Emma felt her irritation sharpen. “Don’t I? If there’s something I should know?—”
“This isn’t about before.” His voice cut through hers cleanly. “This is about now. About the fact that someone left a threat at your door, and you’re treating it like junk mail.”
“Because it might be!”
“It’s not.”
The certainty of his statement stopped her.
Zach crossed to her desk in three strides, bracing his hands on the surface and leaning forward. It was an intimidating stance—utterly focused—but not a threat.
“Someone is watching you, Emma. Someone knows your schedule. Your routines. Where you sleep.” His voice stayed level, but steel-hard. “That’s not random. That’s targeted.”
Emma forced herself to hold his gaze, even though her heart drummed in her chest. “You don’t know that.”
“I know people. I know threats. I know when someone is being set up as a target.” He straightened. “You’re relocating. Effective immediately.”
She blinked. “What?”
“Until we identify the source of this, you’re moving to more secure housing.”
A laugh escaped her throat before she could stop it. “I am not moving out of my bungalow because of a childish note.”
“You are if security determines the risk is real.”
The words landed like stones.
Emma rose, matching his stance. “You are not in charge of my housing arrangements, Zach.”
“I’m in charge of your safety.”
“No.” Emma fought to keep her voice calm, professional. “You’re in charge ofresortsecurity. Not my personal life.”
“Your personal life became my jurisdiction the moment someone threatened the our HR Director on resort property.” Zach’s expression didn’t change. “I’m not asking. You relocate—or I relocate you.”
They stared at each other across the desk. Emma stifled the ridiculous urge to laugh at the absurdity. She was a grown woman being told to pack her bags over a two-sentence note that was someone’s sick idea of a joke.
Zach’s face showed no humor. No flexibility. Just absolute, immovable conviction.
“This is insane,” Emma said. “I’m not hiding.”
Zach didn’t react. “Then I’ll adjust accordingly.”
She frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It means I’ll be close enough to intervene.” He pulled out his phone, typing faster than anyone with his size hands should be able to. “I’m assigning a security detail to your bungalow tonight.”
“A detail?” Emma felt her control slipping, unease coiling in her chest. “As in… guards? Outside my door?”
“Trained personnel who will make sure you don't receive any more notes.”
“Zach—”
“This isn’t negotiable, Emma.”
His tone was still level, still professional, but there was something underneath it now, something that hinted at why this man had the responsibility of protecting an entire resort corporation.
He would do what he deemed necessary. With or without her cooperation.
