CHAPTER TWO:THE ENVELOPE
1721 Words
Amelia stared at the envelope.
FOR ALEXANDER BLACKWOOD — URGENT.
She shouldn't open it.
She knew that.
It was private.
Completely private.
And yet, something about the envelope made her uneasy.
Alexander had received countless letters during his time at Blackwood Enterprises. Legal documents. Business proposals. Contracts.
But this one had been different.
She had seen his expression when he'd answered that phone call.
Alexander Blackwood was almost impossible to read.
He could hear terrible news and still look as though someone had simply informed him that it might rain.
But this time...
He had looked shaken.
Amelia glanced towards the door.
He was gone.
She looked back at the envelope.
"No," she whispered to herself.
She placed it on his desk.
That was where it belonged.
She wasn't going to interfere.
She turned away.
Three seconds later, she turned back.
Her eyes narrowed at it.
"Why am I like this?"
She picked it up again.
Perhaps she should give it to him herself.
She hurried out of the office.
The lift doors were closing at the end of the corridor.
"Mr Blackwood!"
The doors stopped.
Amelia rushed towards them.
She stepped inside.
Alexander was alone.
He looked at her.
Then his eyes dropped to the envelope in her hand.
"What is that?"
"This fell from your desk."
He held out his hand.
Amelia gave it to him.
He looked at the handwriting.
His entire expression changed.
Amelia noticed.
Again.
"What is it?"
Alexander looked up sharply.
"Nothing."
"That doesn't look like nothing."
"Did I ask for your opinion?"
Amelia's mouth fell slightly open.
There he was.
The Alexander Blackwood she knew.
Cold.
Rude.
Impossible.
She folded her arms.
"No."
"Good."
The lift continued down.
Amelia stared at the numbers above the doors.
She was trying not to look at him.
Trying.
Unfortunately, Alexander was standing beside her, and pretending not to notice him was almost impossible.
He smelled faintly of expensive cologne.
His black suit was perfectly fitted.
His dark hair was slightly untidy, as though he'd run his fingers through it several times.
Amelia immediately looked away.
No.
Absolutely not.
She wasn't going to start noticing things like that.
"Why are you smiling?"
Her head snapped around.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I wasn't."
Alexander looked at her suspiciously.
Amelia forced her face to remain neutral.
The lift doors opened.
Alexander walked out.
Amelia followed.
He stopped beside the entrance.
"Go home."
She blinked.
"What?"
"You're finished for today."
"But it's only four."
"I know what time it is."
"Then why—"
"Because I said so."
Amelia sighed.
"You're incredibly annoying."
Alexander slowly turned his head.
She froze.
"Did you just call me annoying?"
Amelia's heart jumped.
"Not exactly."
"You did."
"I said incredibly."
His eyes narrowed.
Amelia immediately walked towards the reception area.
"Goodbye, Mr Blackwood."
She heard him mutter something behind her.
She didn't turn around.
If she did, she knew she'd smile.
And that was dangerous.
Because she was beginning to realise something.
Alexander's coldness didn't scare her as much as it used to.
Perhaps because she had started seeing the small cracks in it.
The way he became tense whenever his family was mentioned.
The way he occasionally left food untouched because he was too busy working.
The way he silently fixed problems for employees without allowing anyone to thank him.
There was something beneath that cold exterior.
Something Amelia wanted to understand.
And that was exactly the problem.
She was falling deeper.
---
The following morning, Amelia arrived at Blackwood Enterprises at seven forty-five.
Alexander usually arrived at eight.
She had prepared his schedule, arranged his meetings, checked his emails and placed his usual black coffee on his desk.
Everything was ready.
Except Alexander.
At eight fifteen, he still hadn't arrived.
At eight thirty, Amelia checked her phone.
Nothing.
At eight forty-five, she called him.
Straight to voicemail.
Her brows furrowed.
Alexander was many things, but unreliable wasn't one of them.
At nine, she called again.
Nothing.
At nine fifteen, she called his brother.
Daniel answered after several rings.
"Amelia?"
"Hi, Daniel."
"Is everything okay?"
"Have you spoken to Alexander?"
Silence.
Amelia's stomach tightened.
"No," Daniel finally said.
"He didn't come home?"
Another pause.
"Who told you that?"
"Nobody. I'm asking."
"Why?"
"Because he left the office yesterday saying he was going home, and he hasn't shown up today."
Daniel sighed.
"Don't worry about him."
"That's difficult when he's my boss."
"Alexander is fine."
"You sound very convincing."
"Because I am."
"Daniel."
"What?"
"What's going on?"
Daniel went quiet.
Amelia heard movement on his end.
Then he said, "I really can't discuss it."
"Is he in trouble?"
"No."
"Is he sick?"
"No."
"Did something happen to his family?"
Silence.
Amelia's eyes narrowed.
"Daniel?"
"I have to go."
"Daniel—"
The call ended.
Amelia stared at her phone.
"Wonderful."
She placed it on her desk.
At exactly ten seventeen, the doors to Blackwood Enterprises opened.
Amelia looked up.
Alexander walked inside.
Her heart immediately jumped.
She hated that it did that.
He was wearing the same black suit from yesterday.
His tie was missing.
His hair was dishevelled.
There were dark shadows beneath his eyes.
He looked exhausted.
But his expression was still the same.
Cold.
Controlled.
Unapproachable.
Everyone in reception immediately became quiet.
Alexander walked past them.
"Good morning, sir," one employee said nervously.
Alexander didn't answer.
Amelia hurried after him.
"Mr Blackwood."
He didn't stop.
"Mr Blackwood!"
He finally turned.
"What?"
"Your ten-thirty meeting was cancelled."
"I know."
"The board meeting is at noon."
"I know."
"And you have a lunch meeting with—"
"Cancel it."
Amelia stopped.
"Again?"
Alexander continued walking.
"Yes."
She followed.
"You're cancelling half your schedule."
"I'll survive."
"Your company might not."
He stopped.
Amelia nearly walked into him.
Alexander slowly turned.
"What did you say?"
She swallowed.
"Nothing."
"You said something."
"I said your company might not survive if you continue cancelling meetings."
His expression hardened.
"Are you questioning my ability to run my company?"
"No."
"Then stop talking."
Amelia stared at him.
She felt irritation rise.
"You're impossible."
His eyes narrowed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
She turned around.
"Miss Hart."
She stopped.
Alexander was watching her.
"Come to my office."
"I have work."
"Now."
Amelia reluctantly followed.
Once inside, Alexander closed the door.
He removed his jacket and placed it over the back of his chair.
Then he sat.
Amelia remained standing.
"What?"
He looked at her.
"Sit."
She sat.
Alexander opened his laptop.
For several moments, he said nothing.
Then he looked up.
"How long have you worked here?"
"Eight months."
"And before that?"
"I worked at a smaller financial firm."
"Why did you leave?"
Amelia frowned.
"Why are you asking?"
"Answer."
She sighed.
"My manager was difficult."
Alexander's eyebrows rose.
"Difficult?"
"Very."
"Did you quit?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't like being treated badly."
Alexander stared at her.
Amelia suddenly realised the irony.
She almost laughed.
Alexander noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Tell me."
"I was just thinking..."
"About?"
"Never mind."
"Miss Hart."
She looked at him.
"You can be rude sometimes."
Alexander's expression became completely blank.
"Sometimes?"
Amelia bit her lip.
That wasn't supposed to come out.
But then, unexpectedly, something happened.
Alexander laughed.
It was barely a laugh.
More like a short breath of amusement.
But Amelia heard it.
And she froze.
Alexander's eyes met hers.
"What?"
Amelia couldn't speak.
He hadn't smiled properly.
But for a split second, the hard expression had disappeared.
He looked...
Human.
Her heart gave an embarrassing little flutter.
She quickly looked away.
"Nothing."
Alexander's expression returned to normal.
"You're strange."
"So I've been told."
He closed his laptop.
"There's something I need you to do."
"What?"
"I need you to accompany me to Edinburgh tomorrow."
Amelia blinked.
"Edinburgh?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Business."
"How long?"
"Two days."
Amelia stared at him.
Two days.
With Alexander.
Alone.
Her heart immediately started behaving foolishly.
Absolutely not.
She needed to remain professional.
"Is that a problem?" he asked.
"No."
"Good."
He stood.
Amelia stood too.
She reached for her notebook.
"What's the meeting about?"
Alexander didn't answer.
"Mr Blackwood?"
He walked towards the window.
Amelia followed his gaze.
Below them, London was busy as usual.
Cars moved through the streets.
People hurried along the pavements.
Alexander remained silent.
Then he said quietly,
"An acquisition."
Amelia nodded.
"Okay."
She started writing.
"Which company?"
Alexander's jaw tightened.
Amelia noticed.
"Mr Blackwood?"
He turned towards her.
"Blackwood Enterprises is acquiring a company whose owner has recently passed away."
Amelia lowered her notebook.
"Oh."
"The meeting is with the family."
"That's unfortunate."
Alexander's eyes hardened.
Amelia immediately sensed there was more.
She remembered yesterday's phone call.
The envelope.
His sudden disappearance.
His exhausted appearance.
"Is this related to the letter?"
Alexander went completely still.
Amelia's heart dropped.
She had gone too far.
"Forget I asked."
"Did you open it?"
"No."
"Did you read it?"
"No."
His eyes remained fixed on her.
Amelia held up both hands.
"I swear."
He stared at her for another moment.
Then he walked towards his desk.
"Good."
She breathed out.
But before she could leave, Alexander spoke.
"Don't ask questions about my family."
Amelia stopped.
She turned around.
"Why?"
His expression changed.
Something dark crossed his eyes.
"Because you won't like the answers."
Amelia stared at him.
For the first time, Alexander Blackwood didn't sound angry.
He sounded hurt.
And somehow, that frightened her more.
She quietly nodded.
"Understood."
She walked towards the door.
"Amelia."
She stopped.
It was the first time he'd called her by her first name.
She turned.
Alexander seemed to realise it too.
For a second, they simply looked at each other.
Then his face hardened again.
"Be ready for Edinburgh. Six in the morning."
Amelia nodded.
"Yes, Mr Blackwood."
She left.
The moment the door closed behind her, she leaned against it.
Her heart was racing.
Not because of Edinburgh.
Not because she would be travelling with him.
Not even because of the mystery surrounding his family.
It was because, for the first time, she had seen something in Alexander Blackwood's eyes that no one at the company ever talked about.
Pain.
And Amelia had the terrible feeling that she wanted to know what had caused it.
Even if getting close enough to find out meant getting closer to the man she was desperately trying not to love.
- Writer
