Chapter 1
Rexy
The sound of my alarm shattered the silence of my tiny apartment at exactly five-thirty in the morning.
I groaned and slapped my hand against the nightstand until my fingers found my phone.
Silence.
For a moment, I lay still, staring at the cracked ceiling above me.
Today was the day.
After weeks of interviews, endless anxiety, and praying harder than I had prayed in years, I was finally starting my new job.
Executive Secretary to Damien Blackwood.
CEO of Blackwood Enterprises.
One of the most powerful companies in the city.
The salary alone was enough to change my life.
Not because I cared about luxury.
Not because I dreamed of expensive vacations.
But because for the first time in years, I wouldn't have to spend every night wondering whether I could afford next month's rent.
I turned my head toward the small bed across the room.
Ruby was still asleep.
My chest tightened instantly.
Her tiny arms were wrapped around her stuffed rabbit, and strands of dark hair covered part of her face.
God, she looked peaceful.
I wished life could always be that simple for her.
Eight years old.
Too young to know how much I worried.
Too young to understand how close we had come to losing everything more than once.
I quietly got out of bed and walked over to her.
Kneeling beside her mattress, I gently brushed the hair from her face.
She stirred.
Then one eye opened.
"Rexy?"
I smiled.
"Good morning, sleepyhead."
She yawned dramatically.
"Why are you awake so early?"
I laughed softly.
"Because some of us have jobs."
Her eyes suddenly widened.
"The big job!"
"The big job."
Ruby sat up immediately.
"I knew today was today!"
I couldn't help smiling.
Ruby forgot where she put her shoes almost every day, but somehow she remembered every important moment in my life.
"You'll do great," she declared confidently.
"Oh, really?"
She nodded.
"Because you're the strongest person in the world."
I swallowed hard.
If she only knew.
Most days I didn't feel strong.
Most days I felt exhausted.
Scared.
Lost.
But I couldn't afford to be any of those things.
Not when Ruby depended on me.
Not when I was all she had.
"Thank you, princess."
She wrapped her arms around my neck.
"I love you."
I hugged her tightly.
"I love you too."
More than anything.
More than myself.
More than every dream I'd ever had.
Ruby was the reason I kept going.
The reason I never gave up.
The reason I had accepted a position working for a man everyone described as impossible.
A man with a reputation for making employees cry.
A man whose standards were legendary.
A man who apparently terrified everyone around him.
Damien Blackwood.
I had read enough about him online to know he wasn't exactly known for his warm personality.
Cold.
Demanding.
Ruthless.
Those were the words most people used.
Still, I wasn't afraid.
At least, that's what I kept telling myself.
Two hours later, I stood outside Blackwood Enterprises.
And suddenly I was terrified.
The building looked enormous.
Glass.
Steel.
Power.
Everything about it screamed success.
The kind of success people like me usually only saw in magazines.
I adjusted my blazer nervously.
This was it.
No turning back.
I took a deep breath.
Then another.
Then I walked inside.
The lobby was breathtaking.
Marble floors gleamed beneath crystal lights.
Employees moved confidently through the building carrying laptops and coffee cups.
Everyone looked like they belonged here.
Meanwhile, I felt like an imposter.
Like someone would eventually point at me and say:
You don't belong.
The thought followed me all the way to Human Resources.
Orientation passed quickly.
Paperwork.
Policies.
Introductions.
Before I knew it, I was being escorted toward the executive floor.
The higher we went, the quieter the building became.
The atmosphere shifted.
Everything felt sharper.
More serious.
More intimidating.
My guide finally stopped outside a set of large black doors.
She looked at me sympathetically.
That wasn't comforting.
"Good luck," she said.
I frowned.
"Should I be worried?"
She hesitated.
"A little."
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
She knocked once.
A deep voice answered.
"Come in."
My stomach flipped.
This was it.
I pushed the doors open.
And stepped inside.
The office was massive.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the entire city.
Dark wood furniture filled the room.
Everything was elegant.
Expensive.
Perfect.
Then my eyes landed on the man sitting behind the desk.
And suddenly the office didn't matter anymore.
Damien Blackwood looked up.
For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
Not because he was handsome.
Though he definitely was.
It was his presence.
The kind of presence that demanded attention without saying a single word.
Dark hair.
Sharp features.
Piercing gray eyes.
A perfectly tailored black suit.
Confidence radiated from every inch of him.
Danger too.
He studied me silently.
His expression unreadable.
Then he glanced at the clock.
"It's nine."
I blinked.
"Yes."
His gaze returned to mine.
"You're late."
Excuse me?
I looked at the clock.
Then at him.
Then back at the clock.
Nine o'clock exactly.
My official start time.
I forced a smile.
"No, I'm not."
One dark eyebrow lifted.
"You should arrive before the scheduled time."
Oh.
One of those bosses.
I already knew this was going to be interesting.
"I'll keep that in mind tomorrow."
Something flashed briefly in his eyes.
Surprise.
As though he wasn't used to people answering back.
Good.
He wasn't the only one capable of making an impression.
The silence stretched between us.
Neither of us looking away.
Neither willing to back down.
For some reason, that seemed to amuse him.
Just a little.
Not enough to smile.
But enough for me to notice.
And somehow, I knew this wouldn't be the last battle between Damien Blackwood and me.
Not even close.
