CHAPTER SEVEN: UNEXPECTED RESPONSIBILITY
1668 Words
Amelia's POV
The moment I stepped out of Ethan’s office, I let out a breath I didn’t even know I had been holding. It felt like I had just survived something. The conversation was more like an interrogation.
I leaned against the wall for a second, pressing my palm to my chest as my heart slowly returned to normal. I had not even spent up to a month in this company, and I was already embarrassing myself. Late to meetings. Stammering when he asked questions. Overthinking every single instruction he gave me.
Why did he make me nervous like that?
All he asked me to do was sort through some files and write a report about what I thought didn’t belong there. Simple, right?
Wrong.
He made me sit in his office while I did it. Right across from him. Under that cold, unreadable stare of his. He didn’t say much. He barely moved. But I could feel his eyes on me almost the entire time.
It felt like I was being tested.
Like he was waiting for me to make a mistake.
“How did it go?”
Jane’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
I turned and forced a smile. Jane, his assistant, was standing by her desk with that calm expression she always wore. I sometimes wondered how she survived working that closely with him every day.
“Umm… well… I guess it went well,” I said.
My voice shook slightly, but I hoped she didn’t notice.
Jane gave me a small nod. “That’s good.”
That was it, Just “that’s good.”
I quickly walked away before she could ask anything else and headed to the small office space I had been assigned. My steps were faster than normal, like I was running away from something, or someone.
Sitting at my desk, I dropped my bag and rubbed my temples. The day was far from over. We still had a series of meetings left, and I was already mentally exhausted.
Working under Ethan Blackwell was not easy. He isn't the type to talk much, but somehow, he still managed to make everyone feel less or small.
The rest of the day crawled by slowly. Each meeting felt longer than the last and more frustrating. My notebook was filled with rushed handwriting and half-formed thoughts.
By the time it was almost evening, I was heading to the final meeting of the day. I was already tired. My heels were starting to hurt. My brain felt full.
The moment I stepped into the meeting hall, every single head turned in my direction.
My heart dropped.
Shit.
I was late again. Why did this keep happening to me?
“It seems you enjoy lateness, Miss Amelia.”
Ethan’s voice cut through the silence like a knife.
I froze for a second before forcing myself to move.
He was seated at the far end of the long boardroom table, looking exactly like what he was — the boss. He was calm, powerful and obviously In control.
I didn’t even think he was supposed to attend this meeting.
Why was he here?
“Umm… I’m sorry, sir. I was attending to a client,” I said quickly.
I hated how defensive I sounded.
“Sit.”
He pointed to the empty seat right beside him.
Beside him?
Out of all the empty seats in that room?
I swallowed and walked over, aware of everyone’s eyes on me. My palms felt sweaty as I pulled out the chair and sat down carefully.
Was he doing this on purpose?
To embarrass me? Or was I just overthinking everything?
This whole week had been strange.
First, I found out I had been scammed and lost money I worked hard to save. Then my boss started acting like I was his personal project — cold one minute, watching me closely the next.
It was all so confusing. I just wanted a normal job, I wanted to make my parents proud.
Was that really too much to ask?
The meeting started, but it felt painfully slow. Every time someone presented something, Ethan somehow managed to direct a question at me.
“Amelia, what’s your opinion?”
“Amelia, do you agree?”
“Amelia, what would you suggest?”
It was like I was the only one in the room. My cheeks burned each time I spoke. I could feel my colleagues staring at me, probably wondering why the boss was suddenly so interested in the new girl. I hated being the center of attention.
Especially like this.
“Amelia.”
His voice again.
Arrrgggg!
I wanted to scream.
I blinked and realized I had drifted off into my thoughts.
“Sir?”
“You’ll lead the team going out for field work next week.”
For a second, I thought I heard him wrong.
Lead?
Me?
“Ok, sir,” I replied automatically.
My mind was still trying to process it.
But he wasn’t done.
“And I’ll be joining you.”
My head snapped up before I could stop myself.
“What?”
The word slipped out before my brain could catch it.
The room went quiet.
I felt my stomach drop.
“I’m sorry, sir,” I corrected quickly.
His eyes locked onto mine, cold and assessing.
“I’m sure you’re already aware of the consequences of going against me.”
I didn’t know if that was a warning, a threat or just a statement.
My throat felt dry.
“Yes, sir.” My voice came out small.
I looked down at my notebook, pretending to focus, but my mind was racing.
Was he trying to make my life difficult? Or was this just how he was with everyone?
One thing I was sure of — Ethan Blackwell lacked empathy.
Or maybe he just didn’t show it.
The meeting finally ended, and I packed my things quickly, eager to escape the room.
As I stepped out into the hallway, I overheard voices coming from the corner near the pantry.
“I swear, that man has no heart,” someone whispered.
I slowed down without meaning to.
It was Abigail from finance and Lauren from marketing.
“He’s so strict for no reason,” Lauren said. “I pity the girl he’s going to end up with.”
They both laughed softly.
I didn’t blame them.
From my short experience with him, I understood exactly what they meant.
I quietly walked away before they noticed me listening.
Back at my desk, I sank into my chair.
I had not even spent up to a month here, and I already knew what kind of environment this was.
On the surface, everyone smiled.They were polite and helpful. But underneath? They gossiped and judged.
They watched each other carefully. No one truly trusted anyone. That much I've noticed.
I opened my laptop, trying to distract myself with work, but my thoughts kept drifting back to him.
Why did he choose me to lead the field work?
There were people in this office who had worked here for years. People who were more experienced,more confident and more… stable.
Why me?
Was he testing me again? Or setting me up to fail?
The thought made my chest hurt a bit.
I couldn’t afford to fail.No, not now, not after everything.
My parents had sacrificed so much to get me through school.
This job meant everything. I couldn’t mess it up just because my boss made me nervous. I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
You can do this, Amelia.
You can survive Ethan Blackwell.
Just as I was about to shut down my system for the day, my phone buzzed.
A message from my mom.
“How was work today, my dear?”
I smiled softly.
I quickly typed back: “It was good, Mom. I’m learning a lot.”
She sent a heart emoji and told me she was proud of me.
Proud.
That word alone made my eyes sting.
I couldn’t lose this job, I wouldn’t.
As I packed my bag and stood up to leave, I felt a presence behind me.
“You stayed late.”
I turned sharply.
Ethan.
Of course. He was the current weapon fashioned against me. He stood there with his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable as always.
“Yes, sir. I wanted to finish up some things.”
He nodded slightly.
“For the field work, I expect detailed preparation. No mistakes or lateness will be tolerated.”
“Yes, sir.”
He looked at me for a few seconds longer than necessary.
It made my heart beat faster again.
“Don’t disappoint me, Amelia.”
And with that, he walked away.
I stood there, staring at the spaced he was at a few minutes ago.
My life had become ten times more complicated the moment I started working here. And somehow, Ethan Blackwell was right at the center of it all.
As I stepped out of the building into the cool evening air, I wrapped my arms around myself.
This was only my first month. And things were already this intense. What was going to happen next? One thing was certain.
Working under Ethan Blackwell was not going to be simple.
And deep down, even though I hated to admit it…
A small part of me was curious. Why did he watch me like that? Why did he push me like that?
And why did his words linger in my mind long after he was gone?
I shook my head quickly, shaking the thoughts away.
No.
I was here to work and to make my parents proud, not to figure out my complicated, cold-hearted boss.
Still…
As I walked toward the bus stop, his voice echoed in my head.
“Don’t disappoint me, Amelia.”
For some reason, I didn’t just feel pressured.
I felt challenged.
And I wasn’t sure if that scared me…
Or excited me.
- Writer
