The city never slept, and neither did Damian Blackwood.

From the top floor of Blackwood Enterprises, Damian stood behind the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring at the sprawling city below. The skyline glittered under the weight of the night, cold and distant—just like him. His reflection stared back, sharp as the tailored suit hugging his broad shoulders, and colder than the glass that separated him from the world.

Power wasn't given. It was taken. And Damian had taken everything.

Yet, for all his power, he couldn't ignore the subtle shift in the air.

"Your new assistant has arrived, Mr. Blackwood."

His head turned slightly toward the voice. Victoria, his long-time secretary, stood at the doorway, perfectly poised, but even she couldn't conceal the slight tension in her tone. Damian noticed everything.

"Send her in," he ordered, his voice like ice cracking beneath weight.

Moments later, Ivy Carter walked in.

She was... unexpected.

Not in the way most women tried to be. She didn't bat her lashes or force a smile. She moved with quiet confidence, her heels clicking steadily against the polished floor. A fitted black pencil skirt, silk blouse, and dark red lips. Her eyes, however, were the most unsettling—calm, unreadable, and sharp.

"Mr. Blackwood." Her voice was smooth, controlled.

Damian let the silence hang in the air longer than necessary. A test. Most people filled silence with nervous chatter. She didn't.

"Ivy Carter," he said finally, tasting her name like it was something forbidden. "Impressive resume. Though I can't imagine why someone with your qualifications would settle for being an assistant."

She tilted her head slightly, a hint of a smirk pulling at the corner of her lips. "I prefer to learn from the best."

A rehearsed answer, but delivered well.

He leaned back in his chair, studying her. "Ambition. Dangerous in this building."

"I'm not afraid of danger."

The words hung there, thicker than the city smog outside.

Damian's jaw tightened. She wasn't here to play by his rules, and that intrigued him more than it should have.

"Very well. You start now. Victoria will show you the ropes."

Ivy gave a polite nod, turning on her heel to leave.

But Damian's voice stopped her.

"Miss Carter."

She paused, glancing over her shoulder.

"Don't make me regret hiring you."

Her smirk deepened. "Likewise, Mr. Blackwood."

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Damian alone with a creeping sense of unease.

For the first time in years, Damian Blackwood felt something stir beneath the cold armor he wore.

And he wasn't sure if it was desire… or danger.