C3 Surviving Day 1

Elena stood frozen in front of Adrian Blackwood’s office, her heart hammering against her ribs. The heavy door had closed behind him with an ominous thud, leaving her alone in the sleek, intimidating hallway.

“Okay,” she whispered to herself. “Not a total disaster. You just insulted your boss to his face before even starting your first day. People recover from worse… right?”

“Ms. Carter?”

Elena jumped, spinning around to find Monica eyeing her expectantly. “Mr. Blackwood asked me to show you to your desk.”

“Oh. Right.” Elena forced a shaky smile. “Lead the way.”

Monica’s heels clicked against the polished floor as she led Elena down the hallway. The executive offices were pristine — all glass walls and minimalist furniture. It was quiet, almost unnervingly so.

“Here we are,” Monica said, stopping in front of a sleek white desk just outside Adrian’s office. A large computer monitor dominated the surface, and a neatly stacked pile of files waited beside it. “This will be your workstation. Mr. Blackwood prefers things to be organized, so don’t leave clutter.”

“Got it.” Elena nodded, sliding into the chair.

“The company directory is on the desktop, along with his schedule. You’ll handle his calls, emails, and meetings. If he needs something, he’ll call you on the intercom.”

“Right.” Elena bit her lip. “Any other survival tips?”

Monica gave her a tight smile. “Don’t be late. Don’t mess up his coffee order. And if you value your sanity, don’t ask too many questions.”

Before Elena could respond, Monica turned and walked away, leaving her alone at her desk. She stared at the computer screen, feeling a fresh wave of nerves crash over her.

“Okay, Elena,” she whispered. “You’ve got this. Just… don’t mess up.”

She spent the next hour trying to familiarize herself with the system. The company schedule was packed — meetings, phone calls, video conferences. Adrian Blackwood was clearly a very busy man.

A loud ding made her jump. She fumbled for the intercom button. “Y-yes?”

“Coffee. Black. No sugar.”

The line went dead. Elena blinked. “Well. That’s… friendly.”

She hurried to the break room, carefully pouring the coffee into a sleek ceramic mug.

On her way back, she nearly collided with someone rounding the corner. The coffee sloshed dangerously close to the edge.

“Sorry!” she squeaked, sidestepping just in time.

She reached Adrian’s office door, balancing the mug carefully. Taking a deep breath, she knocked softly.

“Come in.”

She pushed the door open and stepped inside. The office was as sleek and intimidating as the man himself — floor-to-ceiling windows, a massive mahogany desk, and shelves lined with books and awards. Adrian sat behind the desk, his eyes focused on his laptop screen.

Elena placed the coffee on his desk, feeling awkward just standing there. He didn’t look up.

“Anything else, sir?” she asked, wincing at how squeaky her voice sounded.

“Sit.” His voice was low and even. He finally glanced up, his dark eyes locking onto hers. “Let’s go over your responsibilities.”

She hurried to the chair opposite his desk, clutching her notepad like a lifeline. Adrian leaned back in his chair, studying her for a long moment.

“I expect efficiency,” he said. “You’ll handle my calls and emails, schedule meetings, and ensure I’m never double-booked.” His gaze sharpened. “Can you manage that?”

Elena nodded quickly. “Of course.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “Good.” He slid a file across the desk toward her. “Familiarize yourself with this project. I’ll expect a summary by the end of the day.”

She picked up the file, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on her shoulders. “I won’t let you down.”

Adrian studied her for another long moment before nodding. “We’ll see.”

As she left his office, she let out a long breath. “Survive the first day,” she muttered to herself. “Just survive.”

And with that, she got to work.

*********************

Elena’s morning had been a whirlwind of nerves, coffee runs, and trying not to trip over her own feet. By noon, she was starting to feel a little more settled — at least until Adrian Blackwood emerged from his office, his face like a thundercloud.

“Ms. Carter,” he said sharply, making her jump. “You’re coming with me.”

She blinked. “Excuse me?”

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Meeting. Restaurant. You’ll take notes.”

“Uh… okay. Let me just grab my—” She hurried to gather her notepad and phone, nearly knocking over her coffee in the process. As she scrambled after the rolling pen on the floor, she heard him mutter under his breath.

“Fantastic.”

She pretended not to hear.

As they stepped into the elevator, the silence was thick. Elena glanced at him from the corner of her eye. His jaw was tight, and the muscle in his cheek twitched slightly.

“So… big meeting?” she asked, trying to sound casual.

Adrian let out a slow breath, as if summoning patience. “Something like that.”

“Right.” She shifted awkwardly. “You know, I could really use some details if I’m going to be taking notes.”

His dark eyes flicked toward her, unreadable. For a moment, she thought he wouldn’t answer. Then, finally, he spoke.

“It’s with Blackthorn Enterprises.”

She blinked. “Oh. That sounds… important.”

He let out a humorless laugh. “You could say that.”

The elevator doors slid open, and they stepped into the lobby. Elena hurried after him, her heels clicking against the polished floor.

“So, what’s the deal with Blackthorn?” she asked, trying to keep up. “Are they clients? Partners?”

Adrian’s steps faltered for half a second before he continued toward the waiting car. “Something like that.”

Not exactly the answer she was hoping for, but she let it go. The car ride was silent, the tension in the air so thick she could practically taste it. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, wondering what kind of meeting required this level of brooding.

When they pulled up at the restaurant, Adrian was out of the car before she could unbuckle her seatbelt. She hurried after him, nearly colliding with the maître d’. The man led them through the elegant dining room to a private area at the back, where the air felt cooler and the lights dimmer.

Elena barely had time to admire the decor before the door opened, and he walked in.

The man was tall, with dark blond hair, piercing blue eyes, and a smirk that practically screamed “trouble.” His suit was tailored to perfection, and he carried himself with a smooth confidence that made Elena’s instincts scream run.

His gaze landed on Adrian, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.

“Adrian,” the man said, a cool smile curling his lips. “It’s been a while.”

“Liam.” Adrian’s voice was colder than ice.

Oh. So this is Liam.

Elena had heard whispers around the office about Adrian’s former best friend. Apparently, they’d once been inseparable — until a deal gone wrong drove a wedge between them. Judging by the way they were glaring at each other, that wedge was still firmly in place.

They shook hands, though Elena wasn’t sure shake was the right word. It looked more like two wolves testing each other’s grip. She shifted awkwardly behind Adrian, clutching her notepad like a shield.

Another man entered — presumably Liam’s assistant — and they all took their seats.

Adrian and Liam sat across from each other, the tension between them so thick Elena was surprised the table didn’t snap in half.

The waiter arrived, pouring water and taking their orders. As soon as he left, the silence stretched painfully long. Elena’s gaze ping-ponged between Adrian and Liam, both men staring each other down like they were about to duel with steak knives.

“So,” Liam drawled, swirling his glass. “Still brooding, I see.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened. “Still backstabbing, I see.”

Elena nearly choked on her water. She coughed into her napkin, eyes wide. Oh boy. This is going well.

For the next ten minutes, the two men exchanged barely concealed barbs, their voices polite but laced with venom. Elena shrank further into her seat, wondering if anyone would notice if she slid under the table.

Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. The tension was suffocating. She blurted out the first thing that popped into her head.

“So! Anyone seen any good movies lately?”

Both men turned to stare at her. She froze, mid-sip, realizing she had just interrupted their silent war.

“I mean…” She forced a laugh. “Or TV shows. Or books. Or… weather? The weather’s been nice, hasn’t it?”

Adrian pinched the bridge of his nose. Liam raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly.

“Your assistant is… chatty,” Liam observed.

“She’s new,” Adrian muttered.

Elena winced. “I just thought maybe we could break the ice a little.” She offered a sheepish grin. “You know, since it feels like we’re dining in the middle of a glacier.”

Liam chuckled. “Well, at least someone’s trying to make conversation.” He leaned back, studying her. “So, Elena, how long have you been working for Mr. Sunshine here?”

“Today’s my first day,” she said, offering a tight smile. “So far, I’ve insulted my boss in an elevator and made a complete fool of myself at this meeting. I’d say I’m off to a great start.”

Liam laughed, while Adrian just sighed, rubbing his temples.

The rest of the meal was… awkward, to say the least. Adrian and Liam continued their tense negotiations, while Elena quietly took notes and tried not to make eye contact.

As they left the restaurant, Adrian remained silent, his jaw tight and his expression unreadable. Elena stole a glance at him, trying to gauge his mood.

“So,” she ventured, “did I help?”

Adrian shot her a look. “No.”

“Right.” She sighed. “Well, I’ll do better next time.”

He said nothing, but as they slid into the car, Elena could have sworn she saw the corner of his mouth twitch.

Maybe this job wouldn’t be so bad after all.