BENEATH HIS NAME

BENEATH HIS NAME Chapter One: The Man She Was Never Supposed to Meet The first time Evelyn Hart slapped Adrian Blackwood, there were exactly three hundred and twelve people watching. Some gasped. Some laughed. Every phone in the ballroom seemed to rise at the exact same moment. The richest man in the room didn’t even blink. He simply looked at her with those cold silver-gray eyes, lifted a hand to his cheek, and smiled. Not because he found it funny. Because no one had dared touch him in years. “You’ve lost your mind,” Evelyn breathed. “I’ve been told that before.” “You bought my company.” “I acquired it.” “You fired my entire department.” “I restructured it.” “You call destroying people’s lives restructuring?” His smile deepened. “I call it business.” Every instinct screamed at her to walk away. Instead, she leaned forward until they were only inches apart. “I hope one day someone treats you exactly the way you treat everyone else.” Something flickered in Adrian’s expression. Gone as quickly as it appeared. “I doubt it.” Then security stepped between them. Twenty-four hours earlier… Evelyn Hart believed hard work solved everything. At twenty-four, she’d spent five years building the marketing division of Hart & Rowe Publishing from a tiny office with peeling wallpaper into one of the fastest-growing literary agencies in London. It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t glamorous enough for magazines or billionaires. But it was hers. Well… It had been. Until she arrived Monday morning to find every employee gathered around the conference room television. “What’s happening?” Her assistant, Mia, looked pale. “You haven’t seen the news?” “No.” “They sold.” Evelyn laughed. “That’s impossible.” “No one told us.” “They didn’t have to.” She looked up at the television. BLACKWOOD INTERNATIONAL ACQUIRES HART & ROWE IN £2.4 BILLION DEAL. The room spun. Her father’s signature glared back from the screen. He’d sold the company. Without telling her. Three hours later she stormed into the headquarters of Blackwood International. Glass. Steel. Marble. Everything about the building whispered power. The receptionist smiled politely. “Do you have an appointment?” “No.” “I’m afraid Mr. Blackwood doesn’t—” “He’ll see me.” “He really won’t.” “He will if you tell him Evelyn Hart is here.” The receptionist hesitated. Made the call. Her eyes widened. “He says… send you up.” The elevator opened directly into a penthouse office overlooking the city. It was larger than her apartment. Larger than most restaurants. One entire wall was made of glass. Another was filled with books. Real books. Not decorative ones. She noticed that immediately. Behind an enormous walnut desk stood Adrian Blackwood. Thirty-one. Founder and CEO. Youngest billionaire in Europe. The financial magazines called him a visionary. The business world called him ruthless. The tabloids called him untouchable. Evelyn thought he looked… Infuriating. Perfectly tailored black suit. White shirt with the sleeves rolled once. Dark hair slightly messy, as though he’d run a hand through it during a meeting. He was unfairly handsome. The kind of handsome that made people forgive things they absolutely shouldn’t. She wasn’t people. “So.” His voice was smooth. “You’re Evelyn.” “And you’re a thief.” “I paid £2.4 billion.” “You stole my company.” “I bought your father’s shares.” “He had no right.” “He owned sixty-eight percent.” “He promised—” “He changed his mind.” She hated how calm he was. Didn’t he care what he’d done? “Thousands of people depend on this company.” “I know.” “You fired them.” “I offered severance.” “They didn’t need severance.” “They needed jobs.” “They’ll find them.” She stared. “You really think money fixes everything.” “No.” He stood. “It simply solves most problems.” “I feel sorry for you.” “Why?” “Because one day you’ll realize people aren’t assets.” He walked around the desk. Every step was measured. Controlled. “I know exactly what people are.” “Oh?” “They’re unpredictable.” He stopped directly in front of her. “So I prefer numbers.” She folded her arms. “I prefer humans.” His eyes met hers. “For someone who hates me…” He paused. “…you haven’t stopped looking at me.” Heat flooded her face. “I was trying to figure out if your soul left voluntarily or if you sold it.” For the first time— He laughed. A real laugh. Low. Unexpected. It lasted barely two seconds. But it transformed him. Then it disappeared. “You’ll be staying.” Her heart sank. “What?” “You’re the best marketing strategist in your company.” “I quit.” “No.” “You don’t get to decide that.” “I do.” He slid a contract across the desk. “You have a three-year employment agreement.” She snatched it. Her own signature. Dated six months ago. Fine print. Change of ownership clause. She’d never noticed it. “You planned this.” “I prepare.” “I hate you.” “I know.” “And I’m not working for you.” “You start tomorrow.” She ripped the contract in half. Then into quarters. Then dropped the pieces onto his polished floor. “I’ll see myself out.” The next morning, Evelyn arrived anyway. Not because she’d changed her mind. Because she wasn’t about to let Adrian Blackwood destroy everything she’d built without a fight. If he wanted her gone… He was going to earn it. Adrian watched from the top-floor window as she crossed the plaza below. She walked like she was going into battle. Head high. Shoulders straight. No hesitation. His assistant stepped beside him. “You know she’ll never make this easy.” “I don’t want easy.” “Then why keep her?” He was silent for a long moment. Finally— “Because she’s the only person who’s looked me in the eye this week.” “And?” “And she wasn’t impressed.” His assistant frowned. “So?” A faint smile crossed Adrian’s lips. “So now I’m curious.” He’d built an empire by understanding markets. Competitors. Investors. Patterns. But Evelyn Hart… She didn’t fit any pattern he’d ever seen. And for the first time in years— Adrian Blackwood had found something money couldn’t buy. Someone who refused to be.