Sophia adjusted the collar of her blouse for the hundredth time, her palms slick with nerves as she stared at her reflection in the glass doors of Blackwood Enterprises. The building towered above her like a fortress of steel and glass, its shimmering panels catching the morning sun. It was intimidating in the way only wealth and power could be. She wasn't supposed to feel small, not after everything she'd endured to get here, but she did.
"Just breathe, Sophia," she muttered to herself. "It's just an interview. You've done this before."
Except this wasn't just any interview. Blackwood Enterprises was one of the most influential corporations in the city, a place where only the best of the best got in. And Sophia Carter needed this job more than she cared to admit. Rent was past due, her mother's hospital bills were piling up, and she was running out of time and options.
Pulling her shoulders back, she walked into the grand lobby, heels clicking against polished marble. Her eyes swept across the space—gold accents, sleek furniture, and people in perfectly tailored suits moving with purpose. At the reception desk, a woman with an immaculate bun and a no-nonsense stare looked up.
"Good morning," Sophia said, forcing her voice to sound steadier than she felt. "I'm here for an interview. Sophia Carter."
The receptionist scanned her tablet, then nodded briskly. "Tenth floor. Executive office. You'll be meeting with Mr. Adrian Blackwood directly."
Sophia's stomach tightened. The CEO himself? She'd expected a panel of HR managers or department heads, not the Adrian Blackwood. The man was practically a legend in the business world—ruthless, brilliant, and utterly untouchable. Rumors said he could make or break a person's career with a single glance.
She swallowed hard. "Thank you."
The elevator ride felt endless. With every floor that passed, she rehearsed answers in her head. Strengths, weaknesses, why she wanted this position, what she could bring to the company. But none of it seemed enough. When the doors opened to the top floor, she stepped into a space so sleek and modern it felt like another world.
A young assistant led her through glass corridors until they reached the CEO's office. The door was massive, dark wood with polished steel handles. The assistant pushed it open.
"Miss Carter for you, sir."
Sophia entered, and the first thing she noticed was the man behind the desk. Adrian Blackwood was younger than she'd expected, probably in his early thirties, but his presence filled the room. Tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair neatly combed back and eyes the color of storm clouds. He wore a charcoal suit that looked like it cost more than her entire apartment.
He didn't smile. He didn't even stand. He just looked at her.
Sophia shifted under his gaze, feeling as though he were peeling back layers of her soul with every second of silence.
Finally, he spoke. His voice was low, smooth, but sharp at the edges. "You're late."
Sophia blinked, glancing at her watch. She was exactly on time. "I—I don't think so, Mr. Blackwood. The interview was scheduled for nine, and it's nine on the dot."
"Arriving at nine isn't punctual. Arriving before nine is." His tone was clipped, dismissive.
Her cheeks heated, but she bit back a retort. "Noted."
He gestured to the chair opposite him. "Sit."
She did, carefully crossing her legs, determined not to fidget. He studied her résumé on the desk in front of him.
"Columbia graduate," he said. "Internship at Rosenberg & Co. Two years at a mid-tier firm. And now you think you're qualified to work here?"
The way he said it wasn't a question—it was a challenge.
Sophia lifted her chin. "I believe I have the skills and the determination to make a valuable contribution to Blackwood Enterprises."
His lips curved, but it wasn't a smile. "Determination doesn't pay the bills. Skills are a dime a dozen. What makes you different?"
She took a breath. "I'm not afraid of hard work. I don't back down from challenges. And unlike others, I know how to adapt quickly. I learn fast."
"Everyone says that," he replied flatly, leaning back in his chair. "Give me something real. Convince me I shouldn't walk you out of here right now."
Her heart hammered, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. "Because I'm hungry for this. More than most. I don't just want a paycheck. I want to build something, to prove myself. If you give me this chance, you won't regret it."
His expression didn't change. For a long moment, silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.
Then, he laughed—a short, cold sound. "That's adorable. You think passion compensates for lack of experience."
Sophia bristled. "Experience isn't the only thing that matters."
"It's the only thing that matters," Adrian snapped. "This is Blackwood Enterprises, Miss Carter, not a charity. I don't hand out jobs because someone has a sob story and determination in their eyes."
Her nails dug into her palm. She wanted this job desperately, but the way he dismissed her made her blood boil.
"With all due respect, Mr. Blackwood," she said, voice tight, "underestimating people is a mistake. Some of the best employees don't look impressive on paper. But if given the chance, they'll outperform anyone."
He tilted his head, studying her like she was some strange creature that had wandered into his office uninvited. "Bold words from someone begging for a job."
Something inside her snapped. "I'm not begging, Mr. Blackwood. I'm interviewing. And if you can't see the value I bring, then maybe this isn't the place I thought it was."
The air in the room seemed to crackle. His eyes narrowed, dark and dangerous. For a moment, she thought he might throw her out himself.
"Arrogant," he murmured. "Naïve. And unprofessional."
Her chest rose and fell quickly, fury and humiliation tangling inside her. "And you're rude, dismissive, and condescending."
The words were out before she could stop them.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Adrian leaned forward, his gaze piercing hers. "You'll never survive in this world with that attitude."
Sophia stood, gathering what little dignity she had left. "And maybe this world isn't worth surviving if it means bowing down to people like you."
They locked eyes, neither backing down, until finally she turned and walked out, head high even though her insides were trembling.
As the door closed behind her, Adrian exhaled slowly, fingers tapping against the desk. He should have dismissed her immediately, but something about the fire in her eyes lingered.
Annoying. Reckless. Infuriating.
And unforgettable.
Sophia, meanwhile, stormed toward the elevator, her chest tight with frustration. She had never met anyone so insufferable, so utterly arrogant.
She hated him already.
And the feeling was entirely mutual.