The CEO and the Troublemaker

Ava Carter was late. Very late. The kind of late that made a person question every decision that had brought them to that exact moment. She ran across the marble floor of Blackwood Enterprises with one shoe in her hand, her handbag bouncing against her hip, and several strands of hair escaping from the messy bun she had spent twenty minutes trying to perfect. “Please, please, please,” she whispered. “Don't let him be here yet.” The receptionist looked up. She knew immediately that Ava was in trouble. “Good morning.” Ava stopped in front of the desk, breathing heavily. “Please tell me Mr. Blackwood hasn't arrived.” The receptionist glanced at the large clock behind her. “He arrived thirty minutes ago.” Ava closed her eyes. “No.” “Yes.” “Are you sure?” “I watched him walk into the building.” Ava looked down at herself. One shoe. One bare foot. Wrinkled blouse. Hair looking like she'd fought a small hurricane. She groaned. “This is the worst day of my life.” The receptionist smiled. “You could always go home.” Ava immediately shook her head. “No. I need this job.” “Then you should probably go upstairs.” Ava nodded. “Right.” She took one deep breath. Then another. “Okay. I can do this.” She put her shoe back on. She straightened her blouse. She adjusted her hair. Then she marched toward the elevator like a woman who had everything under control. She did not. The elevator doors opened. Ava stepped inside. Just as the doors were about to close, a man's hand stopped them. He stepped inside. Tall. Broad shoulders. Perfect black suit. Expensive watch. Dark hair styled perfectly. And an expression that could probably make a room freeze. Ava glanced at him. He didn't look at her. Fine. She pressed the button for the executive floor. The man pressed the same button. Ava glanced at him again. Interesting. They were going to the same place. She looked at the elevator numbers. Then at him. Then back at the numbers. The silence became uncomfortable. Finally, Ava cleared her throat. “Good morning.” Nothing. She looked at him. “Did you hear me?” “Yes.” “Then why didn't you answer?” He slowly turned his head. His eyes met hers. Ava suddenly regretted everything. “Good morning,” he said. His voice was deep and calm. Ava nodded. “Much better.” He raised an eyebrow. “You always talk this much?” “Only when people are rude.” His expression didn't change. “Interesting.” Ava folded her arms. “What?” “Nothing.” She rolled her eyes. “People are strange.” The elevator continued upward. Ava checked her phone. Three missed calls. One from her landlord. Two from her best friend, Lily. She sighed. Today was already terrible. Then the elevator suddenly stopped. The lights flickered. Ava froze. “Oh no.” The man beside her pressed the emergency button. “Relax.” “Relax?” “Yes.” “We're trapped in an elevator!” “We'll be out shortly.” Ava stared at him. “You sound very calm.” “I've been in worse situations.” She looked at him suspiciously. “What kind of situations?” He didn't answer. The elevator suddenly moved again. Ava grabbed the wall. “Oh, thank goodness!” The doors opened. She rushed out. The man followed. Ava walked toward the reception area. Then she heard someone say: “Good morning, Mr. Blackwood.” She stopped. Her entire body went still. Slowly, she turned around. The man from the elevator was standing behind her. Mr. Blackwood. Damien Blackwood. The CEO. The man who owned the company. The man she had just called rude. Ava's mouth opened. No words came out. Damien looked at her. “Miss Carter.” She swallowed. “Yes?” “You're late.” Ava looked at the clock. Then at him. “I can explain.” “I hope so.” She took a breath. “Well…” She couldn't tell him the truth. Not yet. Because the truth was embarrassing. She had woken up late. Then her neighbor's dog had stolen her shoe. Then she had stopped to buy breakfast. Then a chicken had stolen her breakfast. And, in a moment of complete stupidity, she had chased the chicken halfway down the street. There was absolutely no professional way to explain that. So she smiled. “Traffic.” Damien stared at her. “You chased a chicken.” Ava's eyes widened. He had heard her. “You remember that?” “I was in the elevator.” “Oh.” She looked away. “Right.” Damien walked past her. “Conference room. Five minutes.” Ava blinked. “Wait.” He stopped. “Am I fired?” “No.” She smiled. “That's good.” He looked at her. “Yet.” Her smile disappeared. Damien walked away. Ava stared after him. “That man is going to kill me.” The receptionist laughed. “You're the new assistant, right?” “Yes.” “Good luck.” “Why?” The receptionist leaned closer. “Mr. Blackwood has fired three assistants this year.” Ava's eyes widened. “Three?” “Four, actually.” Ava swallowed. “Why?” “None of them lasted more than two months.” Ava looked toward the conference room. She took a deep breath. “I'll be different.” The receptionist smiled. “Everyone says that.” Ava walked toward the conference room. She knocked. “Come in.” She opened the door. Damien sat at the head of the table. Several executives sat around him. Ava walked in. “Good morning.” Damien looked at her. “Sit.” She sat. He opened a file. “Ava Carter. Twenty-four years old. Bachelor's degree in business administration. Three previous jobs.” “Yes.” “Your last employer described you as intelligent.” Ava smiled. “That's nice.” “He also described you as…” Damien paused. Ava waited. “Unpredictable.” Her smile disappeared. “He said that?” “Yes.” “That man has no sense of humor.” One of the executives laughed. Damien looked at him. The man immediately stopped. Damien returned his attention to Ava. “Why do you want this job?” Ava thought about it. “Because I need money.” Everyone stared. She cleared her throat. “I mean…” Damien waited. “I need experience.” “That's better.” “And because I think I can help you.” “How?” Ava looked around the room. “Honestly?” “Yes.” “You need someone who isn't afraid of you.” Silence. Someone coughed. Ava realized she might have made a terrible mistake. Damien leaned back. “And you're not afraid of me?” Ava looked into his eyes. She wanted to say no. But she was terrified. Still, she smiled. “Not yet.” For the first time that morning, something changed in Damien's expression. A tiny smile. Almost invisible. But it was there. He closed the file. “You start today.” Ava blinked. “Really?” “Yes.” She stood too quickly. Her chair moved backward. She nearly fell. Damien caught her arm. For one brief second, they stared at each other. His hand was around her wrist. Her heart began beating faster. Then Damien released her. “Careful.” Ava quickly stepped back. “I'm fine.” “You seem to say that often.” She smiled awkwardly. “It's my special talent.” Damien shook his head. “Your desk is outside my office.” Ava nodded. “Thank you.” She turned to leave. Then Damien spoke. “And Ava?” She looked back. “Yes?” “Try not to chase any more chickens while you're working.” The executives laughed. Ava covered her face. “Oh my goodness.” Damien smiled. A real smile this time. And Ava realized something dangerous. The CEO was handsome. Very handsome. And she had a feeling that working for Damien Blackwood was going to be the biggest mistake of her life. She just didn't know yet that it would also become the greatest love of her life.