Bound to his Dark Vow

The First Warning

The First Warning

By Monday morning, I had convinced myself that Adrian Blackwood was simply difficult.

That was easier than admitting I was nervous about seeing him again.

I arrived at Blackwood Holdings at 7:42 a.m.

Fourteen minutes early.

I wasn't going to give him another reason to complain about my punctuality.

The building was even more intimidating in daylight. Floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the morning sky, while people in expensive suits moved through the lobby with the kind of confidence I associated with people who had never worried about their next meal or their next tuition payment.

I tightened my grip on my bag.

This was temporary.

I reminded myself of that as I approached the reception desk.

"Elena Marlowe. I'm here for Mr. Blackwood."

The receptionist checked her computer.

"He's expecting you."

She handed me a visitor badge.

"Thirty-second floor."

I thanked her and walked toward the elevators.

When the doors opened, I stepped inside.

"Hold it."

A hand appeared between the doors.

I stepped back.

Adrian walked in.

For someone who owned half the building—or at least seemed like the kind of person who could—he looked remarkably calm.

His eyes moved to the screen displaying the floor number.

Then to me.

"Fourteen minutes early."

I smiled politely.

"I learn quickly."

"Apparently."

The elevator began to rise.

Neither of us spoke.

Then he said, "There are a few things you should know."

I looked at him.

"Such as?"

"Blackwood Holdings isn't a university."

"I figured."

"People here won't remind you when something is due."

"I figured that too."

His gaze sharpened.

"And they won't tolerate carelessness."

I frowned.

"Is there a reason you're warning me?"

"Yes."

The elevator stopped.

He stepped out.

I followed.

He continued walking without looking back.

"Because you're going to make mistakes."

I stopped.

"That's encouraging."

He finally turned around.

"I'm not trying to discourage you."

"Could've fooled me."

He studied me for a moment.

Then he walked back toward me.

"You're here because I saw potential."

I wasn't expecting that.

He lowered his voice.

"But potential means nothing if you don't use it."

I nodded slowly.

"Understood."

"Good."

He turned again.

I followed him into an open-plan office where several employees were already working.

Adrian stopped beside a woman with short black hair and a tablet in her hand.

"Elena, this is Claire."

The woman looked at me.

"Your new supervisor."

I smiled.

"Nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

Adrian handed Claire a file.

"Give her the background documents for the Morrison project."

Claire nodded.

He looked at me.

"Read everything before lunch."

I glanced at the thick file.

"Everything?"

"Everything."

"And after that?"

"Come to my office."

He walked away.

I watched him disappear behind a glass door.

Claire waited until he was gone before speaking.

"Don't take it personally."

I looked at her.

"Take what personally?"

"The attitude."

I laughed quietly.

"So he's always like that?"

"You have no idea."

She handed me the file.

"And one more thing."

"What?"

She leaned closer.

"Don't ask questions about his family."

My fingers tightened around the folder.

"Why?"

"Because he doesn't answer them."

She walked away.

I stared after her.

That was the first warning.

I just didn't know yet how important it was.

---

By 11:47 a.m., I had read the Morrison documents twice.

The project involved an acquisition that was far more complicated than I had expected. There were financial projections, legal agreements, correspondence between companies, and pages of notes that seemed designed specifically to give me a headache.

I reached the final document and froze.

Something didn't add up.

I checked the figures again.

Then again.

There was a discrepancy in the projected expenses.

Small.

Easy to overlook.

But it was there.

I grabbed my notebook and walked toward Adrian's office.

I knocked.

"Come in."

He was standing by the window with his phone in his hand.

"You finished?"

"Yes."

"That quickly?"

"I found something."

His expression changed.

"What?"

I placed the document on his desk.

"The expense projection on page thirty-eight doesn't match the figure on the revised report."

He looked down.

Then at me.

"Explain."

I pointed to the numbers.

"The difference is small, but it changes the projected return."

He said nothing.

He picked up the document.

For the next thirty seconds, he read.

Then he looked at me.

"Who else noticed this?"

"I don't know."

"Did you tell Claire?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I wasn't sure whether it was an error."

He nodded once.

"Good."

He picked up his phone.

"Don't mention this to anyone."

I frowned.

"Why?"

His eyes met mine.

"Because if it's an error, we'll correct it."

He paused.

"And if it isn't..."

He didn't finish.

He didn't need to.

Something cold settled in my stomach.

"What happens then?"

Adrian looked toward the window.

"Then we find out who made it."

I stared at him.

For the first time since I had walked into Blackwood Holdings, I understood something.

This wasn't just a job.

And whatever I'd stumbled into, Adrian Blackwood had been expecting trouble long before I arrived.

"Go back to your desk," he said.

I nodded.

As I turned toward the door, his voice stopped me.

"Elena."

I looked back.

"Good work."

Two words.

Simple.

But somehow, they meant more coming from him than they should have.

I left his office.

Neither of us noticed the man standing at the end of the hallway, watching me.

But he had noticed me.

And he had been watching from the moment I entered the building.