EPISODE THREE
1997 Words
The alarm rang at six o'clock, filling the quiet bedroom with an irritating melody.
Elena reached out from beneath the blanket and switched it off before it could ring a second time. She stayed in bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling while the first rays of morning light slipped through the curtains.
Today was her first day at Blackwell Holdings.
She had spent weeks applying for jobs, attending interviews, answering endless questions about her qualifications, and wondering whether someone would finally give her a chance. Now that the opportunity had arrived, she could feel a nervous knot forming in her stomach.
Elena pushed the blanket aside and sat up.
She glanced toward the small bed near the window.
Milo was still asleep.
Her five-year-old son was curled beneath his blue blanket, his dark curls scattered across the pillow and one small hand wrapped tightly around his favorite stuffed bear.
Elena smiled.
"Wake up, sleepyhead."
Milo didn't move.
She walked over to the curtains and pulled them open.
Sunlight immediately spilled into the room.
Milo groaned and pulled the blanket over his head.
"Mommy."
"Good morning."
"I don't want morning."
Elena laughed.
"Unfortunately, morning doesn't need your permission."
Milo peeked out from beneath the blanket.
"I want to sleep."
"I know, but you have school."
"And you have work."
"Exactly."
He sat up reluctantly and rubbed his eyes.
"Are you nervous about your new job?"
Elena paused.
"A little."
"Why?"
"Because everything will be new."
Milo thought about it for a moment.
"Just smile."
Elena smiled.
"That's your advice?"
"Yes."
"Very wise."
"I know."
She laughed and kissed his forehead.
"Come on. Let's get ready."
Twenty minutes later, Elena stood in front of her wardrobe while Milo sat on the edge of the bed, watching her.
She finally chose a cream long-sleeved blouse, a black pencil skirt, and a fitted gray blazer. She paired the outfit with simple black heels and small gold earrings. Her long dark-brown hair was gathered into a neat ponytail, leaving her face fresh and professional.
She applied a little lip gloss and looked at herself in the mirror.
She wanted to look confident.
Not because she wasn't nervous, but because she couldn't afford to let anyone see how nervous she actually was.
"Mummy."
She turned.
Milo was standing in the doorway.
He wore a light-blue school shirt tucked into navy trousers, white socks, and polished black shoes. His backpack hung from one shoulder, while his curls looked as though he had fought with his comb and won.
Elena stared at him.
"What happened to your hair?"
"I brushed it."
"Did the brush survive?"
Milo smiled.
"Yes."
She shook her head and motioned for him to come closer.
"Sit down."
"I can do it myself."
"Clearly."
Milo laughed as she gently combed his hair.
When she finished, she adjusted his collar and straightened his shirt.
"There. Handsome."
Milo looked into the mirror.
"Do I look handsome?"
"Very."
"Do I look like you?"
"You look like yourself."
He smiled.
"I like that."
Elena kissed his forehead.
"Good answer."
By seven o'clock, they were sitting at the dining table.
Milo was eating cereal while Elena checked the time on her phone.
She had received an email from Blackwell Holdings confirming her appointment as Ashton Black's personal secretary.
She read it again.
Please report to the executive floor by 7:30 a.m.
Elena glanced at the clock.
7:04.
She still had time.
She put her phone down and took a sip of tea.
Milo was staring at her.
"What?"
"You're thinking too much."
Elena smiled.
"How do you know?"
"Because you do this."
He tapped his forehead.
"When you think."
She laughed.
"I didn't know you were watching me."
"I always watch you."
Something warm settled inside Elena's chest.
She reached across the table and squeezed his hand.
"Finish your breakfast."
"I am."
"You're playing with it."
"I'm thinking."
"About what?"
"My teacher."
"Why?"
"She said we have a spelling test."
Elena smiled.
"You'll be fine."
"What if I forget the words?"
"Then you try again."
Milo nodded.
Elena checked the time again.
7:13.
She stood.
"Come on. We need to leave."
The morning traffic was heavier than Elena expected.
She held Milo's hand as they walked toward the school entrance, her handbag hanging from her shoulder while Milo carried his backpack.
He stopped before they reached the gate.
"Mommy."
"What?"
"You didn't kiss me."
Elena looked at him.
"I kissed you at home."
"That doesn't count."
She laughed.
"Why not?"
"Because it was before school."
Elena crouched in front of him.
"Alright."
She kissed his forehead.
"Happy?"
"Yes."
"Good. Have a wonderful day."
"You too."
"And listen to your teacher."
"I will."
"No fighting."
"I don't fight."
Elena raised an eyebrow.
Milo smiled.
"Not usually."
She laughed.
"Go."
He ran toward the school entrance before turning around and waving.
Elena waved back.
She watched him disappear inside.
Then she looked at the time.
7:22.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh, no."
She quickly turned and headed toward the road.
Blackwell Holdings rose above the surrounding buildings, its glass exterior reflecting the morning sunlight.
Elena hurried through the entrance and approached the reception desk.
A receptionist looked up.
"Good morning."
"Good morning. I'm Elena Vance. I'm here for Mr. Black."
The woman checked her computer.
"You're his new secretary?"
"Yes."
"Forty-second floor."
"Thank you."
Elena entered the elevator.
As the doors closed, she took a deep breath.
She adjusted her blazer and checked her reflection.
Everything looked fine.
Her hair was still neat.
Her blouse wasn't wrinkled.
Her makeup was simple.
She looked professional.
The elevator reached the forty-second floor.
When the doors opened, Elena stepped into a quiet executive corridor.
A young woman behind the reception desk stood.
"Elena?"
"Yes."
"I'm Claire."
They shook hands.
"Welcome to Blackwell Holdings."
"Thank you."
Claire handed her a folder.
"This contains Mr. Black's schedule, appointments, contacts, and some basic instructions."
Elena opened it.
"Is there anything specific I should know?"
Claire smiled awkwardly.
"He's very particular."
"About what?"
"Everything."
Elena laughed softly.
"That sounds reassuring."
"I'm serious."
"I'll manage."
Claire pointed toward the large office at the end of the corridor.
"His office is there."
Elena nodded.
Before she could say anything else, the door opened.
A man stepped out.
Elena froze.
Ashton Black.
For a moment, she couldn't hear anything around her.
The employees.
The computer.
The quiet hum of the office.
Everything seemed distant.
Five years ago, she had met him under completely different circumstances.
She remembered his dark hair, gray eyes, loosened tie, and the sadness he had tried to hide beneath his calm expression.
The man standing before her now looked nothing like that troubled stranger.
He wore a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, a white shirt, and a dark tie. His black hair was neatly styled, and a silver watch rested against his wrist.
His face was expressionless.
Cold.
Controlled.
Powerful.
His gray eyes moved toward Elena.
He looked at her for a few seconds.
He simply looked at her as though she were another employee standing in front of him.
"Ms. Vance?"
Elena quickly composed herself.
"Yes, Mr. Black."
"You are my new secretary."
"Yes."
He glanced at the folder in her hands.
"Have you received your schedule?"
"Yes."
"Good."
He turned toward his office.
Then stopped.
"Coffee."
Elena blinked.
"How do you take it?"
"Black. No sugar."
"Alright."
He continued toward his office.
Elena watched him disappear behind the door.
Claire leaned slightly toward her.
"That went well."
Elena looked at her.
"Did it?"
"He didn't complain."
"That's your definition of well?"
Claire smiled.
"On this floor? Yes."
Elena shook her head and walked toward the coffee machine.
A few minutes later, Elena knocked on Ashton's door.
"Come in."
She entered with his coffee.
He was sitting behind his desk, reading a document.
She placed the cup beside him.
"Your coffee."
He nodded.
"Your schedule is ready. You have a meeting with the finance department at nine, a conference call at eleven, and lunch with the board at one."
"Cancel lunch."
Elena opened her notebook.
"Would you like me to reschedule it?"
"No."
She wrote it down.
"Alright."
Ashton looked at another document.
"The Henderson meeting."
"Three o'clock."
"Move it to two."
Elena checked his schedule.
"That would overlap with your legal meeting."
"Move the legal meeting."
"Should I contact them before changing it?"
"Yes."
"Alright. I'll take care of it."
His eyes lifted toward her.
"You don't need permission for every decision."
Elena nodded.
"I understand."
"I expect you to use your judgment."
"I will."
He returned his attention to the documents.
"That's all."
Elena turned toward the door.
"Ms. Vance."
She stopped.
"Yes?"
"Your previous employer gave you a good recommendation."
Elena looked at him.
"Thank you."
"Don't make me regret hiring you."
She remained quiet for a second.
"I won't."
She left the office.
---
By midday, Elena had already learned that Ashton Black was not an easy man to work for.
He expected everything to be done immediately, and he had no patience for excuses.
During a meeting, one of the executives spent several minutes explaining why a project had been delayed.
Ashton listened without interrupting.
When the man finished, Ashton calmly closed the file.
"You had three weeks."
"Yes, sir."
"And you spent two of them waiting for someone else to solve your problem."
The executive lowered his eyes.
Ashton stood.
"Fix it."
"Yes, sir."
The meeting ended.
Elena collected the documents and followed him back toward his office.
Before entering, Ashton turned.
"The minutes."
"I'll have them ready shortly."
"How shortly?"
"Twenty minutes."
He looked at his watch.
"Fifteen."
Elena nodded.
"I'll send them within fifteen."
He entered his office.
Elena returned to her desk.
She sat down and began typing.
She didn't have time to think about the past.
She had a job.
She had bills.
She had a son waiting for her at the end of the day.
That was enough.
---
The elevator doors opened around three in the afternoon.
A woman stepped onto the executive floor.
Elena looked up.
She immediately noticed the woman's elegance.
She had long honey-brown hair falling in smooth waves around her shoulders and striking green eyes that seemed to examine everything around her. She wore a fitted cream dress beneath a white coat, nude heels, and carried an expensive handbag.
She approached Elena's desk.
"Is Ashton in?"
Elena stood.
"Yes. Do you have an appointment?"
The woman's expression changed slightly.
"I don't need one."
Elena remained polite.
"May I tell him you're here?"
The woman looked at her for a moment.
"I'm Vivienne Laurent."
Elena immediately understood.
Ashton's fiancée.
"I'll let Mr. Black know."
Before she could pick up the phone, Ashton's office door opened.
"Vivienne."
Vivienne smiled.
"There you are."
Ashton looked at her.
"You should have called."
"I did."
"I didn't see it."
"I know."
She walked closer.
"Our parents expect us at dinner tonight."
"I won't be attending."
Vivienne's smile disappeared.
"Ashton."
"I have work."
"You always have work."
"And?"
She stared at him.
"You make this engagement impossible."
Ashton's expression remained calm.
"Then perhaps you shouldn't make it complicated."
Vivienne looked hurt for a moment before quickly hiding it.
"We'll talk later."
"Fine."
She turned and walked toward the elevator.
The doors opened.
She stepped inside and glanced back at him before the doors closed.
Ashton watched the elevator descend.
Then he turned toward Elena.
"Where is the Henderson file?"
"On your desk."
"Bring it."
"Right away."
Elena picked up the file and walked into his office.
She placed it on his desk.
Ashton opened it.
She returned to her desk.
Outside the tall windows, the afternoon sun began to fade over the city.
Elena glanced at the clock.
5:46 p.m.
She had one thought in her mind.
Milo.
She picked up her handbag.
It had been a long first day.
But she had survived it.
And tomorrow, she would do it all over again.
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