BOUND TO THE BLACKWOOD BILLIONAIRE

dustries too many times to count. In her head, she w

al

certain the security guards could h

nt than her. Blackwood Industries wasn't just a company. It was an empire. And stepping inside felt like walking into a wor

leeve, and whispered to herself, "You can do this, Li

h

d hit somet

meone

its contents spilling across the polished floor. Pens scattered. Pa

pping to her knees as she scrambled for he

ear

but cold enough to f

h caught. Sh

feel human. His suit was black, tailored with surgical precision. His hair dark, styled

s of someone who didn't waste en

e stammered, cheeks burn

d pay more

t raise

n't ne

off his tongue like a

ed laugh. "Right. I'll try to

ot even a curv

tood, expecting him to step aside

he simply

th int

th ann

sessing-like he was calculating her

ed around her throa

again," she

er entire existence-and for a split second, she thought she s

uldn't

owards a private eleva

ood," one g

a f

ckw

lackwood I

... t

ul man she just collided with

so far it practica

e whispered

her bag like it was the only thing anchoring her to the planet.

hallway lined with glass-walled of

"HR - Onboarding," repeati

se don't let him remember me. Please l

r warmly, oblivious to Li

Let me show you aroun

mile. "Thanks.

"You look like y

-day nerves

aire assured. "Your department moves fast, bu

was

re was

ad-first i

fi

r to team members who shook her hand politely bu

assis

ust get one

nervous-p

pped outside a gla

morning briefings," she sai

g her palms discre

e of the departm

pened from

blood tur

as seated at the

wrapped in an expensive suit. Every executive looke

dropped int

mpletely unaware of the ho

ed, "this is our newest te

personal space she had invaded-whose shoes

ow

bera

locked

ion hit

ed through his expression-an

ouldn'

held it

ever so slightly,

each syllable smooth a

ce. She managed a t

Apparentl

almost nothing-but enough for her to know h

Amazing.

have stay

less authority, cutting through false confidence with a single raised eyebrow. When h

had pr

at didn't n

illed silence w

hen, his gaze d

ugh for othe

ugh for her t

he spoke without looki

Hart.

m emptied like some

lasped tightly. "Sir, I

lifting his gaze to hers. "I don't

swal

ich means you don't know how this

one d

stract

olut

mist

cour

" His eyes hardened. "No

chme

like it w

ackwood," sh

for an unsettling second-as if tryi

ee," he

Claire reappeared. "Mr. Blackwo

ly. "Miss Hart. Settle

re casting one last unreada

desk, someone stepped into the

nn

m head to toe, lingering

Jenna said, her smile co

d respond, her w

iden Bl

Afternoon

pped i

office at 3

sonally with the Everg

hours r

tiality

Blac

breath

firs

rst mi

st assi

ng pulled directly into

y or