There wasn't time.
The board meeting was at nine.It was already 6:30 a.m.
She rushed into the bathroom. Splashed cold water on her face.For a long moment, she just stared at her reflection.
Dark circles. Messy hair. A blouse wrinkled beyond saving.And somehow, she was supposed to look presentable in two hours.
When she returned to her desk, something was hanging on her chair.A garment bag. Black. Expensive.
She unzipped it slowly.Inside—silk. Real silk. The kind that whispered against her fingers.The price tag still dangled from the zipper.
$3,000.
Her breath hitched. That was more than her monthly rent.
A small note slipped out and landed on the desk.
Shower is in the executive bathroom. Code 4798.You have one hour. Don't disappoint me. – A
Executive bathroom?With a shower?
Ella grabbed the bag and followed the hallway.She found the door, punched in the code, and stepped inside.
Marble walls. Rain shower. Heated floors.The room was bigger than her entire apartment.
She didn't have time to be impressed.
Forty minutes later, she stood in front of the mirror again—transformed.The dress fit too well. It traced every curve, every line.The neckline dipped just enough to be dangerous.
She looked expensive.Polished.Like she belonged here.
But she didn't.And she knew everyone would see it.
At 8:55 a.m., Ella stood outside the boardroom.Her heels clicked on marble—too loud.Heads turned.
Executives arrived one by one.All men. All in suits.All staring.
"New secretary?" one whispered."Lucky bastard," another muttered.
Her face burned. She wanted to disappear.
"Miss Montgomery."
That voice.Cold. Commanding.
She turned. Alexander stood behind her—impeccable as ever.Charcoal suit. Blue tie. The same shade as his eyes.
Those eyes swept over her—slow, deliberate.
"Better," he said. "Much better."
"I look ridiculous," she hissed. "This dress is completely inappropriate—"
"You look expensive. That's appropriate."He stepped closer, lowering his voice."You're a reflection of me now. Everything you wear, everything you do, represents Blackwood Enterprises."
"I represent myself."
His lips curved."Not anymore."
The boardroom doors opened.Men filed in. Alexander's hand pressed against the small of her back—firm, claiming.
He guided her inside.
The boardroom was intimidating.Long glass table. Leather chairs.Windows that stretched from floor to ceiling, flooding the room with cold daylight.
Twelve board members.All male. All old. All watching her like sharks circling the water.
"Gentlemen," Alexander began smoothly."This is Miss Montgomery. My new secretary."
"Secretary?"An older man with silver hair snorted."Is that what we're calling them now?"
The room chuckled—low and ugly.
Ella's throat tightened.
"Watch yourself, Gerald," Alexander said, his tone sharp as glass."Miss Montgomery is the most qualified candidate we've had in years."
"I'm sure her qualifications are very... impressive," Gerald said, eyes dropping to her neckline.
Ella wanted to throw something at him.But Alexander's hand pressed harder into her back—a silent command to stay still.
"Miss Montgomery will be taking notes," Alexander continued."She'll handle all board communications from now on."
"She doesn't look like she can handle much," someone muttered.
"Thomas." Alexander's voice dropped to ice."Would you like to repeat that?"
The room went dead silent.
Thomas paled. "No, sir."
"Good." Alexander gestured toward a chair in the corner."Miss Montgomery. Sit."
Like a dog. Like property.But she sat. Pulled out her laptop. Kept her expression unreadable.
The meeting began.
Two hours of hell.Numbers. Acquisitions. Hostile takeovers.Billions tossed around like spare change.
And through it all, the stares continued.The whispers. The smirks.
Alexander ignored them—cold, professional, ruthless.But when Gerald joked about "pretty distractions," his jaw locked.His knuckles turned white on the table.
Finally, the meeting ended.
"Dismissed," Alexander said. "Except you, Gerald."
The others filed out quickly. Gerald stayed, looking amused.
Ella rose to leave.
"Stay," Alexander ordered.
She froze.
"Alexander," Gerald said, half-laughing. "If this is about my jokes—"
"Jokes?" Alexander stood. Slowly."You disrespected my secretary. In my boardroom. During my meeting."
"I was just having fun—"
"Fun?" Alexander's voice turned lethal. "You think sexual harassment is fun?"
Gerald's smirk faltered. "Now wait just a minute—"
"No. You wait."Alexander closed the distance between them like a predator."You will apologize to Miss Montgomery. Now."
"I will not—"
"Then clean out your office. You're off the board."
Gerald went pale. "You can't do that! I've been here twenty years—"
"And in twenty seconds," Alexander said softly, "you'll be unemployed. Your choice."
Hatred burned in Gerald's eyes as he turned to Ella."I apologize," he spat.
"Not good enough," Alexander said, arms crossed. "A real apology."
Gerald's jaw clenched."I'm sorry for my inappropriate comments, Miss Montgomery."
Alexander nodded once. "Good. Get out."
Gerald stormed out, slamming the door.
Ella stood still, heart pounding.
"You didn't have to—"
"Yes, I did." Alexander's gaze found hers. "What's mine stays protected."
"I'm not yours."
"Aren't you?" His voice was quiet now, dangerous."I paid your debts. I gave you this job. I dress you. Feed you. Control your schedule."He lifted her chin with one finger. "You're mine in every way that matters."
She jerked back. "You're insane."
"Probably." His tone didn't change."Get back to work. I want the meeting notes in an hour."
And he left. Just like that.
Ella stood in the empty boardroom, trembling.Why had he defended her? Why did he care?Unless…
No. She couldn't let herself think that.
By noon, the rumors had spread like wildfire.
She heard them in the hallways, the break room, even the elevators.
"Did you hear? Blackwood fired Gerald.""Over that new secretary.""She must be something special.""Or sleeping with him.""Definitely sleeping with him."
Ella kept her head down and worked.
At lunch, a woman approached.Tall. Perfectly put together. Designer from head to toe.
"You must be Ella," she said with a poisonous smile. "Vivian Cross. Senior VP."
"Nice to meet you," Ella said cautiously.
"Is it?" Vivian leaned against her desk. "Gerald's furious, you know."
"That's not my fault."
"Isn't it?" Vivian's eyes were sharp as glass."You show up in a dress that costs more than most cars, and Alexander defends you like a jealous boyfriend. What did you think people would say?"
"I didn't ask for any of this."
"No," Vivian said. "But you didn't refuse it, either."She straightened, voice cool."Let me give you some advice. Alexander Blackwood destroys everything he touches. The last secretary? Nervous breakdown. The one before that? Quit and vanished overseas."
Vivian's smile widened."Whatever game you think you're playing—you'll lose. Everyone does."
Then she walked away, heels clicking like gunshots.
That evening, Ella made a decision.She couldn't do this.
The rumors. The pressure. The way Alexander looked at her like she was prey.
She would resign.
HR was on the fifteenth floor. Patricia sat at the same desk, same tight smile.
"I need to resign," Ella said, steady but firm.
Patricia blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I'm resigning. Effective immediately."
"You can't."
"What?"
Patricia turned her screen toward Ella."Your contract. Section eighteen. You agreed to an eighteen-month mandatory employment period. And a two-year non-compete clause."
Ella's stomach dropped. "What does that mean?"
"It means if you quit early, you're in breach of contract. You'll owe the company your full signing bonus." Patricia's smirk sharpened. "That's $847,000. Plus legal fees."
Ella's heart pounded. "That's insane! That can't be legal—"
"It's perfectly legal. You signed it."
"I didn't know—"
"Ignorance isn't a defense, Miss Montgomery." Patricia shut the screen."You belong to Blackwood Enterprises for eighteen months. Whether you like it or not."
Ella stumbled out of HR, shaking.Eighteen months. She was trapped for eighteen months.
Her phone buzzed.
A text from Alexander.
I heard you tried to resign.Did you really think I'd let you go that easily?See you tomorrow, 8 a.m. sharp. We have work to do.– A
Her hands trembled.He'd planned this. All of it.The bonus. The contract. The trap.
Another text appeared.
P.S. Don't try to run.I'll find you.I always find what's mine.
Ella stared at the screen, her pulse hammering in her ears.
And for the first time, she realized—She wasn't working for Alexander Blackwood.
She was owned by him.