From Lies To Love

Chapter3

Ryan Blackwood was a man who thrived on control. His entire world ran on precision meetings scheduled to the second, deals closed without hesitation, and employees who knew better than to waste his time.

And yet, at precisely 12:32 p.m., he found himself staring at his phone instead of the document in front of him.

Emily.

This wasn’t part of the plan. They weren’t supposed to be on each other’s minds outside of their agreed upon moments.

And yet

A knock on his office door snapped him back to reality.

"Come in," he said, schooling his expression back to neutrality.

His secretary, Linda, stepped in, holding a neatly organized folder. "Mr. Blackwood, the revised contract for the Hastings deal. And your one o’clock has confirmed."

"Good," he said, but he didn’t reach for the folder.

Linda lingered. After years of working for him, she knew when something was off. "Sir, is there anything else you need?"

Ryan hesitated. Then, before he could overthink it, he reached for his phone.

"That’ll be all," he said, dismissing her.

As soon as the door clicked shut, he exhaled and tapped Emily’s contact.

The phone rang twice before her voice came through light, teasing. "Blackwood. To what do I owe the honor?"

His lips twitched. "Have you eaten yet?"

A pause. "Did you just call me to ask if I had lunch?"

"Answer the question, Emily."

She sighed dramatically. "If you must know, no. I was about to order something."

"Don’t bother," he said smoothly. "I’m sending something over."

Another pause. Then, suspiciously, "Why?"

"Because if you pass out from hunger, our deal becomes a lot harder to maintain."

She scoffed. "Oh, so you’re worried about the contract, not me?"

Ryan leaned back in his chair, allowing himself a small smirk. "Did I say that?"

Silence.

He imagined her sitting wherever she was, probably rolling her eyes, but unable to stop the slight flush creeping up her neck.

"Fine," she muttered. "But if you send me something gross, I’m blocking your number."

He chuckled. "Noted."

Just as he was about to end the call, she spoke again quieter this time.

"Ryan?"

Something about the way she said his name made his grip tighten around the phone.

"Hmm?"

"You didn’t have to do this."

He exhaled. "I know."

But he wanted to.

And that was the problem.

As Ryan set his phone down, a smirk still lingering on his lips, he should’ve gone back to work. His schedule was packed, his inbox overflowing, and yet…

Emily.

Her voice still echoed in his head soft but challenging, always pushing, always daring him.

His fingers drummed against his desk as his gaze drifted to the skyline outside his window. He hadn't thought about those days in a long time. Hadn't allowed himself to.

But Emily had always been the exception to his rules.

She had been the one person in his company who didn’t fall in line, who questioned him, who challenged his every decision.

Who made him lose his damn mind.

Three Years Ago…

"You're impossible!" Emily stood in the middle of his office, hands planted on her hips, frustration flashing in her eyes.

Ryan barely looked up from his desk. "Then it's a miracle you’re still here, isn’t it?"

Her breath hitched, but she recovered quickly. "I’m still here because I'm good at my job, Blackwood. Despite the way you push people to their breaking point."

He finally glanced at her, taking in the way her chest rose and fell with barely contained anger. The way her fingers curled into fists like she was this close to throwing something at him.

And damn it he liked it.

Liked how she didn’t cower like the others.

Liked how she challenged him, forced him to engage in ways no one else did.

Liked how she made his blood heat in a way that had nothing to do with frustration and everything to do with something far more dangerous.

He had to grip the edge of his desk to keep himself in check.

"I push because I expect the best," he said coolly. "If that’s too much for you, maybe you’re not as good as you think."

Emily let out a sharp laugh. "Oh, I see. You want to provoke me. Make me prove myself over and over again just so you can feel in control."

Ryan’s jaw tightened. Control. That was the problem, wasn’t it?

He had control over everything his company, his reputation, his life.

But not her.

Never her.

Emily Daniels had been the one thing he couldn’t predict, couldn’t manage.

And that terrified him.

So he did the only thing he could.

He pushed harder.

"Are you done?" he asked, his voice like ice.

Emily stared at him, something flickering behind her eyes hurt, maybe. Or maybe just disappointment.

"Yeah," she said softly, taking a step back. "I think I am."

Then she turned and walked out.

And for the first time in years, Ryan Blackwood felt like he’d just made a mistake.

Present Day

Ryan exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair.

He hadn’t meant to drive her away.

He had just needed space needed distance from the one person who could make him lose control.

And now?

Now she was back in his life, in his car, in his damn head, and he had no idea what to do about it.

Emily stared at the neatly packed lunch on her desk, her brows furrowing in suspicion.

A gourmet meal, wrapped with precision, complete with her favorite dessert.

She didn’t have to guess who sent it.

Her phone was still in her hand, her conversation with Ryan replaying in her mind.

“Because if you pass out from hunger, our deal becomes a lot harder to maintain.”

Liar.

This wasn’t about the deal. It couldn’t be.

Ryan Blackwood was the most calculating man she had ever known nothing he did was without a purpose. And yet…

She found herself grabbing the bag, slipping on her coat, and heading for the elevator.

But one thing was certain

Emily Daniels wasn’t just some woman from his past.

She was his greatest weakness.

And if he wasn’t careful, she was going to ruin him all over again.