Chapter 2 THE RULES OF BLACKWOOD

Lila stared at the email on the screen long after it stopped blinking, her breath trapped somewhere between disbelief and panic. Assist him personally? On her first day? On his project? It didn't make sense. She'd barely survived an introduction to the man. Now she had to spend extended hours in a room with him?

Claire leaned over her desk, eyes widening when she saw the sender's name. "Mr. Blackwood wants you?"

Lila nodded slowly, her voice stuck in her throat.

Claire let out a low whistle. "He doesn't choose new employees. Or assistants. Or people in general, really."

"Oh," Lila whispered. "Should I... be scared?"

"No," Claire chirped, then paused. "Well... maybe a little." She patted Lila's shoulder sympathetically. "He's intense, but he notices talent. So take it as a compliment. I think."

A compliment wasn't the first word Lila would choose for Aiden Blackwood's attention. A warning? A threat from the universe? A sign she should run?

Those felt more accurate.

She forced herself to breathe and settled at her desk, reviewing her onboarding materials, though her eyes barely focused. Her mind kept drifting back to his voice-low, controlled, absolute.

No distractions.

No mistakes.

No attachments.

The words replayed like a mantra carved into marble.

She'd met demanding managers before, but Aiden Blackwood was on a different level entirely. It wasn't just authority he possessed-it was gravity, pulling the atmosphere tighter around him, drawing everyone's fear and respect.

And now she had to report to him. Alone.

Lila glanced toward the hall and immediately locked eyes with Jenna.

The woman wasn't even pretending not to stare.

Tall, sleek, beautiful, and dressed in a royal blue suit that screamed money, Jenna leaned against a filing cabinet with her arms crossed. Her eyes traveled down Lila's outfit-a cheap blouse, slightly wrinkled skirt, and scuffed heels-with the kind of disdain that could peel paint.

Lila managed a weak smile.

Jenna didn't smile back.

Instead, she pushed off the cabinet and walked over with slow, confident steps, stopping right beside Lila's desk.

"So," Jenna said, voice cool, "you're the new assistant."

"No," Lila corrected gently, "just new staff-"

"Right," Jenna drawled. "Let's pretend. It'll be more fun."

Lila blinked. "I'm... sorry?"

Jenna leaned in, her perfume sharp and expensive. "Just a little tip," she murmured. "If you want to survive here, don't get in over your head. And definitely don't think you're special just because the CEO looked at you twice."

Heat rose in Lila's cheeks-not anger, but confusion. "I don't think I'm special."

"Good," Jenna replied with a thin smile. "Because you're not."

She turned and walked away, her heels clicking like punctuation marks.

Lila let out a slow breath she didn't know she'd been holding.

She'd been here less than three hours, and someone had already decided to hate her. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

She reviewed her email again, her pulse picking up.

Aiden Blackwood.

3 p.m. sharp.

Personally assist.

The words felt unreal, like someone else's life.

She tried to focus on work until the clock approached 2:55. Her palms were sweating. Her throat dry. Her stomach performing acrobatic stunts she had not authorized.

Finally, she forced herself to stand, smooth her skirt, and head toward the executive hallway-the one lined with frosted glass and steel doors that radiated importance. And intimidation.

Blackwood's office was at the very end. Of course it was.

Lila hesitated outside for a moment, adjusting her bag strap and silently begging the universe not to let her embarrass herself again. She lifted her hand and knocked softly.

"Enter."

The single word slid through the door like a blade.

She opened it, stepping into the largest office she'd ever seen.

Floor-to-ceiling windows. A sweeping view of the city. Dark wood. Black leather. Minimalist, expensive, and terrifyingly quiet.

Aiden stood with his back to her, staring out at the skyline as though it belonged to him. Which, arguably, it did.

He didn't turn around as he spoke.

"You're late."

Lila froze. "It's... 2:59."

"That's not 3:00."

She swallowed. "My mistake."

"Yes," he said, turning to face her. "It was."

He walked toward his desk with long, unhurried strides. His presence filled the room, even though he barely looked at her.

"Sit."

She obeyed, trying not to grip the chair too tightly.

Aiden opened a file and began speaking with the precision of a metronome.

"You were assigned to general administration. However, due to staffing issues, your role will temporarily adjust."

"Temporarily?" she echoed.

His eyes lifted. "Until I say otherwise."

She nodded quickly.

"The Evergreen Expansion Project is our most critical operation this quarter. I need someone fast, organized, and able to follow directions without questioning every detail."

Lila straightened. "I can do that."

Aiden watched her a beat longer than necessary. "We'll see."

He handed her a folder.

"This contains the preliminary timelines. Read it. Understand it. Memorize it if you can."

She opened to the first page-and nearly choked.

There were charts. Graphs. Financial projections. Corporate terms she'd never seen in her life.

He noticed her panic.

"You look concerned."

"Just... overwhelmed," she admitted honestly. "I didn't expect to be working on something so important so soon."

Aiden rested one hand on the desk, leaning slightly-close enough that she could see the faint stubble on his jaw, the precise stitching of his suit.

He wasn't intimidating because he tried to be.

He simply was.

"I don't have time for gradual development," he said. "I need efficiency. Precision. Reliability."

His gaze fixed on hers, unwavering.

"And those who work directly under me must follow three rules."

Lila's lungs tightened.

He straightened.

"No distractions."

She nodded.

"No mistakes."

Another nod.

"And no attachments."

The words hung between them-not casual, not impersonal, but weighted. Heavy. Final.

Lila's breath caught.

"I understand," she whispered.

"Do you?" he asked softly. The softness made it worse-almost accusing, almost curious. "This job requires discipline. Focus. Detachment."

He stepped around the desk, stopping only a foot away from her, forcing her to tilt her chin up.

"If you become distracted," he said quietly, "you will fail."

His meaning was clear.

His atmosphere, his presence, his world-none of it allowed closeness.

And yet...

There was something dangerous in the way he held her eyes.

Something he wasn't admitting.

Lila looked away first.

"I'll do my best, Mr. Blackwood."

"Good," he said, voice clipped. "Because this project cannot afford weakness."

The words stung more than she expected.

Before she could respond, the office phone rang. Aiden lifted it with a sharp motion.

"Yes?"

A pause.

"Send her in."

He hung up.

A moment later, Jenna walked into the office.

Lila stiffened.

Jenna's eyes flicked between them, slow and suspicious, but Aiden didn't spare her more than a glance.

"Jenna," he said, "inform the team that Miss Hart will be joining the Evergreen Expansion Project effective immediately."

Jenna froze. "Sir... she's new."

"I'm aware," Aiden replied evenly.

Jenna opened her mouth to argue-but one look from him silenced her.

Lila could practically feel the jealousy radiating off Jenna's perfect posture.

"Yes, Mr. Blackwood," Jenna said through clenched teeth before turning and walking out.

Aiden returned his attention to Lila.

"You start tomorrow morning at six," he said. "And Miss Hart?"

"Yes?"

"Don't be late again."

Lila nodded and gathered her things quickly, her heart racing as she headed for the door.

She stepped into the hallway, her pulse thundering.

Assigned to personally assist Aiden Blackwood.

Thrown into the company's biggest project.

Under strict rules she had barely wrapped her head around.

This wasn't just a new job.

This was a storm she wasn't ready for.

And she'd just been placed at its center.