A Seat at His Table
939 Words
Amelia knew her first day would be difficult.
She just didn't expect it to start before she even reached her desk.
"Miss Carter."
She turned around.
The assistant who had welcomed her yesterday stood behind her with a stack of files.
"Mr. Blackwood needs these reviewed before his first meeting."
Amelia looked at the pile.
"When is the meeting?"
"In twenty minutes."
She stared at him.
"Twenty minutes?"
"Yes."
She looked down at the documents again.
There were at least fifty pages.
"Is this some kind of test?"
The assistant looked uncomfortable.
"Mr. Blackwood doesn't test people."
Amelia raised an eyebrow.
"He just gives impossible tasks?"
The assistant almost smiled.
Almost.
"Something like that."
Amelia picked up the files.
"What's your name?"
"Daniel."
"Daniel, I have one question."
"Yes?"
"Does everyone here look terrified all the time, or is it just a morning thing?"
Daniel looked around before lowering his voice.
"Miss Carter."
"Yes?"
"You might want to be careful."
"Why?"
"Because Mr. Blackwood notices everything."
Amelia looked toward the glass office at the end of the hallway.
"I'll keep that in mind."
She walked to her desk.
The moment she sat down, she started working.
She didn't have time to worry about Alexander Blackwood's reputation.
She had a job to do.
---
Twenty minutes later, Alexander walked out of his office.
His eyes immediately went to Amelia.
She was typing.
Calmly.
Not panicking.
Not running around.
He checked the clock.
Interesting.
"Where is my report?"
Amelia looked up.
"On your desk."
His eyebrows slightly lifted.
"When did you finish?"
"Three minutes ago."
Alexander walked into his office.
He picked up the file.
Everything was arranged properly.
Important information highlighted.
Mistakes corrected.
He looked through the pages carefully.
Nothing was missing.
He walked back out.
"Miss Carter."
She looked up.
"Yes?"
"Did you rewrite my report?"
"No."
"You corrected it."
"Yes."
His expression hardened.
"Who asked you to do that?"
Amelia blinked.
"No one."
"Then why did you?"
"Because there were errors."
Silence.
Everyone nearby stopped what they were doing.
No one corrected Alexander Blackwood.
No one.
"You changed my work without permission."
"I improved a document that was going to be presented to investors."
His eyes narrowed.
"And you thought that was your decision to make?"
Amelia stood up.
"No, Mr. Blackwood. I thought it was my responsibility as your secretary."
The office became completely silent.
Alexander stared at her.
Most people apologized when he questioned them.
She defended herself.
Not disrespectfully.
Just honestly.
"You should learn your place."
The words came out colder than he intended.
Amelia's expression changed.
Not fear.
Disappointment.
"Maybe I should."
She picked up a folder.
"But I thought my place was to help you, not watch you make avoidable mistakes."
Alexander said nothing.
Amelia walked away.
And for the first time in years...
Alexander Blackwood didn't have a response.
---
Later that afternoon, Amelia sat at her desk organizing schedules.
She could feel people watching her.
She ignored them.
Eventually, Daniel approached.
"I heard what happened."
Amelia didn't look up.
"Already?"
"This building has faster communication than social media."
She laughed.
"That's unfortunate."
Daniel smiled.
"You really aren't afraid of him."
Amelia placed a document down.
"Should I be?"
"Most people are."
"Why?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Because he's not an easy person."
Amelia looked toward Alexander's office.
"I noticed."
"Then why stay?"
She thought about it.
Because honestly, she wasn't completely sure.
Maybe because she didn't believe anyone was just their worst behavior.
Maybe because she saw something in his eyes.
Something lonely.
"I don't know yet."
Daniel nodded.
"That's probably the most honest answer anyone has given."
---
That evening, most employees had already left.
Amelia was still at her desk.
She looked at the schedule for the next day.
There were several mistakes.
Not hers.
The previous secretary's.
She sighed.
She understood now.
Alexander wasn't only angry because he enjoyed being difficult.
He was angry because he expected excellence.
The problem was...
He didn't know how to communicate without hurting people.
She heard footsteps.
She looked up.
Alexander stood there.
His suit jacket was removed, his sleeves rolled up.
For a moment, he looked less like a billionaire.
More like a tired man.
"You're still here."
Amelia looked at the time.
"I was finishing the schedule."
"You don't need to stay late."
"I know."
"Then why are you here?"
She closed the file.
"Because it needed to be done."
Alexander looked at her.
"You always do this?"
"Do what?"
"Work harder than necessary."
Amelia smiled slightly.
"Sometimes doing your best requires extra effort."
He looked away.
Those words seemed to bother him.
"Most people aren't like you."
"Is that a compliment?"
"No."
She smiled.
"I didn't think so."
For a second, something almost like amusement crossed his face.
Almost.
Then his phone rang.
The moment he looked at the screen, his expression changed.
The warmth disappeared.
Amelia noticed.
"Everything okay?"
Alexander answered the call.
"No."
A pause.
His jaw tightened.
"I said I would handle it."
Another pause.
Then he ended the call.
Amelia didn't ask again.
But she noticed something.
The cold billionaire everyone feared wasn't always angry.
Sometimes...
He looked trapped.
"Goodnight, Mr. Blackwood."
She picked up her bag.
As she walked away, Alexander watched her leave.
He didn't understand it.
But Amelia Carter had been in his office for less than two days...
And already, she was becoming a problem.
Not because she was bad at her job.
Because she was the first person who made him want to lower his walls.
And Alexander Blackwood had spent years making sure no one got close enough to break them.
- Writer
