The Ruthless Boss
Chapter 1
The glass doors of Blackwood Enterprises opened at exactly 8:00 a.m.
Employees streamed through them with hurried footsteps, coffee cups in their hands and nervous glances at the large digital clock hanging above the reception desk.
Everyone knew the rule.
8:00 a.m. meant 8:00 a.m.
Not 8:01.
Not 8:05.
And certainly not 8:15.
Because Edward Blackwood was watching.
At thirty years old, Edward was the youngest CEO the company had ever had. He had inherited the business after his father’s retirement, but no one dared call him inexperienced.
Within three years, he had transformed Blackwood Enterprises into one of the fastest-growing companies in the city.
He was intelligent.
Decisive.
Ambitious.
And absolutely ruthless when it came to business.
His employees had another word for him.
Terrifying.
“Good morning, sir.”
Edward didn’t respond.
He walked through the lobby wearing a perfectly tailored black suit, his expression unreadable. His dark hair was neatly styled, and the expensive silver watch around his wrist was set exactly two minutes ahead.
His assistant hurried behind him.
“Mr. Blackwood, the meeting with the investors has been moved to—”
“Why?”
The assistant froze.
“Excuse me?”
“Why was it moved?”
“The investors requested a later time.”
Edward stopped walking.
“Did they?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then tell them the original schedule remains.”
“But they—”
“I don’t rearrange my schedule because someone else doesn’t know how to manage theirs.”
His voice wasn’t loud.
It didn’t need to be.
The assistant immediately nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
Edward continued walking.
That was Edward Blackwood.
Punctuality.
Discipline.
Efficiency.
Nothing else mattered.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
Across town, a young woman stood nervously in front of the same company’s reception desk.
Her name was Liya Carter.
Twenty-four years old.
Freshly graduated.
And starting her very first corporate job.
She clutched a folder against her chest while repeatedly checking the time on her phone.
7:52 a.m.
“I still have eight minutes,” she whispered.
She took a deep breath.
This was supposed to be the beginning of her career.
She had spent years studying, dreaming, and working toward this moment.
Now she was here.
Blackwood Enterprises.
One of the most prestigious companies in the city.
And she had been hired as the Personal Assistant to the CEO.
The thought alone made her stomach twist.
She had heard stories about Edward Blackwood.
Everyone had.
Cold.
Demanding.
Unforgiving.
Someone once told her that an employee had been fired because he arrived three minutes late to a meeting.
Another claimed Edward had rejected an entire presentation because one page contained a spelling mistake.
Liya didn’t know which stories were true.
She was about to find out.
At exactly 7:58, she walked toward the executive floor.
When the elevator doors opened, she stepped out.
A woman sitting at the reception desk looked up.
“You must be Liya.”
“Yes.”
“I’m Margaret, HR manager.”
Liya smiled politely.
“Nice to meet you.”
Margaret returned the smile, though there was something sympathetic in her eyes.
“You’re starting today?”
“Yes.”
“As Mr. Blackwood’s PA?”
Liya nodded.
Margaret stared at her for a second.
“Good luck.”
Liya blinked.
“Thank you?”
Margaret almost laughed.
“You’ll need it.”
Before Liya could respond, the door behind them opened.
Edward stepped out.
Everyone immediately became silent.
His eyes swept across the reception area.
Then stopped on Liya.
She straightened.
Their eyes met.
For the first time, Liya understood why everyone was afraid of him.
Edward’s gaze was sharp.
Cold.
Assessing.
He looked at her from head to toe—not inappropriately, but professionally, as if determining whether she belonged in his world.
“You are?”
“Liya Carter, sir.”
“Your appointment?”
“Eight o’clock.”
He glanced at his watch.
“You’re early.”
Liya smiled nervously.
“I thought it was better to be early than late.”
For the briefest moment, something flickered in Edward’s eyes.
Approval?
It disappeared so quickly that Liya couldn’t be sure.
“Follow me.”
She immediately picked up her folder.
“Yes, sir.”
Edward turned toward his office.
Then stopped.
“One more thing.”
Liya looked up.
“Yes?”
“I don’t tolerate excuses.”
Her smile faded slightly.
“I don’t make them.”
Edward studied her for another second.
Then walked away.
Liya followed.
Neither of them knew it yet, but those five words would eventually become one of the reasons Edward would fall hopelessly in love with her.
I don’t make them.
Edward’s office occupied the entire corner of the top floor.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, while everything inside was arranged with almost obsessive precision.
There were no unnecessary decorations.
No family photographs.
No personal belongings.
Just a desk, a few chairs, shelves of carefully organized files, and a large clock.
Liya noticed it immediately.
A clock.
Of course.
Edward sat behind his desk.
“You’ll handle my schedule, meetings, correspondence, travel arrangements, and internal coordination.”
Liya opened her notebook.
“Understood.”
“I expect confidentiality.”
“Of course.”
“Accuracy.”
“Yes.”
“Punctuality.”
“Absolutely.”
Edward leaned back slightly.
“And if you don’t know something?”
“I’ll ask.”
“And if you make a mistake?”
“I’ll correct it.”
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
“You sound confident.”
Liya gave a small smile.
“I’m nervous.”
For the first time, Edward looked genuinely surprised.
“You’re nervous?”
“Very.”
“Then why don’t you look nervous?”
Liya thought about it.
“Because looking nervous won’t make me less nervous.”
Silence.
Edward stared at her.
She stared back.
Then, unexpectedly, the corner of his mouth almost moved.
Almost.
But it wasn’t quite a smile.
“Interesting.”
He picked up a file.
“You have thirty minutes to review my schedule for the week.”
Liya nodded.
“Okay.”
“And Liya?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Welcome to Blackwood Enterprises.”
She smiled.
“Thank you, Mr. Blackwood.”
Edward returned his attention to the file.
Liya walked out.
The moment the door closed behind her, she released the breath she’d been holding.
“That man is terrifying,” she whispered.
Inside the office, Edward heard her.
He looked toward the closed door.
For some inexplicable reason, he found himself almost smiling.
Almost.
Then his expression returned to its usual coldness.
He glanced at the clock.
8:03 a.m.
His new assistant had arrived early.
Perhaps she would last longer than the others.
He had no idea that Liya Carter wouldn’t simply last.
She would change everything.
Including him.
