Chapter 2: The First Clash

Lily arrived at Blackwood Enterprises the next morning, half-expecting her security badge to be deactivated. She wouldn’t put it past Adrian Blackwood to pull something that petty.

But when the elevator doors opened on the executive floor, her badge beeped green. She stepped onto the floor she refused to be pushed out of.

Her desk—if the cramped corner Adrian had assigned her even counted as one—was already stacked with folders. A note clipped to the top bore his sharp, precise handwriting:

’Let’s see if you can keep up, Miss Hart.’

Lily’s jaw tightened.

So, this was how it was going to be. A power struggle. A game of wills.

Fine. She didn’t back down from challenges.

She dropped her bag, rolled up her sleeves, and got to work.

By mid-morning, the emails started flooding in. Not just from Adrian, but from every department.

Urgent requests. Conflicting deadlines. Meetings she wasn’t even invited to but was somehow responsible for preparing.

She barely had time to breathe, much less think.

By noon, she realized exactly what was happening.

Adrian had opened the floodgates, signaling to everyone that they could dump their overflow on the new secretary.

A calculated move to break her.

Veronica passed by her desk, arching a brow at the growing pile of work. “Let me guess. The Boss’s new favorite game?”

Lily didn’t look up. “If this is a game, he should know I don’t lose.”

Veronica smirked. “Careful, Miss Hart. The last person who challenged Adrian Blackwood didn’t last a week.

Lily looked up, her eyes sharp. “And you?”

Veronica’s smile was knowing. “I never challenged him. I outmaneuvered him.”

Lily’s lips twitched. “Good to know.”

By late afternoon, Lily had completed every impossible task thrown at her.

Which is why, when she stepped into Adrian’s office to deliver the final set of files, she didn’t bother knocking.

Adrian glanced up, his brows lifting at her audacity.

She dropped the folders onto his desk. “Done.”

He leaned back, steepling his fingers. “You’re surprisingly efficient.”

“I’m competent,” she corrected. “I thought you’d prefer that over ‘surprising.’”

A flicker of amusement crossed his face. “We’ll see.

Lily’s eyes narrowed. “You keep saying that, but I don’t think you’re prepared for it.”

“For what?”

“For me to win.”

A charged silence hung between them

Then, Adrian’s lips curled into a dangerous smirk. “You think this is a competition?”

Lily folded her arms. “Isn’t it?”

He didn’t answer, but the way he looked at her—like she had just become far more interesting than a simple secretary—told her everything she needed to know.

Lily left his office with her pulse racing. She’d won this round, but there would be more. And she had a feeling Adrian Blackwood played for keeps.

Her phone buzzed as she reached her desk.

A text from her brother, Nate.

Nate: Dinner tonight? You owe me a catch-up session.

Lily sighed.

Lily: Fine. 7 PM.

Nate: Atta girl. See you then

By the time she arrived at Bianchi’s, Nate was already waiting, grinning like he’d won the lottery.

She dropped into the seat across from him. “You look way too happy. It’s unsettling.”

He smirked. “Just glad to see my baby sister in one piece after a day with Blackwood.”

Lily groaned. “You warned me, but not enough.”

“I told you he was demanding.”

“You didn’t say he was a full-fledged control freak with the emotional range of a rock.”

Nate laughed. “Sounds about right.”

Their orders were taken, and for a moment, everything felt normal.

Until Nate leaned forward, his expression serious. “So. How’s the job? Really?”

Lily hesitated. “Tough.”

“But?”

She toyed with the rim of her glass. “I don’t hate it.”

Nate’s eyes narrowed. “Be careful, Lil. Guys like Blackwood… they don’t just make things difficult. They make things dangerous.”

Before she could respond, a shadow loomed over their table.

She looked up—and her stomach dropped

Adrian.

Dressed in his signature all-black suit, hands casually in his pockets, his eyes locked onto hers with an unreadable expression.

Nate’s posture stiffened. “Blackwood.”

Adrian gave him a curt nod before turning to Lily. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

She arched a brow. “Neither did I.”

His gaze flicked to Nate. “Catching up?”

Lily crossed her arms. “Are you checking up on me, Mr. Blackwood?”

Amusement flickered in his eyes. “Just ensuring you’re not planning to quit.”

Nate’s voice was firm. “Lily doesn’t quit. You should know that.”

Adrian’s gaze never wavered. “I do.”

Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.

Lily let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

Nate exhaled. “Okay. What the hell was that?”

She shook her head, still processing. “I have no idea.”

But one thing was clear—Adrian Blackwood wasn’t done testing her yet.