Chapter 8: The Job Offer She Can’t Refuse

The email arrives on a Tuesday morning while I’m eating cereal over the sink like a functional adult.

**Subject: Position Offer - Senior Marketing Analyst - Blackwood Technologies**

I drop my spoon.

It clatters into the sink. Milk splashes onto my shirt. I don’t notice.

Blackwood Technologies.

No. Absolutely not. This is a coincidence. Has to be.

I applied to dozens of companies three months ago. Before Ethan. Before everything. This is just, timing. Bad timing. Terrible timing.

I open the email with shaking hands.

*Dear Ms. Vale,*

*We are pleased to offer you the position of Senior Marketing Analyst at Blackwood Technologies. After careful review of your application and credentials, we believe you would be an excellent addition to our team.*

*Your proposed salary is $95,000 annually with full benefits, including…*

Ninety-five thousand dollars.

That’s twenty thousand more than I make now. That’s, that’s life-changing money.

I keep reading.

*Please review the attached offer letter and employment contract. We would like you to start on Monday, June 3rd. Contact Marcus Hale, Chief Operating Officer, with any questions.*

*Sincerely,*

*Marcus Hale*

*Chief Operating Officer, Blackwood Technologies*

Marcus Hale. Not Lucian. That’s something.

I read it three more times. Looking for the catch. The part where it says “just kidding” or “also you have to work directly with the CEO who you absolutely did not sleep with.”

It’s legitimate. Professional. Standard.

My phone rings. Sophia.

“Did you apply to Blackwood Technologies?” she demands without saying hello.

“Three months ago. How did you—”

“I’m looking at their website. They just posted about ‘exciting new hires joining the team.’ Your name is on the list.” A pause. “Please tell me you’re not actually considering this.”

“It’s a good offer.”

“It’s a nightmare waiting to happen.”

“The offer letter is signed by Marcus Hale. Not, not him.” I can’t say his name. “I probably won’t even see him. It’s a huge company.”

“It’s his company, Ariana. His name is literally in the title.”

“I need this job.” I sit on my kitchen floor. “My lease is up in two months. I’m barely making rent now. This is twenty thousand more a year, Soph. Twenty thousand.”

“There are other jobs.”

“Not ones offering this much. Not ones I’m qualified for.” I press my palm against my forehead. “I applied before everything. Before I even knew who he was. This isn’t, this isn’t because of him.”

“Are you sure? Because it’s a hell of a coincidence.”

“The email’s from Marcus. He’s the COO. He does hiring. This is legitimate.”

Sophia sighs. Long and heavy. “You’re going to take it, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do. I can hear it in your voice.” She pauses. “Just, promise me you’ll be careful. That you won’t—”

“I won’t. I’ll stay professional. Keep my distance. It’s just a job.”

“Nothing with him is just anything.”

She’s right. But I can’t afford to care.

I email Marcus Hale.

*Mr. Hale,*

*Thank you for the offer. I accept. I have a few questions about the position and would appreciate a call at your earliest convenience.*

*Best,*

*Ariana Vale*

He responds in ten minutes.

*Ms. Vale,*

*Excellent. I’ll call you this afternoon at 2 PM. Looking forward to having you on the team.*

*Marcus*

Professional. Courteous. Normal.

See? Normal.

At exactly two PM, my phone rings.

“Ms. Vale, Marcus Hale.” His voice is smooth. Confident. The kind that probably commands boardrooms. “Congratulations on the position.”

“Thank you. I’m excited about the opportunity.”

“Your credentials are impressive. The marketing campaign you led at your current company increased engagement by forty percent. That’s exactly the kind of innovation we need.”

“I appreciate that.”

“You’ll be working primarily with our product development team. Reporting to me, at least initially. We’re launching a new AI platform in Q4 and need someone who can translate complex tech into compelling narratives.”

I take notes. Ask smart questions. Sound competent and professional.

“One more thing,” Marcus says. “You may occasionally be pulled into executive meetings. Strategy sessions. The CEO likes to have diverse perspectives in the room.”

My pen freezes. “The CEO.”

“Lucian Blackwood. Though he’s fairly hands-off with day-to-day operations. You probably won’t interact much.”

Probably.

“Of course,” I say. Steady. Calm. “That makes sense.”

“Any other questions?”

“No. Thank you for the opportunity.”

“We’re glad to have you. See you Monday.”

He hangs up.

I sit in my apartment. Stare at my acceptance email.

This is fine. I can do this. Blackwood Technologies has over three hundred employees. The chances of running into Lucian are minimal. I’ll work hard, keep my head down, avoid executive floors.

My phone buzzes.

**Unknown Number: Congratulations on the job.**

I stare at the message. Then at the number. Different from the one I have saved for Lucian.

I shouldn’t respond. Should delete it. Block the number.

**Me: How did you know?**

**Unknown: Marcus told me. Said he hired someone exceptional.**

**Unknown: He doesn’t know. About us.**

**Unknown: I pushed your application through. Saw your credentials months ago. Before. You earned this.**

My chest tightens.

**Me: You shouldn’t have done that.**

**Unknown: Your qualifications speak for themselves. I just made sure they were seen.**

**Me: This is a bad idea.**

**Unknown: Probably.**

**Unknown: But you need the job. And we need someone with your skills. So we’re both going to be professional about this.**

**Me: Professional.**

**Unknown: I’ll stay out of your way. You stay out of mine. We can do this.**

I should say no. Should turn down the offer. Find something else.

Instead I type:

**Me: Okay.**

**Unknown: See you Monday, Ms. Vale.**

He’s already calling me Ms. Vale. Distance. Professional.

This can work.

I spend the weekend convincing myself of that.

Tell Sophia I’m taking the job. She threatens to lock me in her apartment.

Tell my mother I got a promotion. She cries happy tears.

Don’t tell anyone the truth.

That I’m walking into enemy territory.

That I’m going to see him every day.

That some part of me, the part I’m desperately trying to ignore, wants this.

Wants the excuse to be near him.

Monday arrives too fast and not fast enough.

I stand outside Blackwood Technologies at eight forty-five AM. Fifty-story glass tower. His empire.

My new workplace.

I smooth my skirt. Check my reflection in the lobby windows. Professional. Competent. Someone who definitely didn’t sleep with the CEO.

The lobby doors slide open.

Inside, everything is sleek. Modern. Expensive.

I walk to reception. Give my name.

“Ms. Vale, welcome. Mr. Hale is expecting you. Fortieth floor.”

The elevator ride feels eternal.

Doors open. Marcus Hale waits in the reception area. Tall, sharp suit, assessing eyes.

“Ms. Vale. Welcome to Blackwood Technologies.” He extends his hand. “Ready for your first day?”

“Absolutely.”

“Excellent. Let’s get you settled. Then I’ll introduce you to the team.” He starts walking. I follow. “We have a project kickoff meeting at ten. You’ll meet everyone then.”

“Sounds great.”

“Including Lucian. He likes to welcome new senior hires personally.”

My stomach drops.

“Oh. That’s, that’s nice.”

Marcus glances at me. Something flickers in his expression. Gone too fast to read.

“Yes,” he says slowly. “He’s very hands-on with talent acquisition.”

We round a corner.

And there he is.

Standing at a conference room window. Dark suit. Hands in pockets. Looking every inch the billionaire CEO.

He turns.

Our eyes meet.

And I realize just how completely fucked I am.