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.

Kayla

A loud knock woke me up. At first, I thought the sound was just part of a dream. I scrambled out of bed and checked my alarm. It was past 8:00 AM.

"Shit," I whispered. I had slept like a log. After the nightmare I went through, my body had just shut down.

I jumped up and ran to the door. I looked through the peephole, but the hallway was empty. No one was there. I didn't have time to worry about it. I took a freezing cold shower-thanks again to my landlord-and threw on my best corporate clothes.

I grabbed my tote bag and ran out to catch a cab to the Blackwood Tower. During the ride, I finally checked my phone. It was blowing up. Chelsea had sent a bunch of texts to check if I was still alive. She did throughout the weekend.

The other messages were condolences from our text chain. Thank you Chelsea for not knowing how to keep your mouth shut.

My phone buzzed and another message came in. This one was from Jason.

Unknown number: [I'm so sorry babe. It was a mistake. How am I going to cope without you?]

'Cope' was code word for, I'm broke!

The truth was, we were both broke. It was the start of a new month, and I had lent him 30,000 dollars right before I found out he was a cheater. Now, my rent was behind, my car was smashed up, and I had nothing left.

Worst of all, I had to find money for my mother's dialysis and her kidney meds. It felt like a weight was crushing my chest.

When the cab pulled up to the glass tower, I took a deep breath before entering inside.

As I walked into the lobby, I spotted my friend Joan. She works a few floors up from me, but today she was hiding near a large pillar on the ground floor. She was clutching a coffee cup like her life depended on it, trying her best to look invisible.

I walked over to her. "Joan? What are you doing down here?"

She jumped a little and looked at me with wide eyes. "The whole building is a damn mess, Kayla," she whispered, leaning in close. "People are screaming. Managers are running in circles. Everyone is in a total frenzy. I think the big boss is in a very bad mood."

"The big boss?" I asked, my heart sinking. "You mean my boss? Damien?"

"Yep," Joan replied. She looked at me with pity and pouted. "How are you doing, though? Are you okay?"

I shot her a confused look. "What do you mean 'how am I'? What-" I stopped, the realization hitting me like a punch to the gut. "Wait. Did Chelsea call you? Did she tell you about Jason?"

I scoffed, thinking my sister had been gossiping again.

"Chelsea? No, honey," Joan said, shaking her head. She pulled out her phone. "Cames sent me a video."

My blood turned to ice.

"Is everyone watching it?" I whispered, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks.

"No, not really," Joan said softly. "Cames only saw it because he's chronically online. Said it was wiped off the internet like it never existed."

At least one good news. A small smiled played on my lips, Damien kept his promise.

Shit, Damein!

I checked my watch, it was almost nine o'clock.

I took the elevator up to the last floor where Damien's office was. I saw people lined up in the waiting room, each one holding a brief case. My assumption was that they were lawyers. But why were they here?

Was there some sort of cooperate fuck up.

I spotted Miles power walking with Damien. They were coming out of the board the room. What in God's name is happening today.

I settled in at my desk, thinking of a way out of my current financial situation, then an idea struck; company loan.

"Leave," I heard Damein say, his voice cutting into my thoughts. He was dismissing the whole waiting room including the people he was with in the board room. In a moment the whole floor was clear.

Miles stood beside him looking like he would shit himself.

He charged towards me. The closer he got to me the more my lungs felt like they were collapsing. "Miles, you can leave now, it seems like I'm royally screwed."

Damien faced me, "Good morning Kayla, can you see me in my office?"

I'm sure that wasn't a request. Is he going to fire me for my unprofessional conduct and botched love life?

God why is everything going so badly?

"Sit," he said gesturing towards the large sofa. Damien pulled his swivel chair closer to me. He sat so close our knees were almost touching.

My heart did a little cartwheel. Here I was on the brink of loosing my job, and the only thing I can think about is how good my boss looks in that three piece suit.

"Do you like your job Miss Robinson?" He asked, his eyes narrowing, creating this really intense look that made my blood go cold.

I nodded my head rapidly because words were failing me right now. I was tardy, it's not like I stole company funds or something.

He inhaled slightly, slumping his shoulders.

"Are you comfortable?"

"Yes," I lied.

"You're lying," he said.

Shit!

"What can I get for you? Have you eaten, do you need anything?"

"No, nothing sir."

"Kayla, I don't take no for an answer."

I cleared my throat, "I'll take anything sir."

"Good," he said picking of the phone on his desk and dialing a number, "get me a two sandwiches and two cups of coffee." He turned back to look at me, "what do you want in your sandwich and how do you like your coffee?"

"Umm, I'd like a bacon, egg and cheese with spinach and tomato. And for the coffee, a latte is fine."

"Did you hear that?" He said to the person on the other end then ended the call.

"Now that that's settled, I'd like to inform you that your car has been fixed. It's in the private parking lot."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Thank you very much sir, I--"

He cut me off, "But that's not why I called you into my office Kayla."

I swallowed hard.

"Kayla, I have a proposition for you," he smiled. This was the first time I was this close to this man. He looked delicious, "Will you marry me?"