Bound by Desire

The clicks of Sophie Greene's heels echoed sharply in the lobby made of marble of Blackwood Enterprises. Each clack on the floor carried the dreams and worries placed on her shoulders. She was dressed in her best blazer-a thrift store find that looked far more expensive than it was-holding her portfolio tightly, fingers gripping it like a lifeline. Her palms were sweaty, showing signs betraying a cool confidence she was desperately trying to project. She was here for an interview, not just any interview. This was the interview. If she would get a job, it would mean something more than a pay-cheque; it would open the doors to her ability to prove herself, to fight her way out of mediocrity, to give her younger sister a bit of security, perhaps, if she worked really hard, bring that good life they had both longed for after their parents died. "Good afternoon," Sophie said, forced to interrupt the silence left between her and a rather poised receptionist behind a sleek marble counter at the front desk. The woman barely peered up too much interested in whatever was on her screen. "Your appointment?" she asked unceremoniously while her well-manicured fingers clacked on the keyboard. "Sophie Greene," Sophie acknowledged, her voice steady even if she felt her stomach fluttering with nervousness. "I have an interview with Mr. Blackwood." Her eyes darted to the receptionist though from above, surveying Sophie from head to toe. There was no malice in her expression, just an air of ironical amusement. "Good luck," and her lips turned into nebulous corners in a smirk. "Floor 48. Someone will meet you there." Sophie nodded politely before stepping into the elevator, closing as it did so, like a well-polished steel capsule wrapped in mirrored glass. A momentary reflection caught her before drawing in a sharp breath. "Keep your head up, stay professional, and don't let him intimidate you," she scolded herself. The journey to the 48th floor was long but it seemed equally short. Oh, as the doors opened, she saw a stylish-looking woman whose grayish hair was pulled into a well-structured sleek bun. The way she dressed spoke efficiently. "Miss Greene?" asked the woman, brisk in tone but obviously not unkind. "Yes." Sophie stood straighter. I am Claire, Mr. Blackwood's executive assistant, Claire said. I will lead you to him. Sophie followed obediently as the two of them maneuvered through a maze of glass-walled offices and busy employees. Everywhere, there was a buzzing atmosphere in the air: clearly, mistakes were not allowed here. When they reached a pair of tall, glass doors, Claire pushed them wide open without hesitation. Sophie entered to be immediately awed by the space's grandeur. The office presents modern furniture that seems sleek against the floor-to-ceiling glass walls showing off the sprawling vista of the combined metropolis below. One mahogany desk only filled the whole room with its surface kept meticulously neat. Ethan Blackwood sat behind it. Sophie held her breath, taking him in. The rumors didn't quite do justice to him. Indeed, he was just as imposing, as the tabloids had described-his dark hair perfectly styled, a sharp enough jawline to cut glass, and blue eyes open to everything at once. "Miss Greene," he said, still not looking away from the papers he was signing. "His voice was deep, smooth, and commanding. "Yes, sir." Yes, ma'am; stepping closer to him, Sophie willed her knees into submission. So Ethan finally turned his gaze toward her. The effect was almost instant; Sophie felt like he was peeling her carefully placed composure, layer by layer, as he gazed coldly. "You are here because I saw potential in your resume," he began while reclining in his chair. "But it does not go to justify a paper. Explain to me why I should let you manage my time, my meetings, and basically my life." This, she realized, was a test. He was not interested in a rehearsed conclusion; he wanted to see whether she could think on her feet. “Because I understand what's at stake, Mr. Blackwood," Sophie replied, facing him with quiet determination. "Your time is priceless, and I don't take that lightly. I know how to anticipate needs, think ahead, and adapt under pressure. If I am hired, you will never have to worry about a single detail.” For a flicker of a moment, something like approval crossed his face, but it vanished too quickly for her to be sure. "We'll see," he said, in that tone of voice, like his expression, devoid of meaning. Claire reappears at the door, and so ends the interview. There was a split-second pause on Sophie, who wondered whether there would be anything more to say that would seal an impression. But Ethan was already back to his papers; his attention was no longer going to be on her. As Claire ushered her back towards the elevator, Sophie felt as though she had walked through a gauntlet. Ethan Blackwood was no mere man; he was a force of nature, his command promising to be like none she had previously encountered. Sophie had a moment to breathe as the doors of the elevator closed. She looked at her reflection in the mirrored walls, which was no different than before, but something had shifted within her. She was no longer just a job-recruitment person; she had stood up to Ethan Blackwood. Her phone buzzed inside her purse as she made her way to the lobby. Pulling it out, she found a text from Emma, her younger sister. "How did it go? Did you get the job? We're so proud of you anyway!" Sophie smiled, and her determination solidified. She wouldn't let Emma down now or any time in the future. Walking outside into the cool afternoon sunlight, she didn't know what lay ahead of her in life. One thing was certain: she would face it no matter what. Little did Sophie know that she was to be launched headlong into a world of vicious power struggles, after-hours confessionals, and, oh yes, a man who would turn her entire world, including her perceptions of herself, upside down—all in a single interview.