chapter one: The CEO
765 Words
Chapter 1: The CEO
Ethan Cole stared up at the towering glass building before him and swallowed hard.
Blackwood Corporation.
The largest technology company in the country.
The company thousands of graduates dreamed of working for.
And somehow, against all odds, he had secured an internship here.
His palms felt sweaty despite the cool morning air.
"Relax," he muttered to himself. "It's just your first day."
Just your first day.
Just your first opportunity to impress some of the most successful people in the business world.
Just your first chance to determine whether your future career would soar or crash before it even started.
No pressure.
Taking a deep breath, Ethan adjusted his tie and walked through the revolving doors.
The lobby was even more impressive than the photos online.
Marble floors.
Crystal lighting.
Employees moving with purpose.
Everything screamed wealth and success.
Ethan suddenly felt very small.
A receptionist greeted him with a professional smile.
"You must be one of the new interns."
"Yes."
She handed him a visitor pass.
"The orientation team is waiting on the fifteenth floor."
"Thank you."
Ethan entered the elevator alongside several other interns.
Everyone looked nervous.
Everyone looked determined.
Nobody spoke.
The silence only made Ethan more anxious.
When the elevator finally stopped, they were guided into a sleek conference room.
About twenty interns took seats around the long table.
A cheerful HR manager introduced herself and began explaining company policies.
Ethan tried his best to focus.
He really did.
But his thoughts kept drifting.
Three months.
Three months since that night.
Three months since he'd met Adrian.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
It had been completely unexpected.
A random encounter.
A random conversation.
A random night that somehow became unforgettable.
He still remembered Adrian's deep voice.
His calm confidence.
The way he'd listened whenever Ethan spoke.
Most wealthy men Ethan had met enjoyed hearing themselves talk.
Adrian had been different.
He had listened.
Actually listened.
For one night, Ethan had felt understood.
Then morning came.
Reality returned.
And they had gone their separate ways.
No numbers.
No promises.
No expectations.
Ethan hadn't seen him since.
A part of him wondered where Adrian was now.
Another part wondered if Adrian ever thought about him.
Probably not.
The man was likely busy living his own life.
"Mr. Cole?"
Ethan blinked.
The HR manager was looking at him.
Heat rushed to his face.
"Sorry."
A few interns chuckled.
The manager smiled kindly.
"No worries."
The presentation continued.
An hour later, she clapped her hands.
"Now we're heading upstairs for a brief welcome from the executive team."
Immediately the room grew excited.
Executives.
Actual executives.
The interns quickly gathered their things and followed her toward another elevator.
As they ascended higher and higher, Ethan noticed the numbers climbing.
Thirty.
Forty.
Fifty.
Eventually the elevator stopped.
The top floor.
The executive floor.
The place where decisions worth millions were made every day.
Ethan's stomach twisted.
The doors opened.
Everyone stepped out.
The atmosphere felt different here.
Quieter.
More powerful.
The HR manager led them toward a massive conference room.
"Please remain professional," she reminded them.
Several interns nodded nervously.
The doors opened.
Ethan walked inside.
Then froze.
The world stopped.
His breath caught.
His heart slammed against his ribs.
At the far end of the table sat a man in a perfectly tailored black suit.
Dark hair.
Sharp features.
Piercing eyes.
A face Ethan knew all too well.
Adrian.
For a second, Ethan genuinely believed he was hallucinating.
This wasn't possible.
It couldn't be.
What was Adrian doing here?
Then reality hit him.
The company name.
Blackwood Corporation.
Adrian Blackwood.
Oh.
Oh no.
The blood drained from Ethan's face.
The man from that unforgettable night wasn't just an employee.
He wasn't a manager.
He wasn't even an executive.
He was the CEO.
The most powerful person in the entire building.
At that exact moment, Adrian looked up.
Their eyes met.
Recognition flashed instantly.
Neither of them looked away.
The room disappeared.
The interns disappeared.
Everything disappeared.
There was only Adrian.
Only that look in his eyes.
A look that said he remembered everything.
Every conversation.
Every laugh.
Every moment they had shared.
Ethan's pulse raced.
This was bad.
Very, very bad.
The HR manager began introducing the executive team.
Ethan barely heard a word.
Because Adrian's gaze never left him.
Not even once.
And for the first time since walking into Blackwood Corporation, Ethan realized something terrifying.
Getting this internship might have been the easy part.
Working directly under the man he couldn't forget?
That was going to be impossible.
- Writer
