The Rules he broke for her.

"You're resigning?" The woman standing in front of Alexander Blackwood's desk swallowed hard and lowered her eyes. "Mr. Blackwood, I—I think it's better for everyone if I leave." Alexander leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. Another one. He looked at the resignation letter in his hand, then back at the woman who had been his secretary for exactly nineteen days. "Nineteen days." She looked confused. "Sir?" "You lasted longer than the previous one." The words should have sounded like a compliment, but coming from Alexander Blackwood, they sounded like an insult. The woman tightened her grip on her handbag. "I tried my best, Mr. Blackwood." "And yet you still made mistakes." Her face fell. Alexander placed the document on his desk. "You scheduled my meeting with the wrong investor. You sent an incomplete report to the board. You forgot to remind me about a conference call." "I apologized for those mistakes." "And apologies don't fix problems." Silence filled the office. The woman blinked rapidly, trying not to let her emotions show. Everyone knew Alexander Blackwood was difficult. Everyone knew he was demanding. But working directly under him was another experience entirely. He didn't shout without reason. He didn't insult people for entertainment. That would have been easier. Instead, he was calm. Cold. His disappointment was worse than anger. "I will have my resignation letter processed immediately," she whispered. Alexander nodded. "Good." The woman turned to leave, but before she reached the door, his voice stopped her. "Miss Parker." She turned around. "Yes?" "Next time you work for someone, don't promise something you cannot deliver." Her lips parted slightly, but she said nothing. She walked out. The moment the door closed, Alexander looked at the empty chair opposite him. Another secretary gone. The fifth one this year. He picked up his phone. "Send the next candidate in." A pause. Then his assistant answered. "Sir, there are no more candidates scheduled today." Alexander frowned. "Then find one." "Mr. Blackwood—" "Do I need to repeat myself?" "No, sir." The call ended. Alexander dropped the phone on his desk and looked through the glass wall of his office. Hundreds of employees worked below him. People thought having money meant having everything. They were wrong. Money bought loyalty. It bought comfort. It bought influence. But it never bought someone who genuinely stayed. His eyes moved back to the resignation letter. He hated incompetence. But he hated disappointment even more. --- "You're telling me this is the interview location?" Amelia Carter stared at the enormous building in front of her. The Blackwood Corporation tower stood so tall that she had to tilt her head to see the top. She checked the address on her phone again. Definitely the right place. She adjusted her handbag and walked inside. The moment she entered, she understood why everyone called this place intimidating. The reception area was quiet. Too quiet. Everyone looked busy. Everyone looked serious. Amelia approached the receptionist. "Good morning. I have an interview with Mr. Blackwood's office." The receptionist looked up. Her expression changed immediately. "You?" Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Yes. Is there a problem?" The receptionist hesitated. "No. Nothing." That was clearly a lie. Amelia smiled politely. "Where should I go?" "Thirty-second floor. The assistant will meet you there." "Thank you." As Amelia walked toward the elevator, she couldn't help noticing the strange looks people gave her. She wondered if she had something on her face. Or maybe everyone here was just naturally unfriendly. When the elevator doors opened, she stepped inside. A woman rushed in just before the doors closed. "Thank goodness." She pressed the button for the thirty-second floor and sighed. "First time here?" Amelia looked at her. "Is it that obvious?" The woman laughed softly. "Yes." "How?" "Because you still look relaxed." Amelia smiled. "Should I not be?" The woman looked around before lowering her voice. "You are going to meet Alexander Blackwood." Amelia waited. "Okay?" The woman's eyes widened. "You don't know?" "Know what?" She leaned closer. "People don't last working for him." Amelia frowned. "Why?" "Because he is impossible." The elevator stopped. The woman stepped out but turned back. "Good luck." The doors closed. Amelia stared at the numbers above her. Interesting. She had heard rumors about strict bosses before. Most of them were exaggerated. She wasn't going to judge someone based on office gossip. The elevator opened. A man in a black suit approached her. "Miss Carter?" "Yes." "I'm Mr. Blackwood's assistant. Follow me." Amelia nodded. As she walked behind him, she noticed the atmosphere was different from downstairs. People spoke quietly. Almost like they were afraid of disturbing someone. The assistant stopped in front of a large office door. "He's waiting." Amelia took a breath. Then she entered. The first thing she noticed was the silence. The second thing she noticed was him. Alexander Blackwood stood near the window with his back facing her. Tall. Well-dressed. Powerful. He didn't turn around immediately. "You're late." Amelia glanced at the clock. She was three minutes early. "I'm sorry?" He finally turned. His eyes were sharp. "You heard me." Amelia looked at the clock again. "I arrived before the scheduled interview time." His expression changed slightly. Most people apologized immediately. They didn't question him. "You are Amelia Carter." "Yes." "Five years of administrative experience." "Yes." "Your previous employer described you as organized." "I try to be." Alexander walked toward the desk. "Trying is not enough." Amelia looked at him. "Then I suppose I'll have to prove it." For the first time, Alexander paused. The room became quiet. Most people avoided eye contact with him. This woman didn't. "You are confident." "I prefer realistic." A small frown appeared on his face. "What does that mean?" "It means I know I can make mistakes, but I also know I can correct them." Alexander studied her. Interesting. "Do you know why the previous candidates failed?" Amelia shook her head. "No." "They couldn't handle pressure." "And you think I can't?" The question surprised him. "You haven't even started." "Exactly. So I don't think it's fair to assume I can't." For a moment, Alexander said nothing. Then he walked back to his desk. "You start tomorrow." Amelia blinked. "Excuse me?" "You are hired." That was faster than she expected. "Thank you, Mr. Blackwood." He picked up a file. "You should know something before accepting." "What?" "Everyone who works here eventually leaves." Amelia looked at him. "Why are you telling me that?" "Because I don't want you wasting my time." His words were cold. But something in his eyes told her there was more behind them. Amelia picked up her handbag. "I don't plan on wasting your time." She walked toward the door. Her hand touched the handle. Then Alexander spoke. "Miss Carter." She turned. "Yes?" His expression was unreadable. "Let's see how long you last." Amelia smiled slightly. "Let's see." She left. Alexander stared at the closed door. For the first time in a long time, someone had walked away from him without looking defeated. And he didn't understand why that bothered him. Amelia sat in her car outside the building, staring at the contract in her hands. She had gotten the job. The problem was... She wasn't sure she had made the right decision. Everyone warned her. The receptionist. The woman in the elevator. Even Alexander himself. But something about him bothered her. Not because he was rude. Because behind all that anger, she had seen something else. Loneliness. Her phone rang. It was her friend, Lily. "So?" Amelia answered. "I got the job." A scream came from the other end. "Wait, seriously? At Blackwood Corporation?" "Yes." "Amelia, are you okay?" She laughed. "Why is everyone acting like I got hired by a villain?" "Because you did." Amelia shook her head. "He isn't that bad." A pause. "Girl, you met him for twenty minutes." "And you haven't met him at all." "You sound like you're defending him already." Amelia smiled. "I am not." But she knew something. Alexander Blackwood was not just an angry billionaire. There was a story behind him. And she had a feeling she was about to find out what it was. Unfortunately, she didn't know that accepting the job would place her directly in the middle of a secret that could destroy everything. Because Alexander Blackwood wasn't just hiding his emotions. He was hiding a promise he had already made to another woman.