Mia’s POV

The growl stops me in my tracks. My breath catches in my throat as I stare at Damien Blackwood’s office door.

Did I really hear that?

I shake my head. No, you’re just tired.

I take a deep breath, forcing my feet to move. Go home, Mia. Don’t start imagining things.

But just as I turn toward the elevators, the door to Damien’s office swings open.

I freeze.

He stands in the doorway, his tall frame filling the space. His suit jacket is gone, his white dress shirt rolled up to his elbows, revealing strong forearms. His tie is loosened, and the top two buttons of his shirt are undone. His dark eyes lock onto me, sharp and unreadable.

“What are you still doing here?” His voice is low, controlled.

I swallow hard. “I—uh—was finishing up work.”

He studies me, his gaze flicking to the folder in my arms, then back to my face. “You should go home.”

I nod quickly. “I was just leaving.”

But my legs don’t move.

Neither does he.

For a moment, we just stare at each other.

There’s something unsettling about the way he looks at me. Like he’s trying to figure me out—like I’m a puzzle he wasn’t expecting.

I clutch the folder tighter. “Um… are you okay?”

His brows lift slightly, as if surprised by my question. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

I hesitate. Should I mention the growl? Maybe I imagined it. Maybe it was just the sound of a chair scraping against the floor or—

“I thought I heard something,” I say finally. “Like… a growl?”

His expression doesn’t change. “A growl?”

I nod, feeling a little ridiculous now. “Yeah. I probably misheard. Long day.”

He doesn’t answer right away. Then, after what feels like forever, he steps back. “Go home, Mia.”

My stomach flips at the sound of my name coming from his lips.

I don’t argue. I just nod and head straight for the elevators, forcing myself not to look back.

*

The next morning, I walk into the office, hoping to have a normal day.

No intense stares from Damien Blackwood. No weird sounds in the night. Just work.

I set my coffee down and open my laptop when Leah suddenly drops into the chair across from my desk, her face alight with curiosity.

“Spill.”

I blink. “Spill what?”

“Your meeting with Damien Blackwood,” she says, leaning forward. “Did he tear you apart? Did he breathe fire? Did he—”

I sigh. “It was fine.”

Her eyes narrow. “Fine?”

I nod. “Fine.”

Leah doesn’t look convinced. “Mia. You met the Damien Blackwood. You can’t just say ‘fine.’ That man is basically a myth. People in this company fear him.”

I roll my eyes. “He’s just a man, Leah.”

She snorts. “Sure. A rich, ridiculously powerful, extremely private man.”

I shrug, not wanting to talk about it. “Look, I did my presentation. He said he’d review it. That’s all.”

Leah studies me, then suddenly smirks.

“Oh my god.”

“What?”

“You think he’s hot.”

I nearly choke on my coffee. “What? No!”

She leans back, grinning. “Liar.”

I groan. “Leah, stop.”

She just laughs, but before she can say anything else, her gaze flicks over my shoulder—and her smile vanishes.

I frown. “What—”

“Mr. Blackwood,” she blurts, standing so fast her chair scrapes against the floor.

I whip around—and there he is.

Damien Blackwood stands just outside my cubicle, looking completely out of place among the sea of desks. His presence sucks the air from the room. Conversations die. Eyes dart toward him, then quickly away, like no one wants to risk drawing his attention.

My stomach drops.

What the hell is he doing here?

“Mia.” His voice is smooth, controlled. “My office. Now.”

A few gasps sound from the nearby desks. Leah’s eyes are huge as she mouths, What did you do?!

I swallow hard and stand. “Yes, sir.”

With shaky legs, I follow Damien through the office, feeling every pair of eyes on me.

*

His office door clicks shut behind me.

Damien walks to his desk, then gestures for me to sit. I lower myself into the chair, my heart pounding.

He leans against the edge of his desk, crossing his arms. “I reviewed your proposal.”

I straighten. “And?”

His gaze is intense. “It’s good.”

Relief washes over me. “Thank you, sir.”

“But.”

I tense. “But?”

He watches me for a moment. “You took a risk. This plan is bold—if it fails, it won’t just be your career on the line. It’ll cost this company millions.”

I nod, forcing myself to hold his gaze. “I believe in it.”

His lips press together. Then, after a long pause, he says, “So do I.”

I blink. “You… do?”

He nods. “I’m approving it.”

A rush of excitement floods me. This is huge.

“However,” he continues, “you’ll oversee the entire execution. Every step. Every decision.” His gaze darkens. “I don’t tolerate failure, Mia.”

I swallow. “I understand.”

He nods. “Good. Then get to work.”

I stand quickly. “Thank you, Mr. Blackwood. You won’t regret this.”

As I turn to leave, his voice stops me.

“One more thing.”

I glance back. “Yes?”

His eyes lock onto mine. “Stay out of my personal affairs.”

My breath catches. “I—I don’t—”

“Whatever you think you heard last night,” he says slowly, “forget it.”

A chill runs down my spine.

His expression doesn’t change, but there’s something dangerous in his tone.

Something that makes me realize—

Damien Blackwood has secrets.

And I might be closer to them than I should be.

*

That night, I leave the office late again.

I should go straight home. I should.

But instead, my feet carry me toward the executive floor.

Toward Damien’s office.

I tell myself I’m not snooping. I’m just curious.

But when I reach his door, I freeze.

Because inside, I hear something I shouldn’t.

A voice.

Not Damien’s.

Someone else’s.

“I don’t trust her.” The voice is low, sharp.

“She doesn’t need your trust,” Damien replies coldly. “She just needs to do her job.”

A pause. Then—

“If she gets too close, we’ll have to deal with her.”

My blood runs cold.

Who are they talking about?

…Me?

I take a step back, heart racing. I need to leave. Now.

But as I turn to go, the door suddenly swings open—

And I come face-to-face with Damien Blackwood.

His dark eyes widen slightly in surprise.

Then his expression shuts down.

“Mia,” he says, voice dangerously low. “What are you doing here?”

Panic surges through me.

But I can’t let him see it.

So I square my shoulders, lift my chin, and force a smile.

“I was just leaving.”

For a long moment, he just stares at me.

Then, slowly, his lips curve into something that isn’t quite a smile.

It’s something darker.

“Good.” His voice is soft. “Because you don’t want to be here, Mia.”

Something about the way he says it—about the way he looks at me—sends a shiver down my spine.

I nod quickly, then turn and walk away.

This time, I don’t stop.

But as I step into the elevator and the doors slide shut, only one thought races through my mind—

What the hell is Damien Blackwood hiding?