Chapter 4 – The Woman Behind the Smile
606 Words
Monday morning arrived with clear skies, but Blackwood International was anything but calm.
Amelia had barely stepped through the doors when the receptionist hurried over.
"Mr. Blackwood has been looking for you."
Amelia checked her watch.
"I'm five minutes early."
"I know."
"...Is he angry?"
"He isn't smiling."
"So... yes."
The receptionist gave her an apologetic look.
"Good luck."
───
Adrian was standing beside the floor-to-ceiling windows when Amelia entered.
Without turning around, he spoke.
"You're late."
She frowned.
"It's 7:55."
"I asked you to review today's investor report before eight."
"I haven't even had a chance to sit down."
"You have now."
She couldn't help rolling her eyes.
"Good morning to you too."
He glanced over his shoulder.
"Good morning."
It was stiff.
Awkward.
But it was progress.
She smiled.
"I'll take it."
───
Just before lunch, Amelia received an unexpected visitor.
A glamorous blonde woman stepped confidently out of the elevator, dressed in an elegant white suit and carrying herself as though she owned the building.
Every employee straightened.
"Miss Sinclair is here."
Amelia looked up from her desk.
"Who?"
"The only person who isn't afraid to argue with Mr. Blackwood."
The woman approached.
"You must be Amelia."
"I am."
She smiled warmly.
"I'm Victoria Sinclair."
She offered her hand.
Unlike everyone else in the company, Victoria's smile felt genuine.
"It's lovely to meet you."
"You too."
Victoria glanced toward Adrian's office.
"Is he being impossible?"
Amelia laughed.
"Every hour."
"Good."
"...Good?"
"If he argues with you, it means he respects you."
Before Amelia could answer, Adrian opened his office door.
"Victoria."
"Adrian."
The warmth vanished instantly.
Their conversation became all business.
"We're still discussing the merger," Victoria said.
"It won't happen."
"It should."
"It won't."
"You haven't even read the latest proposal."
"I wrote half of it."
Amelia watched in amazement.
Nobody spoke to Adrian this way.
Nobody.
After twenty minutes, Victoria walked out shaking her head.
"He is the most stubborn man alive."
Amelia smiled.
"I've noticed."
Victoria leaned closer.
"Take care of him."
Amelia blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"He carries the weight of everyone around him."
She glanced back toward Adrian's office.
"But no one carries him."
───
That evening, Amelia found Adrian still working.
The office was nearly empty.
She knocked softly.
"You missed lunch."
"I wasn't hungry."
"You skipped breakfast too."
"I'm busy."
She disappeared for a few minutes before returning with two paper bags.
"Burgers."
He looked horrified.
"In my office?"
"Yes."
"They'll smell."
"They'll taste better than starvation."
"I don't eat burgers."
"You did today."
She placed one in front of him.
He stared at it.
Then at her.
"You planned this."
"I did."
"You knew I'd refuse."
"I knew you'd be too tired to argue."
A long silence followed.
Finally...
He picked up the burger.
One bite.
Then another.
Amelia tried not to smile.
"It's good," he admitted quietly.
"I know."
"You've manipulated me."
"I prefer 'persuaded.'"
He shook his head, though there was unmistakable amusement in his eyes.
For a few precious minutes, they weren't CEO and assistant.
They were simply two people sharing dinner after a long day.
And somehow...
That felt far more dangerous than either of them realized.
As Amelia packed up the wrappers, Adrian spoke without looking at her.
"Thank you."
She paused.
"For what?"
"For reminding me that I'm allowed to stop working."
She smiled softly.
"You're welcome."
Neither of them noticed the figure watching from the hallway.
A man in a dark suit quietly lowered his phone after taking a photograph of the two of them together.
Then he disappeared into the elevator.
The game had just begun.
- Writer
