BLACKWOOD
1110 Words
Amara Bennett barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the same thing—the black car disappearing into the rain.
Then came the voice from her sister's phone.
Don't go home.
She had replayed the words so many times that they had begun to sound like a nightmare rather than something that had actually happened.
By morning, she had made a decision.
She would go to work.
It was her first day at Blackwood Publishing, and she refused to let fear control her.
At exactly 8:15 a.m., Amara stood in front of the enormous glass building and looked up.
The Blackwood name was displayed above the entrance in elegant silver letters.
She took a slow breath.
"First day," she whispered.
Then she walked inside.
The reception area was brighter and busier than she had expected. Employees moved quickly across the polished floor, carrying folders, laptops, and cups of coffee. The atmosphere was professional but intense.
Amara approached the reception desk.
"Good morning."
The receptionist smiled.
"Good morning. How can I help you?"
"I'm Amara Bennett. I'm starting today in the editorial department."
The receptionist typed something into the computer.
"Yes, Ms. Bennett. Fourteenth floor."
"Thank you."
Amara turned toward the elevators.
As she waited, she glanced at the security cameras positioned around the lobby.
For some reason, she remembered the man from the previous night.
Someone is watching you.
The elevator doors opened.
She stepped inside.
Just before the doors closed, a man in a gray suit entered behind her.
Amara moved slightly to the side.
The man pressed the button for the fourteenth floor.
Neither spoke.
She could see his reflection in the mirrored wall.
He was looking at her.
Amara's stomach tightened.
She looked away.
When the elevator reached the fourteenth floor, she stepped out quickly.
The man remained inside.
Just before the doors closed, she glanced back.
He was still watching her.
The doors shut.
Amara stood there for a moment.
"Get a grip," she whispered.
She continued down the hallway.
A woman in her fifties approached her with a warm smile.
"Amara Bennett?"
"Yes."
"I'm Mrs. Carter. I'm your supervisor. Welcome to Blackwood."
"Thank you."
"You must be nervous."
"A little."
"That's normal. Come with me."
Mrs. Carter showed her around the editorial department and introduced her to several employees.
Amara tried to concentrate.
She really did.
But her mind kept returning to the previous night.
Her sister.
The mysterious caller.
The man named Adrian.
And the warning about a blue file.
She was sitting at her new desk when Mrs. Carter returned.
"There's someone I'd like you to meet."
Amara stood.
"Who?"
"Our senior editor."
A man's voice came from behind them.
"That won't be necessary."
Amara turned.
Her heart stopped.
It was him.
The man from the rain.
Adrian.
Except this time, he wasn't standing beneath a streetlight wearing a wet coat.
He was dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit, his expression calm and unreadable.
Mrs. Carter smiled.
"Amara, this is Adrian Blackwood."
Amara stared at him.
Blackwood.
Suddenly everything made sense.
The building.
The company.
The mysterious man.
He wasn't just an employee.
He was the owner.
Adrian's eyes met hers.
There was no surprise on his face.
As though he'd expected her to be standing there.
"You," Amara whispered.
Mrs. Carter looked between them.
"You two know each other?"
Adrian answered before Amara could.
"We met last night."
Mrs. Carter smiled.
"Well, that's convenient. Adrian will be overseeing some of your work."
She walked away before either of them could object.
Amara folded her arms.
"You lied to me."
Adrian remained calm.
"I didn't lie."
"You told me your name was Adrian."
"That is my name."
"You left out the fact that you're Adrian Blackwood."
"You didn't ask."
She stared at him.
"Seriously?"
His expression barely changed.
"You have a lot of questions."
"And you have a lot of secrets."
For the first time, something changed in his eyes.
He glanced around the office.
"Not here."
"Then where?"
"Come with me."
He walked toward his office.
Amara hesitated before following him.
The moment they entered, Adrian closed the door.
Amara turned toward him.
"Now explain."
Adrian walked to the window.
"The man who warned you last night wasn't the only person watching you."
Her confidence disappeared.
"What do you mean?"
"Someone has been monitoring your movements."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
She let out a frustrated breath.
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
"How long have they been watching me?"
"Long enough to know where you work, where you live, and who you're related to."
Amara's face became pale.
"My sister?"
Adrian turned.
"What about her?"
"Someone called me using her phone last night."
His expression immediately hardened.
"What did they say?"
"They told me not to go home."
"Did you go?"
"No."
"Good."
Amara stared at him.
"Why do you care?"
He didn't answer.
"Adrian?"
He looked away.
"Because your sister may be connected to something dangerous."
Amara's heart sank.
"My sister isn't a criminal."
"I didn't say she was."
"Then what are you saying?"
Before Adrian could answer, his phone rang.
He checked the screen.
"Yes?"
He listened.
His expression changed.
"Where?"
Another pause.
"Don't touch anything."
He ended the call.
Amara watched him.
"What happened?"
"Something was found."
"What?"
He looked at her.
"A blue file."
Her entire body went still.
The warning from the night before echoed in her mind.
Don't trust anyone who asks about the blue file.
"Where?" she asked.
Adrian studied her carefully.
"You've heard of it."
It wasn't a question.
Amara realized her mistake.
She tried to remain calm.
"No."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Amara."
"I said no."
He stepped closer, but kept his distance.
"Who told you about it?"
"No one."
"You're lying."
She looked directly at him.
"And you're hiding something."
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Adrian spoke quietly.
"Perhaps we're both in trouble."
He opened the office door.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"To find out why someone left a blue file inside my building."
Amara followed him.
They entered the elevator.
As the doors closed, she looked at Adrian.
There was something different about him now.
The confidence was still there.
The calmness.
The wealth.
But beneath it was something else.
Fear.
And that frightened Amara more than anything he had said.
The elevator descended.
Neither spoke.
When the doors finally opened, they stepped into a dark underground corridor.
Adrian walked ahead.
Amara followed.
Neither of them noticed the security camera turning slowly above them.
Or the red light blinking behind its lens.
Someone was watching.
And whoever it was had been waiting for Amara to arrive.
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