Chapter 5
835 Words
DAISY’S POV
“Rule one,” he began calmly. “Black coffee must be on my desk every morning before seven-thirty. No sugar. No cream. Strong enough to keep me awake through useless meetings."
I blinked slowly.
That sounded less like coffee and more like a punishment in a cup.
“Understood, sir,” I said carefully.
“Rule two.” He continued without pause. “When I request a file, I expect it immediately. Not after you are done thinking. Not after you are comfortable. Immediately.”
Oh. Interesting.
I nodded again.
“Rule three.” His voice lowered slightly. “Do not lie to me.”
That one made my patience begin to crack.
“I don’t lie,” I said quickly.
His eyes sharpened a little.
“We'll see.”
Of course, he didn’t believe me.
Why would he?
He walked back toward his desk, picking up a pen like he hadn’t just mentally sentenced me to stress.
Then he stopped.
“You will also report directly to me. No middle instructions. No delays through Sarah or anyone.”
I frowned slightly.
So I wasn’t even allowed a buffer between me and him anymore?
Lovely.
He tapped the pen once on the desk.
“One more thing.”
I waited.
His gaze lifted.
“Most people don’t last long working directly under me.”
That statement wasn’t loud, but it landed heavily in the room.
My pride reacted before my brain did.
“Then I guess I’ll be the first exception.”
Well.
There it was.
Another sentence that probably shouldn't have left my mouth.
At this rate, unemployment was coming for me personally.
Silence stretched between us.
Now I regret those words leaving my mouth.
Not because they were wrong but because I had said them to Darrell Blackwood.
A man who looked fully capable of firing people for breathing incorrectly.
His gaze remained fixed on me. Cold and unreadable.
Which was somehow worse than anger.
“Confidence,” he said quietly. “We’ll see how long it lasts.”
I held his gaze, refusing to look away.
“One last thing, Daisy.” His voice came again.
Oh God... were these punishments disguised as rules ever going to end?
“Try not to argue with me before I've had my coffee.”
A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
I stared at him, unsure whether he was joking.
He wasn't.
This job might actually kill me.
Just when I thought the meeting was finally over, Darrell sat on his chair and pressed a button on the intercom.
“Sarah.”
“Yes, sir?” Sarah's voice came through the intercom.
“Bring in the Henderson acquisition file.”
Within minutes, Sarah entered, carrying a thick stack of documents. She placed it carefully on the desk.
Whatever confidence I had left quietly packed its bags and left. The file looked heavy enough to break a table.
Darrell pushed the file slightly towards me.
“I need this summarized and organized.”
The stack of documents looked ridiculous.
Unfortunately, the look on Darrell's face told me he was completely serious.
It looked like it had been designed to destroy motivation.
“All of it?” I asked slowly.
“All of it.” He replied.
“When?”
He leaned back slightly.
“Six o’clock.”
A short laugh escaped me before I could control it.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“Today?” I asked.
He tilted his head. “Is there another six o’clock I should be aware of?”
My smile instantly faded.
I wanted to cry. Instead, I slowly picked up the file and forced a smile.
It was heavy. Heavy enough to crush whatever remained of my sanity.
“Understood, sir.” I said through gritted teeth.
I turned toward the door.
“Miss Carter.”
I stopped again and turned back reluctantly.
“Let's see if your confidence survives the week.”
I stared at him.
Three seconds.
Four.
Then I walked out before I said something I would regret.
*****************************
Back at my new desk, I dropped the file heavily and rubbed my forehead.
The stack of papers looked endless.
Behind me, Darrell's office door remained firmly shut.
“This is insane,” I muttered under my breath.
“You’ll get used to it.”
I froze slightly.
Slowly, I turned my head.
Emily was standing beside my desk now, holding a coffee and looking entirely too comfortable for someone who startled me half to death.
Her gaze fell on the file, and she immediately winced.
"... Oh."
I exhaled sharply.
"Don't 'oh' me.”
“Sorry. That’s… actually bad.”
I stared at her. “Thank you for the clarification.”
Emily leaned closer, lowering her voice.
“He doesn’t give that kind of file to new people.”
That didn’t comfort me at all. I dropped my head onto the desk for a second.
“I officially work for the devil.” I whispered.
- Writer
