The contract had barely dried in Adrian Blackwood's drawer when Elena realized the weight of it pressing against her every move. From that moment, nothing about her job was ordinary.
Her mornings were filled with demands. Adrian's calendar became her calendar. His phone calls became hers to manage. His moods dictated the pace of her day.
And he didn't just test her with assignments—he tested her will.
---
By noon on her first official day under him, she was summoned to his private office.
The room itself was as intimidating as its owner—floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline, sharp lines of black and steel furniture, and not a single detail out of place. It wasn't a workspace. It was a throne room.
Adrian was seated at his desk when she entered, flipping through documents with precise movements. He didn't look up.
"You're late," he said, though she wasn't.
Elena pressed her lips together. "It's exactly noon."
Finally, his gaze lifted. Those dark eyes locked on her, steady and unyielding. "And yet, I was waiting."
Her pulse spiked, but she forced her expression neutral. "What do you need from me?"
Adrian leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "Competence. Discipline. And above all—obedience."
Elena's chin rose a fraction. "I'm here to work, not kneel."
The corner of his mouth tugged upward, though there was no warmth in it. "Then consider this your first test."
He gestured to a stack of files at the edge of his desk. "You have two hours to review every page, identify inconsistencies, and prepare a full report. If you miss a single error…" He paused, letting the silence stretch like a blade over her skin. "You'll regret it."
Her hands itched to slam the folder shut before even opening it. But she didn't flinch. "Two hours? That's impossible."
"Nothing is impossible," Adrian said smoothly. "Only weak excuses."
Elena's jaw clenched. She grabbed the files and moved to the small side table in the office.
The clock ticked like a predator stalking its prey.
---
The first thirty minutes, she drowned in numbers and legal jargon. The documents weren't simple contracts—they were complex financial records, mergers, international partnerships. The kind of data analysts would normally take days to process.
But Elena wasn't about to give Adrian the satisfaction of seeing her crack.
She scribbled notes furiously, flipping pages faster than her nerves could handle. Every time she risked a glance up, Adrian was watching her. Not reading, not working—just watching.
The intensity of his gaze felt like a pressure against her skin.
At the ninety-minute mark, her eyes burned from the strain. She found two discrepancies, then three. She wasn't sure if it was enough. But she refused to stop.
Finally, she slammed the report down on his desk with five minutes to spare.
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Finished?"
Her voice was firm, though her chest heaved with exhaustion. "Yes. Five errors. Page 7, page 19, page 34, page 52, and page 76."
Silence.
He flipped through the pages, scanning her notes with sharp precision.
When he reached the final correction, he closed the folder and leaned back, expression unreadable.
Elena stood tall, bracing herself for his critique.
Then—unexpectedly—he said, "Not bad."
Her brows rose. "Not bad?"
"For someone in over her head."
Heat rose in her chest. "You gave me an impossible task, and I still delivered. Admit it—I passed your test."
Adrian's gaze sharpened. "You passed nothing. You merely survived."
He stood, closing the distance between them in slow, deliberate steps. His presence loomed, tall and unrelenting.
"You think this is a game, Elena?" he said quietly, but his voice cut deeper than a shout. "This was only the beginning. If you can't handle pressure, you won't last a week under me."
Her nails bit into her palms. "Then watch me last."
Their eyes locked, fire meeting ice. For the first time, something flickered in Adrian's expression—something like intrigue.
---
The following days turned into a battlefield.
Adrian threw impossible deadlines at her. She met them.
He assigned tasks outside her skill set. She learned.
He shifted his schedule without warning. She adapted.
Every success only pushed him to raise the bar higher, as if he was determined to break her. But instead of breaking, she grew sharper. Stronger.
And with every victory, Adrian's frustration grew. Because no matter how much he pushed, she refused to crumble.
---
By the end of the week, Elena found herself standing in the middle of his office once again.
He closed a folder with deliberate calm. "You've lasted longer than I expected."
Her arms crossed. "Disappointed?"
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly. "On the contrary. You've proven you can fight. But now, let's see how you handle being cornered."
Her stomach tightened. "What do you mean?"
Adrian rose and circled around her, like a predator assessing his prey. "Tomorrow night, there's a gala. Every power broker in this city will be there. Politicians. Investors. Rivals. It's not just business—it's war dressed in champagne and silk."
He stopped behind her, his voice low but cutting. "You'll be on my arm."
Elena stiffened. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. You're going to represent Blackwood Enterprises. Not as an employee. As my partner for the evening."
Her heart pounded. "I'm not your accessory."
His gaze burned when she turned to face him. "This isn't about what you are. It's about what they'll see. And what they'll believe."
Her pulse hammered with fury and dread. She hated being used. But she also knew refusing him wasn't an option.
"Why me?" she asked finally, her voice tight.
Adrian studied her for a long moment. "Because you hate me. And no one fakes loyalty better than someone who wants to kill me."
The words hit like a challenge—and a trap.
Elena clenched her fists. "Fine. I'll play your little game. But don't expect me to smile while doing it."
Adrian's mouth curved into something sharp. "Good. I'd hate for anyone to think you were actually enjoying yourself."
---
That night, alone in her apartment, Elena sat at the edge of her bed, staring at the contract she had signed days ago. The ink seemed darker now, the chains heavier.
Tomorrow wasn't just another task. It was her first step into his world beyond the office. A world of power, lies, and masks.
And she couldn't shake the feeling that Adrian wasn't just testing her anymore.
He was pulling her deeper into his war.
---
The next evening, when the car arrived to pick her up, Elena hesitated only once before stepping inside.
As the city lights blurred past the window, she braced herself.
Whatever Adrian Blackwood had planned, tomorrow would be her first real power play.
And she wasn't going to lose.