The space between them
1852 Words
Amelia was beginning to suspect that Adrian Blackwood enjoyed making her life difficult.
It was the only explanation for the email waiting in her inbox that morning.
From: Adrian Blackwood
Subject: Project Review
My office. 8:00 a.m. Bring the revised proposal.
Amelia glanced at the clock.
7:52 a.m.
“Of course,” she muttered, grabbing her notebook.
Daniel looked up from his desk. “What's wrong?”
“Your favourite person has summoned me.”
“Blackwood?”
“Do you know another person who can ruin someone's morning with six words?”
Daniel laughed. “Good luck.”
Amelia pointed at him. “If I don't return, tell my story.”
“Should I mention your excellent facial control?”
“I'm blocking you.”
She marched toward the executive floor.
When she arrived, Adrian was already behind his desk, reading a report.
“You're two minutes early,” he observed.
“I'm glad my punctuality continues to bring you joy.”
He looked up.
“Does everything I say require a sarcastic response?”
“Only when I'm nervous.”
The answer escaped before Amelia could think about it.
Adrian paused.
“Nervous?”
She cleared her throat. “About the project.”
“Then sit down. Let's discuss it.”
For the next twenty minutes, they reviewed the revised budget and the board's recommendations. Adrian questioned several figures, and Amelia defended her decisions where she could.
When he pointed out a mistake in one of her calculations, she corrected it without arguing.
“Better,” he said.
“I'm relieved to have earned your approval.”
“You haven't.”
She stared at him.
He returned to his report.
Amelia shook her head. Working with this man was going to shorten her life.
Then he slid another document across the desk.
“The board wants a preliminary campaign proposal by next week. You'll present it with me.”
She looked at the document, then at him.
“With you?”
“Yes.”
“On the same stage?”
“Would you prefer to present from the parking lot?”
She gave him an offended look.
“I'm asking a reasonable question.”
“And I've given you a reasonable answer.”
Amelia sighed and gathered the papers.
“Fine.”
“Miss Carter.”
She stopped.
“Confidence is useful. Arguing with every instruction isn't.”
She turned back to him.
“And being a good leader doesn't mean every instruction has to sound like a threat.”
The silence that followed was immediate.
Amelia regretted the words almost instantly.
Adrian studied her for several seconds.
Then, unexpectedly, he nodded.
“Noted.”
She blinked.
That was it?
No lecture? No warning?
“Can I go now?”
“Yes.”
She left before he changed his mind.
Behind her, Adrian looked down at the report, wondering when an employee had last spoken to him so honestly.
More importantly, he wondered why he didn't mind it coming from her.
---
At lunchtime, Amelia found Daniel waiting beside her desk.
“Come on. We're getting food.”
She glanced at her screen. “I have work.”
“You also have a stomach. I've heard they require maintenance.”
She laughed and saved her document.
They settled at a small restaurant across the street from the company.
For once, Amelia managed to forget about deadlines and board meetings.
Daniel told her about the disastrous first project he'd worked on at Blackwood Enterprises, including the time he'd accidentally sent an unfinished report to every department head.
Amelia laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink.
“I cannot believe you survived that.”
“Neither can I.”
“Did Adrian fire you?”
“No. He made me rewrite the report.”
“That sounds merciful.”
“For three days. Without leaving the office.”
Her laughter faded.
“That's horrible.”
“I learned to check my attachments.”
“Fair enough.”
Daniel smiled at her.
“You're different from what I expected.”
Amelia raised an eyebrow. “What did you expect?”
“Someone quieter. Maybe a little intimidated by the CEO.”
“I am intimidated by him.”
“You certainly don't act like it.”
“That's because I value my employment.”
Daniel laughed.
Neither of them noticed the black car pulling up outside the restaurant.
Inside it, Adrian glanced through the window and recognised the two people sitting near the glass.
His gaze lingered on Amelia's smiling face.
He had come to meet a business associate nearby. There was no reason for him to care who she spent her lunch break with.
Yet the sight of Daniel leaning toward her, making her laugh, irritated him more than it should have.
“Sir?” his driver asked.
“Keep driving.”
The car moved away.
Adrian opened the document on his tablet and forced himself to concentrate.
Amelia was his employee.
Nothing more.
He repeated the thought until it sounded almost convincing.
---
That afternoon, Amelia returned to her desk to find a small package beside her keyboard.
She frowned.
There was no name on it.
Inside was a sandwich, a bottle of juice, and a note.
You skipped lunch yesterday. Eat properly.
She stared at the handwriting.
It was neat, precise, and unmistakably familiar.
“Daniel?”
He looked over. “What?”
“Did you leave this here?”
He shook his head.
“Not me.”
Amelia looked toward the executive elevators.
She knew exactly who had sent it.
Her first instinct was to march upstairs and confront him. Her second was to eat the sandwich before it got cold.
The second instinct won.
She opened the packaging and took a bite.
It was her favourite sandwich.
Her expression changed.
How could he possibly know that?
She glanced at the note again.
Maybe it was a coincidence.
It had to be.
But the question followed her for the rest of the afternoon.
---
At six o'clock, Amelia was preparing to leave when Adrian's assistant approached her.
“Miss Carter, Mr. Blackwood would like you to bring the original project files to his office.”
“Now?”
“He has a meeting with the legal department tomorrow and needs them tonight.”
Amelia checked her bag.
“I have digital copies.”
“He specifically requested the originals.”
She sighed. “Of course he did.”
She collected the files and took the elevator upstairs.
Adrian's office door was open.
“Come in,” he called without looking up.
Amelia placed the documents on his desk.
“Anything else, sir? Or have I completed today's collection of impossible tasks?”
He lifted his eyes.
“Is that what you think your job is?”
“No. I think my job is marketing. Lately, I'm beginning to suspect you hired me as your personal delivery service.”
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then his mouth twitched.
“You've been spending too much time with Hayes.”
“Daniel is a good influence.”
“I'm beginning to question that.”
Amelia smiled despite herself.
She turned to leave, but a framed photograph on a side table caught her attention.
It showed a younger Adrian standing beside an older man.
She recognised Adrian immediately, although he looked less severe in the picture.
“Is that your father?”
Adrian followed her gaze.
“Yes.”
“He looks kind.”
Something shifted in Adrian's expression.
“He was.”
Amelia looked at the photograph again.
“I'm sorry for your loss.”
He said nothing for a moment.
Then he replied quietly, “Thank you.”
It was the first time she'd seen him speak about something personal without shutting down the conversation.
She hesitated.
“Were you close?”
“Very.”
His eyes remained on the photograph.
“He expected a great deal from me.”
“Is that why you're so hard on everyone?”
His gaze returned to her.
“Are you always this curious?”
“Only when people make it impossible not to be.”
He shook his head, but there was no real irritation in the gesture.
Amelia smiled.
“Good night, Mr. Blackwood.”
“Good night, Amelia.”
She was halfway through the door when he spoke again.
“The sandwich was from me.”
She turned, surprised.
“I figured.”
“Then why didn't you say anything?”
“Because I wasn't sure whether to thank you or ask how you knew what I liked.”
Adrian paused.
“I pay attention.”
The answer was simple.
But something about the way he said it made her heart stumble.
She looked away first.
“Thank you. It was thoughtful.”
He nodded toward the door.
“Go home.”
This time, Amelia left smiling.
---
After she was gone, Adrian opened the drawer containing his father's letter.
He had spent the day trying to focus on work, but the lawyer's warning continued to trouble him.
Someone had destroyed the partnership between their fathers.
Someone might still be connected to the Blackwood family.
And Amelia was now working in the middle of it all.
His phone rang.
“Adrian,” the lawyer said. “I've found something.”
“What?”
“A letter your father sent to Amelia's father shortly before their partnership ended.”
Adrian stood.
“What does it say?”
“Your father apologised for something. He wrote that he would make everything right, even if it cost him the company.”
Adrian went silent.
“Send me a copy.”
“I will. But there's something else.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“What now?”
“The letter mentions a third person. Someone who was present when the original agreement was signed.”
“Who?”
The lawyer hesitated.
“Your uncle, Richard Blackwood.”
Adrian stared at the photograph of his father.
His uncle had been part of the company from the beginning.
He had also been one of the few people who knew the full history of the Blackwood family.
“Are you certain?”
“His signature is on the original agreement.”
Adrian ended the call and stood motionless beside his desk.
For years, he had believed his family history was straightforward.
Now every answer seemed to lead to another question.
And somewhere downstairs, Amelia Carter was building a future she had no idea might be connected to the darkest chapter of his family's past.
Adrian picked up his phone and called his assistant.
“Arrange a meeting with Richard. Tomorrow morning.”
“Of course, sir.”
He ended the call.
Then he looked at the old photograph one more time.
“Whatever happened,” he murmured, “I'm going to find out.”
But Adrian didn't yet know that Richard Blackwood had already heard about Amelia.
And he had no intention of letting her remain at the company long enough to discover the truth.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD