2. Interview

Rowan’s POV

“Checkmate!” he shouted in excitement, a wide grin spreading across his face. It was the second game he’d won, and he was clearly enjoying every bit of his small victory celebration.

We were both sitting in the drawing room, where the only source of light came from the fireplace. He sat directly across from me, the warm glow reflecting off his silver hair and making his piercing blue eyes shimmer. He raised his glass and took a slow sip of whiskey.

“You got me again, Dad," I huffed.

“Good game, son. But never forget—your old man still has it,” he said with a small laugh of pride. 

“Yeah, I know,” I replied while closing the game.

After a long pause he said, “Thanks, son.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “For what?”

“For taking the position.”

It’s been a month since I took the CEO position. And suddenly, life felt… busy. Too busy. I was in my room gaming, lost in some fantasy world, when I got a call from my father. He asked me to come to his office, and honestly, I thought it would be another one of those boring business talks I usually zoned out of. But that day was different.

When I walked in, he looked tired—older somehow. He gestured for me to sit, and after a long pause, he said, “Son, I need you to take over the CEO position.”

I blinked. I laughed at first, actually. I thought he was joking. But he wasn’t. He told me it had always been his and my mother’s dream to see me lead the company one day, to carry on the legacy he had built from scratch.

It wasn’t an easy decision. I had to give up a lot—my late nights, parties, and the playboy life I was living without a care in the world. But the look in his eyes that day… I couldn’t say no. 

I leaned back with a smirk. “Let’s just hope I don’t burn the whole empire down.”

He let out a laugh and patted my shoulder. "You have my faith, son.”

You have my faith, son.

********************************************************

God! It’s fucking exhausting. I’ve been taking interviews for the last 2 hours, and none of the applicants are capable of my assistant’s position. This morning is clearly a headache.

After Greta announced her retirement following my father’s departure from the position, I truly realized the importance of having a good assistant. She had been my father’s right hand for years and promised me she wouldn’t leave until I found someone capable to take her place. And now, here I am—scrambling to find any competent person for this damn role.

They can’t even answer a simple question properly—how the hell are they supposed to do the job?

And finally, here was the last applicant. When I looked at the photo, my eyes widened in shock. Elena Hart? I thought it was some mistake, but no. It wasn’t. Elena. That fucking girl. 

My fists clenched so tightly that my knuckles turned white. But then a smirk spread across my face; the world has itself given me a chance to take my revenge. Revenge for that slap. Revenge for that humiliation. Revenge for the insult I had to go through. Reve–

I was snapped back to reality when a soft knock came on the door.

“Come in,” I said as I was eagerly waiting for the person to enter the room.

And there she wa—oh. My God.

My smirk faded and turned into a surprised expression. She was…beautiful. Her doe hazel eyes, puffed lips, and that fucking perfect hourglass-shaped body. And her braces are gone. Her peach coat hung perfectly on her shoulders as the tight buttons of her black shirt were ready to pop out.

By seeing her expression, I can say she’s as shocked as I am.

“Rowan,” I heard her muttering as I quickly changed my expression into the snarky one.

“Hello, mia bella, Nice to meet you again.”

Her eyes widened in horror, and I smirked as I slowly rose from my seat.

Each step I took toward her echoed through the silent office. She didn’t move as I towered over her, drinking in every flicker of discomfort that crossed her face. 

“I was waiting for you for years, Bella,” I murmured, my voice low and dangerous. “And… it looks like the universe finally handed you over to me on a silver platter.”

She opened her mouth slightly, as if to say something, but the words caught in her throat. I leaned in, my breath brushing her ear as her vanilla smell filled my nostrils. “You have no idea how long I’ve imagined this moment.”

“I… I didn’t know you were the CEO,” she said, barely above a whisper, her voice laced with disbelief.

“Well, surprise.” I gave a dark chuckle. “Looks like you’re back in your cage, Bella.”

She straightened her spine a little, lifting her chin. “Don’t call me that.”

“Oh, I will,” I said, circling her slowly. “Again. And again. Until you remember exactly what you did.”

Her breath hitched slightly, but she didn’t step back. “I didn’t come here for drama. And if I knew you were the CEO, I would’ve never applied for the job.”

“Oh, but tada! I’m the boss here, and the drama came to you,” I whispered, leaning in. “And you have no idea, Mia Bella, how I’m going to make your life a living hell.”

Her lips parted, then tightened. “If this is about the past—”

“It is about the past,” I cut in, voice sharp. “The slap. The way you looked at me like I was a stray dog. You think I forgot that?”

She crossed her arms, eyes blazing despite the storm behind them. “Maybe you should’ve taken it as a lesson. But no—you’re still the same arrogant bastard.”

Something about her expression tells me that something is stopping her from rejecting this offer. The Elena I knew would’ve left by now, but I can see something in her eyes. Desperation.

I smiled. God, I missed that fire. “And judging by that expression, I don’t think you have many other options, do you?”

She faltered for just a second. I knew it. Something is stopping her.

“If you think I’m coward enough to run just because you’re the boss,” she said, her voice sharp and steady as if trying to cover something, “then you’re mistaken, Mr. Blackwood. I won’t run from you this time—or ever again.”

A slow, amused smirk spread across my face as I stepped closer, letting the tension hang thick in the air.

“Oh, I’m counting on that, Bella,” I said, my voice low and laced with dark amusement. “It’s no fun chasing someone who runs. But having you right here, under my control? Now that… is going to be delicious.”

“Greta!” I barked, loud enough to make her jump.

The door creaked open, and Greta stepped inside. “Yes, Mr. Blackwood?”

“She’s hired,” I said without breaking eye contact with Elena.

Greta nodded, not daring to question the decision.

Elena just stood there, frozen in place. It was all there in her eyes. She wasn’t expecting me to hire her.

“Welcome to hell, mia bella,” I whispered, lips barely grazing her ear.