Chapter 3: A name from the past
667 Words
Amara barely slept.
Her mother's final words kept replaying in her head.
Some doors are better left unopened.
What did that even mean?
By seven the next morning, she was already dressed and standing in front of the mirror.
“It's just a job,” she told her reflection.
“A normal job.”
She paused.
“At a billionaire's company.”
She sighed.
“Still a job.”
She grabbed her bag and left.
By 7:48 a.m., Amara walked through the doors of Blackwood Holdings.
This time, she didn't hesitate.
The receptionist smiled when she saw her.
“Good morning, Ms. Williams. Human Resources is expecting you.”
“Thank you.”
Amara followed her upstairs.
She was introduced to her new supervisor, Mrs. Carter, a woman in her forties with a warm smile and an impressive ability to look intimidating at the same time.
“You'll be assisting the executive department,” Mrs. Carter explained.
Amara nodded.
“Okay.”
“And occasionally Mr. Blackwood directly.”
Amara's smile faltered.
“Directly?”
Mrs. Carter chuckled.
“Don't worry. He won't bite.”
Amara wasn't convinced.
Her first morning passed quickly.
There were emails to organize, documents to sort and meetings to schedule.
It wasn't glamorous.
Honestly, it was exhausting.
But she liked it.
For the first time in months, she felt useful again.
Around noon, Mrs. Carter handed her a folder.
“Take this to Mr. Blackwood.”
Amara stared at it.
“Now?”
“Yes.”
Of course.
She walked toward Kian's office and knocked.
“Come in.”
She entered.
Kian was on the phone.
He glanced at her and held up one finger.
She waited.
He ended the call a moment later.
“What is it?”
“Mrs. Carter asked me to bring these.”
She placed the folder on his desk.
Kian opened it.
Then stopped.
His eyes lifted toward her.
“Where did you say you worked before?”
Amara frowned.
“Williams & Cole Accounting.”
His expression changed so subtly she almost missed it.
“Who was your supervisor?”
“Mr. Daniel Cole.”
Kian leaned back.
“Did you know him well?”
“Not particularly.”
“Did your father work there?”
Amara froze.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
She stared at him.
“How do you know about my father?”
Kian didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he closed the folder.
“Your employment history was on your résumé.”
“No. My father's name wasn't.”
Silence.
Kian looked at her.
Amara felt a strange chill.
“What exactly do you know about my family?”
“Nothing that concerns you.”
She frowned.
“Then why are you asking?”
“Because I'm your employer.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
For a moment, they simply stared at each other.
Then Kian stood.
“Go back to work, Amara.”
She hated the way he said her name.
Like he knew something she didn't.
She turned toward the door.
“Amara.”
She stopped.
“Stay away from Daniel Cole.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
Kian's face became unreadable.
“Because he's not the man you think he is.”
She left without another word.
But she didn't return to her desk.
Instead, she pulled out her phone.
Her fingers hovered over her mother's name.
She wanted answers.
She called.
No answer.
She called again.
Still nothing.
Then a message appeared.
Unknown Number: Stop asking questions about your father's death.
Amara's heart dropped.
She stared at the screen.
Her father had died six years ago.
And as far as she knew, it had been an accident.
So why was someone warning her now?
Across the office, behind the closed doors of his private room, Kian looked through the security monitor.
He had seen the message.
His expression hardened.
Someone else knew Amara was here.
And that meant their secret was no longer safe.
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