The Game Rules
854 Words
The next morning, Amelia’s alarm went off at 5:30 AM, and she shot up in bed like a rocket, her heart racing. She had never been this early for anything in her life, but this job was different.
Blackwood Enterprises.
She had barely gotten any sleep the night before. Her mind was buzzing with nerves, with the worry that she might screw up the chance she’d just gotten.
She rushed through her morning routine, barely taking the time to look in the mirror.
No time for that now.
By 6:45, she was out the door, already second-guessing her decision to wear a white blouse—was that too casual? She didn’t even have time to think about it as she made her way to the subway station.
The train ride felt like a blur. She had to remind herself to breathe.
When she arrived at Blackwood Enterprises, the building loomed over her, just like it had the day before. But today, it was even more intimidating.
She stood outside for a second, staring at the glass and steel fortress before taking a deep breath and walking inside.
This was it.
The lobby was even busier than before, but now, she had a sense of purpose. She was no longer just a nervous applicant. She was here for real.
She walked straight to the elevators, her eyes on the floor. She was trying to act normal, but inside, she was anything but.
When the elevator doors opened on the 7th floor, the sharp click of her heels echoed in the hall as she made her way to the desk where Victoria sat.
“Miss Harper,” Victoria said without even looking up, her tone as sharp as a knife. “Mr. Blackwood is expecting you.”
Amelia gave a quick nod, even though her palms were already sweating.
“Right this way.” Victoria led her to the office door. Amelia’s heart rate kicked up a notch.
It was the same office she’d been in yesterday, and Ethan Blackwood was already standing by the window, looking out at the city like he owned it.
He probably did.
Without turning around, he spoke. “You’re here early.”
Amelia tried not to look uncomfortable, but it was hard. “I don’t like being late.”
He finally looked at her. His eyes were cold, calculating. “Good. I appreciate punctuality.”
He waved a hand toward the chair. “Sit.”
Amelia did as she was told, the chair feeling unnervingly cold against the back of her legs.
Ethan didn’t waste time on pleasantries. “Let’s get down to business. You’ll be handling my emails, my calendar, and my phone calls. You’ll make sure everything runs smoothly.” He looked at her over the top of his glasses, his gaze steady. “If I don’t get what I need when I need it, I don’t tolerate mistakes.”
She nodded quickly, trying to keep her voice steady. “Understood, Mr. Blackwood.”
His expression softened, just a fraction. “I’ve got a meeting at 10:00 with Celeste Montgomery—make sure you’re ready for it.”
The name hit her like a punch to the gut. Celeste Montgomery.
Amelia had done a quick Google search the night before. Celeste was his ex-fiancée. And the fact that she still had meetings with Ethan made her stomach churn a little.
“Celeste is…?” Amelia trailed off, not sure if she should even ask.
Ethan didn’t flinch. “Someone I used to know.” His tone was blunt, leaving no room for more questions.
“Right,” Amelia muttered, jotting down the note on her pad.
There was a brief silence before Ethan spoke again. “If you’re going to work here, there’s one rule you need to understand.” He leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers. “I don’t have patience for incompetence. So don’t waste my time. Do your job, and do it right.”
Amelia’s throat went dry. But she didn’t break eye contact. “I won’t let you down, Mr. Blackwood.”
He nodded slightly, as if he was deciding whether or not to believe her. “We’ll see.”
Then, as if the conversation had never happened, he turned back to his desk and started pulling papers from the top of a pile.
The dismissal was obvious. Amelia took that as her cue to leave.
Before she reached the door, Ethan’s voice stopped her.
“And Miss Harper?”
She turned around, hoping her nerves didn’t show on her face.
“Keep a low profile,” he added, voice steady. “You’re here to do a job, not to be noticed.”
Amelia nodded and left without another word.
As soon as she stepped out of the office, the weight of his words sank in.
Don’t waste his time. Keep a low profile.
It wasn’t just a job. It felt more like a test, and she had no idea if she was ready for what was coming next.
But one thing was for sure—she couldn’t afford to mess this up.
- Writer
