Sophia had barely settled into her desk the next morning when the phone rang. The sharp tone broke the silence of the early office hours, and she quickly answered.
"Mr. Blackwood's office," she said, her voice calm and professional.
"I need to see Mr. Blackwood immediately," a woman's voice demanded. It was clipped, cold, and authoritative.
Sophia hesitated. Damian's schedule was airtight this morning, with back-to-back meetings until noon. "I'm sorry, but Mr. Blackwood is currently unavailable. May I take a message?"
"I'm not asking, Miss Grant," the woman said sharply. "Tell him Elena Blackwood is here."
The name hit Sophia like a bolt of lightning. Damian's estranged sister, Elena, was rarely spoken of but often whispered about in the upper echelons of Blackwood Enterprises. The family rift was rumored to be explosive, with power struggles and betrayals at its core.
Sophia swallowed hard. "One moment, please."
She pressed the intercom button. "Mr. Blackwood, your sister is here to see you."
The line was silent for a moment, and Sophia could feel the tension even through the static. Then Damian's icy voice came through.
"Send her in."
---
Elena Blackwood swept into the office like a storm, her tailored white suit and crimson heels exuding power. She was beautiful, with striking features that mirrored Damian's, but her expression carried an edge of calculated cruelty.
"Damian," she said smoothly as she entered his office. "Still ruling your little empire with an iron fist, I see."
"What do you want, Elena?" Damian's tone was colder than usual, his posture stiff.
Sophia, seated just outside the office, tried to focus on her work but couldn't block out the heated voices.
"You've been making moves behind my back," Elena accused. "The Halverson deal? You knew I had interests there."
"Your interests are irrelevant," Damian shot back. "Blackwood Enterprises doesn't cater to personal vendettas."
Elena laughed, a sharp, bitter sound. "Oh, Damian. Always pretending to be above it all. But we both know your hands aren't clean. Or have you forgotten how you got here?"
Sophia's pen froze mid-sentence. What did she mean?
Inside the office, Damian's voice lowered, dangerous and measured. "I won't warn you again, Elena. Stay out of my way, or you'll regret it."
Elena's heels clicked sharply against the floor as she walked out, her face a mask of anger. As she passed Sophia's desk, she paused, her piercing gaze landing on the young secretary.
"You must be the new gatekeeper," she said, her tone dripping with disdain. "Good luck surviving him."
With that, she strode out, leaving Sophia rattled but curious. What had Elena meant about Damian's past?
---
The rest of the day passed in a blur, but Sophia couldn't shake the tension from that morning. Damian was more curt than usual, his mood colder and sharper. By late afternoon, Sophia had gathered the courage to speak.
"Mr. Blackwood," she said hesitantly as she entered his office with a stack of reports.
"Yes?" he replied without looking up from his computer.
"Your sister… Is there something I should be aware of regarding her? She seemed—"
"She's none of your concern," Damian interrupted, his tone final.
Sophia nodded, biting back further questions. But as she turned to leave, Damian spoke again, his voice softer this time.
"Elena is dangerous, Miss Grant. If she approaches you again, inform me immediately."
"Of course, sir," Sophia replied, her curiosity growing.
---
Later that evening, as Sophia packed up to leave, a notification on her computer caught her attention. It was an anonymous email with no subject line.
Subject: Be Careful Who You Trust
Message: The Blackwood family doesn't play fair. Stay vigilant, Miss Grant.
Sophia's stomach twisted. Who had sent this? And what were they trying to warn her about?
As she exited the building and stepped into the cool night air, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had become a pawn in a much larger game. The Blackwoods were clearly hiding something—something dark and dangerous.
And for the first time, Sophia wondered if she'd gotten herself in over her head.