The CEO`S Ruthless Obsession

The first time Elena Rose saw Adrian Blackwood, she hated him. She didn't know his name. She didn't know he was a billionaire. Furthermore, she didn't know that the man standing in front of her controlled one of the most powerful business empires in the country. All she knew was that he had just ruined her morning. And, apparently, her interview. Rain hammered against the pavement outside Blackwood Corporation as Elena hurried toward the towering glass building, clutching her résumé against her chest. Her black flats were soaked. A strand of wet hair stuck to her cheek. Her umbrella had broken ten minutes ago. And her phone had died five minutes before that. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. She stopped beneath the enormous silver sign above the entrance. BLACKWOOD CORPORATION For a moment, Elena simply stared at it. This was it. Her last chance. She tightened her grip on her résumé. “Please,” she whispered to herself. “Just let me get this job.” She couldn't afford to fail. Not this time. Her father's medical bills were piling up. Their landlord had already threatened to throw them out. Her younger sister's university fees were overdue. And after weeks of rejection emails, this was the first company that had finally called her for an interview. Elena took a deep breath and walked inside. The moment she entered the lobby, she knew she didn't belong there. Everything screamed money. Polished marble floors. Crystal chandeliers. Gold accents. People wearing expensive suits and carrying designer bags. Everyone looked like they had been born into wealth. Elena looked down at her simple black dress. She suddenly wished she'd borrowed something more impressive. “Miss Rose?” She turned. A receptionist was standing behind the desk. “Yes?” “Your interview is scheduled for eight-thirty.” Elena glanced at the enormous clock above the reception desk. 8:47. Her heart sank. “I know. I'm sorry. There was a problem with the bus and—” “Mr. Blackwood doesn't like excuses.” The receptionist's voice became quieter. “Especially when someone is late.” Elena swallowed. “I'm not interviewing with Mr. Blackwood.” The receptionist gave her a strange look. “You're interviewing for his executive assistant.” Elena nodded. “Yes.” “Then you're interviewing with Mr. Blackwood.” Elena's stomach dropped. “Oh.” Before she could say anything else, the entire lobby suddenly became silent. Not gradually. Instantly. People stopped talking. Assistants stepped aside. Security guards straightened. Even the receptionist lowered her voice. Elena frowned. “What happened?” No one answered. Then she heard footsteps. Slow. Steady. Confident. She turned around. And saw him. A man walked through the main entrance as though the entire building belonged to him. Perhaps it did. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit. His black hair was neatly styled, his jaw sharp, his expression completely unreadable. But it was his eyes that caught Elena's attention. Dark. Cold. Dangerously calm. He didn't smile. He didn't greet anyone. He simply walked forward, and everyone moved out of his way. Elena watched him approach. “Who is that?” she whispered. The receptionist looked horrified that she had even asked. “Adrian Blackwood.” Elena's eyes widened. The billionaire? The Adrian Blackwood? She had heard the name before. Everyone had. Thirty-one years old. Billionaire. CEO. Business genius. And, according to every article she'd ever read about him, absolutely ruthless. Rumor had it that he had fired an entire executive team during a board meeting without blinking. Another rumor claimed he had forced a multimillion-dollar company into bankruptcy after its owner betrayed him. Elena had never believed everything she read online. Until now. Adrian walked past her. Then stopped. His eyes moved toward the woman standing in front of reception. Elena. For a second, neither of them spoke. His gaze traveled from her wet hair to her soaked shoes and finally to the résumé in her hand. “You're late.” His voice was deep. Cold. Elena blinked. “I know.” His eyebrow lifted slightly. That wasn't the answer he expected. “You know?” “Yes.” “Then why are you late?” “Because my bus broke down.” His expression remained blank. “I didn't ask for an explanation.” Elena frowned. “Then why did you ask?” A few people nearby looked like they had just witnessed a crime. Adrian stared at her. Elena immediately realized she might have gone too far. But she refused to look away. She needed this job. She wasn't going to let one intimidating billionaire scare her. Adrian stepped closer. “You have thirty seconds.” “For what?” “To convince me not to cancel your interview.” Elena's heart raced. She looked directly into his eyes. “I'm qualified.” “So are hundreds of other people.” “I'm hardworking.” “So are thousands.” “I'm loyal.” “I don't need loyalty.” His voice was emotionless. “I need results.” Elena paused. Then smiled faintly. “Then hire me.” Something shifted in his eyes. “Why?” “Because I won't waste your time.” “You already did.” “I was late once.” “You're making excuses again.” “No.” Elena held his gaze. “I'm stating a fact.” For the first time, Adrian looked genuinely interested. Not impressed. Interested. His eyes narrowed. “What did you study?” “Business Administration.” “Experience?” “Three years.” “Why leave your previous company?” “They closed.” “Why?” “Bankruptcy.” “Why?” Elena frowned. “Why are you asking me about their bankruptcy?” “Because people usually leave sinking companies before they drown.” She understood. He wasn't interviewing her. He was testing her. Elena straightened. “I stayed because I didn't want to abandon my team.” Adrian studied her silently. Then he looked at his watch. “Come with me.” Elena blinked. “Where?” “My office.” The receptionist looked shocked. Adrian turned away. Elena hurried after him. The private elevator opened immediately. She stepped inside. The doors closed. For the first time, they were alone. The silence was suffocating. Elena stood on one side. Adrian stood on the other. He smelled faintly of expensive cologne. She stared at the elevator numbers, pretending not to notice him. “You're nervous.” She looked at him. “No.” “Your hands are shaking.” Elena looked down. She was clutching her résumé so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. She released it. “I'm cold.” “Liar.” Her eyes narrowed. “You don't know me well enough to call me a liar.” Adrian looked at her reflection in the elevator doors. “People reveal themselves when they're uncomfortable.” “And what have I revealed?” “That you're stubborn.” Elena almost smiled. “Maybe.” The elevator reached the twenty-fourth floor. The doors opened. Adrian walked out. Elena followed. His office was enormous. One entire wall was made of glass, revealing the city beneath them. A black marble desk stood in the center. Everything was perfectly organized. No unnecessary decorations. No photographs. No signs of a personal life. It was cold. Just like him. Adrian sat behind his desk. “Sit.” Elena sat. He opened her résumé. His eyes moved across the page. “You graduated with honors.” “Yes.” “You turned down two scholarship offers.” Elena's expression changed. “How do you know that?” “I read your file.” “You had someone investigate me?” “I investigate everyone who enters my company.” Elena crossed her arms. “That sounds paranoid.” Adrian looked up. “It's called being careful.” “What's the difference?” “Being paranoid means you're afraid of something that doesn't exist.” His eyes hardened. “I know exactly what I'm afraid of.” For a moment, Elena saw something behind his cold expression. Pain. It disappeared almost instantly. He closed her résumé. “Why do you want this job?” “Because I need it.” “That's not a good answer.” “It's an honest one.” He leaned back. “How much do you need?” Elena froze. “Excuse me?” “Money.” Her pride immediately flared. “I don't need charity.” “I didn't offer charity.” “You asked how much I need.” “Because I want to know what motivates you.” “Working.” Adrian's gaze sharpened. “You're difficult.” “So I've been told.” A faint silence followed. Then Adrian pressed a button on his desk. “Nathan.” The office door opened. A man in his early thirties entered. “Sir?” Adrian pointed toward Elena. “She's hired.” Elena's mouth fell open. Nathan looked at her. Then at Adrian. “She's hired?” “Yes.” “Immediately?” “Yes.” Nathan nodded slowly. “Of course.” Elena stood. “Wait.” Adrian looked at her. “You're hiring me without a proper interview?” “I've already interviewed you.” “That was five minutes.” “It was enough.” Elena shook her head. “You don't even know whether I'm capable of doing the job.” Adrian's expression remained calm. “I know you're intelligent.” “You don't know that.” “I do.” “How?” He stood. The height difference between them suddenly became obvious. He walked toward her and stopped a few feet away. “Because you were the only candidate who corrected the receptionist when she told you to wait.” Elena frowned. “What?” Adrian pointed toward the desk. On it lay a printed report. “Everyone else waits when they're told.” He picked up the paper. “You didn't.” Elena stared at him. “What does that have to do with intelligence?” “Nothing.” He handed her the report. “It has to do with courage.” Their eyes met. Something strange passed between them. Something Elena couldn't name. She quickly looked away. “So when do I start?” “Now.” “Now?” “Do you have somewhere else to be?” Elena thought about the overdue bills waiting at home. “No.” “Good.” Adrian returned to his desk. “Your office is outside mine.” Elena turned toward the door. “Miss Rose.” She looked back. “Yes?” “There's one rule.” “What rule?” “Never lie to me.” Elena smiled. “I'll try.” Adrian's expression hardened. “I didn't say try.” Elena's smile disappeared. “I won't.” She walked out. The moment the door closed behind her, Nathan looked at Adrian. “You hired her.” “Yes.” “Why?” Adrian didn't answer. Nathan waited. “Sir?” Adrian looked through the glass wall toward Elena's new desk. She was already organizing the files. He watched her for several seconds. Then his gaze fell to the résumé on his desk. There was something familiar about her. Something he couldn't explain. His phone suddenly rang. He answered. “What?” The voice on the other end was tense. “Mr. Blackwood, we have a problem.” Adrian's expression immediately changed. “What kind of problem?” “The Sullivan acquisition files were leaked.” Adrian stood. “Who leaked them?” “We don't know.” “Find out.” “There is more.” Adrian's jaw tightened. “What?” “The person who accessed the files also accessed your private family records.” Silence. Adrian's eyes became dangerously cold. “My family records?” “Yes.” “Anything else?” The man hesitated. “We found one name.” Adrian's voice dropped. “Whose?” “Rose.” His blood ran cold. Adrian slowly looked through the glass wall. Elena was sitting at her desk, completely unaware of what was happening. “First name?” The voice answered. “Elena.” For the first time in years... Adrian Blackwood felt something dangerously close to fear. He stared at the woman who had walked into his company less than an hour ago. The woman who had challenged him without knowing who he was. The woman he had just hired. And the woman whose family name had suddenly appeared inside the darkest secret of the Blackwood family. Adrian's fingers tightened around the phone. “Keep this confidential.” “Yes, sir.” “And Nathan?” “Yes?” “Don't let Elena leave the building.” Nathan frowned. “Why?” Adrian's eyes remained fixed on her. “Because I need to find out…” His voice became dangerously quiet. “...who she really is.” And why her name was hidden in my family's darkest secret.