His World
596 Words
Monday arrived with another impossible schedule.
Lia barely had time to finish her coffee before Sophia appeared at her desk.
"Change of plans."
Lia looked up.
"I don't like the sound of that."
"You'll be accompanying Mr. Blackwood to the Harper Group merger meeting."
Lia frowned.
"A merger?"
Sophia nodded.
"It's one of the biggest deals this year."
"So... why am I going?"
"Because Mr. Blackwood requested you."
Lia stared.
"He specifically requested me?"
"Yes."
"But there are people far more qualified."
"There are."
"Then why me?"
Sophia smiled faintly.
"You'll have to ask him."
Ten minutes later, Lia stood outside Ethan's office.
She knocked once.
"Come in."
He didn't look up from the documents spread across his desk.
"I heard I'm going to the merger meeting."
"You are."
"Why?"
He signed another page before answering.
"Because I want you there."
"That's not an explanation."
"It's enough of one."
She crossed her arms.
"You know, you have a habit of answering questions without actually answering them."
"So I've been told."
An hour later, they arrived at the Harper Group headquarters.
The lobby alone was larger than Lia's entire university library.
Executives greeted Ethan the moment he stepped inside.
"Mr. Blackwood."
"It's an honor."
"Good morning, sir."
Everyone straightened as he walked past.
No one dared keep him waiting.
Lia had seen him at work before.
But never like this.
Outside Blackwood Tower...
His reputation walked into the room before he did.
Inside the boardroom, dozens of executives waited.
The conversation stopped the moment Ethan entered.
He greeted no one first.
He simply took his seat.
The room adjusted itself around him.
Lia quietly sat a few chairs behind him.
Trying to be invisible.
The meeting began.
Presentations.
Financial reports.
Growth projections.
Lia focused on taking notes.
Then something unexpected happened.
A senior executive interrupted Ethan.
"I don't think your proposal is realistic."
The room grew tense.
Lia looked toward Ethan.
He didn't react.
Not immediately.
Instead, he calmly closed the file in front of him.
"Which part?"
The executive hesitated.
"The international expansion."
Ethan stood.
Walked to the screen.
And for the next fifteen minutes...
He dismantled every argument with facts, numbers, and data.
Without raising his voice.
Without insulting anyone.
By the time he finished...
No one had anything left to say.
Even the executive who challenged him simply nodded.
"I stand corrected."
Lia stared.
She'd never seen anything like it.
On the drive back, the silence lasted several minutes.
Finally, Lia spoke.
"I understand now."
Ethan glanced at her.
"Understand what?"
"Why everyone is afraid of you."
A small pause.
"They're not afraid."
She laughed.
"They absolutely are."
For the first time that day...
Ethan smiled.
Just a little.
"Good."
Lia blinked.
"You want people to fear you?"
"I want them to respect consequences."
She thought about that answer.
It sounded... lonely.
As they reached Blackwood Tower, Ethan spoke again.
"You looked nervous today."
"I was."
"You handled yourself well."
Lia turned to him.
"Was that..."
She narrowed her eyes.
"...a compliment?"
"I suppose."
She couldn't help smiling.
"You should do that more often."
"What?"
"Compliment people."
"It loses value if I do."
She laughed.
A real laugh.
The kind that came naturally.
Ethan watched her for a moment longer than usual.
Neither of them noticed Sophia watching from the lobby.
She smiled to herself.
Then quietly walked away.
Because for the first time...
Mr. Ethan Blackwood had looked at someone...
Not like an employee.
Not like a responsibility.
But like someone he genuinely enjoyed being around.
And that, Sophia knew...
Would change everything.
- Writer
