Chapter 1 — The Man Who Hated Me

Lena Carter had been inside Blackwood Enterprises for exactly twelve minutes when she realized she had made a terrible mistake.

The building was enormous.

Too enormous.

Glass walls stretched toward the ceiling, employees moved through the lobby with expensive-looking suits and purposeful expressions, and even the receptionist seemed intimidating.

Lena tightened her grip on the folder against her chest.

“Relax,” she whispered to herself. “It’s just a job.”

A job she desperately needed.

After three weeks of unemployment, she wasn't in a position to be picky.

She checked the email on her phone again.

Human Resources — Executive Assistant Position

She had applied for a regular administrative position.

Instead, after two interviews, three assessments, and one unusually intense final interview, she had somehow been assigned to the executive floor.

More specifically—

To Adrian Blackwood.

The CEO.

Lena swallowed.

She had heard enough about him during her short time in the building.

Cold.

Demanding.

Unapproachable.

Brilliant.

And apparently allergic to excuses.

“Ms. Carter?”

She looked up.

A woman in a navy suit stood in front of her.

“I’m Daniel, Mr. Blackwood’s chief of staff. Follow me.”

Lena nodded quickly.

“Of course.”

They entered the elevator.

The doors closed.

Daniel pressed the button for the top floor.

“You'll be assisting Mr. Blackwood directly,” he said.

“I understand.”

“He expects punctuality.”

“I’m always punctual.”

“He dislikes unnecessary conversation.”

Lena glanced at him.

“Good. I don't like unnecessary conversation either.”

Daniel's mouth twitched.

Almost a smile.

Almost.

Then he became serious again.

“One more thing.”

“Yes?”

“Don't lie to him.”

Lena frowned.

“I don't.”

“Good.”

The elevator continued upward.

When the doors opened, Lena stepped into a quiet hallway lined with dark wood and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Daniel walked toward a large office at the end.

He knocked once.

A deep voice answered.

“Come in.”

Lena's stomach tightened.

Daniel opened the door.

“Mr. Blackwood, this is Lena Carter.”

She stepped inside.

And stopped.

Adrian Blackwood stood beside the window with his back partially turned toward them.

He was taller than she expected.

Dark suit. White shirt. No tie.

One hand was in his pocket while the other held a phone.

He looked like the kind of man who belonged on the cover of a business magazine.

Then he turned.

His eyes met hers.

And something changed.

It was so quick Lena almost missed it.

Recognition.

Shock.

Then something colder.

His expression hardened.

“Leave us.”

Daniel hesitated.

“Sir—”

“I said leave.”

Daniel nodded and walked out.

The door closed.

Lena remained standing.

Adrian stared at her.

Not glanced.

Stared.

She shifted uncomfortably.

“Mr. Blackwood?”

His jaw tightened.

“Who sent you?”

Lena blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“Who sent you here?”

“No one sent me. Human Resources hired me.”

“I know what your employment file says.”

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

“Then why are you asking?”

Adrian walked toward her.

Lena forced herself not to step backward.

He stopped a few feet away.

“You applied for a different position.”

“Yes.”

“Yet you accepted this one.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I need a job.”

For the first time, something almost amused crossed his face.

Almost.

“You're honest.”

“I try to be.”

His eyes moved over her face.

Lena felt strangely uncomfortable beneath his gaze.

Then he said something that made her blood run cold.

“You look exactly like her.”

Lena frowned.

“Like who?”

Adrian's expression instantly closed.

“No one.”

“That didn't sound like no one.”

His eyes sharpened.

“Your first mistake.”

“My first mistake?”

“Questioning me.”

Lena stared at him.

She had been warned that he was difficult.

She hadn't realized he was impossible.

“I apologize,” she said, forcing politeness into her voice. “It won't happen again.”

“See that it doesn't.”

He turned away.

Lena looked at the desk.

There was a stack of documents waiting for her.

“Your schedule for today is already on your desk,” he said.

She walked over and picked it up.

Her eyes widened.

Meetings.

Calls.

Reports.

Three business lunches.

A board meeting.

And another meeting scheduled at seven in the evening.

She looked at him.

“Do you actually sleep?”

“No.”

She almost laughed.

But one look at his face stopped her.

“Right.”

She began organizing the documents.

For the next hour, Adrian barely spoke to her.

Lena worked quietly.

She answered calls.

Sorted contracts.

Confirmed appointments.

By eleven, she had already completed half the tasks on her list.

She was beginning to think the job might not be as bad as she imagined.

Then her phone rang.

“Blackwood Enterprises, Mr. Blackwood's office.”

A man's voice answered.

“Lena?”

“Yes?”

“It's your mother.”

Lena froze.

Her smile disappeared.

“Mom? What happened?”

“There’s something you need to know.”

Lena stood up.

“What is it?”

Her mother's voice trembled.

“They found him.”

Lena's fingers tightened around the phone.

“Found who?”

A pause.

Then—

“Your father's lawyer.”

Her heart stopped.

“My father has been dead for eight years.”

“I know.”

Her mother's voice broke.

“But he left something behind.”

Lena slowly turned toward Adrian.

He was standing across the room.

Watching her.

And from the look in his eyes—

He had heard everything.

Lena lowered her phone.

Adrian's face had gone completely pale.

“Who is your father?” he asked.

Lena stared at him.

“I don't understand.”

He took one slow step toward her.

Then another.

“Tell me your father's name.”

Lena's heart began pounding.

She didn't know why the question suddenly felt like a threat.

But when she finally answered, Adrian looked as if the past had just walked back into his life.

“My father's name was Daniel Carter.”

Adrian's eyes darkened.

“Impossible.”

“Why?”

He didn't answer.

Instead, he reached for the drawer of his desk and pulled out an old photograph.

He placed it in front of her.

Lena looked down.

Her breath caught.

The photograph showed a much younger Adrian.

Standing beside a woman Lena had never seen before.

And beside them—

Was her father.

But the date written on the back of the photograph made Lena's hands shake.

It was dated twenty years ago.

Three years before Lena was born.

Adrian looked at her.

“Now tell me,” he said quietly, “why did your father send you to me?”

Lena couldn't speak.

Because she suddenly realized something terrifying.

Maybe getting this job hadn't been an accident after all.