H. BLACKWOOD

It was morning in New York...

The funeral had already finished and I was saying my final goodbye to my dear brother. I am dressed in dark clothes because of my mourning and the intense pain that suffocates me more and more for his absence. My brother and my best friend is dead. He died in a car accident while returning from a meeting downtown. His name was John Blackwood.

After saying goodbye to John and moving away from the flower-filled tombstone, I enter the waiting car and my driver looks at me through the rearview mirror. His name is Ian, my driver, who was always there when I came home to visit John, and it was through him that I learned the sad news that shook me.

Ian was a forty-year-old man, his skin was fair, his hair was blond, and his eyes were brown. He had an elegant posture and was friendly.

Ian continues to look at me, his expression filled with sadness because he was very attached to John, as he had been working for him for a long time.

I see my face in the rearview mirror and tears stream down my face. My green eyes are swollen from crying while attending the funeral. My skin is fair and my hair is black, and everything around me seemed to match that sad moment.

"Miss Blackwood... John's friends are still saying their goodbyes." Ian says and waits in silence.

"What does that have to do with me?" I ask with a raspy voice.

"Miss... you should go talk to them because you're the only relative of John present, it would be a way to connect. But I know that you never knew John's friends because you always traveled on business at his request."

"Ian, they are not my friends... I don't want to talk to anyone. I want to go home."

"Very well, Miss." Ian goes silent again and starts the car. Then we head towards home.

***

Two weeks after the funeral...

KNOCK, KNOCK...

Someone knocks on the door of my office, which is in a secluded part of my house, and I tell them to come in. I am sitting in my comfortable chair reading an important document.

The door opens and Ian enters with a cup of unsweetened coffee on a tray.

"Here's your black coffee, Miss Blackwood." he places it on the table away from the computer, as there are some messy papers and pens because of my disarray.

"Thank you, Ian."

"It's a pleasure, Miss!"

"Ian..." I stop reading for a moment and pick up the cup. I take a quick sip. "You don't have to be so formal, just call me Hannah!"

"Alright, Miss Hannah."

"Ah?"

"I mean... Hannah!" he smiles a little embarrassed.

"Much better!"

I take another sip and Ian stands silently. Ian, besides being a driver, sometimes does things beyond his obligation, that's probably why John never fired him. He is a reliable person. I can count on him for everything.

The phone rings and Ian quickly answers, saving me the effort. I just listen to the conversation...

"Yes?... This is from the house of the gentleman... I mean... Miss Blackwood, how can I help you?"...

I continue reading the document while he talks to the person on the other end. That document was actually a copy of John's will. The executor brought it to me earlier for my signature. After signing, I became the new head of the Blackwood company and owner of all John's belongings.

But before receiving that gift from John, I had a long conversation with the executor. He told me that John had made the will because he was suffering from an incurable illness and could die at any moment. This was a secret between the two of them. Still, John left before his time.

At first, I was upset and cried a lot knowing this from others. John didn't have the courage to tell me, but later I understood the suffering it would have caused if he had. I would have suffered twice because the idea that he could die at any moment would have left me devastated. My life would become dark. Loneliness would be my friend.

I am suffering from having lost my safe haven. The wealth he left me does not compare to a sincere embrace or the affection he had for me.

Ian hangs up the phone and says:

"Miss Lisa Mitchell wants to speak with you at a restaurant downtown."

"Did she say why?"

"She said it's about business."

"Business my ass! That b*tch..." I stop myself from saying such language to him, as he seems surprised by my aggressive tone.

"Sorry, miss."

"Don't apologize... I just lost control." I speak normally after calming down.

"Okay... but are you going to the meeting?"

"No! She doesn't deserve to see me. I need to sleep because tomorrow I'll have to take my place in the company."

"

All right. Then I'll call back to let her know you won't be able to attend."

"

Don't do that. Leave her hanging."

"As you wish, miss."

I take one more look at the copy...

"Do you want something different for dinner, miss?"

"Yes... but have Lili choose. I'm not in the right state of mind to think about it."

"Okay. I'll take my leave now."

"Yes. Rest well!"

"Today I'm going to visit my mother, miss, but only if you allow me, of course."

"Yes... don't worry. If I need to go out, I'll drive."

"Thank you very much. Well... excuse me."

"Have a good night."

Ian leaves my office and I finish drinking my coffee. I stand up and place the copy of the will in the safe behind a painting with a beautiful picture. That painting belonged to John and now it belongs to me. Everything that was his has become mine.

I leave my office feeling exhausted, passing through the large room and admiring the luxurious furniture, then I climb the long staircase. I go straight to my room.

In the house, there are several bedrooms. It's not a mansion, but it's almost at the same level. John liked to live well. A millionaire, a hard worker, a business owner, what's the result? A life more than organized.

I go to the suite. I prepare the water in the bathtub, take off my clothes, and get in. The hot water relaxes my muscles and erases all my exhaustion. That exhaustion was the sad result of my tears throughout the week of mourning, and I still feel like I will cry more times. It's a terrible pain. Losing the only person who made me happy and the only one I genuinely showed all my sisterly love to.

And that night, I cry again.

After the hot bath, I leave the suite dressed in my white robe and come across a silver tray on my bed. It's a meal - the one Lili had prepared for me. The smell of that marvelous dish is delicious and immediately arouses my appetite. Lili knows how to catch my attention with food. There is also a glass of red wine and some red fruits.

I sit on my gigantic bed and sit next to the tray. I start eating the fruits but before that, I notice a small note underneath the plate.

I pick it up and read...

Note: "With love. Enjoy."

Lili always taking care of me...

She is a petite, dark-skinned woman with wavy hair in a bob cut. She always wears floral dresses and a silver watch on her left wrist. She has been working for John for many years but now she works for me. She has helped me many times, as if she were my mother, and I have never mistreated her because she is a wonderful person.

I eat, drink, lie down, and decide to rest after that long day.

9 a.m.

Ian parks the car in front of the large Blackwood building located in Lower Manhattan and looks at me through the rearview mirror. I look through the car mirror at the glass doors of the building and feel a sudden thrill. John won't be in his office anymore when I enter. He won't scold me anymore, won't serve me good whiskey, and won't look at me as his spoiled little girl.

I feel a tear rolling down my cheek and quickly wipe it away because I don't want Ian or the employees of the company to see my suffering. I must be strong. I must do this to honor the trust John placed in me.

I look at Ian and say:

"You can take the day off. Pick me up in the evening, but only if I call you."

"Understood, miss."

"Alright. Have a good day."

I get out of the car and as I step on the sidewalk, I feel a strong wind blowing through my hair. A wonderful sensation. I am dressed as a business owner should be, following the elite and my love for suits. It's something I have always done.

The car drives away and I make my way to the entrance. I pass through the glass doors and greet the security guards at the entrance. I pass by the receptionists and wave at them, as they already knew me and knew that I wasn't a strict boss with the employees. I then head for the elevator and press the button for the top floor, where John's office was located and where it was waiting for me to become mine. I enter the elevator and the doors close behind me.

The elevator doors open and I step out. After a few steps, I reach the department and find the employees deeply focused. Impeccable organization. Everyone looks at me in surprise because they never imagined I would be back at the company so soon after John's passing. Among them are some new faces, but there is also a familiar face that belongs to Miss Miranda Costello. She used to work as my brother's secretary and now she will be mine.

Miranda waves at me when she sees me and quickly comes over. She is short, black, her hair is honey brown, and her eyes are black. She is an elegant lady.

"What are you doing here so early, miss?" she asks with a smile on her face, leaning in to give me a side hug.

"I came to assume my new role, unfortunately!" I say, trying to maintain my seriousness.

"Miss Blackwood... my condolences. Mr. John was a very beloved person." she steps away from me because the employees are watching and can see her hugging me as if we were close friends." I visited him at the cemetery, but couldn't attend the funeral.

"Don't worry, Miranda, and thank you for always being by his side.

"You're welcome."

I walk towards John's former office and Miranda accompanies me...

"Miss... there have been some changes in the past two months while you were abroad."

"What kind of changes, Miranda?"

"Well... I'm no longer the only secretary assigned to work solely for Mr. John or now... for you."

"What do you mean? "I stop a few inches from the room and Miranda accidentally trips over me. I hold her to prevent her from falling, and she quickly steps away once she regains her balance and looks around to see if any of the employees are watching us.

"Well... Mr. John hired a new secretary due to a high volume of calls and some paperwork delays."

"He did the right thing... saving you from so much work. You're such a dedicated person, you should earn money without having to work."

"Thank you, miss." she thanks me, a little embarrassed.

"Don't be like that... I like to compliment those who are dedicated, you know."

"True."

We laugh in silence...

"But... did he decrease your salary when he decreased your workload?"

"No, miss... on the contrary. Mr. John increased everyone's salary in this department."

"Great news." I affirm and like what I've heard. John did something good before he died.

"Yes, miss. It helped many of the employees."

I continue my way to my newest office and enter because the door is already open. That is now my office.

The walls are gray, John's favorite color. The window is on the left, facing other buildings. There are a few medium-sized paintings and a black sofa. It was on that sofa that John liked to play cards with me. A very vivid memory in me. And at the end of the room was the brown table and the black chair he sat in every day. The computer, the phone, the pens, the papers, and the red cup with the name of the company that was our last name.

I approach the window and look at the buildings, while Miranda is silent, because she knows I am remembering various moments with my brother.

A few minutes later, I go to the table and sit in the chair. That chair is so comfortable, that it's easy to fall asleep on it.

"Ms. Blackwood... I'll leave you alone now."

"Yes, Miranda."

"Would you like something to drink, ma'am? I can arrange it!"

"Yes, Miranda... coffee without sugar."

"Yes, ma'am." Miranda leaves, closing the door, and I start thinking about random things because if I only think about my brother, I will end up in tears.

Amidst my thoughts, I remember that Miranda told me about a new secretary, but she didn't give any details about her. The new secretary had already been working at the company for two months, the time I spent abroad dealing with personal matters and issues involving the company. I was my brother's right hand when he couldn't leave the company. I always went in his place, because John chose not to have a wife or children.

Some time passes, and Miranda is back in my office. She leaves the coffee on the table and some papers next to it.

"Here you go, ma'am."

"Thank you. I'll feel much better after having the coffee."

"I know, ma'am," she says with a genuine smile.

"And these papers? What are they?"

"Oh... they are some documents that need your signature. From now on, you'll be doing this frequently."

"Okay, Miranda," I smile at her.

"Let me know when they're signed."

"Yes."

"I'm leaving, excuse me," she says and heads towards the door.

"Wait, Miranda," I ask.

"Yes, what do you want?" she says, slightly turned to the side without fully facing me.

"Well... I want to know the name of the new secretary. You haven't told me yet."

"Oh, yes... her name is Mia Lancaster. If you want to know more information about her, take a look at her resume. It's all on the computer."

"Thank you, Miranda... you can go now, and thanks again for the coffee."

Miranda nods with a smile and leaves the room, closing the door again. I start drinking the coffee and take a look at the documents I need to sign.

I get up from the chair, walk around the room while drinking the coffee, and decide to check the new secretary's resume. I open the computer after sitting on the edge of the table. I search for the resume with the name "Mia Lancaster" and quickly find it.

I see that there's a photo on it. I also see that this Mia Lancaster has a beautiful appearance. An impeccable resume as she is fluent in French and Italian. She is 22 years old and lives on the north side of the city.

In the photo, I can see that her skin is fair, her hair is light brown and long, and her eyes are dark green. She has an attractive face.

I set the resume aside for a moment and pick up the phone. I call Miranda, who answers after several rings.

"Yes, Ms. Blackwood?"

"Miranda, I would like to meet Ms. Lancaster, so ask her to come to my office."

"Ms... Mia Lancaster is not in the company... she is on sick leave and will only return to work tomorrow."

"That's fine, Miranda... but while I have you on the phone, come and pick up the documents."

"Okay... I'm on my way."

The call ends, and I go back to my chair to sign the documents. Just as I finish signing, I hear knocks on the door.

"Come in!" I say because I know it's Miranda.

When the door opens, a tall, fair-skinned blonde woman enters and walks directly to my table. She is dressed in a beige dress that falls to mid-high, accentuating her curves, and black high heels. She carries a small black purse on her right arm. That woman is none other than the person I ignored. The rich bitch.

I remain seated in my chair and watch as she leans over the table, trying to appear sexy. Meanwhile, she stares at me with her light blue eyes.

Lisa Mitchell was my ex-friend, and now that I was back in New York, she had come to meet me, trying to convince me to get back together with her. But no, never! What she had done to me was unforgivable. Not even her countless phone calls could make me forget her damn betrayal.

"What do you want here?" I ask, looking at the woman in front of me. I think she came to visit me to try to get back with me.

"I want to know why you stood me up at the restaurant!" she seems irritated with me, but she has a point. I simply ignored her invitation.

"It's simple... I have food at home."

"Is that all you have to say?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"I want you to apologize!"

"I haven't done anything wrong to you... so I don't need to apologize."

"You owe me an explanation! You could have said that you weren't going to meet me and I would have used my time for something else."

"As always, Lisa. You have ditched me several times, remember?"

"That's in the past, Hannah... we can leave it there and focus on the present. I still like you."

"Lisa..." I stand up from the chair and walk around the table. I stop in front of her and we look at each other more closely. "My present moment is difficult and it seems like you haven't noticed how unhappy I am."

I step away from her and walk around the room...

"You should respect my moment and remember that my brother just died... the only valuable thing in my life, I lost it and now I'm alone." I fall silent and a tear rolls down my face. I turn to the window and wipe my face so she can't see.

Lisa remains silent. I look at her and remember how she hurt and broke my heart when we were still a couple. I should have listened to John when he warned me about her and how she used her beauty to have fun and take advantage of the first person she came across. I don't know why she's after me again.

"I want you to stay away from me and now that I'm the owner of the company, I want you to stay away from it too."

"Hannah... I completely forgot about John's death."

"Hmmph," I observe the falseness coming through her words.

"And since you want me to stay away... I will."

"Thank you... now leave... I'm waiting for someone else."

"But don't forget that you will never love someone else like you loved me."

"You can't decide that for me."

We hear some knocks on the door and Miranda enters. When she sees Lisa and they exchange glances, Lisa simply smiles falsely at me and leaves the room, strutting as if she were a model. She is not ashamed of being so cynical and fake.

I turn to the window again and say:

"The documents are on the table, Miranda... take them and leave and don't let anyone approach my office, I don't want to see anyone else."

"Yes... yes... as you wish, miss."

After Miranda leaves, I remain in that room in the company of silence, a voiceless enemy that many people had in common.

In the silence of that room, I find myself thinking about John's advice. Advice that I often ignored. Advice that I kept in my memory. Tears stream down my face and I cry with sadness, loneliness, and missing my dear and honorable brother.

I spent the whole day locked in the office. I reviewed some documents, looked at the transactions, had a meal, and checked the schedule. The imports were correct and there was nothing out of the ordinary. Blackwood Company worked with imports and exports and also with telecommunications. It was a highly valued company in the job market and abroad.

I'm at a bar near the company building, one that I always went to after some trips. I drink whiskey while leaning on the counter, thinking about today. I call Ian and ask him to pick me up because I don't like taxis, even though they're a safe option.

I wake up at 11 a.m., take a hot shower, and get dressed to face the second day as the CEO of Blackwood Company.

On the way to the company, I start chatting with Ian, while he drives:

"What do you think about asking Lili out?"

"What do you mean, miss?" he asks, his voice slightly trembling.

"I'm saying that you should ask Lili out because for a long time I've noticed how you look at her and how she looks at you."

"That wouldn't be right, miss. We are coworkers. She is the housekeeper and a respectable woman, while I... I am just a driver."

"Do you think she thinks like you?"

"Well... I don't know, miss."

"Ian, do you like Lili?"

"Um... I don't know what to say, miss."

"It's just... yes or no!"

When I fall silent, the car suddenly stops and I am thrown forward, almost hitting the seat, but I am protected by the seatbelt.

"Why did you brake like that?

"Sorry, miss. Look!" he points outside the car and I see a young woman lying on the sidewalk.

"Did you run her over?"

"No, miss... she walked in front of the car, but luckily the car didn't hit her."

I get out of the car intending to help the young woman, but she quickly gets up as if she's in a hurry and runs away. I see that she isn't hurt, luckily, but I couldn't see her face because of her long, brown hair.

I get back in the car and try to keep an eye on her, but all I can remember is the red color of the bag she was carrying and her sleeveless white top.

"Can we go, miss?" Ian asks as I fasten my seatbelt.

"Keep driving and be alert on the road!"

"I'm sorry, miss?"

"Don't worry."

Ian starts driving again and doesn't say anything else. He was so tense during our conversation that his attention on the road faltered. It wasn't his fault.

I arrive at the company and immediately meet Miranda. She is having coffee at her desk...

"Decided to come later today, Miss Blackwood?"

"I am the owner of the company... I can do that."

"And how can you." she says with a smile.

"Right... I'll go to my office." I start walking...

"Wait. " she requests and I stop, but I don't turn around.

"Yes?"

"Well... it's about the secretary Mia Lancaster."

I automatically turn around as if that name had attracted me.

"Tell me."

"Miss Mia arrived late to the company today."

"And at what time did that happen?"

"Ten minutes ago."

"And where is she?" I ask, looking around the entire department.

"Probably... in the bathroom."

"Alright... tell Miss Lancaster to come to my office."

"Okay."

I head to my office and sit on the couch, ignoring the desk for a moment.

I start thinking about the young woman Ian almost ran over. Is she really okay? Did she scrape her knee when she fell? Why was she in such a hurry?

KNOCK, KNOCK...

Knocks on the door interrupt my thoughts. Mia Lancaster is knocking, and now I am certain of my guess, because yesterday I was wrong and ended up meeting an undesirable person.

"Come in!" I say.

The door opens and I see a young woman in white entering my office. Her blouse is sleeveless and I remember the girl on the street. Her hair is tied in a loose bun, showing her neck. She is facing away from me, looking towards my chair which is turned around, perhaps thinking I am sitting in it. Her legs are visible as she is wearing a tight black skirt that falls to the mid-thigh, accentuating her curves.

"Turn around!" I ask and the young woman immediately turns towards me, startled.

Her eyes meet mine and I see a shy smile on her lips, but I also see some strands falling on her face, as if she had just fixed her hair.

I continue looking at her as if she were a lighthouse, simply because of her surreal beauty. My eyes travel down her entire body and I notice a bandage on her left knee.

"Are you hurt?!" I ask automatically, concerned. I don't even know why I am like this, it's the first time I see her.

She looks down at her casual sneakers several times, surely looking for a place to hide her head out of embarrassment and because I asked such an obvious question. And she hides her hands behind her back.

"Sit here... you're hurt!" I command, but she simply remains standing, now looking at me. Her eyes are so attractive and cute at the same time.

I wake up and approach the shy young woman in front of me. She continues to look and now she is more attentive to me as I approach.

"Are you Miss Mia Lancaster, right?" I ask.

"Yes," she replies and surprises me with her firm voice, discarding all her shyness from the beginning.

"Sit on the couch," I stop a few steps away from her.

"I'm fine like this... Mrs. Blackwood."

My heart beats fast when she calls me Mrs.

"No... you're not! Sit on the couch... your knee is injured."

"It's nothing, ma'am... I can stand."

"Don't call me... ma'am! We're almost the same age!"

"But... calling you with respect is one of an employee's tasks. Mr. John always said that."

"Yes... my brother was a person who deserved respect... but... I am not him."

"Sorry... I didn't mean to..."

"Forget about it," I say and sit back on the couch.

"Do you want something from me?" Mia asks.

"Yes," I look at her knee again, making her notice. "I want you to sit on the couch... your knee doesn't look good."

"I'm fine, ma'am," she insists on standing.

"Okay," I give up trying to make her sit. "So... tell me... Why did you arrive at work three hours after the arrival time? The employees should arrive at eight o'clock in the morning!"

"Ma'am... I had a problem at home and that's why I couldn't make it on time."

"Oh... what happened at your house?" I ask, but I think I've intruded too much.

"I prefer not to share details of my personal life... I'm sorry."

"You're right to do that," I affirm and continue to worry about her knee because I'm almost certain that she and the young woman on the street are the same person.

"Thank you for understanding, ma'am..."

"Hannah!" I say my name because I can't stand being called ma'am anymore. I'm only twenty-eight years old... for heaven's sake!

"Uh?" she asks confused and a little surprised.

"My name is Hannah, Miss Lancaster. Don't call me ma'am anymore and that's... an order!"

"As you wish... Hannah," she says a bit apprehensive.

I feel relieved when she says my name, but I don't show it.

"Much better! And thank you for... obeying me."

Mia simply nods her head positively and finally puts her hands in front of her. I see that her nails are painted black and I immediately like what's in front of me. My favorite color.

"Miss Lancaster, I..."

"Mia!"

"Huh?" I'm confused.

"Call me Mia."

"Oh... and is that... an order?"

"No, no, no," she repeatedly shakes her hands to deny it. I like her expressive manner. She's shy, but at the same time filled with attitude. And she's funny.

"I got it, Mia! You don't need all that," she makes me smile with her actions and becomes embarrassed when she sees my smile. "I just wanted to break the tension between us."

"You scared me," she finally called me "you" without even realizing it. What a wonderful woman. "Thank you for explaining."

"You're welcome."

"Hannah... you... you... ma'am..."

"Stop it... don't say anything else... you're overthinking. You can go back to work."

"But... what about the matter of me being late?" I had already forgotten about it.

"Oh... that. Pretend it never happened. Don't worry about your salary, it won't be deducted."

"Really?" she's surprised. "But..."

"Go back to work and... take care of your knee!"

"Um... I guess I'll go then... I have to answer some calls and review some paperwork."

"That's... do that."

"Excuse me?"

"All... by the way, bonjour?!"

Mia smiles shyly and slowly leaves the room, taking my eyes with her until the door is closed.

I'm alone again, but with the memory of Mia Lancaster's shy smile.

A few hours pass and I finally decide to leave my office for a while. During this time alone, I received calls from businessmen who were friends and acquaintances of John. They all wished me good luck and two of them scheduled a meeting with me.

I leave my office and walk around the department as I observe the employees working at their desks. Some of them look at me, but quickly return to their tasks. I know it's still early for them to trust me and feel as comfortable as they did with John. As if I were a bad person... I am a bad person... but not that much.

I continue walking around the department and then I see Miranda talking about something with Miss Lancaster. They both have their desks side by side, which makes communication and work between them much easier. They have similar ideas, are intelligent, and work in the same position.

I consider going to talk to Miranda about the meetings I scheduled with the businessmen, but Mia is with her. I think Mia didn't feel comfortable when she spoke to me. So I decide to go back to my office and call Miranda.

Sitting on the edge of the desk, I pick up the phone and call Miranda...

"Yes?"

"Miranda... come to my office."

"Hello, Miss Hannah..."

I realize that the voice doesn't belong to Miranda and immediately hang up the phone.

The voice belongs to Mia. I am trying to avoid talking to her today because of my insistence and concern about her knee. Maybe tomorrow I'll be more confident.

I don't know what's happening to me! Usually, I don't reject a pretty face or a sexy body. She had an appealing body.

I hope Mia forgets about this call and stays quiet while working... That's all I want, even though I want to see her again.