Tempting the boss

Chapter 3: The First Test

The first real test of the day came sooner than Isabella expected. Just as she returned to her desk, her phone buzzed with another email from Mr. Blackwood.

Subject: Urgent.

Miss Carter, I need the Morgan acquisition files on my desk in five minutes. No delays.

Isabella's eyes widened. Five minutes? She had barely familiarized herself with the filing system, and now she had mere minutes to locate a critical document?

Suppressing a groan, she sprang into action. Her fingers flew over the keyboard, clicking through folders on her computer while simultaneously rifling through the physical file cabinet behind her desk. A frantic energy surged through her as she worked, the pressure mounting with each passing second.

Where is it? she muttered under her breath, flipping through thick binders, her heart pounding. Her pulse thrummed in her ears, drowning out the muffled office chatter beyond her cubicle. The weight of her first real assignment pressed down on her shoulders like a boulder. Failing was not an option—not on her first day, and certainly not with someone like Alexander Blackwood watching.

Finally, her fingers closed around the right folder. Relief surged through her, but there was no time to savor it. She clutched the file tightly and rushed toward his office, weaving through the maze of desks with purposeful strides. She reached his door, took a breath to steady herself, then knocked once before stepping inside.

Alexander Blackwood sat behind his expansive mahogany desk, eyes flicking up from his laptop as she entered. His sharp features remained impassive, save for the slight arch of his brow as he glanced at the clock on the wall.

"Three minutes," he noted, taking the file from her outstretched hand. His voice was smooth, authoritative—every syllable measured. "Better. But I expect perfection, Miss Carter. Next time, make it two."

Isabella bit back a retort, instead offering a tight, professional smile. "Understood, sir."

He held her gaze for a moment, as if assessing her, before giving a small nod. "Good. Now get me a coffee. Black, no sugar."

She exhaled discreetly, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes. Of course. The classic coffee test.

Turning on her heel, she muttered under her breath, "Yes, Your Highness."

"I heard that," he called after her, amusement lacing his tone.

Her cheeks burned as she hurried out, mentally cursing herself. She had barely survived her first real task, and now she was toeing the line with sarcasm? Not her best strategy.

The break room was empty when she arrived, giving her a moment to catch her breath. As the coffee machine whirred to life, she tapped her fingers against the counter, her mind replaying the encounter. Alexander Blackwood was just as intimidating as she had heard—demanding, exacting, and impossible to read. But there had been something in his tone, a flicker of amusement that hadn’t quite matched his otherwise rigid demeanor. Had he actually found her slip amusing?

The coffee finished brewing, and she carefully poured it into a sleek black mug, double-checking for any spills. If he was the kind of boss who expected perfection, she’d deliver it—down to the very last drop of his precious caffeine.

Returning to his office, she knocked before entering and placed the mug on his desk without a word. He glanced at it briefly, then back at her. "Efficient. That’s what I like to see."

She gave a polite nod. "Anything else, Mr. Blackwood?"

For a brief second, something flickered in his gaze—approval? Amusement? She couldn’t tell. "Not for now. Dismissed."

She turned to leave, relieved to make her escape, but as she reached the door, his voice stopped her.

"Oh, and Miss Carter?"

She turned, pulse spiking slightly. "Yes?"

His lips curved into a smirk, just enough to be noticeable. "Next time, try not to mutter under your breath. I have excellent hearing."

Heat rushed to her face, but she forced herself to keep her composure. "Noted."

As she stepped out and closed the door behind her, she let out a long breath.

Day one, and she was already walking a dangerous line.