WALKING INTO THE FIRE
IVY
First days are the worst.
New faces. Fake smiles. And the pressure to not mess up.
But today isn’t just any first day. It’s my first day working for Adrian Blackwell.
The billionaire. The legend. The man known for being ruthless, impossible to please, and totally heartless.
I take a deep breath as the elevator doors slide open. I’ve got this.
The office is massive—glass walls, sleek furniture, and people moving like they’re afraid to stop. No one chats. No one smiles. They’re all too focused, too tense.
It’s like stepping onto a battlefield.
I square my shoulders and walk toward my new boss’s office, my heels clicking against the marble floor. My stomach tightens, but I keep going.
I will not let Adrian Blackwell scare me.
I reach for the door handle, ready to knock, when—
"You’re late."
A deep voice cuts through the air.
I freeze.
Slowly, I turn.
And there he is.
Adrian Blackwell.
Tall. Sharp. Intimidating. His dark suit is perfectly fitted, his light brown eyes unreadable. He looks at me like I’m already a problem he needs to fix.
I glance at the clock. 8:59 AM.
I’m not late. But I don’t argue. Not yet.
"I was told to be here at nine," I say, keeping my voice steady.
His eyes narrow slightly. "I expect my employees to be early."
Of course he does.
He pushes the door open and steps inside, not waiting for me. I let out a slow breath and follow him in.
His office is exactly what I imagined—huge, expensive, and cold. Dark wood, black leather, and floor-to-ceiling windows that make the city look small.
He picks up a file without looking at me. "Your résumé is impressive," he says, flipping through it. "But I don’t hire people to impress me. I hire them to perform."
"I understand."
"Good." His gaze lifts to mine. "Your job is simple. Keep up. Don’t waste my time. And don’t expect me to be nice."
I straighten my back. "Noted."
Something flickers across his face—maybe amusement? But it’s gone in an instant.
"You’ll be working directly under me," he continues. "That means you need to anticipate what I need before I say it."
Right. Like I can read minds.
But I keep my face blank. "I’ll do my best."
"We’ll see." He closes the file. "Get started."
I pause. "On what?"
His jaw tightens slightly. "Figure it out."
Heat rushes to my face. He’s testing me.
I force a calm smile. "Got it."
Then I turn and walk out.
My heart is pounding, but I keep my steps steady.
I don’t know if I passed his little test.
But one thing is clear—this job is going to be hell.
---
ADRIAN
The second I see her, I know.
She’s trouble.
I read her résumé. She’s good—maybe too good. But something about her already annoys me.
Maybe it’s the way she didn’t flinch under my stare. Maybe it’s the way she challenged me—just a little.
Most people crumble in front of me.
She didn’t.
Interesting.
I lean back in my chair, watching through the glass walls as she walks to her desk, her head held high.
Let’s see how long she lasts.
