OWNED BY MY RUTHLESS BOSS

Blackwood City was a place where dreams were expensive, opportunities were rare, and money determined how much respect a person deserved. For Elena Montgomery, surviving in such a city had never been easy. At twenty-five, she had already experienced more financial struggles than she cared to remember. Between overdue rent, unpaid bills, and a refrigerator that contained little more than eggs and bottled water, finding a stable job had become her only priority. Fortunately, after months of searching, she had finally secured a position at Blackwood International, the largest corporation in the city. Unfortunately, she had been hired as the personal assistant to Alexander Blackwood. And that was where her problems began. Sofia: “ELENA! Hurry up! We’re going to be late!” Sofia Carter stood beside the kitchen counter, impatiently tapping her perfectly manicured fingers against her phone. Unlike Elena, Sofia had been working at Blackwood International for nearly two years. She was an ordinary employee in the marketing department, which meant she rarely had to interact directly with the company’s terrifying CEO. Elena emerged from her bedroom, struggling to tuck her white blouse neatly into her black pencil skirt. Elena: “I’m coming! Stop shouting!” Sofia turned around, ready to complain, but stopped when she saw her best friend. Sofia: “Oh, girl. Look at you!” Elena glanced down at herself nervously. Elena: “What? Is something wrong?” Sofia: “Wrong? You look gorgeous!” Elena smiled shyly. Her long brown hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, and her makeup was simple but elegant. Her curvy figure filled out her professional outfit beautifully, although she couldn’t stop adjusting the fabric around her soft stomach. Elena: “Are you sure this skirt isn’t too tight?” Sofia rolled her eyes. Sofia: “Elena, for God’s sake. You’ve asked me that five times.” Elena: “I’m nervous!” Sofia: “I know, sweetheart. But you look professional. Now grab your bag before I leave you here.” Elena quickly collected her belongings and followed Sofia toward the apartment door. The two women had been best friends since university. Sofia was confident, outspoken, and occasionally dramatic, while Elena was gentle, shy, and far too polite for her own good. They were complete opposites. Perhaps that was why their friendship worked so well. As they entered the elevator, Sofia glanced at Elena with an unusually serious expression. Sofia: “Okay. Before we get there, we need to talk.” Elena frowned. Elena: “About what?” Sofia: “Your boss.” Elena sighed. Elena: “Sofia, please. You’re making me more nervous.” Sofia: “Good. You should be nervous.” Elena: “That’s not helping!” Sofia folded her arms. Sofia: “Listen carefully. Alexander Blackwood is not like normal bosses. He doesn’t smile, he doesn’t joke, and he definitely doesn’t appreciate people wasting his time.” Elena swallowed. Elena: “Is he really that bad?” Sofia looked at her. Sofia: “Elena, eleven assistants have either resigned or been fired in eight months.” Elena stopped walking. Elena: “Eleven?” Sofia: “Eleven.” Elena: “Oh, my God.” Sofia: “Exactly.” Elena stared at her friend in disbelief. Elena: “Why didn’t you tell me this before I accepted the job?” Sofia gave her an innocent smile. Sofia: “Because the salary is amazing, and you need money.” Elena opened her mouth, then closed it again. Unfortunately, Sofia had a point. Blackwood Tower dominated the financial district, its seventy floors of black glass reflecting the morning sunlight. The building was magnificent, intimidating, and ridiculously expensive-looking. Elena stood beside Sofia outside the entrance, staring upward with wide eyes. Elena: “It’s enormous.” Sofia: “That’s what she said.” Elena turned toward her. Elena: “Sofia!” Sofia burst into laughter. Sofia: “Sorry! I couldn’t resist.” Elena shook her head, although a small smile appeared on her lips. Together, they entered the building. The lobby was filled with employees dressed in expensive suits, polished shoes, and elegant dresses. Everyone seemed to know exactly where they were going. Everyone except Elena. She followed Sofia closely, afraid of accidentally wandering into the wrong department. As they approached the elevators, a group of employees suddenly became quiet. Sofia noticed immediately. Her smile disappeared. Sofia: “Oh, shit.” Elena looked at her. Elena: “What?” Sofia: “Don’t turn around too quickly.” Naturally, Elena turned around. And immediately regretted it. A tall man wearing a perfectly tailored black suit had just entered the lobby, accompanied by two men carrying documents. Alexander Blackwood. At twenty-five, he was already one of the wealthiest men in the country. His sharp features, dark hair, broad shoulders, and piercing grey eyes made him almost impossibly handsome. But there was nothing welcoming about his appearance. His expression was cold, his jaw tense, and his entire presence seemed to demand silence. Employees immediately moved aside as he approached. Nobody greeted him casually. Nobody dared stand in his way. Sofia: “Elena. Eyes down.” Elena quickly lowered her gaze. Alexander walked past them without acknowledging either woman. Alexander: “I want the financial report on my desk before the board meeting.” Daniel: “Of course, sir.” Alexander: “And tell Harrison that if he wastes another minute of my time, he can clear out his office.” Daniel: “Understood, Mr. Blackwood.” Alexander entered the private elevator without another word. Only after its doors closed did the employees begin speaking again. Elena released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Elena: “That was him?” Sofia stared at her. Sofia: “No, Elena. That was Santa Claus.” Elena: “Sofia!” Sofia: “Yes, that was him!” Elena glanced toward the private elevator. Elena: “He looks angry.” Sofia laughed humorlessly. Sofia: “Sweetheart, that’s his happy face.” Sofia accompanied Elena to the executive floor before returning to the marketing department. There, Elena was introduced to Margaret Collins, the Head of Human Resources. Margaret was a professional woman in her forties, with neatly styled brown hair and an expression that suggested she hadn’t enjoyed a peaceful working day in years. Margaret: “Miss Montgomery. Welcome to Blackwood International.” Elena: “Thank you, ma’am. I’m very happy to be here.” Margaret gave her a brief smile. Margaret: “We’ll see how long that lasts.” Elena blinked. Elena: “Sorry?” Margaret: “Nothing. Follow me.” They walked through a quiet corridor lined with expensive artwork and enormous glass windows. Margaret explained Elena’s responsibilities as they walked. She would manage Alexander’s appointments, organize his documents, arrange business trips, prepare meeting schedules, and handle his correspondence. Everything sounded manageable. Until Margaret began explaining his rules. Margaret: “Never enter his office without knocking. Never interrupt him unless it’s urgent. Never address him by his first name.” Elena nodded carefully. Elena: “Understood.” Margaret: “He takes his coffee black. No sugar, no milk. And he expects everything to be completed immediately.” Elena: “Yes, ma’am.” Margaret stopped outside an enormous office. Margaret: “And Miss Montgomery?” Elena: “Yes?” Margaret: “Whatever happens, don’t cry in front of him.” Elena stared at her. Before she could respond, a furious male voice erupted from behind the closed doors. Alexander: “ARE YOU f*****g INCOMPETENT?” Elena jumped. Margaret closed her eyes. Margaret: “Oh, dear.” A frightened male voice answered. Employee: “Sir, I can explain—” Alexander: “I didn’t ask for your explanation!” Something slammed against a desk. Elena instinctively stepped backward. Alexander: “You cost this company three million dollars because you couldn’t follow one simple instruction!” Employee: “I’m sorry, Mr. Blackwood!” Alexander: “Get out.” Employee: “Sir, please—” Alexander: “GET. OUT.” The office doors opened. A pale-faced employee hurried past them, clutching a folder against his chest. Behind him stood Alexander Blackwood. Up close, he was even more intimidating. His grey eyes moved toward Margaret. Alexander: “What?” Margaret immediately straightened. Margaret: “Sir, your new personal assistant has arrived.” Alexander’s gaze shifted toward Elena. For several uncomfortable seconds, he simply stared at her. Elena felt her cheeks growing warm. Alexander: “Name.” Elena: “E-Elena Montgomery, sir.” His expression hardened. Alexander: “Do you always stutter?” Elena: “N-No, sir.” Alexander looked at Margaret. Alexander: “Wonderful. Another idiot.” Elena’s smile disappeared. Margaret cleared her throat. Margaret: “Miss Montgomery has excellent references, sir.” Alexander ignored her. His cold eyes returned to Elena. Alexander: “Coffee. Black. My desk.” Elena nodded quickly. Elena: “Yes, sir.” He turned toward his office. Then stopped. Alexander: “Miss Montgomery.” She immediately straightened. Elena: “Yes, Mr. Blackwood?” He looked over his shoulder. Alexander: “I don’t repeat myself.” Without waiting for her response, he disappeared inside. The doors closed. Elena stood motionless. Margaret sighed. Margaret: “Welcome to Blackwood International.” Elena returned with Alexander’s coffee, carefully balancing the cup on a small tray. She knocked twice. Alexander: “Enter.” Alexander sat behind his enormous desk, reviewing documents while speaking on the phone. He didn’t look at her. Elena quietly approached and placed the coffee beside his laptop. Alexander: “I don’t care what the board thinks. The acquisition goes through today.” He listened briefly. Alexander: “Then replace the entire board.” Elena froze. Alexander glanced up and noticed her standing beside his desk. His eyes narrowed. He pointed toward a stack of documents near the window. Elena misunderstood the gesture and moved his coffee slightly. Alexander’s jaw tightened. Alexander: “Hold.” He lowered his phone. Alexander: “What the f**k are you doing?” Elena flinched. Elena: “I’m sorry, sir. I thought—” Alexander: “Did I ask you to think?” Elena: “No, sir.” He pointed toward the documents again. Alexander: “The files, Miss Montgomery. Unless you’re incapable of understanding basic instructions.” Her cheeks burned. Elena: “Of course, sir.” She hurried toward the window, collected the folders, and placed them on his desk. Alexander took them without thanking her. Alexander: “Out.” Elena immediately turned toward the door. Alexander: “And Miss Montgomery?” She stopped. Elena: “Yes, sir?” His grey eyes met hers. Alexander: “Make another mistake, and you won’t have a job tomorrow.” Elena swallowed. Elena: “Understood, Mr. Blackwood.” She left quietly, closing the door behind her. Only then did she release a shaky breath. Her first day had barely begun, and she was already terrified of losing her job. Her phone vibrated. A message from Sofia. Sofia: “Still alive, babe?” Elena stared at the screen before typing her reply. Elena: “Barely.” Sofia: “HAHAHAHA. Welcome to hell!” Elena placed her phone facedown and looked toward the enormous black doors. Behind them sat the most arrogant, frightening, and unnecessarily handsome man she had ever encountered. Alexander Blackwood. Her new boss. A man who apparently believed the entire world existed to obey his commands. Elena straightened the documents on her desk and took a deep breath. She needed this job. She needed the money. And she was determined to survive, regardless of how difficult her employer might be. What Elena didn’t know was that Alexander Blackwood had never allowed anyone to become important enough to disrupt his life. Women came and went. Employees were replaced. Feelings were irrelevant. And his newest assistant was no exception. At least, that was what he believed. Because in Blackwood City, everyone feared Alexander Blackwood. And Elena Montgomery had just stepped directly into his world.