Chapter 7 Blackwood Corp.

A month had passed. Thirty dragging days that bled into each other like gray watercolors. Aria had moved like a ghost through them-sleeping little, eating only when she remembered, and applying for every job that showed up on classifieds and notice boards.

The dismissal from her last job had been such an unexpected blow to her. Bills were starting to pile up, and most importantly, she had to pay the hospital bills for her grandma; that was the most important thing, and it was driving her nuts. The fact that she may not be able to pay on time made her feel sick in her stomach. She needed something-anything. Her papers weren't getting her any job, who would accept to hire someone who had not yet graduated anyway? She even applied for any type of job, mostly the ones that didn't require a degree.

She had received a call from a woman at SparkMaids Cleaning Agency. She had applied there, too, to try her luck, and fortunately, she was offered a part-time janitorial position at one of the city's biggest corporate buildings. Aria felt like crying. She was almost giving up but that one phone call had saved her.

"Blackwood Headquarters," the woman had said, chewing gum like it was the only thing keeping her awake.

"Top floor, executive wing, bathrooms, glass panels. Can you do glass?"

"Yeah, yeah, I can do all types of cleaning".She could do anything, that she knew, even though she had never done it before, there's no way she could say it. She needed that job more than anything.

"Right...I hope you can because you'll be cleaning just that wing alone. It's the personal office space for the owner of the Blackwood company, and you must know....he doesn't play....so do your work well...got it?" She almost nodded but then it hit her it was a phone call.

"Yeah ....I understand " she said in a calm voice.

"Drop by our office tomorrow morning; we'll give you the contract to sign...Blackwood will pay us so there won't be anything deducted from your salary....you'll get it directly from the Blackwood company as you'll be hired like their employee....okay now those are the main details you need to know...so get ready and be here six in the morning because the minute you sign the contract you'll be expected at the Blackwood company by seven in the morning to start your work" the woman then hang up.

Aria didn't know the location of SparkMaids Cleaning Agency. She had applied for the job online but that didn't bother her that much. Getting directions online is much easier than asking people around, and fortunately, she was there by six in the morning. She was taken through everything so quickly, about the rules and regulations and anything else she needed to know about the company.

"Okay, so now everything is ready, but I have to take you there....I'm Mary by the way...I'm the one who called you yesterday...." Aria nodded adding a smile. The woman was well-built and about forty years old.

She had her own car and offered to give Aria a drive to the company. She had talked about how the last cleaner had been fired because she wasn't doing her work properly, besides working at just one wing of the company.

"You see Mr. Blackwood is one kind of a guy, so don't mess with him if you want to last there, you are not responsible for any other parts of the company, only his office wing....so get it in your head that you are his personal cleaner, and he is a perfectionist....so girl better do your best....its a good job and the pay is much more like what a secretary earns," Mary said looking at Aria keenly.

Around twenty minutes the car came to a halt. They got out of the car and stood before the towering silver glass building where she saw the name engraved near the entrance: Blackwood Corp.

They entered.

The executive wing was as luxurious as any hotel lobby she had seen in magazines. Golden light fixtures. Glass walls. Dark marble floors. Silence that felt sacred.

Her supervisor, a middle-aged woman named Letty, gave her gloves, a key card, and a list.

"The executive office is yours for the next three hours. Deal with the office first before the boss comes. Office glass, hallway shine, restroom. Don't go to any places, each area has a cleaner, but yours is the most important one. No photos. No talking to employees unless spoken to. Understood?"

"Understood," Aria whispered.

Letty left. Aria exhaled and got to work.

Scrubbing the executive bathroom felt like punishment carved in porcelain and chrome. She bent over the sink, her reflection in the mirror mocking her. Her eyes looked tired, hollow, and red.

As she wiped the final faucet handle, the door creaked. She had thought it was Mr Blackwood but it was just a woman in a sharp pantsuit who ignored her presence entirely. Aria sighed in relief and packed up. Next was the hallway. She moved slowly, gloved hands smoothing over crystal-clear glass panels.

She was done with the other places and it was time to clean the office. She stepped inside.

The room was enormous, dark-wood elegance meeting modern minimalism. A sleek desk. A leather chair. Bookshelves. A glass bar cart.

And on the desk, a picture frame turned away.

She walked over slowly, her shoes quiet on the rug. She didn't touch anything as she cleaned unless it was necessary to move it. She had to hurry up because she didn't want to get caught cleaning the office while it was working time and fortunately, she was done.

Then she turned and came face to face with him.

Lucien stood at the door, his coat over one arm, a look of confusion, then something darker in his eyes.

They stared at each other.

Aria couldn't move. She felt like the mop bucket behind her-silent, pathetic, and out of place.

Lucien's jaw clenched. "What the hell are you doing in here?...we weren't supposed to come across each other again, and now you are in my office?"

Her lips parted, but no sound came out. He stepped inside. Closed the door.

"What are you doing here? Huh? Or did you get pregnant? What do you want here? Spying on me??"

Her face flushed. "I... I'm a cleaner. I didn't know this was your company until-"

"Until you broke into my office?" He glanced at her with a deadly glare.

"I didn't break in. I was assigned to clean here...I didn't even know it was your office..." she tried to defend herself.

"You think I believe that?"

His tone was cold, but his eyes-those gray, stormy eyes-were conflicted. She could see it. He hadn't expected to see her either.

She looked down, feeling heat rise to her cheeks. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I just... I needed a job. That's all. And I'm not pregnant...I had my period last week"

Lucien was silent. Scanning her and then, after a long pause: "Get out."

She did. Without a word.