Emily's heart was racing as she faced Julian's stern expression. She knew she had crossed a line by snooping through his emails, but she couldn't help feeling that she had stumbled upon something important.
"What do you mean, I'm playing with fire?" Emily asked, trying to sound brave despite the tremble in her voice.
Julian's eyes seemed to bore into her soul. "You don't know what you're dealing with, Emily. You're not just poking around in my business; you're potentially putting yourself in harm's way."
Emily felt a surge of frustration. She was tired of being kept in the dark, tired of being treated like a fragile doll who couldn't handle the truth.
"I deserve to know what's going on, Julian," Emily said, her voice firm. "I deserve to know why you're working with your rivals, and what kind of deal you're making."
Julian's expression didn't change, but Emily saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He hadn't expected her to stand up to him like this.
"I'll tell you this much," Julian said, his voice low and measured. "The deal I'm making is necessary for my company's survival. And as for working with my rivals...let's just say that sometimes, you have to make alliances with people you don't particularly like in order to achieve your goals."
Emily's mind was racing with questions, but before she could ask any of them, Julian continued.
"But I will say this, Emily. You're getting closer to something you shouldn't be poking around in. Something that could put you in real danger. So, for your own sake, stay out of it."
Emily felt a shiver run down her spine. What was Julian hiding? And what kind of danger was she in?
As she looked into Julian's eyes, Emily knew that she had to make a choice. Would she back down and play it safe, or would she keep pushing to uncover the truth?