UNSEEN OBSESSION

Chapter 7

That morning, Lucas Blackwood walked into the headquarters of Blackwood Corporation with his usual commanding presence. His sharp black suit hugged his broad frame perfectly, and the woody scent of his cologne lingered in the long hallway leading to his office. Outwardly, he seemed calm and composed, but inside, his thoughts were a storm.

Memories of the masked woman crept back into his mind like a fog that refused to lift. Every moment with her felt so vivid—her soft perfume, the warmth of her touch, and the way she unsettled his carefully guarded heart. He tried to shove the thoughts aside, but the harder he tried, the more they consumed him.

Sienna greeted Lucas as she always did, standing at her desk with the professional smile she had mastered over the years. "Good morning, Mr. Blackwood. Today’s agenda is on your desk, including the key documents for the board meeting at ten."

Lucas glanced at her briefly, his eyes unconsciously tracing every detail—her pastel blouse that fit her frame elegantly, her neatly styled brown hair, and the genuine look in her smile. Something felt... off.

"Thank you, Sienna," he replied curtly before striding into his office.

As the door clicked shut, Lucas sank into his chair, rubbing his temples in frustration. The memory of the masked woman lingered like a shadow. Yet there was one fact he couldn’t ignore—the faint scent of her perfume was eerily similar to the fragrance he occasionally caught when Sienna was near.

"This is ridiculous," he muttered to himself, shaking his head.

***

A few hours later, Lucas was poring over documents scattered across his desk, though his mind remained elsewhere. Each sound of high heels clicking past his office made him glance up with misplaced anticipation. Eventually, he picked up his phone and called Adrian.

"Adrian," he said, his tone heavy. "Have you found anything about her?"

Adrian chuckled on the other end. "You really can’t let her go, can you? But sorry, Lucas, I’ve got nothing. She’s as exclusive as I said."

Lucas sighed deeply. "Are you sure there’s no clue? No name, no address?"

"Lucas, even I wasn’t given that information. She’s kept under wraps for a reason. Maybe it’s better to move on."

"Move on?" Lucas scoffed. "You know me, Adrian. I don’t stop until I get what I want."

Just then, a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Lucas quickly ended the call as Sienna entered with a few additional documents.

She walked in with her usual grace, setting the papers on his desk. "Here’s the updated report from the finance department. I thought you’d want to review it before the meeting."

Lucas watched her intently, his gaze lingering a little too long, as though trying to decipher a hidden truth.

"Anything else you need, sir?" Sienna asked, her polite smile unwavering.

He shook his head. "No, that’s all."

But as she turned to leave, Lucas’s voice stopped her in her tracks. "Sienna."

She paused, turning back to him with a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Yes, sir?"

"Have you ever felt... like something’s been bothering you for no clear reason?" His tone was casual, but his eyes were probing.

Sienna tilted her head slightly, clearly taken aback by the question. "Of course, sir. I think everyone feels that way sometimes."

Lucas nodded slowly, though his gaze remained sharp. "And how do you deal with it?"

Sienna offered a small, knowing smile. "I focus on what’s important, sir. Maybe that could work for you too."

Her answer was simple, yet it only deepened Lucas’s curiosity. As Sienna left the room, Lucas was once again struck by the lingering scent of her perfume. It was the same—he was certain of it.

The connection between the masked woman and Sienna gnawed at him. Could it truly be a coincidence? Or was there something more beneath the surface?

Lucas leaned back in his chair, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of thoughts spinning in his head. The masked woman might have vanished, but her presence felt more tangible than ever, looming over him like a shadow he couldn’t escape.

Meanwhile, at her desk, Sienna tried to stay focused on her computer screen, her fingers typing out a report from the last meeting to submit to Lucas. But no matter how hard she tried, her mind wasn’t entirely present. She knew exactly what had been bothering him over the past few days, and that knowledge gnawed at her.

She exhaled slowly, her gaze briefly settling on the blank portion of her screen. He doesn’t know who I am, she thought, and the truth of it made everything feel infinitely more complicated. How could she remain professional by day, while at night she had become someone entirely different in his eyes?

The sharp click of Lucas’s office door opening pulled her back to reality. She immediately straightened in her chair, the sound of his purposeful footsteps filling the room. Lucas emerged with his usual commanding presence, but there was something different in his expression lately—a tension, a quiet frustration, like a man trying to solve a puzzle missing its key pieces.

“Sienna,” he called, his voice steady and authoritative.

She turned, her polished, professional smile firmly in place. “Yes, Mr. Blackwood?”

He approached her desk, holding out a set of documents. “Make sure these reports are finalized for the presentation with the Japanese partners next week. And send a reminder email to the team.”

“Of course, sir.” She accepted the papers with ease, but she couldn’t avoid the way his gaze lingered on her, probing, as though he were searching for something hidden beneath her composed exterior.

“Sienna,” he said again, his tone softer this time. “Do I seem… different lately?”

The question sent her heart racing, but she maintained her calm expression. “I wouldn’t say so, sir. You’ve been your usual self—focused and professional.”

Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly, as if skeptical. “Really? Because I can’t shake the feeling that something’s been off. I just can’t figure out what.”

Sienna offered a small, knowing smile, hoping to deflect his attention. “Perhaps you’ve been working too hard, sir. Sometimes, a bit of rest can work wonders.”

He nodded slowly, though the look on his face suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced. “Maybe you’re right. Thank you, Sienna.”

***

Once Lucas had retreated back into his office, Sienna let out a slow, measured breath. Her fingers gripped the pen in her hand tightly as she tried to steady the pounding in her chest. He was getting suspicious. She could feel it.

Rising from her chair, she headed toward the small pantry at the corner of the office to make herself a cup of coffee. But as she stirred the dark liquid, her thoughts drifted again to that night.

She remembered the way Lucas had looked at her—not as his secretary, but as a woman who had captivated him. The warmth of his touch, the quiet words exchanged in fleeting moments, and the intensity of his gaze lingered in her mind, impossible to ignore.

Sienna, you need to focus. You can’t let this jeopardize everything you’ve worked for.

When she returned to her desk, a new email notification caught her eye. It was from Lucas, requesting her presence in the conference room to discuss the upcoming projects. Sienna took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and walked toward the meeting.

Inside, Lucas stood at the front of the room, presenting with the confidence and authority that came so naturally to him. His team listened intently, and his charisma filled the space. But when his eyes met hers across the room, Sienna felt that familiar tension crackle between them—an unspoken connection she couldn’t deny.

As the meeting wrapped up, Sienna tried to slip out quietly, but Lucas stopped her before she reached the door.

“Sienna,” he said, his tone soft yet firm. “Thank you for your hard work lately. I appreciate everything you’ve done.”

She nodded, meeting his gaze with a practiced smile that masked the turmoil within. “Thank you, Mr. Blackwood. It’s my job.”

But deep down, she knew that keeping this secret wouldn’t be easy. Each day spent working side by side with Lucas only intensified the emotions she tried so hard to suppress—and the bond they both felt, even if neither of them dared to speak it aloud.