Chapter 3: Life-Altering Choices.

He led her through the sleek hallways of Blackwood Industries, explaining and freshening her mind on procedures and expectations from yesterday’s briefing. But the real challenge came when they reached Enzo’s office.

Ethan opened the door. “He’s waiting for you.”

Sherry squared her shoulders and stepped inside.

Enzo was seated behind his massive desk, already immersed in work. Without looking up, he said, “Ms. Sherry”.

He finally lifted his gaze, assessing her with the same intensity as before. “Your job is simple. You handle what I don’t have time for. Meetings, reports, travel arrangements. You anticipate my needs before I voice them.”

Sherry arched a brow. “So, mind reading?”

His lips twitched, but his expression remained unreadable.

“Call it efficiency.”

She folded her arms. “Fine. Where do I start?”

He leaned back. “You already have.”

She made a face, but just as she was about to speak, the intercom beeped. “Sir,” came the crisp voice of his secretary: “Victoria Hayes is here.”

Sherry stiffened. The name was familiar. Victoria Hayes. One of the most ruthless businesswomen in New York. And Enzo’s rumored… something.

“Send her in,” Enzo said.

The door opened, and Victoria walked in confidently as if she was in charge.

She wore an expensive suit and looked sure of herself. Her sharp eyes glanced at Sherry before focusing on Enzo.

“I wasn’t expecting an audience,” she said coolly.

Sherry remained composed, though she could feel the woman’s silent assessment.

Enzo, on the other hand, didn’t bother with formalities. “Say what you came to say.”

Victoria dropped a file onto his desk. “The Tokyo deal. I want in.”

Sherry’s interest piqued. The Tokyo deal. She had heard whispers about it in financial circles a massive project that could shift global market influence.

Enzo skimmed through the file, unimpressed.

“Your company lacks the infrastructure for a deal of this scale.”

Victoria’s smile was sharp. “That’s why I want to partner with Blackwood Industries. Together, we could”

“No.” Enzo’s voice was final.

Sherry almost felt bad for Victoria. Almost.

Victoria’s gaze darkened. “Is it business? Or personal?” Her eyes flickered toward Sherry.

Sherry met her stare evenly.

Enzo’s voice cut through the tension. “I don’t mix the two.”

A beat of silence. Then, Victoria smiled predatory and knowing. “We’ll see about that.”

She turned to Sherry, her expression unreadable. “Good luck, Miss Hart. You’ll need it.”

With that, she walked out, leaving a charged silence in her wake.

Sherry exhaled slowly. “Charming woman.”

Enzo didn’t react. Instead, he picked up the file, flipping through it as if the encounter hadn’t just happened.

“You’ll assist Ethan in compiling the final report for the Tokyo deal. Make sure it’s airtight.”

Sherry hesitated, her curiosity getting the better of her. “Why did you turn her down?”

Enzo’s dark eyes lifted to hers. “Because I don’t trust her.”

Sherry nodded, storing that information for later.

Unexpected Moves…

Hours passed in a blur of meetings and paperwork. Sherry worked tirelessly, determined not to let Enzo or anyone else see her struggle.

By late afternoon, Ethan approached her desk. “You’re needed in Enzo’s office. Now.”

Sherry sighed, rubbing her temples before grabbing her notes. When she entered the office, she found Enzo on the phone, his expression colder than usual.

“Fix it,” he ordered before ending the call.

Sherry folded her arms. “Problem?”

His jaw tightened. “Robert Gray is interfering with the Tokyo deal.”

Sherry tensed. Robert Gray. A ruthless businessman who plays dirty.

“What did he do?” she asked.

Enzo exhaled sharply. “He’s trying to outbid us.”

Sherry frowned. “Can he?”

A muscle ticked in Enzo’s jaw. “Not if we move faster.”

She hesitated before speaking. “What do you need me to do?”

Enzo studied her for a long moment. Then, he slid a folder across the desk. “I need you to accompany me to Tokyo.”

Sherry blinked. “Excuse me?”

“This deal is too important to risk,” he said.“ You’ll be handling key negotiations.”

Sherry opened her mouth to protest but stopped. If she backed down now, she’d look weak.

She lifted her chin. “Fine. When do we leave?”

Enzo’s lips curved slightly. “In three days.”

Her stomach dropped. “In three days?”

“Problem?”

Sherry exhaled. “No. Just… didn’t expect it so soon.”

But she on the other hand can’t wait to be in the space with Enzo.

Enzo smirked. “You’ll learn, Miss Hart. I never hesitate.”

Sherry swallowed hard. Tokyo. A high-stakes deal. And Robert Gray in the shadows.

Something told her this was just the beginning.

As Sherry turned to leave, her phone buzzed. A single text flashed across the screen.

Unknown Number: “Be careful who you trust in Tokyo.”

Sherry’s breath hitched.

What had she just walked into?

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Ethan Reynolds, Enzo’s ever-composed COO, stepped in. His gaze flickered between them. Enzo leaned back, his expression impassive.

Ethan exhaled, he greeted his Boss drawing his attention.

“Boss, we should discuss the Tokyo expansion.”

Sherry’s head snapped up. Tokyo?

Her pulse quickened as Enzo gestured for Ethan to continue.

“Robert Gray is making moves,” Ethan said, his voice sharp. “He’s already trying to undercut us in Tokyo. If we don’t solidify our position now, we’ll lose the entire deal.”

Sherry’s stomach twisted at the mention of Robert Gray. She had heard his name in whispers of an unscrupulous businessman with a reputation for playing dirty.

Enzo’s jaw tightened. “Then we don’t give him a chance to strike.”

He turned to Sherry. “You’ll be assisting me with this personally.”

Sherry blinked. “Me?”

“You heard right. You’re mine now,” Enzo said smoothly. “And that means you go where I go.”

A chill ran through her again after hearing about the Tokyo trip early before Ethan entered. She hadn’t expected to be thrown into the fire this fast.

Before she could argue, Ethan handed Enzo a file. “We seriously need to be in Tokyo in three days.”

She barely had time to process her new role, and now she was being thrust into international corporate warfare.

Enzo stood, adjusting his suit. “Get ready, Miss Hart. The real game is about to begin.”

That night, Sherry lay on her bed, her mind racing.

She picked up her phone and, without hesitating, called someone she knew well.

“Finally!” Sophie Grant’s voice burst through the speaker. “I was about to send a rescue team. Tell me everything!”

Sherry exhaled. “I have no idea where to begin.”

“The beginning, obviously,” Sophie huffed. “Did the cold-hearted billionaire make you sign your soul away?”

Sherry groaned. “Basically. Five years as his Personal assistant.”

There was a dramatic gasp on the other end. “FIVE years? Girl, that’s an eternity!”

Sherry rubbed her temples. “I didn’t have a choice, Sophie. If I refused, Margo Fashion House was done.”

There was a beat of silence before Sophie spoke, softer this time. “I know, babe. I just wish you weren’t stuck under his control.”

Sherry sighed. “It’s not just that. We’re flying to Tokyo in three days.”

Sophie squealed. “Okay, hold up. A luxury trip with Enzo freaking Blackwood? That’s a romance novel waiting to happen.”

Sherry rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”

“I’m just saying,” Sophie teased. “A sexy billionaire, high-stakes business, international travel if there’s no enemies-to-lovers tension, I’ll be disappointed.”

Sherry refused to acknowledge the heat rising to her cheeks. “It’s not like that.”

“Yet,” Sophie said with a smirk in her voice.

“Aah!.....it’s okay girl. I am signing out”

“Good night Baby girl”

Sherry hung up before her best friend could say another word.

The next day, Sherry arrived at Blackwood Industries, determined to prove herself.