out Blackwood Industries, until my eyes hurt from staring at my laptop screen. The comp

fered me a job on the spot despite

ey wizard child with ice in his veins. Most times, pictures captured him dressed

iewed me in person. Or why I couldn't

five minutes ahead of time. No rain, no car problem

y smiled in greeting. "Ah, the int

impression," I replied, smoothi

we hit the 32nd floor. Alexander Blackwood's office. Would I get to see hi

and I entered a sleek open-plan office with glass-enclosed conference rooms and ton

ivi

antly quieted my jitters. Dark wash jeans and a button-down with an op

me in a few steps. "And well ahead of nine. Exce

laugh. "I set three alarm

me show you around befo

duals whose names I forgot as soon as I heard them. The creative personnel l

Blackwood never gets his hands dirty when it comes to

. "Just what I need

t be able to turn it to your advantage. Whatever he was

cle with a new iMac and a stic

announced. "Settle in. Mo

nt, an extra set of flats, and my favorite pens. I had just been si

udge. This will help you l

ed before me what was the

t," I said to him, taking

ome gift. Not everyone gets the

tone that I couldn't quite place

brought me on board," I said honest

ckwood doesn't do anything without there being a

a stern voice cut thro

Lion's Den, e

om. Jason grinned at me reassuringly. "That's Claire, our creative dir

against the wall while he sat at the table. The woman who must be Claire stood

we have two announcements of note. First, h

I smiled and waved a li

xury account has been pushed forward. We t

ircled t

it's our biggest account, so everyone is pulling

his chair, grinn

ns?" Cla

nd. "Will Mr. Blackwood be in on it? Last time he tore

articular interest in this campaign, yes. Which means

g jobs. I held my breath to d

via will work specifically with Jaso

ilent. Some exc

joined," som

nt. "All right, folks. Progr

ng, Jason approached

ed forward. "Junior designers usually

ted. "I did not ask

cked his watch. "Let's get a meeting room

had presentation slides open on his tablet, showing upmarket watches

billionaires," Jason explained to me. "Their

g to ignore the occasional curiou

tly. Claire stood before

r. Blackwood wants t

ows shot up.

ire said coldly. "Just go

e the elevator to the 32nd floo

his is going on

with Blackwood – keep quiet more than

a reception room where behind t

y," she said without

phone pressed against his ear. Another perfect suit was on his should

was on the other end, his voice ice-cold. "Either they trust

up and f

whelming his presence was – as if air pr

reeting. And then his eyes l

ood," we bo

k, gesturing for us to ta

y. "Their CEO called me last night.

we've had three years' exp

lackwood broke in. "As have we. They require to be cha

me. "That's where y

nked.

y missing. Fresh, outside the box." His gaze never breaking con

d in the se

new today. I don't know any

pted. "That's frequently an advantage to be

him wide-e

r argument. "You'll be working with Kim d

ight, this is entirely out of the norm. Olivi

ation. "I brought Ms. Gray in because I saw potential

sure wh

r," I st

idea on Friday." He looked

to leave, my l

d called as we reach

n us, then nodded.

g me with Blackwood, the off

ys this shy?"

surprised me.

ray. But talent is usel

y cheeks, embarrassment a

tly than I intended. "And you just left

ave been amusement fli

is," he s

ho

. The one who had to prove herself." He took another step forward. "That's

s standing so close that I could smell hi

you're doing this," I

ime. "Perhaps I see something in y

ng. Vanessa Sharp walked in, perfect in a cream-c

she saw me. "Oh.

on grew icy. "Ms. Gr

mth. "How lovely to see you again

ied, though all of he

she cooed, looping her arm thro

s with a subtle but firm motion.

quick exit. "Thank you for th

heard Vanessa whisper, "Really, A

the door closed behind me, I felt

by the elevator, c

as that

ng to rationalize it. "He belie

ked, his expression becoming

u know

levator opened, an

ackwood's ex. She's the daughter of Richa

r started i

aught her feeding company secrets to her father. Instead of bring

t she's still pretending

n't lose what she wants. And she want

r arrived o

e Blackwood's playing in giving you this assignment, be careful. Y

and already I was caught in the crosshairs

gotten my