Chapter One

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.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***