Chapter 2: Meeting Mr. Blackwood

A chill traced its way down my spine as I heard his voice. It was steady, controlled—eerily similar to my own. Yet, beneath that calm surface, I sensed an undercurrent of tension, a quiet struggle to mask whatever emotions he might be harboring. For years, I had pictured this moment, envisioned how it would unfold, but now that it was here, the reality of it was jarring.

 

"Mr. Blackwood," I managed to say, matching his cool tone as I stepped further into the room. "I wasn’t sure you’d remember me."

 

He turned then, and the moment our eyes met, my breath caught. His eyes were the same piercing blue I remembered, yet darker now, more guarded. For just a fleeting second, I caught a glimpse of something—was it regret? Guilt? But it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

 

"How could I forget?" he said, setting his glass down on the desk.

 

There was an edge to his words, a hint of something more profound that quickened my pulse. I couldn’t decipher if it was anger, resentment, or something entirely different, but one thing was clear—this was not the same Ethan Blackwood I once knew.

 

"I'm sure you've heard about the merger," I said, striving to keep my tone businesslike, even though my heart pounded in my chest. "I’m here to ensure it goes smoothly."

 

Ethan scrutinized me, his gaze intense as if he were trying to peer through the polished exterior I presented. "The merger," he echoed, his voice low and contemplative. "Is that really why you're here?"

 

I locked eyes with him, refusing to let him see how much his question rattled me. "It’s the reason I’m here today," I replied evenly. "But we both know there's more to it than that."

 

A flicker of something—recognition, perhaps—crossed his face, but he quickly concealed it, his expression becoming unreadable once more. "I see," he said slowly, his tone devoid of any emotion. "Well, I'm glad you decided to take a hands-on approach. I’ve been looking forward to this."

 

His words, though polite, carried an undercurrent of tension that made my skin prickle. I couldn't tell if he genuinely welcomed me or if he was testing my resolve. Either way, I wasn’t about to back down.

 

"I believe it's important to be personally involved in these matters," I said, keeping my voice steady. "Especially when the stakes are so high."

 

Ethan’s lips curled into a faint smile—barely perceptible, but it was there. "Indeed. And the stakes have never been higher, have they?"

 

Did he know? Could he have possibly guessed the real reason I had orchestrated this merger? As I looked into his eyes, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he saw right through me.

 

Forcing myself to remain calm, I kept my composure. "No, they haven’t," I agreed, my voice unwavering. "Which is why I’m here. I want to make sure everything goes according to plan."

 

Ethan nodded slowly, as if weighing my words. "Of course. And I assure you, Ms. Grey, that I’ll do everything in my power to ensure that it does."

 

The way he said my name sent a shiver through me. It was the first time he had addressed me directly, and there was an almost intimate quality to it, as if we were the only two people in the world who mattered at that moment.

 

"Good," I said firmly, meeting his gaze. "Because I won’t tolerate anything less than perfection."

 

Ethan’s smile widened, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "I wouldn’t expect you to."

 

We held each other’s gaze for a moment longer before I finally broke eye contact, turning my attention to the documents I had brought. Reaching into my bag, I pulled out a folder and placed it on the desk between us. "These are the preliminary terms of the merger," I said, sliding the folder toward him. "I trust you’ll find them satisfactory."

 

He picked up the folder, flipping through the pages with a practiced ease. He said nothing as he read, but I noticed the slight furrow in his brow, the way his eyes narrowed as he absorbed the information. I had spent weeks preparing these documents, ensuring every detail was meticulously crafted to serve my agenda. But as I watched him read, a pang of unease gnawed at me.

 

Finally, he looked up, his expression thoughtful. "This is… comprehensive," he said slowly, setting the folder down. "But I can’t help but wonder if there’s something you’re not telling me."

 

My heart skipped a beat. I had anticipated him being thorough, expected him to scrutinize every detail, but I hadn’t foreseen this level of suspicion so early in the game. I needed to be cautious, to tread lightly. "I’ve been very transparent in these negotiations, Mr. Blackwood," I said, keeping my tone measured. "If there’s anything specific you’d like to discuss, I’m more than happy to address it."

 

Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were gauging my sincerity. "I’m sure you have," he said, his voice low. "But I’ve learned that in this business, there’s always something beneath the surface. A hidden motive, a secret agenda. I just want to make sure we’re both on the same page."

 

I forced myself to stay calm, even as my mind raced. He was testing me, probing for weaknesses, trying to see if I would crack under pressure.

 

"We are," I said firmly, meeting his gaze head-on. "My goal is to make this merger as smooth and profitable as possible for both parties. That’s all."

 

Ethan studied me for a long moment, his eyes boring into mine, searching for any sign of deceit. But I held my ground, refusing to let him see the storm of emotions raging inside me. Finally, he nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Very well," he said, his tone lightening. "I suppose we’ll see how this all plays out."

 

I allowed myself a small, controlled smile. "Yes, we will."

 

We were playing a dangerous game, both of us. But I had the advantage—at least, that’s what I kept telling myself. I knew the Blackwoods better than they knew me. I knew their weaknesses, their blind spots. I had spent years studying them, learning everything I could about the family that had destroyed mine. And now, I was ready to use that knowledge to bring them down.

 

Ethan picked up his glass of whiskey, taking a slow sip as he watched me. "You’ve changed, Sophia," he said quietly, his voice almost contemplative. "You’re not the same girl I remember."

 

The unexpected use of my first name made my heart skip a beat. There was a familiarity in the way he said it, a reminder of the past I had tried so hard to bury. But I quickly pushed those feelings aside, reminding myself of who he was and what he had done.

 

"People change," I replied evenly, my voice betraying nothing. "Especially when they’ve been through what I have."

 

Ethan’s expression darkened, a flicker of something that might have been regret passing over his face. "Yes, I suppose they do."

 

For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of unspoken words hanging between us. There was so much I wanted to say, so much I wanted to confront him about. But now wasn’t the time. I needed to stay focused, to keep my emotions in check.

 

"I’ve learned a lot over the years," I continued, my tone calm and controlled. "And I’ve come to understand that the only way to survive in this world is to be stronger than those who try to bring you down."

 

Ethan nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving mine. "That’s a lesson I’ve had to learn myself."

 

I felt a pang of something I couldn’t quite identify—sympathy, perhaps, or a fleeting connection to the man standing before me.

 

"Then you’ll understand why I’m so determined to make this merger a success," I said, my voice firm. "Failure isn’t an option for me, Mr. Blackwood. I won’t let anything stand in my way."

 

Ethan’s expression softened, just slightly, as if he were seeing a side of me he hadn’t expected. "Nor will I," he said quietly, his tone laced with a hint of admiration. "But I have a feeling this won’t be as straightforward as either of us would like."

 

He was right—nothing about this was straightforward.

 

"We’ll just have to see, won’t we?" I replied, my voice steady.

 

He held my gaze for a moment longer before finally nodding. "Yes, we will."

 

As the conversation came to an end, I felt a strange mix of emotions swirling inside me—relief, tension, and a lingering sense of unease. There was something about Ethan Blackwood that unsettled me, something that made me question my resolve.

 

But I quickly pushed those doubts aside. I had come too far, sacrificed too much, to let anything stand in my way now. As I turned to leave the study, Ethan’s voice stopped me in my tracks. "Sophia."

 

I paused, my hand on the door handle, but didn’t turn around. "Yes?"

 

"Be careful," he said softly, his tone almost gentle. "This path you’re on—it’s dangerous. And once you start down it, there’s no turning back."

 

My grip tightened on the handle, my resolve hardening. "I know," I said, my voice cold. "And I’m prepared for whatever comes next."

 

Without waiting for a response, I pushed open the door and

 

 stepped out into the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. The encounter had shaken me more than I cared to admit, but I wouldn’t let it deter me. This was my moment, my chance to take back control of my life. And nothing—not even Ethan Blackwood—would stop me.