When Lia Parker lands a job at the prestigious Blackwood Enterprises, she never expects her cold and dangerously attractive CEO, Damian Blackwood, to take an interest in her. What she doesn't know is that Damian is a powerful Alpha werewolf, bound by a curse that forces him to find his true mate before the next full moon. The problem? Lia is human, and falling for him could mean stepping into a world she never knew existed.
Chapter 1 The Man in the Shadows
Lia adjusted the collar of her blouse, nerves tingling as she stepped into the sleek glass elevator of Blackwood Enterprises. Today was her first day as the executive assistant to the company's elusive CEO, Damian Blackwood. She had never met him before-few had. The rumours surrounding him were endless: a ruthless businessman, dangerously handsome, and utterly unapproachable.
The elevator doors slid open to reveal a sprawling office with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city skyline. The space was luxurious yet much like the man who stood near the window, his back to her.
Damian Blackwood.
He turned slowly, and Lia's breath hitched. He was breathtaking-tall, broad-shouldered, with piercing silver eyes that seemed to see right through her. His dark hair was slicked back, and the sharp lines of his jaw made him look almost inhumanly perfect.
"Miss Parker," he said in a voice as smooth as velvet but laced with something deeper, something primal. "You're late."
Lia swallowed hard. "I-I got lost on the way up."
A ghost of a smirk played on his lips, but his eyes darkened. "I don't tolerate excuses."
Her heart pounded. There was something about him-something that made the air around them crackle. His gaze lingered on her for a moment too long before he turned away, dismissing her without another word.
She exhaled sharply. This was going to be harder than she thought.
Lia squared her shoulders, determined not to let her nerves get the best of her. She had worked too hard to land this position, and she wasn't about to let Damian Blackwood intimidate her no matter how unnerving his presence was.
Taking a tentative step forward, she clasped her hands together. "Would you like me to start with your schedule, Mr. Blackwood?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
He didn't turn. Instead, he moved toward his sleek, black desk, the polished surface reflecting the city lights. "You were given access to it this morning," he said, flipping through a file without looking at her. "I expect you to know it by now."
Lia resisted the urge to fidget. She had skimmed through it, but the long list of meetings, calls, and private appointments was overwhelming. "Of course. You have a nine a.m. conference call with the board, followed by a"
"Don't recite it to me," he interrupted, finally meeting her gaze. "Just be prepared."
His silver eyes held hers captive for a beat too long, and she felt an odd shiver run down her spine. Something was unsettling about the way he looked at her, like he saw more than he should like he could read the thoughts she didn't even dare to voice.
"Understood," she murmured.
A knock at the door broke the tension. A middle-aged man in a crisp navy suit entered, his eyes flickering to Lia before settling on Damian. "Sir, Mr. Wren has arrived."
Damian exhaled, almost as if the news irritated him. "Send him in."
Lia took that as her cue to step back, but Damian's voice stopped her. "Stay."
She hesitated, her stomach twisting.
The door opened again, and a tall, well-dressed man strode in. His sharp gaze landed on Damian first, then shifted to Lia with open curiosity. "And who might this be?"
"Miss Parker, my new assistant," Damian said flatly.
Lia forced a polite smile.
The man, Mr. Wren, studied her with interest. "She's... different from the others."
Lia's pulse jumped at the strange remark, but before she could process it, Damian's tone dropped dangerously low. "That's enough."
Something unspoken passed between the two men.
"Of course." Mr. Wren smirked. "I'll keep this brief."
Lia had the distinct feeling she was in the middle of something far more complex than she had signed up for.
As she stood in the shadows of Blackwood Enterprises' most powerful man, she couldn't shake the feeling that her new job was about to become far more dangerous than she had ever imagined.
Chapter 1 The Man in the Shadows
10/02/2025
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