I barely slept the night before my first day at Blackwood Enterprises. Every time I closed my eyes, memories and thoughts collided in my head. The interview. His voice. His eyes. The strange pull I did not understand and refused to name. By the time morning came, my body felt heavy, but my mind was painfully alert.
I stood in front of the mirror in my small apartment, adjusting my blouse for the third time. It was simple, cream colored, paired with a black skirt that reached my knees. Nothing flashy. Nothing that would draw unnecessary attention. I needed this job too badly to risk standing out for the wrong reasons.
"You can do this, Nia," I whispered to my reflection.
The building looked even more intimidating in the early morning light. Glass and steel towering above me like a reminder of who held power in this city. I took a deep breath and walked in.
At the reception desk, the same woman from yesterday smiled. "Good morning. You must be the new hire."
"Yes," I replied, returning her smile. "Nia Daniels."
She handed me an access card. "Human Resources is expecting you. Third floor."
The elevator ride felt too long. My heart beat faster with every floor it passed. I was not just nervous about the job. I was nervous about him. About seeing Alexander Blackwood again and pretending that the night we shared meant nothing. About pretending I did not feel the spark that seemed to hum beneath my skin whenever he was near.
Human Resources went smoothly. Paperwork. Policies. Polite smiles. By the time I was assigned my desk, some of the tension eased from my shoulders.
My desk was on the executive floor.
That tension came rushing back.
"You will be assisting different departments for now," the HR manager said. "But most of your tasks will come directly from Mr. Blackwood."
Of course they would.
I thanked her and followed the directions she gave me. The executive floor was quieter than the others. The air felt heavier, more serious. People moved with purpose, their expressions focused, almost rigid.
I found my desk near the glass wall that overlooked the city. It was clean and empty, waiting for me. I placed my bag down carefully and sat, smoothing my skirt over my knees.
"New girl."
I looked up.
Vanessa Sinclair stood beside my desk, dressed impeccably in a fitted navy dress. Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she crossed her arms and looked me over like I was an item she had not ordered.
"Good morning," I said politely.
She smiled, but it was sharp. "I heard you did well in your interview. Impressive. Not many people catch Alexander's attention so quickly."
My chest tightened at the sound of his first name on her lips. "I am just here to work," I replied.
She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "That would be wise. This company can be very demanding. Especially for people who do not belong to our world."
The message was clear. You are beneath us.
"I learn fast," I said calmly.
Her eyes flickered with something unreadable before she straightened. "We will see."
She walked away, her confidence filling the space she left behind. I exhaled slowly. So this was what I was dealing with.
I was organizing files when a presence filled the room. I did not need to look up to know it was him. My body reacted before my mind did.
"Ms. Daniels."
I stood immediately. "Good morning, sir."
Alexander stood in front of my desk, tall and composed. His suit was dark, perfectly tailored, his expression unreadable. His eyes met mine briefly before moving to the documents on my desk.
"You are early," he said.
"Yes," I replied. "I wanted to be prepared."
He nodded once. "Good. Follow me."
My pulse quickened as I followed him into his office. The space was large, minimalist, dominated by a massive desk and floor to ceiling windows. Everything about it screamed control.
He gestured for me to sit. "Your first assignment is simple. Review these reports and summarize key points by the end of the day."
He slid a stack of folders toward me.
"I can do that," I said.
His gaze lingered on my face for a moment longer than necessary. There was something there. A flicker of curiosity, of interest, quickly masked.
"Do not disappoint me," he said.
"I will not," I replied.
As I stood to leave, he spoke again. "And Ms. Daniels."
I turned.
"This is a professional environment. I expect professionalism at all times."
The words felt heavier than they should have. Almost like a warning.
"Yes, sir," I said softly.
Back at my desk, I focused on my work, pouring myself into the reports. Numbers. Projections. Strategies. It was challenging, but I welcomed it. Work was something I could control.
Every now and then, I felt eyes on me. When I glanced up, Alexander's office door was open, and he was watching me with an intensity that made my stomach flutter. He looked away the moment our eyes met, as if caught doing something he had no intention of explaining.
Around noon, Vanessa appeared again.
"Lunch," she said to Alexander from his doorway. "We have a meeting afterward."
He glanced at his watch. "In ten minutes."
She nodded and then looked at me. "You can eat in the staff lounge."
It was not a suggestion.
I waited until they left before releasing the breath I had been holding. My hands trembled slightly as I gathered my things.
The staff lounge was quieter than I expected. I ate slowly, my thoughts drifting despite my best efforts. I wondered what Alexander thought of me. If he felt anything at all. If the strange familiarity I felt was one sided.
Back in his office later that afternoon, I handed him the summarized reports.
He scanned them quickly. Too quickly.
"This is good," he said. "Efficient. Clear."
Relief washed through me. "Thank you."
For a brief moment, his guard slipped. His eyes softened, just a little. "You are capable."
The words settled deep inside me, warming something I did not want to acknowledge.
Then the moment passed.
"You may go," he said, turning back to his computer.
As I left his office, I felt it. The pull. The beginning of something dangerous. I did not know then how deeply our lives would tangle, how pain and desire would blur together.
But on my first day at Blackwood Enterprises, one thing became clear.
Working for Alexander Blackwood would change everything.