Mia’s POV

I don’t sleep that night.

Even after I get home, shower, and crawl into bed, my mind won’t stop spinning.

Damien Blackwood is hiding something.

That much is clear.

But the real question is—what?

I replay the conversation I overheard in my head.

“I don’t trust her.”

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

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

I shiver. They were talking about me.

But why?

What the hell could Damien Blackwood be involved in that would make him say something like that?

I turn onto my side, staring at the ceiling. I should forget about it. I should just focus on my job and stay out of his business.

But I know myself.

And I know I won’t stop thinking about this until I get answers.

*

The next morning, I walk into the office determined to act normal.

Like I didn’t overhear my boss talking about "dealing" with me. Like I don’t suspect he’s hiding something.

I set my bag down at my desk, open my laptop, and start going through my emails.

I barely make it five minutes before Leah appears, practically vibrating with excitement.

“Okay, spill.”

I sigh, not even looking up. “Spill what?”

She drops into the chair across from me. “You disappeared with Damien Blackwood yesterday, again. And then when you came back, you looked like you’d seen a ghost.”

I stiffen. “I didn’t look like that.”

“You so did,” she argues. “And you’ve been all quiet and weird since yesterday. What happened?”

I shake my head, forcing a smile. “Nothing. He just gave me more responsibility on the project.”

Leah narrows her eyes. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“You so are.”

I groan. “Leah—”

Before she can push further, a new voice interrupts us.

“Miss Carter.”

My stomach drops.

I whip around—and there he is.

Damien Blackwood stands behind me, his dark eyes unreadable.

Leah practically jumps out of her chair. “Good morning, Mr. Blackwood.”

He barely glances at her. “Miss Carter. My office.”

A few heads turn in our direction. I swallow hard, nodding. “Yes, sir.”

I stand quickly, smoothing down my skirt, and follow him.

*

The door clicks shut behind me, trapping me in his massive office alone with him.

Damien moves to his desk, adjusting his cuffs before looking at me.

“You were outside my office last night.”

My heart stops.

I open my mouth, then close it again. “I—”

He tilts his head slightly, waiting.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “I was leaving work late. I thought I left something behind, but I didn’t. That’s all.”

He doesn’t blink. “Is that so?”

I nod quickly. “Yes.”

A long silence stretches between us.

Then, suddenly, Damien steps around his desk and moves toward me. Slowly.

Every instinct in my body screams at me to step back.

But I don’t.

I can’t.

He stops just a foot away, his dark eyes locked onto mine.

“I don’t like liars, Mia.”

A shiver runs down my spine.

I force my chin up. “I’m not lying.”

For a second, something flashes in his gaze—something sharp, calculating.

Then, just as quickly, it’s gone.

“Good,” he says simply, stepping back. “Because you have enough on your plate without adding unnecessary distractions.”

I blink. “What?”

He walks back to his desk, picks up a folder, and holds it out to me.

“New project,” he says. “Effective immediately, you’ll be working directly under me.”

My stomach flips.

“Directly under you?”

He nods. “If this project succeeds, it will change the future of this company. I need someone I can rely on.”

I hesitate. “Why me?”

“You proved yourself with your last proposal.” His voice is calm, controlled. “But this will be a test. You’ll report to me, work with me, and be in every meeting I am in. If you fail, it won’t just affect your career—it will affect mine. Do you understand?”

I stare at him, my heartbeat loud in my ears.

This is huge.

But at the same time, it feels dangerous.

Like he’s pulling me deeper into something I might not be ready for.

“I understand,” I say finally.

He nods. “Good. Get started.”

I take the folder, turn, and walk out of his office.

The second the door closes behind me, I exhale shakily.

I don’t know what I just got myself into.

But one thing is clear.

I’m officially too close to Damien Blackwood to turn back now.

*

Over the next few days, I throw myself into work.

Meetings, planning sessions, late nights at the office—everything revolves around this project.

And Damien?

He’s everywhere.

He’s watching me, testing me, pushing me.

And I’m pushing right back.

“Your calculations are off,” he says one evening, tossing a report onto my desk. “Redo it.”

I glare at him. “They’re not off.”

“Double-check them.”

I cross my arms. “I already did.”

His lips twitch slightly, almost like he’s amused.

“Then do it again.”

I groan but grab the paper, flipping through the numbers.

When I reach the final page, my jaw drops.

“Oh,” I murmur. “I—”

“You missed a decimal,” Damien says, watching me closely.

I bite my lip. “Damn it.”

He leans forward slightly. “I don’t expect perfection, Mia. But I expect you to catch your own mistakes.”

I nod quickly. “Got it.”

For a second, something flashes in his eyes.

Something almost satisfied.

“Good,” he says, straightening. “Fix it.”

He turns and walks away, leaving me with my heart pounding.

Damn him.

Damn him and his stupid ability to make me feel completely unprepared no matter how hard I work.

I shake my head and get back to fixing the report.