Sophia's second day at Blackwood Enterprises began even earlier than the first. By 6:30 a.m., she was seated at her desk, sorting through Damian's agenda for the day. The stack of meetings, deadlines, and last-minute adjustments was dizzying, but Sophia had spent the previous night studying his preferences and work habits. Preparation, she knew, was her best weapon.
At exactly 6:58 a.m., Damian strode into the office like a storm, his commanding presence filling the room. His suit was impeccable, his expression unreadable.
"Coffee, black. No sugar," he said without looking at her as he headed straight for his desk.
Sophia had anticipated this. Without missing a beat, she retrieved a steaming cup from the tray she'd brought in earlier. "Already here, Mr. Blackwood."
Damian paused mid-step and glanced at the cup, his eyebrow arching slightly. "Impressive. Let's see if your efficiency lasts beyond your first week."
He took the coffee and retreated to his desk, leaving Sophia with a small, private sense of victory.
---
By mid-morning, Damian's office was a hive of activity. Executives came and went, each leaving with more work than they'd brought in. Sophia remained a silent observer, taking notes, organizing documents, and ensuring Damian's day flowed seamlessly.
As the clock ticked toward noon, an unexpected storm hit: a client emergency that threatened to unravel weeks of delicate negotiations. Damian's sharp voice echoed through the office as he handled frantic phone calls, issuing orders with precision.
"Sophia," he called sharply.
She was by his side in seconds.
"Pull the file for the Halverson deal. I need the latest financial projections and the meeting transcripts from last month. Now."
Sophia nodded and hurried to the records room, her heels clicking against the floor. She found the file within minutes, but as she flipped through the pages, her stomach dropped. The projections Damian needed weren't there.
Fighting panic, Sophia raced back to her desk and accessed the digital archives. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she searched for the missing data. Finally, she located the file, printed it, and rushed back to Damian's office.
"Here," she said, slightly out of breath as she handed him the papers.
Damian scanned them quickly, his expression unreadable. Then, without a word, he returned to his phone call.
Sophia stood there for a moment, unsure whether she'd succeeded or failed. But as Damian ended the call, he glanced up at her.
"Well done, Miss Grant," he said simply before turning back to his desk.
Relief flooded her. It wasn't a glowing compliment, but coming from Damian Blackwood, it might as well have been.
---
The day didn't slow down after that. Sophia worked tirelessly, juggling Damian's demands while fielding calls and emails from clients and colleagues. By the time evening rolled around, she was exhausted but proud of her performance.
As she prepared to leave, Damian's voice stopped her.
"Miss Grant."
She turned to find him standing by the window, the city lights casting a soft glow across his face.
"You handled yourself well today," he said, his tone softer than usual.
"Thank you, Mr. Blackwood," she replied, surprised by the rare acknowledgment.
"But don't get comfortable," he added, his sharpness returning. "One mistake, and you'll find yourself out of this office faster than you can say 'resignation.'"
Sophia nodded, determined not to let his warning shake her confidence. "Understood, sir."
As she left the building that night, she couldn't help but smile. Day two had been a trial by fire, but she had emerged stronger. Damian Blackwood might be a storm, but Sophia was learning how to navigate his world.
What she didn't know was that the storm was far from over.