Mondays were cursed.

Cassia Ashwood was convinced of it.

The moment she stepped out of the subway, a gust of wind had turned her neatly curled chestnut hair into a tangled mess. Then a woman rushing to catch the crosswalk bumped into her, splashing coffee across the sleeve of her cream blouse. By the time she reached the gleaming glass skyscraper that housed Blackwood Enterprises, she was already ten minutes away from being late on her very first day.

"Seriously?" she muttered under her breath, staring up at the seventy-story building disappearing into the clouds.

She took one deep breath, smoothed the wrinkles from her charcoal pencil skirt, adjusted the leather portfolio tucked beneath her arm, and hurried through the revolving doors.

The lobby looked less like an office building and more like a five-star hotel. White marble floors reflected the crystal chandeliers hanging overhead, while employees dressed in tailored designer suits moved with quiet purpose.

Everything about the place screamed money.

Cassia suddenly felt underdressed despite spending nearly half her savings on her interview outfit.

She checked the email on her phone one last time.

Orientation — 9:00 A.M.

Executive Communications Department

Floor 48.

The digital clock on the wall read 8:56.

"Come on..."

She rushed toward the elevators just as the doors of one began to slide shut.

"Hold it!"

A large hand appeared between the narrowing doors.

The sensors immediately reopened them.

Cassia slipped inside, breathing heavily.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

The voice was deep.

Smooth.

Confident.

She looked up.

The man standing beside her was... intimidating.

Tall enough that she had to tilt her head back, broad shoulders stretching the expensive black suit he wore like it had been custom-made—which it probably had. His dark hair was neatly combed back, with silver threaded through the temples that somehow made him even more attractive. A neatly trimmed beard framed a strong jaw, while piercing gray eyes watched the closing elevator doors with calm indifference.

He looked to be in his early forties.

Successful.

Powerful.

The kind of man magazines called one of the country's most eligible bachelors.

Cassia quickly looked away.

Don't stare.

The elevator began climbing in silence.

Floor 8.

Floor 14.

Floor 21.

She shifted her weight and glanced sideways.

That's when she noticed it.

His tie.

It was crooked.

Not dramatically.

Just enough that it sat slightly off-center beneath the collar of his crisp white shirt.

It bothered her.

She tried ignoring it.

She really did.

Floor 27.

Still crooked.

Floor 31.

Still bothering her.

Finally she sighed.

"You know..."

The man glanced toward her.

"Your tie is crooked."

He looked down briefly before lifting one eyebrow.

"It is?"

"A little."

"Hm."

He made no effort to fix it.

Cassia frowned.

"You don't care?"

"I hadn't noticed."

She rolled her eyes.

"Men."

Before her brain had time to stop her, she stepped closer.

"Hold still."

His expression changed ever so slightly.

She reached up on the tips of her heels, her fingers brushing the silk tie.

The expensive fabric felt cool beneath her fingertips.

She loosened the knot just enough before sliding it back into place, smoothing the collar of his shirt with practiced ease.

"There."

She patted his chest once.

"Much better."

Only then did she realize...

She had just touched a complete stranger.

Heat rushed into her cheeks.

"Oh my God."

She took a hurried step back.

"I'm so sorry."

The elevator fell completely silent.

The man hadn't moved.

Hadn't spoken.

He simply stared at her.

His gray eyes were unreadable.

Cassia nervously laughed.

"My dad could never tie a tie properly. I used to fix his every morning before work."

Still nothing.

Great.

She had officially terrified the handsome stranger.

"I promise I'm not weird."

One corner of his mouth twitched.

"You usually fix the clothing of men you've just met?"

She winced.

"When you say it like that... it sounds bad."

"It sounds unusual."

"I know."

She covered her face with one hand.

"I should probably stop talking."

"I was about to suggest the same."

She groaned dramatically.

"This is my first day, and I'm already embarrassing myself."

"For a first impression..."

He paused.

"...it's memorable."

The elevator chimed.

Floor 48.

The doors slid open.

Cassia smiled awkwardly.

"Well... thanks again for saving me from getting crushed by the elevator."

She stepped out, then turned back with a sheepish grin.

"And don't mess up your tie again."

The doors closed.

Inside the elevator, Harden Blackwood remained perfectly still.

His fingers slowly rose to the perfectly straightened tie resting against his chest.

For twenty years, thousands of employees had avoided looking him in the eye.

Board members trembled before speaking.

Executives rehearsed every word before entering his office.

Yet one young woman had marched into his personal space, touched him without hesitation, scolded him about his tie... and walked away without asking his name.

A slow smile—small, dangerous, and almost nonexistent—crossed Harden's face.

He looked toward his reflection in the polished elevator doors.

His tie had never looked straighter.

"Interesting," he murmured.

The conference room on the forty-eighth floor buzzed with quiet conversation as nearly thirty new employees settled into their seats.

Cassia slipped into an empty chair near the back, grateful she had made it just in time. She set her portfolio on the polished table and let out a slow breath.

"So much for making a professional first impression," she muttered.

A woman beside her smiled.

"First day?"

Cassia nodded.

"I'm Mia. Human Resources."

"Cassia. Executive Communications."

"You look nervous."

"I touched a complete stranger in the elevator five minutes ago."

Mia blinked.

"...What?"

Cassia buried her face in her hands.

"It sounds worse than it was."

"I certainly hope so."

"He had a crooked tie."

"...You fixed it?"

Cassia groaned.

"I fixed it."

Mia laughed so hard she had to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye.

"You've got courage."

"No, I have poor impulse control."

Before Mia could reply, the doors opened.

Every conversation stopped.

A sharply dressed woman entered, carrying a tablet against her chest.

She wore a navy skirt suit, her blonde hair pulled into a flawless bun.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm Evelyn Brooks, Director of Human Resources. On behalf of Blackwood Enterprises, I'd like to welcome you."

Cassia sat up straighter.

Evelyn spoke confidently about company values, expectations, and professionalism.

One sentence caught everyone's attention.

"There is one rule every employee quickly learns."

She paused.

"Our CEO expects excellence."

The room grew noticeably quieter.

"He is demanding."

Another pause.

"He is uncompromising."

Someone swallowed loudly.

"And he has zero tolerance for incompetence."

Cassia exchanged a glance with Mia.

"Sounds cheerful," she whispered.

Mia elbowed her.

"Shh."

Evelyn continued as though she hadn't heard.

"If Mr. Blackwood requests something, you deliver it. If he schedules a meeting, you arrive early. If he asks a question, you already know the answer."

Someone near the front raised a hand.

"Does he really fire people on the spot?"

Evelyn didn't smile.

"If they've earned it."

The room fell silent again.

Cassia shifted in her seat.

She had researched Blackwood Enterprises before accepting the job.

Everyone knew Harden Blackwood's name.

Forty-two years old.

Founder and CEO.

One of the youngest self-made billionaires in the country.

Business magazines called him brilliant.

Employees called him terrifying.

Rumors claimed he'd once ended an executive meeting with four words.

"Clear your desks by noon."

No warning.

No second chances.

Just gone.

"Thankfully," Evelyn continued, "most of you won't interact directly with Mr. Blackwood."

Cassia relaxed.

Good.

That suited her perfectly.

She preferred working behind the scenes.

Just then, the conference room doors opened again.

No one announced him.

No one needed to.

Every executive standing near the walls immediately straightened.

The atmosphere changed.

It was subtle...

But unmistakable.

Respect.

Fear.

Power.

Evelyn stepped aside.

"Good morning, sir."

Cassia looked toward the doorway.

Her heart stopped.

No...

No way.

The man from the elevator walked inside.

The same black suit.

The same silver at his temples.

The same perfectly straight tie.

Harden Blackwood.

Her mysterious stranger.

Her new boss.

Every ounce of color drained from her face.

"Oh..."

Mia frowned.

"You okay?"

Cassia whispered without moving her lips.

"I fixed his tie."

"What?"

"I fixed..."

Her voice cracked.

"...the CEO's tie."

Mia stared at her.

"You did what?"

Cassia slowly lowered herself in her chair, wishing the expensive carpet would open and swallow her whole.

At the front of the room, Harden's gray eyes swept over the employees.

Calm.

Unreadable.

Until...

His gaze stopped.

On her.

For one endless second, neither of them looked away.

Recognition flickered in his eyes.

Cassia's stomach twisted into knots.

He remembers.

Of course he remembers.

Why wouldn't he?

She was probably the only employee in company history reckless enough to invade the CEO's personal space before learning his name.

Harden's expression remained unreadable.

Then...

Almost imperceptibly...

The corner of his mouth lifted.

A smile.

Not warm.

Not friendly.

Knowing.

Dangerous.

It vanished as quickly as it appeared.

"Welcome to Blackwood Enterprises," he said, his deep voice carrying effortlessly across the room.

"I don't believe in luck."

He clasped his hands behind his back.

"I believe in discipline."

His eyes drifted back to Cassia.

"And first impressions."

A shiver raced down her spine.

Was that meant for everyone...

Or just for her?

"If you're here to collect a paycheck while doing the bare minimum," Harden continued, "you won't last."

The room was so silent that the hum of the air conditioner sounded deafening.

"I reward loyalty."

His gaze remained fixed on Cassia for a heartbeat longer than necessary.

"But I never forget."

Cassia's pulse pounded in her ears.

She wasn't imagining it.

He was talking to everyone...

Yet somehow, every word felt directed at her.

After a few more remarks, Harden gave a curt nod to Evelyn.

"I expect every one of you to prove why you deserve to be here."

Without another word, he turned and walked toward the exit.

The doors closed behind him.

The room collectively exhaled.

"I think I forgot how to breathe," someone whispered.

Mia slowly turned to Cassia.

"You fixed..."

She pointed toward the door.

"...his tie?"

Cassia nodded miserably.

"And I told him not to mess it up again."

Mia covered her mouth, trying—and failing—not to laugh.

"Oh, Cassia..."

"What?"

"I don't think your first day is going to be normal."

Cassia had the sinking feeling she was absolutely right.

By noon, Cassia had convinced herself the morning had been a nightmare.

Surely the CEO had already forgotten about the woman who had straightened his tie in the elevator.

He ran a multibillion-dollar empire.

He wasn't thinking about her.

"...And this is where the Communications team works."

Her department manager, Olivia Grant, led the new hires through an open-concept office lined with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.

"Our department handles internal communications, executive speeches, media statements, corporate events, and crisis management."

Cassia smiled.

This was exactly where she wanted to be.

She had graduated at the top of her class in public relations and communications. She loved words, organization, and finding calm in chaos.

"This is your desk."

Olivia gestured toward a workstation near the windows.

"It's temporary until renovations are complete."

"I love it," Cassia said sincerely.

"You'll be assisting several senior specialists until you're ready to manage projects on your own."

"Thank you."

Olivia nodded.

"I've heard wonderful things about your portfolio."

Cassia felt some of the tension leave her shoulders.

Maybe today wasn't doomed after all.

For the next three hours, she immersed herself in work.

She reviewed old press releases, organized upcoming event schedules, and familiarized herself with the company's brand guidelines.

The work came naturally.

By early afternoon, she was beginning to feel like she belonged.

Then her office phone rang.

She answered immediately.

"Cassia Ashwood speaking."

"Miss Ashwood."

The woman's voice was calm and professional.

"This is Evelyn Brooks from Human Resources."

Cassia sat up straighter.

"Yes?"

"The Executive Office has requested your presence."

"My... what?"

"The Executive Office."

"I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong extension."

"I assure you I do not."

Cassia laughed nervously.

"I started four hours ago."

"I am aware."

"There must be another Cassia Ashwood."

"There is not."

Silence.

"The executive elevator will be waiting."

The line disconnected.

Cassia stared at the receiver.

"No..."

Across from her, Olivia looked up.

"Everything okay?"

"I've been summoned."

"By who?"

Cassia swallowed.

"The Executive Office."

Every keyboard in the department seemed to stop clicking.

Olivia's eyebrows rose.

"The CEO?"

"I think so."

A man in the next cubicle looked over the partition.

"What did you do?"

"I..."

Cassia sighed.

"I fixed his tie."

The office fell silent.

"...You what?" someone whispered.

Olivia blinked several times.

"You've certainly had an eventful first day."

"I didn't know who he was!"

Olivia pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Well..."

She stood.

"Let's not keep him waiting."

—

The executive elevator required a gold security badge.

Olivia swiped hers and stepped inside with Cassia.

Neither woman spoke as the elevator climbed past the seventieth floor.

When the doors opened, Cassia forgot how to breathe.

The executive floor looked nothing like the rest of the building.

Dark walnut walls.

Black marble floors.

Modern artwork worth more than most houses.

Everything was quiet.

No phones ringing.

No conversations.

Only the soft footsteps of assistants moving with practiced efficiency.

"This way," Olivia whispered.

They approached a sleek reception desk where an elegant woman in a fitted black suit looked up.

Her silver nameplate read:

Victoria Hayes

Executive Assistant to the CEO

Victoria offered a polite smile.

"Miss Ashwood."

Cassia nodded.

"Mr. Blackwood is expecting you."

Of course he is.

Olivia squeezed Cassia's shoulder.

"I'll wait out here."

Cassia wanted to beg her not to leave.

Instead, she nodded weakly.

Victoria rose and walked toward two massive double doors crafted from dark oak.

She knocked once.

A deep voice answered from inside.

"Come in."

Victoria opened one door.

"Miss Ashwood is here, sir."

"Send her in."

Cassia stepped inside.

The doors closed behind her with a quiet click.

The office was enormous.

One entire wall was glass, revealing the city stretching to the horizon.

A fireplace flickered despite the summer heat outside.

Shelves filled with leather-bound books lined another wall.

Everything was immaculate.

Perfectly arranged.

Perfectly controlled.

Much like its owner.

Harden Blackwood stood near the window, one hand tucked into the pocket of his tailored trousers.

His back was to her.

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

He didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he slowly turned.

His gray eyes settled on her.

"You were expecting someone else?"

Cassia blinked.

"What?"

"In the elevator."

"You spoke to me."

His voice remained calm.

"You smiled."

"You fixed my tie."

He took a slow step forward.

"But the moment you learned I was your employer..."

Another step.

"...you looked terrified."

Cassia cleared her throat.

"To be fair..."

He waited.

"...most people would be."

A faint smirk tugged at his mouth.

"You have an answer for everything."

"It's a survival mechanism."

For the first time all day, genuine amusement flickered across Harden's face.

It disappeared almost instantly.

"I've read your file."

Cassia stiffened.

"You graduated first in your class."

"Yes, sir."

"You've turned down offers from three competing firms."

"Yes."

"Why Blackwood Enterprises?"

She answered honestly.

"Because everyone said it was impossible to succeed here."

One dark eyebrow lifted.

"And you enjoy impossible things?"

"I enjoy proving people wrong."

Silence settled between them.

Harden studied her with unnerving intensity.

Not in a way that made her uncomfortable.

In a way that made her feel... evaluated.

Measured.

As though he were trying to solve a puzzle.

Finally, he spoke.

"Most employees spend years trying not to be noticed by me."

"I wasn't trying to be noticed."

"I know."

His gaze dropped briefly to the perfectly knotted tie around his neck.

"That's precisely why you were."

Cassia followed his gaze and immediately realized what he meant.

She smiled despite herself.

"I'm glad it stayed straight."

"It has."

Another long silence.

Then Harden walked behind his desk and picked up a black folder.

"Your department is preparing next month's charity gala."

"Yes, sir."

"I'll be giving the keynote speech."

He slid the folder across the desk.

"I want you to draft the opening remarks."

Cassia's eyes widened.

"Me?"

"You."

"But... I just started."

"So you keep reminding everyone."

"I have no experience with executive speeches."

"You have talent."

She stared at him.

"You've never read my work."

"I have."

He tapped the folder.

"Your hiring portfolio."

She hadn't realized he'd seen it personally.

"I don't hire people," Harden said quietly. "I hire potential."

He met her gaze.

"Don't disappoint me, Miss Ashwood."

Cassia swallowed the nervous lump in her throat and reached for the folder.

"I won't."

As she turned to leave, his voice stopped her.

"And Miss Ashwood?"

She looked back.

"Yes, sir?"

A ghost of that dangerous smile returned.

"If you ever feel compelled to adjust my tie again..."

He straightened his cuff.

"...close my office door first."

Cassia's cheeks burned crimson.

Before she could think of a response, Harden returned his attention to the papers on his desk as though he'd said nothing unusual.

Completely flustered, Cassia hurried out of the office.

The heavy doors closed behind her.

Victoria looked up from her desk, trying to hide a curious smile.

"How did it go?"

Cassia pressed a hand against her racing heart.

"I..."

She glanced back at the closed office.

"...I think my life just became a lot more complicated."