CEO and I

Chapter 1

If there was ever a perfect way to start a new chapter in life, Ava Carter was sure it didn’t involve getting stuck in an elevator, spilling coffee on her blouse, or walking into the wrong office and calling a very serious-looking janitor “Mr. Blackwood.”

Yet, here she was—standing in front of the actual Damien Blackwood, CEO of Blackwood Enterprises, with her resume slightly bent, her cheeks flaming red, and her right shoe squeaking like a dying rubber duck.

“Miss Carter,” Damien said coolly, barely glancing up from the file in his hand. “You’re… late.”

“In my defense,” she began, straightening her polka-dot blouse (a very un-CEO-appropriate choice, she now realized), “the elevator got stuck, and there was this very aggressive pigeon that refused to move, and—”

He raised an eyebrow. Just one. Like he’d mastered the art of intimidation through minimal muscle movement.

“I don’t care.”

Ava’s mouth snapped shut. Right. No pigeon talk. Got it.

She sat down too quickly, misjudging the distance between her and the chair. The result: a dramatic flop that echoed across the sleek, glass-walled office. A pause. Damien finally looked up.

“That chair has been in this office for three years. It has never made that sound before.”

Ava forced a nervous laugh. “It’s just... happy to see me?”

Another silence.

She cleared her throat. “Mr. Blackwood, I know I’m not the most experienced, or the most graceful—obviously—but I’m hardworking, loyal, and I make a mean cup of coffee. Unless it’s espresso. Or anything that requires a machine that hisses.”

Damien tapped his pen slowly, eyes unreadable. “You have no experience as a personal assistant. You spilled coffee on your own resume. And you addressed the janitor as me.”

“In my defense, he had a very commanding presence.”

“I hired him last week. He’s seventy-three.”

Ava winced. This was going well. Exactly how her horoscope had predicted: “A new opportunity may leave you red-faced but determined. Avoid large birds and CEOs.”

She stood. “I understand if you don’t think I’m qualified. Thank you for your time.”

“Sit down.”

She blinked. “Sorry?”

“I said, sit down.” He leaned back in his chair. “I need a new assistant. My last one cried in the bathroom three times a day and once ran into a wall trying to avoid me.”

“Oh. Wow. That’s... impressive.”

“I don’t need perfect. I need... not dramatic.”

Ava tilted her head. “You just described me as the complete opposite of that.”

He smirked—barely. A twitch of the lips. Almost imaginary.

“You’ll do. You start tomorrow. Try not to break anything. Especially yourself.”

As Ava left the office—still squeaking with every step—she couldn’t help but grin.

Well, she got the job. Somehow.

Now she just had to survive it.

What do you guys think of Ava and Damien?

who do you think will fall first?

NOW , here is a sneak peek of chapter two

Chapter 2