Chapter Four

Chapter 4: The Shift

Maya 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. Elevator. The now-familiar routine brought her back into the steel and silence of Blackwood Enterprises. It wasn’t even 7:30 a.m., and still, the place felt alive. Not buzzing with people—but alert. Like the building itself was awake before anyone else. The security guard on the 42nd floor gave her a curt nod as she passed. She didn’t expect smiles here. When she reached her assigned office, Elle wasn’t at her desk. The silence was both a relief and unnerving. Maya set her bag down, logged into the system, and started sorting the flagged documents from the night before. She moved quickly, precisely. Efficiency was survival. Half an hour later, Elle appeared without warning, heels clicking like thunder across the marble. “You’re being moved,” she said, tossing a folder onto Maya’s desk without so much as a good morning. Maya blinked. “I—I’m sorry?” Elle didn’t sit. She didn’t smile either. “Mr. Blackwood wants you relocated to the west wing.” “The… west wing?” “The one closer to the executive strategy and PR units.” Maya’s heart skipped. “But—why?” Elle’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “It’s not your place to ask.” Maya looked down quickly. “I understand.” “Take your things. Now. Someone will escort you.” She gathered her tablet, the documents she’d been reviewing, and shoved her pen into the front pocket of her bag. Her palms were sweaty, and she felt that familiar weight in her stomach—the one that used to settle there during tests she wasn’t ready for or doctor appointments she couldn’t afford. A man in a dark suit appeared by the door. Silent. Efficient. Not a word spoken between him and Elle. He gestured. She followed. They didn’t go far—just a few turns through a sleek maze of glass partitions and shadowed hallways. But the change was immediate. The energy shifted. The west wing was quieter, but not in a peaceful way. In a loaded way. The kind of quiet that meant decisions were being made behind closed doors. Lives changed with a sentence. Stocks rose and fell depending on what happened in these rooms. Her new desk was outside a frosted glass office labeled Strategic Development – Internal Comms. A different assistant—older, sharper—barely glanced up as Maya arrived. “You’ll coordinate directly with the comms team when assigned,” she said dryly. “Otherwise, sort and prep internal reports. Deadlines are posted weekly. Don’t miss them.” Maya sat slowly, placing her bag on the floor. Her new chair was more ergonomic, her monitor larger, and the view—God, the view—stretched across the skyline with unapologetic arrogance. For a moment, she just sat still. What had changed? Had she done something wrong? Or… something right? Her fingers trembled slightly as she opened her inbox. There was a single new message: From: [e-mail] Subject: Relocation Notice Per Mr. Blackwood’s directive, your station has been moved. Continue performing your duties as assigned. Any further questions may be directed to HR. – E.W. Mr. Blackwood. He’d noticed her? She hadn’t even seen his face. Just the reflection in the glass. The flash of a cufflink. The impossible presence that seemed to follow him like gravity. How could someone like that remember her at all? But still—he had. Somehow. Her thoughts were spinning when a cheery voice suddenly cut through the tension. “Hi! Oh my God—you must be the intern, right?!” Maya jumped slightly, her hand hovering over her keyboard. A woman appeared beside her desk with a wide smile, oversized glasses, and a shock of wavy hair dyed a soft plum color that should’ve clashed with the strict dress code—but somehow didn’t. She wore heels with little yellow suns on them. Real ones. With faces. “I’m Harper. Harper Lin. PR generalist and certified office snack hoarder.” She extended her hand dramatically. “And you, my dear, look like you just walked into a villain’s lair.” Maya blinked, then smiled hesitantly. “I’m Maya. Maya Thompson.” “Cute name! You look like a Maya. I knew the moment I saw your outfit you weren’t one of them.” Maya tilted her head. “Them?” “The corporate drones who forgot how to smile. Don’t worry, they’re mostly harmless. Just… avoid the guy from mergers. He hasn’t blinked since ‘09.” Maya let out a quiet laugh, and it surprised even her. “Okay… I’ll keep that in mind.” Harper leaned against the edge of the desk like they’d been friends for months. “So. Welcome to the chaos. You’re lucky—our wing’s the least soul-crushing. Strategic comms is stiff, but the PR folks are halfway human. Plus, we have the best snack drawer on this floor. And I have the passcode.” “Thank you. Honestly, I was kind of bracing for, I don’t know… ice?” “Oh, there’s ice,” Harper said, grinning. “But you get used to the cold. Or bring a flamethrower. Either way, you’re in now. That means you’ve earned the right to survive. Barely.” Before Maya could respond, the door behind her opened again. “Thompson,” a clipped voice called. Maya turned to find Trina, one of the PR managers she’d briefly met during orientation. “You’re tagging along for this morning’s internal pitch review. Bring your notes. Don’t speak unless spoken to.” “Yes, ma’am,” Maya replied. Harper gave her a wink and whispered, “Don’t trip. That’s how they weed out the weak.” Maya grinned despite herself. Then followed Trina through the long hallway and into a sleek glass conference room. Five minutes passed. Then ten. People trickled in—power suits, expensive watches, silence. Then— He entered. Damien Blackwood didn’t just walk. He commanded space. He wore black, of course. His eyes were unreadable, his expression carved in something colder than stone. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Clean lines, no warmth. Maya didn’t look directly at him. She didn’t have to. He passed close enough that she could smell the faintest trace of something sharp—clean, expensive, dangerous. His hand brushed the table as he sat. A flick of his wrist. His voice when he spoke was low and smooth and utterly without hesitation. Everything in the room bowed toward him. Even time. And still—somehow—Maya felt the burn of his gaze settle on her for just a second too long. Not by accident. Not in passing. She didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. She just sat there, pretending not to notice. But her pulse betrayed her. And deep down, she knew— This shift? This move? It wasn’t random. It wasn’t protocol. Damien Blackwood had noticed her. And now? She wasn’t just part of the building. She was on his radar. And she didn’t know yet if that was a blessing… or a curse.