1
You can listen to these songs while reading this chapter to feel its full atmosphere. I hope you enjoy the story and have a great reading experience. Take care of yourself 💫
Earned It — The Weeknd
Wicked Game — Chris Isaak
Take Me to Church — Hozier
Love Me Like You Do — Ellie Goulding
Angel — Aerosmith
Summary
Hazel Brooks is a young woman who, after graduating, has faced repeated rejections from job applications but has never given up hope. To support herself and get by, she works at a flower shop. Her dream is simple but clear: to find an office job where she can build her own life.
One day, she comes across an opening for an assistant position at Blackwood Company. For Hazel, this job posting is more than just another opportunity—it feels like a final chance. Without hesitation, she submits her application.
On the other side, Ethan Blackwood, the CEO of the company, personally oversees the hiring process. He reviews each candidate’s application files and eliminates them quickly and decisively. For him, the process is not emotional, but purely about efficiency and suitability.
Thus, the story moves toward the inevitable collision of two completely different worlds: Hazel, who struggles to hold on to life with quiet determination, and Ethan, who coldly filters people out based on logic and standards. Their paths are destined to cross in the hiring process at Blackwood Company.
The Vacancy
Morning sunlight poured through the large display windows of Bloom & Blossom, painting soft golden streaks across rows of fresh flowers. The sweet scent of roses, lilies, and lavender lingered in the air, wrapping the tiny flower shop in a warmth that felt untouched by the chaos of Manhattan outside.
Hazel Brooks stood behind the wooden workbench, carefully trimming the stem of a white peony.
“Perfect,” she murmured with a satisfied smile.
She tilted the bouquet slightly, studying it from every angle before adding a single sprig of eucalyptus.
Now it was perfect.
Unlike the rest of her life.
The bell above the entrance chimed.
A young man hurried inside, his tie hanging loosely around his neck.
“I need flowers,” he blurted out.
Hazel raised an eyebrow.
“I certainly hope so. Otherwise you’ve wandered into a very confusing store.”
The man blinked.
Then laughed.
“My girlfriend is furious.”
“Anniversary?”
“Worse.”
Hazel folded her arms.
“You forgot her birthday.”
“...How did you know?”
She pointed toward the bright red roses he was already staring at.
“The panic. The sweat. The desperate expression.”
She smiled.
“I’ve seen it at least a hundred times.”
Ten minutes later, the customer left carrying the largest bouquet in the shop.
Whether it would save his relationship...
That was between him and fate.
Mia leaned against the counter, watching Hazel shake her head with amusement.
“You should charge extra for relationship counseling.”
“I practically do.”
“You really don’t belong in a flower shop.”
Hazel smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I know.”
She had earned her Business Administration degree almost a year ago.
Graduating with honors had felt like the beginning of everything.
Instead...
It had become the beginning of rejection emails.
Interview after interview.
Application after application.
Every company admired her enthusiasm.
Every company hired someone with more experience.
Eventually, the words ‘We’ll keep your résumé on file’ had started sounding like another way of saying good luck somewhere else.
Her phone buzzed inside the pocket of her apron.
She glanced at the notification.
Blackwood Group.
Her fingers froze.
One of the largest investment firms in New York.
A company everyone knew.
A company almost no one dared to work for.
At the center of it stood one man.
Ethan Blackwood.
Former Army captain.
CEO.
Brilliant strategist.
Impossible boss.
People described him differently depending on who you asked.
Some called him a genius.
Others called him ruthless.
Everyone agreed on one thing.
Working for Ethan Blackwood wasn’t a job.
It was survival.
Hazel stared at the job listing for several long seconds.
Executive Assistant.
Competitive salary.
Excellent benefits.
Directly supporting the CEO.
Her heart whispered yes.
Her common sense screamed no.
Mia noticed the expression on her face.
“Don’t.”
Hazel looked up innocently.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“I was only reading.”
“You’re thinking about applying.”
“...Maybe.”
“Hazel.”
“What?”
“That man has gone through more assistants than I’ve had birthdays.”
Hazel laughed.
“That’s a little dramatic.”
“I’m serious.”
“They say people quit after a week.”
“Then maybe they hired the wrong people.”
Mia sighed.
“Or maybe he’s impossible.”
Hazel looked back at the screen.
Maybe he was.
Maybe everyone was right.
Or maybe...
Everyone had simply stopped trying.
Without giving herself another chance to overthink it, she pressed Apply.
Somewhere, forty-two floors above Manhattan, Ethan Blackwood’s orderly world continued exactly as it always had.
Neither of them knew it yet.
But one application, sent in less than thirty seconds...
...was about to change both of their lives forever.
...
The email arrived the next morning.
Hazel almost ignored it.
She was in the middle of watering a row of white orchids when her phone vibrated inside the pocket of her apron.
Another rejection.
That was her first thought.
She dried her hands on a towel before pulling out her phone.
Blackwood Group — Human Resources
Her breathing stopped.
“No way...”
She tapped the notification.
Dear Ms. Brooks,
Thank you for your application.
We are pleased to invite you to an interview for the position of Executive Assistant at Blackwood Group.
Wednesday — 10:00 A.M.
Please arrive fifteen minutes early.
We look forward to meeting you.
Hazel stared at the screen.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
A laugh escaped her lips.
It wasn’t a polite laugh.
It was the kind that appeared when something felt too unbelievable to be real.
Mia looked up from wrapping a bouquet.
“What happened?”
Hazel slowly turned the phone toward her.
Mia’s eyes widened.
“Oh...”
A pause.
“Oh, no.”
Hazel frowned.
“Why is everyone reacting like I’m joining the military?”
“Because working for Ethan Blackwood is basically corporate military.”
Hazel rolled her eyes.
“It can’t be that bad.”
Mia gave her a look.
“You really have no survival instincts.”
Wednesday arrived far too quickly.
Rain fell steadily across Manhattan, covering the streets in silver reflections.
Hazel stepped out of the subway, holding a black umbrella above her head.
She looked up.
Blackwood Group towered over the surrounding buildings like a monument built from glass and steel.
Cold.
Elegant.
Untouchable.
“So...”
She swallowed.
“...this is happening.”
The revolving doors opened automatically as she stepped inside.
Warm air greeted her immediately.
The lobby was breathtaking.
White marble floors reflected the soft lighting above.
Modern artwork decorated the walls.
Fresh orchids stood in minimalist vases.
Not a single employee seemed out of place.
Everyone moved with quiet confidence.
No unnecessary conversations.
No loud laughter.
No clutter.
Hazel leaned toward the receptionist.
“Does everyone here come with a volume control?”
The receptionist blinked.
“I’m sorry?”
“They’re so... quiet.”
The woman smiled politely.
“You get used to it.”
Hazel wasn’t sure she wanted to.
After checking in, she was escorted upstairs by a member of Human Resources.
The elevator climbed in complete silence.
Forty-two floors.
Hazel could hear her own heartbeat.
The doors opened.
The executive floor felt...
Different.
The carpet softened every footstep.
Phones barely rang.
Employees spoke in voices low enough to disappear into the walls.
It reminded Hazel of a library.
Only somehow...
Scarier.
“This way,” the HR manager said.
They stopped in front of two large walnut doors.
She knocked twice.
A calm voice answered from inside.
“Come in.”
The office was enormous.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked rain-covered Manhattan.
Bookshelves lined one wall.
A long conference table occupied another.
Everything sat perfectly aligned.
Every folder.
Every pen.
Every picture frame.
Nothing was even slightly out of place.
Hazel smiled to herself.
Someone definitely owns a ruler.
Behind the desk sat Ethan Blackwood.
He didn’t acknowledge her immediately.
Instead, he finished signing the document in front of him.
Placed the pen exactly parallel to the folder.
Closed it.
Only then did he raise his eyes.
Hazel suddenly understood every rumor.
It wasn’t his height.
Although he was easily over six foot four .
It wasn’t the tailored charcoal suit.
Or the broad shoulders.
It was the way he looked at people.
Calm.
Steady.
Completely unreadable.
As if nothing in the world could surprise him.
“Ms. Brooks.”
His voice was deep and controlled.
“Please, have a seat.”
Hazel sat.
For a brief moment, silence settled between them.
Not awkward.
Measured.
Intentional.
Ethan opened her résumé.
“You graduated with honors.”
“Yes.”
“You currently work in a flower shop.”
“I do.”
“You’ve never worked as an executive assistant.”
“No.”
Another pause.
“So why are you here?”
Hazel met his gaze without looking away.
“Because everyone starts somewhere.”
Silence.
“You believe that somewhere should be here?”
“I do.”
His expression didn’t change.
“You’ve read the job description.”
“Several times.”
“You understand the hours are demanding.”
“Yes.”
“The workload is heavy.”
“I expected that.”
“You’ll spend more time solving problems than receiving instructions.”
“I’d be disappointed if I didn’t.”
For the first time...
One of Ethan’s eyebrows lifted ever so slightly.
Not because of what she said.
Because she hadn’t hesitated.
Most candidates rehearsed answers.
Hazel simply answered.
Ethan studied her résumé once more.
“No executive experience.”
“No.”
“No corporate background.”
“No.”
“So tell me something your résumé doesn’t.”
Hazel smiled.
“I’m very good at keeping flowers alive.”
He looked at her.
She looked back.
The silence stretched for two long seconds.
Hazel cleared her throat.
“...I realize that’s probably not the answer you were expecting.”
“It wasn’t.”
“But it’s true.”
Another pause.
Then—
The corner of Ethan’s mouth twitched.
Barely.
So briefly Hazel wondered if she’d imagined it.
Interesting.
No smile.
But not entirely emotionless either.
Perhaps the rumors weren’t completely accurate after all.
Or perhaps...
She had just witnessed something almost no one else ever had.
...
Ethan closed the folder.
The sound was quiet.
Deliberate.
Hazel folded her hands neatly in her lap, trying to ignore the fact that her heart was pounding loud enough to rival the rain against the windows.
For several long moments...
Neither of them spoke.
Ethan simply watched her.
Not rudely.
Not skeptically.
He observed.
Like a commander assessing someone before trusting them with responsibility.
Finally, he broke the silence.
“Most applicants spend this interview trying to impress me.”
Hazel tilted her head.
“I figured everyone else already tried that.”
“And?”
“I thought I’d try something different.”
“What exactly?”
“The truth.”
Silence.
Again.
Ethan leaned back slightly in his chair.
“You know the rumors.”
“I’ve heard a few.”
“A few?”
Hazel smiled.
“There are online discussions.”
“I know.”
“They’re... surprisingly creative.”
His expression remained unreadable.
“They’ve started placing bets.”
“I’m aware.”
Hazel hesitated.
“...Do you ever read them?”
“No.”
“Probably healthier.”
“It saves time.”
She nodded.
“Fair enough.”
For the first time since entering the office, the tension eased ever so slightly.
Not much.
Just enough for Hazel to breathe normally again.
Ethan rested one forearm on the desk.
“So.”
“You aren’t intimidated.”
Hazel answered honestly.
“Oh, I absolutely am.”
His gaze lingered on her.
“But you came anyway.”
“I need a job.”
“That’s all?”
She considered the question.
Then slowly shook her head.
“No.”
“What else?”
“I don’t like people deciding who I am before they’ve met me.”
Ethan remained silent.
“So when everyone says you’re impossible...”
She shrugged lightly.
“...I’d rather find out for myself.”
Another pause settled over the room.
Outside, thunder rolled across Manhattan.
Rain streamed down the massive windows behind Ethan’s desk.
Finally...
He stood.
Hazel instinctively rose as well.
Ethan walked toward the window, his hands slipping into the pockets of his tailored trousers.
“The average assistant stays eight days.”
Hazel blinked.
“So the internet was wrong.”
“It usually is.”
She couldn’t help smiling.
“I was expecting something more dramatic.”
“There was one.”
“Oh?”
“Four days.”
“Ouch.”
“The shortest.”
Hazel winced.
“What happened?”
“He ignored confidential instructions.”
“Oh...”
“He wasn’t dismissed because he made a mistake.”
Ethan looked out across the city.
“He was dismissed because he lied about it.”
His voice never changed.
Still calm.
Still controlled.
Yet somehow...
Those words carried more weight than anything else he had said.
Hazel understood.
He didn’t expect perfection.
He expected honesty.
That seemed... reasonable.
Far more reasonable than the rumors suggested.
Ethan turned back toward her.
“What would you do if you made a serious mistake?”
Hazel answered before she had time to second-guess herself.
“I’d tell you.”
“Immediately?”
“Immediately.”
“Even if you thought I’d fire you?”
“I’d deserve to be fired if I hid it.”
Silence.
For the first time during the interview...
Ethan looked genuinely thoughtful.
Most people answered with rehearsed confidence.
Hazel answered as if there wasn’t another option.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
A knock interrupted the conversation.
The door opened slightly.
“Mr. Blackwood?”
His assistant from Human Resources stood outside.
“Your conference call begins in five minutes.”
“I’ll be there shortly.”
The woman nodded before quietly closing the door.
Ethan looked back at Hazel.
“Our interview is over.”
Hazel gave a polite nod.
“Thank you for your time.”
She reached for the folder she had brought with her.
As she stood, her sleeve lightly brushed the corner of Ethan’s desk.
One perfectly aligned fountain pen rolled exactly three inches out of place.
Hazel froze.
“Oh...”
The room fell completely silent.
Her eyes moved from the pen...
...to Ethan.
Then back to the pen.
She slowly picked it up with both hands.
“I’m so sorry.”
She carefully placed it back on the desk.
Then frowned.
“...I don’t actually know where it was.”
Without realizing it, she leaned closer.
“No...”
“A little to the left.”
She adjusted it.
“Hmm...”
“Maybe right?”
Another adjustment.
“No, that doesn’t look right either.”
Ethan watched the entire scene without saying a word.
Hazel sighed dramatically.
“I’ve somehow offended your desk.”
A second passed.
Then another.
She looked up sheepishly.
“I promise I don’t usually rearrange CEOs’ offices.”
The corner of Ethan’s mouth moved.
Barely.
Almost invisible.
Almost...
A smile.
Hazel caught it.
Her eyes widened.
“There it is.”
Ethan’s expression immediately returned to normal.
“There is what?”
“I thought I imagined it.”
“You imagined what?”
“The almost-smile.”
“I don’t smile during interviews.”
“You almost did.”
“I didn’t.”
“You definitely did.”
“I assure you, Ms. Brooks—”
“ A dimple appeared on your cheek.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Ethan stared at her.
Hazel’s own eyes widened.
“...I wasn’t supposed to say that out loud.”
“No.”
“I really wasn’t.”
Another pause.
Hazel covered her face for half a second.
“Well...”
“This has been professionally embarrassing.”
She cleared her throat.
“Thank you again for your time, Mr. Blackwood.”
Then she turned toward the door as gracefully as someone who had just pointed out a billionaire CEO’s almost-hidden dimple possibly could.
The door clicked shut behind her.
The office became quiet once more.
Ethan remained standing beside his desk.
His gaze drifted toward the fountain pen.
It was still two millimeters out of alignment.
Without thinking, he straightened it.
Then...
He found himself remembering her final words.
“There was a dimple on your cheek .”
No employee had ever said something so absurdly honest during an interview.
Most people were too afraid to look him in the eye.
Hazel Brooks had argued with him...
Accidentally reorganized his desk...
And informed him about his own face.
For reasons he couldn’t quite explain...
A nearly imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
It disappeared as quickly as it came.
But it had been there.
For the first time in a very long time.
...
Hazel didn’t breathe until the elevator doors closed.
The polished steel reflected her stunned expression.
“...Did I seriously tell the CEO he had a dimple?”
She closed her eyes.
“Oh, I did.”
The elevator began its descent.
“You had one job, Hazel.”
“One.”
“Be professional.”
“And instead you insulted his desk.”
A quiet laugh escaped her.
Then another.
By the time she reached the lobby, she was shaking her head at herself.
“I’m never getting that job.”
Meanwhile...
The executive floor returned to its usual silence.
Ethan entered the conference room precisely on time.
Twelve executives were already seated around the long walnut table.
No one dared begin before he arrived.
“Good morning,” Ethan said.
The room echoed with polite greetings.
He took his seat at the head of the table.
A presentation appeared on the large screen.
Quarterly acquisitions.
Financial projections.
Expansion plans.
Normally, Ethan’s attention never wandered.
Today...
It did.
Only for a second.
“You have a dimple.”
His fingers paused above the report.
Interesting.
He couldn’t remember the last time an interview had stayed on his mind after it ended.
He dismissed the thought immediately.
“Continue,” he said.
The meeting resumed.
Two hours later...
Olivia Bennett knocked on his office door.
“You wanted the interview evaluations.”
“Come in.”
She placed a folder on his desk.
“There were six finalists.”
Ethan opened the file.
Each candidate had received detailed notes.
Years of executive experience.
Excellent references.
Leadership certifications.
He turned another page.
Hazel Brooks.
No executive experience.
Currently employed at a flower shop.
Outstanding academic record.
Strong communication skills.
Exceptional problem-solving assessment.
Olivia noticed where his attention rested.
“What do you think?”
“I haven’t decided.”
“You spent longer interviewing her than anyone else.”
“By ninety-three seconds.”
Olivia smiled.
“You timed it?”
“I always do.”
She wasn’t surprised.
Of course he did.
“I have to ask...”
Ethan looked up.
“...why her?”
“I didn’t say it was her.”
“No.”
“You didn’t.”
Olivia folded her arms.
“But I know you.”
Silence settled between them.
Finally, Ethan spoke.
“She answered every question honestly.”
“That’s rare?”
“Rarer than it should be.”
Olivia nodded slowly.
“And?”
“And she admitted what she didn’t know.”
Another pause.
“Most applicants try to convince me they’re already qualified.”
“Ms. Brooks didn’t.”
“She intends to become qualified.”
Olivia smiled.
“I liked her too.”
“I know.”
“You can tell?”
“You laughed during her interview.”
Olivia blinked.
“I did.”
“You rarely laugh during interviews.”
“...You’re observant.”
“I have to be.”
Across Manhattan...
Hazel had changed back into her apron.
She carefully arranged a bouquet of lavender and baby’s breath while trying not to think about the interview.
It wasn’t working.
Mia appeared beside her carrying a watering can.
“So?”
Hazel sighed dramatically.
“I embarrassed myself.”
“How badly?”
“I accidentally criticized his desk.”
Mia stared.
“...His desk?”
“I moved one of his pens.”
Mia nearly dropped the watering can.
“You what?”
“It was an accident.”
“Oh, that’s worse.”
“I know.”
“And then...”
Hazel hesitated.
Mia narrowed her eyes.
“What did you do?”
“I...”
“What?”
“...mentioned his dimple.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
A customer browsing tulips slowly looked up.
Mia blinked twice.
“You found a what?”
“A dimple.”
“Ethan Blackwood has a dimple?”
“Apparently.”
“And you pointed it out?”
“...Yes.”
“In an interview?”
“...Yes.”
Mia placed the watering can on the floor.
Very carefully.
“So...”
Hazel smiled weakly.
“I’m guessing I didn’t get the job.”
Mia burst into laughter.
Not a polite laugh.
The kind that echoed through the entire flower shop.
Two customers turned around.
One even started laughing without knowing why.
Hazel covered her face.
“Please stop.”
“I can’t!”
Mia wiped tears from her eyes.
“You survived exactly one interview and somehow became the first person in Manhattan to discover Ethan Blackwood has a dimple.”
“When you say it like that...”
“It sounds insane.”
“Because it was.”
Hazel couldn’t help laughing too.
Maybe she had ruined her chance.
Maybe she’d never hear from Blackwood Group again.
At least...
She had given Mia enough material to tease her for the next ten years.
Late that evening...
The executive offices were nearly empty.
Rain still fell beyond the glass walls of Ethan’s office.
He loosened his tie slightly before looking through the final interview reports once more.
Six candidates.
Six different personalities.
One position.
His phone buzzed.
It was Olivia.
Recommendation?
Ethan looked down at Hazel Brooks’ résumé again.
There was no impressive executive history.
No prestigious corporate background.
No carefully crafted list of impossible achievements.
Only honesty.
Potential.
And an unusual amount of courage.
His thumb hovered over the screen.
Then he typed a single sentence.
Offer the position to Ms. Brooks.
He pressed Send.
Outside, lightning flashed over Manhattan.
Neither Ethan nor Hazel realized it yet.
By this time tomorrow...
Their lives would no longer belong entirely to themselves.
...
Hazel unlocked the door to her apartment just after seven that evening.
Pumpkin greeted her immediately, weaving around her ankles before letting out an impatient meow.
“I know,” she sighed, dropping her keys into the ceramic bowl by the door. “Long day.”
The cat followed her into the kitchen as she filled his food bowl.
“You’ll never guess what I did today.”
Pumpkin ignored her completely once the food appeared.
“Honestly, you’re just like every recruiter I’ve ever met.”
She changed into an oversized sweatshirt, tied her hair into a messy bun, and collapsed onto the couch.
The interview replayed itself in her mind.
Every question.
Every answer.
Every awkward pause.
Then...
“You have a dimple.”
Hazel buried her face in a pillow.
“Oh, why would I say that?”
She groaned dramatically.
“I could’ve talked about leadership.”
“I could’ve talked about communication.”
“I could’ve talked about literally anything.”
Instead...
She had commented on the CEO’s face.
Pumpkin jumped onto the couch beside her.
“You think I’m unemployed forever too, don’t you?”
The cat blinked lazily.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Her phone remained silent for the rest of the evening.
Deep down, she convinced herself it was over.
Another interview.
Another rejection waiting to happen.
By midnight, she had stopped checking her email altogether.
At the same moment...
Forty-two floors above Manhattan...
The lights inside Ethan Blackwood’s office were still on.
Olivia Bennett entered carrying the final evaluation folder.
“You haven’t gone home yet.”
“I still have work.”
“You always have work.”
Ethan didn’t argue.
He simply finished reviewing the last page before closing the folder.
“There are several strong candidates,” Olivia said.
“There are.”
“Most have years of executive experience.”
“They do.”
“And Hazel Brooks has none.”
“No.”
Olivia waited.
She had worked beside Ethan long enough to recognize that silence meant he was still thinking.
Finally, she asked the question she had been holding back.
“So...”
“Why are you still looking at her résumé?”
Ethan rested the folder on his desk.
“Tell me something.”
Olivia folded her arms.
“I’m listening.”
“If someone knows everything...”
“...can they still learn?”
She smiled faintly.
“Not always.”
“And if someone knows they have more to learn?”
“They usually work harder.”
Ethan gave a single nod.
“Exactly.”
Olivia looked toward Hazel’s résumé.
“She’s inexperienced.”
“She is.”
“But she isn’t careless.”
“No.”
“She admitted what she didn’t know.”
“Without hesitation.”
“She never exaggerated.”
“No.”
“And she never tried to become the person she thought I wanted.”
Silence settled over the office.
Olivia finally smiled.
“I had a feeling.”
Ethan picked up his phone.
His thumb hovered over the screen for only a second.
Then he sent a message to Human Resources.
Offer the position to Hazel Brooks.
Olivia glanced at the notification on her tablet before looking back at him.
“I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“So do I.”
It was the closest thing to uncertainty Ethan Blackwood had expressed in years.
The next morning...
Bloom & Blossom was already busy.
Hazel stood behind the counter wrapping a bouquet of yellow tulips while Mia arranged fresh daisies near the entrance.
“So...” Mia began.
“Have they called?”
Hazel didn’t even look up.
“No.”
“Told you.”
“It’s only nine-thirty.”
“Exactly.”
“They would’ve called by now.”
Hazel tied the ribbon around the bouquet.
“I know.”
She forced a smile.
“I’ll survive.”
The bell above the shop door rang as another customer entered.
Hazel greeted them with her usual warmth, helping choose flowers for a birthday celebration.
She smiled.
She laughed.
She worked.
But every few minutes...
Her eyes drifted toward her phone.
Still nothing.
At exactly 10:14 A.M.
It rang.
An unfamiliar Manhattan number appeared on the screen.
Hazel frowned.
“Spam?”
Mia looked over.
“Answer it.”
Hazel hesitated before pressing the green button.
“Hello, this is Hazel Brooks.”
“Good morning, Ms. Brooks.”
The professional voice on the other end immediately caught her attention.
“This is Olivia Bennett from Blackwood Group.”
Hazel stood perfectly still.
Mia watched her face lose every trace of color.
“We’re pleased to inform you that Mr. Blackwood has made his decision.”
Hazel forgot how to breathe.
“We would like to officially offer you the position of Executive Assistant to Mr. Ethan Blackwood.”
Silence.
“...Ms. Brooks?”
Hazel blinked.
“I’m... I’m sorry.”
“I think my brain stopped working.”
Olivia laughed softly.
“I’ll take that as a yes?”
Hazel smiled so widely that her dimples appeared instantly.
“Yes.”
“Absolutely yes.”
“Wonderful.”
“We’ll email your contract within the hour.”
“Your first day will be Monday morning.”
The call ended.
Hazel continued staring at her phone.
Mia slowly walked toward her.
“...Hazel?”
No response.
“...Hazel.”
Still nothing.
Mia gently snapped her fingers in front of her face.
Finally...
Hazel whispered,
“I got the job.”
“What?”
“I...”
Her smile grew even wider.
“...I got the job.”
Mia screamed.
A customer nearly dropped the bouquet they were holding.
Someone in the back of the shop started clapping without knowing why.
Hazel laughed through the happy tears gathering in her eyes.
For the first time in nearly a year...
Someone had looked beyond her résumé.
Someone had believed in her.
She had no idea that accepting this offer would change far more than her career.
On Monday morning...
Hazel Brooks would walk into Blackwood Group as Ethan Blackwood’s new executive assistant.
Neither of them knew it yet.
But the carefully built walls around Ethan Blackwood’s heart had just met the one person capable of breaking through them.
Hello everyone, I’m Lina. This is my very first story, and I genuinely enjoyed every moment of writing it. It’s something I’ve put a lot of time and emotion into, so I truly hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed creating it.
If you like the story while reading, don’t forget to like and leave a comment. Your feedback means a lot to me and really motivates me to keep writing and improving. Thank you so much for giving my story a chance and being part of this journey with me.
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