Kayla

"You're lying!" Chelsea groaned. I didn't say anything because I knew I wasn't.

The cars behind us started to honk like crazy. I didn't think this day could get any worse. Chelsea and I got out, standing by the side of the road in our high heels. In our tight, thin dresses, we looked like hookers.

We put our shoulders against the car and pushed. We strained until we finally got the heavy metal to the side of the road. Other cars just zoomed past us. Some drivers leaned out to scream insults as they went.

"How do we get out of here?" Chelsea asked. She looked like she was about to cry. "I have school tomorrow."

"Shit, that’s right," I muttered.

"We can order an Uber," I suggested, reaching into my pocket.

Chelsea looked at me like I was stupid. She held up her phone. "What do you think I've been doing? There’s nothing available for an hour."

"Don't take it out on me, Chels. We're in the same boat."

She pouted and her eyebrows pulled together. "I'm sorry. I just have a test and—"

I put a hand on her shoulder. "I know you're going to ace it. Now, let's just focus on waving down a car."

"I don't know how that's going to work with what we're wearing," Chelsea said, looking at her shimmery dress. She had a point.

The first car, a red convertible sped past us. Then, another sports car slowed down to a crawl.

The windows rolled down, "How much for the night?" the driver asked. He had a disgusting, smug grin on his face. The sheer audacity made my blood boil but I said nothing.

"What?" Chelsea sputtered. Her face turned bright red. "Are you insane?"

I pulled her away from the car. I wanted to keep the peace. "Let’s just ignore them. Chelsea, I think we should just walk."

"No," the driver said. He turned off the engine and stepped out. "Why would pretty ladies like you walk? We have plenty of room inside." He lowered his window revealing two other men at the back seat.

"Look," I said. "Except you have a tow or can order an Uber, there's not much you can do for us. You can go your way now."

The driver gave me a predatory look. I'm sure was much older than this kid. Who let their untrained child out without a leash. He killed the engine and opened the car door.

Chelsea pulled me towards her, "let's go, we'll come back for the car," she whispered. I was all for the idea before the driver moved right into my personal space.

He smelled like expensive cologne and beer. He looked me up and down. "You can follow us. We'll drive you home."

"I’m sorry for bothering you, but we'll wait for a cab," I said. My voice was starting to shake. "We aren't sex workers. We'll be on our way now!"

His friends alighted too.

What have we gotten ourselves into?

Chelsea was fuming. She opened her mouth to scream something mean, but I clamped my hand over her lips. I looked the driver in the eye. "We're not going anywhere, don't make me scream."

Chelsea struggled against my hand, making muffled angry noises.

The driver’s face changed. The smug look was replaced by something nasty. "The only way you're leaving is in the car with us."

He reached into the back seat and pulled out a heavy golf bag. He tossed two clubs to his friends. Without saying a word, the first guy swung at our car. The passenger window exploded. Shards of glass flew everywhere like tiny diamonds.

"No! Stop it!" we screamed.

I didn't think. I just lunged at the driver and grabbed his arm. Chelsea swung her bag at another guy’s head.

The driver snarled. He slammed his elbow into my chest, knocking the air out of me. He shoved me with all his strength. I went flying and hit the pavement hard. My back thudded against the ground, and my palms burned as the rough road tore my skin.

"Stay down, bitch," he hissed. He stepped over my legs so I couldn't get up. "I'm going to have so much fun with you." He leaned down, and I could see the sick look in his eyes. "My car is so spacious for you and those curves."

I scrambled backward on my elbows, breathing fast. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would burst. I backed up until I hit the cold, hard tire of my car.

Suddenly, Chelsea jumped on his back. She pulled his hair as hard as she could. "Get off her!"

The man didn't even care. He grabbed her by the waist and threw her off like she was a rag doll. She hit the ground even harder than I did. She groaned, curled up on the asphalt in her ripped dress.

He turned back to me and raised the golf club.

He stumbled backward when a pair of huge, bright headlights rounded the corner. A massive black SUV stopped right behind them, blinding us all with its lights.

Two other cars stopped behind the SUV. I recognized the convoy immediately.

Sirens wailed loudly and the excort cars opened to reveal some armed men. The door of the black SUV opened too.

The man who stepped out was dressed in an all black suit. He adjusted his cufflinks taking in the situation before him.

"Damien, Blackwood?" The driver stuttered. His voice was laced with fear. His companies literally froze in place.

The CEO of Blackwood Industries. My boss, Damien Blackwood was right here, in front of me.

"What is going on here?" He asked the men who now seemed to scared to talk.

"Umm, we were just--"

"Harassing these young ladies," he sized them up, "if this is how you conduct yourself and treat other people, I'm not sure I'll be doing business with your father anymore."

I almost gagged.

"No, please no." The driver was practically grovelling. "We're already in so much debt, we'll be ruined."

Damien scoffed, "Think about that before harassing defenseless women next time."

One of the security escorts cocked his gun and shot it in the air.

The driver practically peed himself.

Kayla

The men scrambled, getting into the car and zooming off.

Damien leaned over pulling me up effortlessly. "Are you okay?" He asked.

"I'm- fine," I stuttered, "thank you for stopping."

"You don't have to thank me Kayla. Let me drive you home," he offered.

I shook my head, "I'm sure you have somewhere to be, I can't keep you."

He stared me down, "Kayla, take a look at the state of your car, your clothes are all dirty. You can't go home by yourself."

"Yeah Kayla," Chelsea started, "we can't go home by ourselves." She nudged me with her elbow.

Damien smiled at her gesturing towards the car, "Please, I'll not forgive myself if anything happens to you."

My heart almost fluttered. I've worked for Damien as an executive assistant for six months and heres all I can gather. The man is dangerously hot and refered to as 'the devil in a suit.'

He is literally sex on a stick. One of the most attractive and seductive men I've ever met. The only reason I haven't joined the fan club is because my job is important to me.

The man separated business from pleasure. He's good at everything he does, every woman's dream.

Damien pulled the door open and Chelsea entered first, then I followed. The door closed and we were sealed into a world of luxury.

This car was nothing compared to the run down Sedan I drove. It's slick. The leather is cool against my skin and right now I can't stop myself from falling asleep.

"Are you guys okay?" Miles, Damien's best friend, asked from the front seat. He looked back at us with genuine concern.

I nodded, resting my head against the seat.

"I'll make sure you get reparations for the car, Kayla," Damien said, settling into the seat beside me.

A smile spread across my face. The thought of not having to pay for the repairs myself felt like a miracle. "Thank you so much. I really appreciate it, sir."

He turned his head toward me with a smirk on his lips. "We’re not at the office, Kayla. You can call me Damien."

Chelsea tilted her phone toward me, the screen glowing in the dark car. My heart stopped. It was a video of me in the driveway as I screamed at Jason at the top of my lungs. The view count was climbing so fast it made my head spin.

"It’s everywhere," Chelsea whispered. "It was probably Olivia who posted it. Look at the caption."

I didn't even want to read it. I put my face in my palms, hot embarrassment consuming me. I wanted to crawl under the expensive leather seats and stay there forever.

"What happened?" Damien asked, noticing my composure slipping. "Why is my executive assistant on the internet yelling at someone in a driveway?"

I couldn't even find my voice. I stayed frozen, hiding my face.

Chelsea, being as blunt as ever, didn't hesitate. "She was just cheated on by her boyfriend of three years. He cheated with her best friend. That video is currently going viral," she said so casually.

I wanted to disappear into the ground. The silence in the car felt a mile deep. I could feel Damien’s gaze on me.

My boss who valued perfection and "business over pleasure"—was now watching the worst, most private moment of my life play out in 4K.

"Three years?" Miles asked from the front, his voice soft with pity.

"I'm sorry," I managed to choke out from behind my hands. "I know it looks unprofessional. I’ll handle the PR if it affects the company, I just—"

"Kayla," Damien interrupted my breakdown. "Look at me."

I lowered my hands from my face slowly. He wasn't looking at the phone. He was looking at the tear stains on my cheeks and the way I was shaking.

"So, the encounter with those fools, your car and the state your currently in," Damien's jaw tightened. "All of this happened because of that boy?"

I nodded once, my lip trembling.

Damien looked away, staring out the window at the passing city lights. "Miles," he said, his voice turning cold as ice. "Find out who the boy is. And make sure that video is taken down within the hour."

"You don't have you do that," I murmured, "thank you."

I couldn't believe my boss was using his resources to save what was left of my reputation.

"Umm," Chelsea cut through, "You can stop here, I'll walk the remaining distance," she said as we got to her campus.

She got out of the car thanking Miles and Damien once more before going her way.

Of course my phone buzzed: [That's the dominant boss you talked about. Sweet baby Jesus Kayla, he's hot!]

I smiled at her text trying hard not to make it obvious.

"So that was your..."

"Sister, Chelsea." I answered, remembering he was my boss and really didn't know anything about my personal life.

"She's, a lot," I added.

"I wished I had a little sister like her. She's very... Passionate."

My phone buzzed again: [And that Miles guy, he can get it!] I almost laughed out loud. This girl was a sucker for beautiful men.

The car went quiet after Chelsea left. I could feel Damien’s eyes raking my body, lingering on the curves my sundress barely hid. I didn't mind it at all.

Heat crawled up my neck. I looked out the window, focusing on the passing streetlights to keep from melting under his gaze.

I gave Miles a few more directions until we pulled up to my apartment complex.

"Thank you again," I said, as I climbed out. "Goodnight, Miles. Goodnight, Damien."

"Kayla," Damien called out before I could close the door. I paused, looking back at him. "If you need to, take Monday off. Rest. Clear your head."

I shook my head immediately. "Thank you, but I’ll be there. It would be completely unprofessional of me to skip out because of... this."

A ghost of a smile touched his lips, but he didn't argue. "As you wish."

I entered the lobby, and the sound of shouting hit me instantly. My landlord was in the middle of a heated argument with a group of neighbors over a broken pipe. I froze. I was still two months behind on rent because I’d used my savings to fund Jason’s "last brilliant business idea." I definitely wasn't in the mood to be cornered.

I stepped out of my heels, holding them in one hand, and snuck past the group like a ghost. I didn't stop until I was safely inside my apartment with the deadbolt clicked into place.

I went straight to the bathroom and stripped off the ruined dress. I turned the knob for the shower, praying for a bit of warmth, but the water stayed ice-cold.

Courtesy of the landlord, no doubt. I stood under the freezing spray anyway.

By the time I crawled into bed, my hair was damp and my body was aching. I pulled the covers up to my chin, feeling the silence of the empty apartment press in on me.

My phone vibrated on the nightstand. I reached for it, expecting another thirsty text from Chelsea or a pathetic plea from Jason.

It was a text from by boss.

Damien: [Sleep well, Kayla.]

I stared at the screen until the light dimmed. My heart gave a strange fluttery kick.

Damein

I drove through the huge land that was Blackwood estate with Miles. This place is like its own private country. The family houses are spread out across the property, with the main residences sitting far back from the front gates.

As I walked into the grand house, Rosa greeted me. She is an Italian immigrant who moved here years ago after Eloise hired her. She’s been with us so long she feels more like family than an employee. "Young Master, everyone is in the sun room."

Everyone? Shocking, I'm always the first person present at these family gatherings.

I headed straight for the sun room to see Harold sat down and everyone else beside him. I have an idea about why this family meeting was called, and seeing Rufus just confirmed it.

"Glad you could finally join us," Harold said with a smug look on his face, "sit down!"

"Thank you for the warm welcome," I said then took a seat right next to my cousin and literal best friend, Ethan. Asides from Miles, Ethan is the only person I can trust with my life.

Ethan parents, Uncle Jack and Aunt Valerie were seated next to Harold.

My parents were on his other side. Beside them was my Uncle who looked annoyed; his twin sons Leo and Finn were missing. They were probably out partying somewhere. Finally, there was my aunt, Hilda who never married. She sat with her adopted daughter Sadie, by her side. I and Sadie have never really seen eye to eye.

My grandfather, Harold, stood up. He looked tired and sad but it was never his thing to show weakness at any point.

Rufus, our family attorney stood beside. The man has worked with the family for decades and handled a lot of shit.

"Thank you for coming," my grandfather said looking around the room. "Eloise built this empire had very clear ideas about who should lead it next."

The lawyer stepped forward and opened a thick folder and I could see how everyone stopped breathing.

The silence was so loud you could hear a pin drop.

"We all love and miss Eloise. She was a woman who dedicated herself to other people and built an empire with her bare hands," the lawyer began, "this is the last will and testament of Eloise Pearl Blackwood."

Everything we own started with my grandmother, Eloise. She was a rebel. She ran away from her rich family to marry Harold, the man she actually loved. Together, they started a small construction company and grew it into a multi-million dollar business

I leaned back, trying to act as non chalant and unbothered as possible. I've held the position as CEO for a long time. I was literally raised for the job so I know who the first choice for chair person is, it's me.

Rufus cleared his throat, his glasses perched on the edge of his nose as he looked over the heavy parchment.

"These are the words of Eloise Pearl Blackwood," Rufus began in a formal voice. "To my family, I leave the duty of the Blackwood name. The Blackwood Estate shall stay under the control of my beloved Harold for his whole life. When he passes, the title goes solely to my grandson, Damien. It must never be sold while Harold is alive."

Uncle Jack shifted in his seat. The wood creaked loudly. "Solely to Damien? That is a massive asset to lock away from the rest of us."

"Quiet, Jack," Harold snapped. He kept his eyes fixed on the floor.

Rufus continued. "Now for the other properties. The Italian Villa goes to Aunt Hilda. The London Townhouse goes to Damien’s parents. The New York Apartment goes to Uncle Jack and Aunt Valerie. The vacation homes will be split between Uncle Marcus and his sons, Leo and Finn. This is only if they do not gamble them away within a year."

"They will probably lose them in a week," Sadie muttered. She tossed her hair back. I ignored her. She wasn't wrong anyway.

Leo and Finn are a severe embarrassement to the Blackwood name. I can't even confidently refer to them as my cousins.

"Now, let us discuss the company shares," Rufus said loudly because this was the part everyone was waiting for. "Blackwood Industries has 1,000,000 voting shares. I have divided them so everyone has a voice."

He began to read the percentages out loud. "Harold Blackwood would receive 15%. My parents were allocated 10%, and Uncle Jack and Aunt Valerie would also receive 10%. Uncle Marcus, Aunt Hilda, and Ethan were each given 5%. Sadie was granted 2.5%, while the absent twins, Leo and Finn, were also given 2.5% each. Finally, my personal portion was set at 20%."

Uncle Marcus stood up. He looked flustered. "Wait. That only adds up to 77.5%. That leaves 22.5% left. That is the controlling block. Who gets the majority?"

Rufus stopped. He looked at the paper. Then he looked at me and Harold. He leaned over and whispered in my grandfather’s ear. Harold’s eyes widened. He looked grim.

"Wait," Harold commanded. He raised his hand. "Before we go on, bring Miles in. He needs to be here for this."

Ethan looked at me. He was confused. "Miles? Why Miles? He is the company advisor, but he isn't family."

I didn't answer. My heart started thumping against my ribs. Miles walked into the room. He looked confused too. He stood by the door and straightened his tie.

"Continue, Rufus," Harold said.

Rufus took a deep breath. "The final 22.5% of the shares are held in a trust. They are meant for Damien Blackwood. This would give him 42.5% total and full control of the board. However, this clause is conditional."

Rufus took a pause. I felt a wave of dread hit me.

"Eloise added a condition," Rufus said for clarity. "To get these shares, Damien Blackwood must be married within six months of the will reading. Also, he must have a child, or be expecting one, by the end of the first year."

The room exploded with noise. I almost gagged.

What the fuck?

"A wife and a baby in one year?" Ethan laughed. "Damien doesn't even have a girlfriend! He only dates his laptop!"

"This is insane!" Aunt Hilda shouted. She stood up quickly. "What if he fails? Who gets the company then?"

Rufus looked at Miles. Then he looked back at the paper. "If Damien fails, the 22.5% goes to Miles Carter. He will manage them to keep the company stable."

The room went silent. It was a heavy, shocking silence. I looked at Miles. He looked like he had been struck by lightning. I looked at my grandfather. He just stared at me. He wanted to see if I could close this deal.

"This can't be legal," I muttered.

"It is very legal, Damien. Your grandmother was a very thorough person," Rufus replied.

"Six months to find a wife," Sadie mocked. "Who's the poor girl that agree to marry you."

"I'll do it for the shares!" Ethan joked, but no one laughed.

I had six months to find a wife. I had twelve months to have a child. If I failed, I would lose my empire to my best friend.