After Midnight

Chapter 2: Unwritten Rules

Elaria barely slept.

The message from the previous evening remained on her phone, sitting beneath Naomi's name like a stain she couldn't erase.

You have no idea what you've just walked into.

She had considered deleting it.

She hadn't.

Instead, she had spent most of the night convincing herself that it was probably nothing.

A prank.

A jealous employee.

Someone with too much time and too little sense.

It couldn't possibly be serious.

At least, that was what she told herself.

By seven-thirty the next morning, Elaria was standing in front of her mirror, fastening a pair of gold earrings.

She looked at her reflection.

Professional.

Confident.

Unbothered.

Exactly what she needed to look like.

She picked up her handbag.

"You're not going to scare me," she whispered to her reflection.

She wasn't sure whether she was talking to the anonymous sender or herself.

---

Blackwood Media was already busy when Elaria arrived.

Employees moved through the lobby carrying laptops, folders, coffee cups, and phones pressed against their ears.

She walked through the glass doors and immediately felt like she had stepped into another world.

Her world had always been notebooks, unfinished scripts, cheap coffee, and dreams that sometimes felt too big for her bank account.

This place was marble floors, designer suits, expensive perfume, and people who looked like they knew exactly where they were going.

She took the elevator to the twenty-eighth floor.

Her new workspace was surprisingly beautiful.

A large desk sat beside a window overlooking Lagos.

There was a computer, a notebook, a company phone, and a small card sitting neatly in the center.

WELCOME TO BLACKWOOD MEDIA.

Elaria smiled.

For the first time since yesterday, she felt genuinely excited.

She sat down and opened her laptop.

Her excitement lasted approximately six minutes.

"Elaria?"

She looked up.

A woman stood beside her desk.

"Yes?"

"I'm Chloe. Production coordinator."

"Nice to meet you."

"Mr. Blackwood wants you in his office."

Elaria stared at her.

"Already?"

Chloe smiled.

"He does that."

"Does what?"

"Summon people."

Elaria laughed.

"That's comforting."

Chloe walked away.

Elaria closed her laptop.

"Here we go."

---

Adrian was standing behind his desk when she entered.

He was reading something on his tablet.

He didn't look up.

"You're early."

"You're predictable."

His eyes lifted.

Elaria smiled politely.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

She waited.

He didn't say anything else.

"Am I supposed to stand here all day?"

"You could."

She frowned.

"You're serious."

"Usually."

She walked toward the chair.

"May I sit?"

"Please."

Elaria sat.

Adrian placed the tablet down.

"I read your previous work last night."

Her eyebrows rose.

"All of it?"

"The pieces available to me."

"And?"

He leaned back.

"You're good."

She wasn't expecting that.

"Thank you."

"But you're inconsistent."

Her smile disappeared.

"There it is."

"What?"

"The compliment followed by the insult."

"It's not an insult."

"Sounds like one."

Adrian's mouth twitched.

"You have talent. But your writing lacks discipline."

Elaria crossed her arms.

"Maybe I don't like being disciplined."

"I noticed."

Their eyes met.

Something strange happened.

For one second, neither looked away.

Elaria broke the contact first.

"So why did you hire me?"

"Because I think you can become very good."

Her heart skipped.

She hated that his words affected her.

"And because?"

Adrian's gaze remained on hers.

"Because you're not afraid to disagree with me."

Elaria smiled.

"Maybe I'm just stubborn."

"I know."

She laughed softly.

"You've known me for less than twenty-four hours."

"And you're easy to read."

That irritated her.

"I'm not."

"You are."

"Then tell me what I'm thinking."

Adrian studied her.

"You're wondering why I keep looking at you."

Elaria froze.

The room suddenly felt warmer.

He continued calmly.

"And you're trying very hard not to wonder the same thing about me."

Her lips parted.

For once, she had nothing to say.

Adrian's expression remained unreadable.

Then he looked away.

"Your assignment."

The moment broke.

Elaria cleared her throat.

"Right."

He slid a folder toward her.

"We're developing a romantic drama. I want the first treatment by Friday."

She opened it.

"That's three days."

"Correct."

"You're impossible."

"I've heard that before."

"I believe it."

She closed the folder.

"I'll have it ready."

"I expect you to."

Elaria stood.

She had reached the door when Adrian spoke again.

"Elaria."

She turned.

"Yes?"

"About last night."

Her stomach tightened.

"The message?"

He nodded.

"Forget it."

She stared at him.

"That's your advice?"

"Yes."

"Someone threatened me."

"I know."

"And you're telling me to forget it?"

"I'm telling you not to let a stranger control your decisions."

His voice had changed.

It wasn't teasing anymore.

It was serious.

"Did you find out who sent it?"

"Not yet."

Elaria watched him carefully.

"Why do you care?"

Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly.

"You're my employee."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting."

She held his gaze.

Then she smiled.

"Fine."

She opened the door.

"Have a good day, Mr. Blackwood."

"Try to."

---

By lunchtime, Elaria had already decided that Adrian Blackwood was the most frustrating man she had ever met.

He was arrogant.

Demanding.

Impossible to read.

And annoyingly attractive.

She hated that last part most.

She sat in the company cafeteria with Naomi, who had somehow managed to visit her during lunch.

"So," Naomi said, stealing a piece of Elaria's chicken, "tell me everything."

"There's nothing to tell."

"You're lying."

"I'm working."

"That's not what I asked."

Elaria sighed.

"He's annoying."

"Adrian?"

"Who else?"

Naomi grinned.

"Is he handsome?"

Elaria stabbed her fork into her food.

"Yes."

"How handsome?"

"Naomi."

"Very handsome?"

Elaria reluctantly nodded.

"Very."

Naomi slapped the table.

"I knew it!"

"Keep your voice down."

"You like him."

"I don't."

"You've known him for one day."

"Exactly."

"That's not a denial."

Elaria opened her mouth.

Before she could answer, she noticed the room becoming strangely quiet.

She looked toward the entrance.

Adrian had walked in.

Several employees immediately straightened.

He barely acknowledged anyone.

His eyes moved across the room.

Then stopped on Elaria.

Naomi followed his gaze.

"Oh."

Elaria frowned.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Adrian walked toward them.

Naomi immediately stood.

"I just remembered I have somewhere to be."

Elaria stared at her.

"You don't."

"I do now."

"Naomi—"

But she was already walking away.

Elaria looked up.

Adrian stood beside the table.

"You're leaving?"

She glanced around.

"Is that an order?"

"No."

"Then no."

He pulled out the chair opposite her and sat.

Elaria stared.

"You eat lunch here?"

"Sometimes."

"I thought billionaires ate in private rooms."

"Sometimes."

She smiled.

"So you do have a normal side."

"Don't get excited."

She laughed.

A waiter placed a glass of water in front of him.

For a few seconds, neither spoke.

Then Adrian said, "How's the assignment?"

"You gave it to me this morning."

"And?"

"I'm already halfway through."

His eyebrow lifted.

"Impressive."

"Don't sound so surprised."

"I'm not."

"You are."

He leaned slightly forward.

"You enjoy arguing."

"Only with people who deserve it."

His eyes stayed on hers.

"Do I deserve it?"

Elaria smiled.

"Definitely."

For the first time, Adrian laughed.

It was quiet.

Brief.

But real.

And Elaria found herself staring.

She had never heard him laugh before.

It changed his entire face.

He noticed her staring.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You were looking at me."

"So?"

His gaze dropped briefly to her lips.

Then returned to her eyes.

"So you're not as indifferent as you pretend."

Her heart gave an embarrassing little jump.

"Maybe you're imagining things."

"Maybe."

Neither looked away.

The moment stretched.

Then Adrian's phone rang.

He answered it, breaking the tension.

"Yes."

His voice became professional again.

Elaria looked down at her plate.

She didn't understand what had just happened.

She only knew she wanted it to happen again.

---

That evening, Elaria stayed late.

The office emptied slowly until only a few lights remained on.

She was typing the final paragraph of her treatment when she heard footsteps.

She looked up.

Adrian stood at the entrance.

His tie was gone.

His sleeves were rolled up.

For some reason, he looked more dangerous like that.

"You're still here."

"So are you."

"I own the building."

"Congratulations."

His lips curved.

"You really don't know when to stop."

"Neither do you."

He walked toward her desk.

"How much have you written?"

"Almost finished."

He looked at her screen.

"May I?"

She moved aside.

He leaned over the desk.

Their shoulders almost touched.

Elaria caught the faint scent of his cologne.

Her fingers tightened around her pen.

Adrian read silently.

"This is good."

She looked at him.

"Really?"

"Really."

That simple approval meant more than she wanted it to.

"Thank you."

He straightened.

"You should go home."

"I can take care of myself."

"I didn't say you couldn't."

"Then why are you telling me to leave?"

"Because it's late."

She glanced at the clock.

11:47 p.m.

She hadn't realized how much time had passed.

Adrian walked toward the elevator.

Elaria followed.

The elevator doors opened.

They stepped inside.

Just the two of them.

The doors closed.

Silence.

Elaria stared at the numbers above the door.

Adrian stood beside her.

Close enough that she could feel his presence without looking.

"You always this quiet?" she asked.

"Only when I'm thinking."

"What are you thinking about?"

He turned his head.

"You."

Her breath caught.

The elevator suddenly felt much smaller.

Adrian looked at her for a long moment.

Then the elevator stopped.

The doors opened.

The spell broke.

Elaria stepped out quickly.

She turned around.

Adrian was still inside.

Their eyes met.

"Goodnight, Elaria."

"Goodnight."

The doors closed between them.

Elaria stood there for several seconds.

Her heart was beating far too fast.

She looked at the closed elevator doors.

"This is going to be a problem."

And somewhere inside the descending elevator, Adrian Blackwood was thinking exactly the same thing.