Chapter 3 - THE BLACKWOOD RULE
Claire's first day at Blackwood Holdings began at seven-thirty in the morning.
By eight, she had already learned three things.
First, Adrien Blackwood expected perfection.
Second, everyone in his office was terrified of disappointing him.
Third, he drank black coffee without sugar and forgot to eat when he was angry.
She learned the third one because at eleven forty-five, she walked into his office carrying documents and found him staring at the same spreadsheet for ten minutes.
“Have you eaten?”
Adrien looked up.
“What?”
“Lunch.”
“It's eleven forty-five.”
“Exactly.”
“I'll eat later.”
“You said that yesterday.”
His eyebrow rose.
“You've been here two days.”
“And I've noticed.”
He stared at her.
Claire stared back.
Finally, Adrien leaned back.
“You're remarkably comfortable challenging me.”
“I wasn't aware I needed permission.”
A faint smile appeared.
“No.”
He returned to the spreadsheet.
“Apparently you don't.”
Their relationship developed in strange little moments.
Claire discovered that Adrien hated loud restaurants.
Adrien discovered that Claire hummed quietly whenever she concentrated.
Claire learned that he visited his mother's grave every Sunday.
Adrien learned that Claire still carried her father's old pen in her purse.
Neither spoke about the growing tension between them.
Until one evening.
It was nearly nine.
Most employees had gone home.
Claire entered Adrien's office.
“You need to sign these.”
He took the papers.
“Thank you.”
She turned.
“Claire.”
She looked back.
“Yes?”
“Why did you really take the job?”
She smiled.
“Because I needed money.”
He nodded.
“And?”
“And because I wanted to know whether the man who forgot his wallet was actually as arrogant as he looked.”
Adrien laughed.
A real laugh.
Claire had never heard it before.
She smiled.
Then his expression changed.
“Do you trust me?”
She hesitated.
“I don't know.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“Trust should be earned.”
She studied him.
“Then earn it.”
His eyes remained on hers.
Something passed between them.
Neither moved.
Then Claire stepped backward.
“Good night, Mr. Blackwood.”
“Adrien.”
She paused.
“What?”
“Call me Adrien.”
She smiled.
“Good night, Adrien.”
After she left, Adrien sat alone.
For the first time in years, he wanted someone to stay.
That frightened him.
Because there was another problem.
Adrien had recently discovered that millions of dollars were disappearing from one of his development subsidiaries.
Someone inside the company was stealing.
He had spent months investigating quietly.
The missing money passed through shell companies and overseas accounts.
Then something strange appeared.
A series of payments had been made to a private security firm.
The firm had one recurring client.
The Vale family.
Adrien's biggest business rivals.
The next morning, his brother Julian entered his office.
“You've hired someone new.”
Adrien didn't look up.
“Yes.”
“Claire Bennett?”
Adrien's eyes sharpened.
“How do you know her name?”
Julian smiled.
“I know everything that happens inside this company.”
“That's not true.”
Julian's smile disappeared.
“Careful.”
Adrien stood.
“What do you want?”
“I want you to stop digging into the missing funds.”
Silence.
Adrien slowly closed the file.
“Why?”
“Because you're going to uncover something you don't want to know.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It's advice.”
Julian walked away.
Adrien watched him leave.
Then Claire appeared in the doorway.
“Bad morning?”
“Something like that.”
She placed a coffee beside him.
“I brought this.”
He looked at it.
“Why?”
“You looked tired.”
Adrien smiled.
“Thank you.”
Claire turned to leave.
Then she stopped.
“Adrien?”
“Yes?”
“Your brother was here yesterday.”
Adrien's smile disappeared.
“What did he say to you?”
“Nothing.”
“Claire.”
She turned.
“He asked whether I was trustworthy.”
Adrien's expression hardened.
“What did you tell him?”
“I said you'd have to decide that.”
Adrien walked toward her.
“From now on, if Julian asks you anything, tell me.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't trust him.”
Claire stared at him.
May you like
That was the first time Adrien had admitted it.
And it changed everything.
