Romances de AE BRAT

Damien Blackwood never looked twice. Until now. The conference room was already humming with tension when Damien entered. He didn’t need to look to know the lineup—department heads, senior comms staff, strategy leads. All waiting. All curated. All afraid to breathe too loud before he sat. He moved with deliberate precision. Black tailored suit. White shirt. No tie. Calculated. Everything he did—every cufflink, every silence, every damn step—was calculated. The pitch meeting wasn’t about the pitch. It was about control. About reminding them who was in charge. Who built this empire from the ground up. Who could tear it down if he wanted to. He passed the long glass table, eyes scanning without moving. Observing without appearing to. Calculating risk, performance, allegiance. Then—he saw her. Not directly. Just… enough. Maya Thompson. She sat near the end of the table, partially obscured by Trina’s shoulder. Her posture stiff, hands folded tightly over a leather-bound notebook. She wasn’

Chapter 4: The ShiftMaya had barely slept. By the time she finished her night class and got Jamie settled after his medications, it was nearly 2:00 a.m. She dozed off for what felt like minutes before the alarm blared at 4:15. Two hours. That’s all her body got—and somehow, it felt like enough. It had to be. She stood in the bathroom mirror, brushing concealer under her eyes like it could erase exhaustion. The overhead light flickered once, humming the way old bulbs do when they’re close to burning out. Just like her. She pulled her hair into a low bun, pinned it tightly, and stared at herself for a moment. Her blouse was clean but fading at the seams. The slacks were still holding on. The same scuffed shoes. It didn’t matter. She straightened her shoulders and whispered, “Get through today.” Jamie was still asleep on the couch when she left. She placed a kiss on his forehead, tucked the blanket higher, and scribbled a note by his meds in case she got home late again. Subway. Walk. E

Damien Blackwood didn’t notice interns. He didn’t need to. Most interns weren’t even worth a glance—those rare few who managed to land the coveted spot at Blackwood Enterprises came through grueling university vetting, a token gesture from the company to maintain ties with elite academic institutions. Only one university was selected each year. Only one student given the opportunity. It was part PR, part power move. Let the schools brag. Let the students dream. It kept the illusion of outreach alive—while reminding everyone just how unreachable Blackwood truly was. They never lasted. They cracked under pressure, or folded the second they realized working for Blackwood wasn’t a fantasy. He didn’t tolerate weakness. He didn’t tolerate clutter. He didn’t tolerate noise. So he was confused—annoyed, even—when he noticed her. It happened by accident. He’d just returned from a two-week summit in Tokyo—exhausting, infuriating, profitable—and was storming through the 42nd floor toward his priv

Chapter 2: The Ghost in the Glass TowerMaya showed up fifteen minutes early the next day, because late wasn’t even an option in a place like this. She hadn’t slept. Her mind kept replaying the elevator ride, the heavy silence outside Damien Blackwood’s office, and the assistant’s icy warning: “Sign everything. He doesn’t tolerate leaks.” It felt less like an internship and more like stepping into a lion’s den—with a blindfold on. Now, walking into the private lounge again, Maya smoothed her blouse and tried to breathe. There was no coffee shop hum here, no casual chatter. Just tension. Glass. Steel. Control. “Thompson?” a sharp voice called. Maya looked up. A woman—blonde, tall, sleek as marble—stepped out from a nearby door, holding a digital tablet. Her heels clicked like gunfire on the floor. “I’m Elle. Mr. Blackwood’s senior executive assistant,” she said. “You’ll be working under me.” “Yes, ma’am,” Maya said immediately. Elle arched a brow. “No need for ‘ma’am.’ Just do your job

Chapter 1: The Only SpotMaya Thompson had been running on caffeine and hope for years. It was 5:30 in the morning, and the café where she worked was still dark when she unlocked the front door. The quiet hum of the machines, the aroma of roasted beans, and the familiar click of her name tag against her apron—these were the things that kept her grounded. By the time the sun broke through the city skyline, she’d already served a dozen tired professionals on their way to offices she could only dream of entering. But today was different. Today, for the first time in what felt like forever, she had something to look forward to. Her professor had pulled her aside after class the night before. Maya had expected a warning—maybe about her grades slipping, or her frequent absences. But instead, he’d smiled, handing her a printed letter with the university’s official seal. We are pleased to inform you… You’ve been selected for this year’s exclusive internship opportunity with Blackwood Enterpri