Chapter 3
825 Words
Chapter Three
Sophie left Lucas Blackwell’s office with her mind racing. Every instinct in her screamed that this wasn’t just an opportunity—it was a trap. A carefully laid one, disguised as a challenge she couldn’t resist.
Her heels clicked against the polished marble floors as she made her way toward the elevator, her body moving on autopilot while her thoughts spiraled.
One month.
Thirty days shadowing the most powerful man in the city. Thirty days inside his world, playing by his rules.
Could she come out of this unscathed?
Her phone buzzed. A text from Mark.
Mark: Update? Tell me you got something good.
She hesitated before typing back.
Sophie: It’s complicated. Call you later.
The truth was, she didn’t know what to make of this deal yet. Lucas Blackwell wasn’t an easy man to read, but one thing was crystal clear—he wasn’t afraid of her.
Which meant one of two things: either he had nothing to hide… or he was so confident in his control that he knew she’d never find it.
Her gut told her it was the latter.
The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped inside. The moment they began to close, a voice cut through the silence.
“You sure you’re ready for this?”
Sophie turned sharply.
Lucas stood just outside, hands in his pockets, watching her with that same unreadable expression. The city lights cast sharp shadows across his face, making him look even more enigmatic than before.
She arched a brow. “You worried I might actually do my job?”
His lips twitched, amusement flickering across his features before disappearing just as quickly. He said nothing—just held her gaze like he was still trying to figure out what to make of her.
Finally, he spoke. “You start tomorrow. Six a.m. sharp.”
Her stomach clenched, but she didn’t let it show.
“Guess I’ll have to set my alarm.”
The elevator doors slid shut, sealing him from view.
Sophie let out a slow breath, gripping the strap of her bag.
This was going to be interesting.
---
The next morning, Sophie arrived at Blackwell Enterprises just before six, clutching a travel mug of coffee like a lifeline. The city was barely awake—traffic was light, the streets still quiet—but inside Lucas Blackwell’s empire, the workday was already in full swing.
The lobby buzzed with activity. Employees moved with practiced efficiency, their conversations hushed, their gazes forward. There was no lingering, no wasted time. This wasn’t just a workplace. It was a machine.
Sophie inhaled sharply, reminding herself why she was here.
Before she could approach the reception desk, a uniformed security guard stepped forward. His posture was straight, his expression unreadable.
“Miss Miller?”
She nodded.
“Mr. Blackwell is expecting you.”
Of course he was.
The guard gestured toward a private elevator—one separate from the sleek, mirrored ones the rest of the building used. Direct access to the top.
As she stepped inside, the doors slid shut with a near-silent hiss, and the elevator began its smooth ascent. The higher it climbed, the heavier the weight in her stomach felt.
This was more than just a story now.
It was a game.
And she had just stepped onto the board.
---
The elevator doors opened to reveal the executive floor—an entirely different world from the controlled chaos of the lobby. It was silent, except for the faint hum of the city beyond the glass walls.
Lucas stood near his desk, reviewing a stack of documents. The early morning light slanted through the windows, casting long shadows across the polished floor.
He barely glanced up.
“You’re late.”
Sophie frowned, immediately checking the time. 5:58.
“I’m two minutes early,” she corrected.
Lucas smirked, setting the papers down. “I said six. That means you should have been here at 5:45.”
Sophie exhaled slowly. So that’s how it’s going to be.
“Duly noted,” she said coolly. “Now, what’s on the agenda?”
Lucas handed her a sleek tablet, his fingers brushing against hers for half a second before he released it. She ignored the sensation and glanced down at the schedule.
“You’re shadowing me, so you’ll follow my itinerary,” he said. “We start with a site visit, then a board meeting, followed by a lunch with investors.”
Sophie scrolled through the densely packed schedule, her brow lifting slightly.
“Busy day for a billionaire,” she remarked.
Lucas met her gaze, his expression unreadable.
“Welcome to my world.”
Before she could respond, he was already heading for the elevator. No further explanation. No wasted words.
Sophie took a steadying breath and followed, her heart pounding against her ribs.
She had one month to uncover the truth.
And Lucas Blackwell had one month to make her question everything.
- Writer
