All Chapters of Ruin Me, Blackwood: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Amelia’s POVThe elevator ride up to the office felt longer than usual. I pressed my palm against the cold glass door as it slid open, stepping into the sterile lobby that smelled faintly of polished wood and expensive cologne — a sharp contrast to the warmth still lingering on my skin from Dominic’s touch. The memory of his fingers brushing against my cheek was impossible to shake, and it sent a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the chilly air conditioning.Inside, I forced myself to straighten my shoulders and push the fluttering in my chest down. I wasn’t a girl anymore — not his little sister’s kid sister, and definitely not the timid girl who had once seen Dominic as untouchable, a distant figure wrapped in power and mystery. No, I was his executive assistant now, and that came with rules. Boundaries.But boundaries between us were already blurring, and every moment with him was a delicious, dangerous line to cross.My desk was a small island of order in the chaos

Amelia’s POVThe hum of the city outside my window was a distant murmur, but inside my mind, the noise was deafening. I sat on the edge of my bed, the fabric of my blouse still clinging faintly to my skin, the scent of Dominic’s cologne lingering like a ghost that wouldn’t leave. The day had felt like walking a tightrope—one wrong move, one wrong word, and everything could come crashing down.I pulled my knees to my chest, breath shallow, replaying every moment I’d spent in his office. The way his eyes darkened when I dared to challenge him. The softness hidden behind his usual storm of bitterness. The moment he’d reached for me, his thumb brushing my cheek like I was fragile porcelain.Could I trust this man who was built on shadows and silence? Could I trust myself not to get lost in him?I pulled the thin blanket tighter around me, trying to quell the heat blooming in my veins. Desire wasn’t new — it had been there since the first time he teased me as a kid, the way his smirk had m

Amelia’s POVThe pale morning light spilled gently through the blinds, dust motes dancing in its soft glow, but I couldn’t find comfort in the quiet beauty of dawn. My mind was a tangled mess of emotions, pulling me every which way like a storm caught in a tempest. Sleep had been elusive, slipping away the moment my head hit the pillow, replaced instead by an endless carousel of thoughts—mostly about Dominic.Last night lingered like a heavy fog, every detail vivid and aching. Crossing the line with him—the way his usual cold, distant demeanor had melted just enough to reveal that fractured vulnerability underneath—was more than I’d ever dared hope for. He was no longer the grumpy billionaire boss who made my life a battlefield. He was a man laid bare, fighting demons I couldn’t even name yet. A man who, despite everything, trusted me enough to let me in.The catch was that letting him in meant tearing down my own walls. I’d been so careful, so guarded since my brother introduced us a

Amelia’s POVThe morning light seeped through the thin curtains, casting soft, golden hues across the room, but sleep had long abandoned me. I lay still beneath the sheets, every nerve buzzing, every muscle tight. The quiet around me was deafening, as if the world was holding its breath—and so was I. My mind raced, tangled in memories and what-ifs, every thought spiraling back to Dominic—his stormy eyes, the tension that hung between us yesterday like a storm waiting to break.I tried to close my eyes again, willing the chaotic thoughts to quiet, but they only grew louder. His voice echoed in my head—the way he’d said my name, the way his gaze held that fierce mix of pain and something raw, something tender. It unsettled me in a way I hadn’t expected. He was a puzzle I couldn’t solve, a man who’d once been the carefree boy teasing me like a sister, now transformed into a fortress of power and guarded secrets. And somehow, I’d stepped inside that fortress—willingly, foolishly, perhaps

Amelia’s POVThe first rays of sunlight slipped through the blinds, casting slats of gold across the sleek hardwood floor. I lay there for a long moment, tangled in the sheets, the scent of his cologne still lingering in the room—sharp, intoxicating, impossibly Dominic. My body ached for more than just sleep; it ached for answers I wasn’t sure I wanted.Working for Dominic Blackwood was a test of endurance. Every day felt like walking a razor’s edge—balancing professionalism against the magnetic pull of something forbidden. I knew better than to let myself get caught up in the man behind the business suit, but the truth was harder to resist. He wasn’t just the ruthless CEO or my brother’s best friend; he was a storm I didn’t want to outrun anymore.Last night replayed in my mind like a dangerous secret. The way he looked at me—his gaze fierce but vulnerable, as if he was wrestling with demons I couldn’t see but somehow understood. There was a softness beneath the gruff exterior, a fli