot.

She had a round face, slightly pointed canines that gave her a cute edge, and long hair cascading over her shoulders. The way she walked had a soft, gentle vibe.

This woman looked a lot like me three years ago.

No, it was more than looking alike. The cut of her dress, the earrings, and the exact lipstick shade all matched the style I used to have.

She flashed me a smile. "Hi, I'm here to see Daniel."

I handed her the visitor badge. "Please come with me."

Inside the elevator, she used her phone as a mirror to touch up her lipstick.

I watched her reflection in the stainless-steel elevator doors and caught the shade she was applying, TF16.

Three years ago, when Daniel was in Danny's control, that was the very first lipstick he ever gave me.