Clara's pov
Nine Years Later…
I checked myself in the mirror one last time, pressing my lips together before releasing a slow breath.
Perfect.
My reflection stared back at me: crisp black trousers, a milk-colored blouse tucked neatly, the pearl studs that always made me feel a little more polished. My hair was smooth, falling over my shoulders, and the nude lipstick gave me just the right touch of authority.
I had to look flawless today. After all, this wasn't just another board meeting. This was the day Blackwood Global Enterprises welcomed its new CEO—Adrian Blackwood, the son of the current CEO, a man who had been running the UK branch for years. And now, since his father was stepping down, the reins were officially being passed to him here, in the U.S. headquarters.
From what I'd read in the press, he was a man of perfection. Strict. Demanding. A force in the business world despite his age. A man who leaves no room for error.His face graced every business magazine cover, his name dominated the stock market reports, and the media never shut up about him. "London's most sought-after bachelor," they called him. Women drooled over his jawline and those cold, piercing eyes. Men envied his empire.
And me? I thought he was a narcissistic playboy with too much power.
As the Senior Financial Analyst at Blackwood's U.S. branch. My job was already demanding, but this new boss… rumors said he tore people apart in meetings for the slightest mistake.
I wasn't afraid of him.
Still, as I grabbed my handbag and locked my apartment, a nervous energy simmered in my chest. First impressions matter. Don't stutter. Don't falter. Just do what you always do: be perfect.
The atmosphere at Blackwood that morning was electric, charged with tension. Employees walked briskly, polished shoes clicking against the marble floor, voices hushed as if any wrong note might catch the new CEO's attention. The elevators seemed quieter, the usual chatter nonexistent.
Everyone was on their toes.
When I reached the top floor, the hallway outside the boardroom was already buzzing with executives and department heads. I straightened my blouse again and walked inside, choosing a seat not too close to the head of the table but not too far either.
I needed visibility—but not too much.
Minutes passed. Then the doors opened.
He walked in with his father, and the room seemed to shift.
Adrian Blackwood.
The cameras hadn't lied—if anything, they hadn't done him justice. His presence was magnetic, commanding. Dark hair, perfectly styled. Broad shoulders that filled out the tailored navy suit like it had been made just for him. And his eyes—deep, piercing, scanning the room with sharp calculation.
He wasn't just handsome. He was… dangerous.
Get a grip, Clara.
I quickly lowered my gaze to the notepad in front of me, pretending to adjust my pen.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the elder Mr. Blackwood's voice rang out, filled with pride, "it is my honor to formally introduce my son, Adrian Blackwood, who will be taking over as CEO of Blackwood Global Enterprises here in the United States. He has proven himself in the UK branch, growing it beyond expectations, and I am confident he will continue that legacy here."
Polite applause filled the room. I clapped too.
Adrian nodded once, a polite acknowledgment, then his eyes swept the table—cold, assessing. When they landed on me, they stayed there.
Longer than necessary.
I stiffened, forcing myself not to look away. His gaze was unflinching, intimidating, and something in my stomach twisted. For a second, my throat went dry, and I nearly stumbled over the words when my turn came.
"I—I'm Clara Richards," I said, cursing the tiny stutter in my head though my voice stayed firm enough. "Senior Financial Analyst. I handle the corporate forecasts and financial reporting for the board."
Silence. His eyes stayed on me, unreadable, piercing. Then,he gave a curt nod.
"Noted."
That was all. Just one word, yet it felt like a challenge.
I forced a polite smile before quickly focusing on the next person speaking, pretending my heartbeat wasn't hammering in my chest.
The rest of the meeting passed in introductions, strategy discussions, and the official handover speeches. But every time I dared glance up, I found his gaze flicking toward me. Cold. Measuring. Like he was cataloguing every detail.
When it was over, relief washed over me. I hurried back to my office, dropping into my chair with a quiet exhale.
He's intimidating, yes, but he's just your boss. Nothing more. Keep it professional. Avoid him when you can.
Adrian's POV
She hadn't recognized me.
Of course she hadn't.
As I sat in my new office, overlooking the skyline I now commanded, a slow smirk curved across my lips.
Clara Richards. The queen bee. The girl who once made my life hell.
She looked right at me in that boardroom and saw nothing but her new boss. She had no idea.
I leaned back in my leather chair, letting the memory wash over me. That night, nine years ago. Her birthday party. Her voice cutting me down in front of everyone. Loser. Nerd. Ugly glasses. The sting of her rejection, the laughter that followed me out the door.And the constant bullying after that night.
I'd promised myself I'd never forget.
And I hadn't.
She might've forgotten. To her, I was just another nobody she'd crushed beneath her heel. But me? I remembered every detail.Even when I left the U.S., I carried the memory of her—every sharp word, every cutting laugh.I'd shed the glasses, built the body, sharpened my mind, and turned myself into exactly the man no one could laugh at again.
And now?
Now she worked for me.
She hasn't changed much, I thought, leaning back in my chair. Her hair was longer, her body fuller in all the right ways. Her lips—God, those lips—were even more distracting than I remembered. But behind her polished blouse and heels, I could still see that stubborn fire in her eyes. The same one that once looked down on me like I was nothing.
But I wasn't nothing anymore.
And fate had handed her back to me.
When I'd reviewed the U.S. staff roster last year, the name caught my attention immediately. Clara Richard. A name I could never forget. I'd requested full files. Pictures. Performance reviews. The moment I saw her face, I knew.
This was my chance.
And I wasn't going to waste it.
She thought she could sit quietly in her little analyst role and avoid me? No.
I would pull her into my orbit. Force her to answer to me. Push her until she broke.
Because the boy who once worshipped her was gone.
And the man sitting here now…
The man was going to make her pay.