Natalie Collins had been rejected by seven companies in less than two months. Seven. She had stopped counting the polite rejection emails because they all seemed to say the same thing. We regret to inform you that we have decided to proceed with another candidate. At this point, Natalie was beginning to hate that sentence. She sat at the small dining table in her mother's apartment, staring at the email on her laptop. Another rejection. She closed the message and leaned back in her chair. "Let me guess. Another company doesn't think you're good enough?" Natalie looked up. Her mother, Margaret, stood near the kitchen entrance with a cup of tea in her hand. "Good morning to you too, Mom." Margaret smiled. "Good morning, sweetheart." Natalie turned her laptop around. "Apparently, they found someone more suitable." "Then another company will find you suitable." "That's what you said last week." "And I'll keep saying it until you find a job." Natalie sighed. She wasn't angry with her mother. Margaret had been supportive throughout her job search, but Natalie was tired of depending on her. She was twenty-four, had graduated with a degree in business administration and wanted nothing more than to start building her own life. Unfortunately, getting a job seemed harder than earning her degree. Her phone vibrated. She glanced at the screen. An email notification appeared. BLACKWOOD GLOBAL – INTERVIEW CONFIRMATION Natalie immediately sat upright. "Wait." Margaret looked at her. "What happened?" Natalie opened the email. Her eyes moved quickly across the screen. She read it once. Then again. "Oh my goodness." "What?" "I got an interview!" Margaret placed her cup on the table. "Where?" "Blackwood Global." Her mother's eyebrows rose. "Blackwood Global? The company in Manhattan?" Natalie nodded. "Yes!" "That's wonderful!" "I know!" Margaret pulled out a chair and sat beside her. "What position?" "Executive Assistant." For a moment, both women stared at each other. Then Margaret smiled. "See? I told you another company would give you a chance." Natalie couldn't stop smiling. But the excitement quickly turned into nervousness when she noticed the interview time. 10:00 AM. She checked the clock. "Mom!" "What?" "I have less than an hour!" Margaret laughed. "Then stop sitting there and get ready." Natalie quickly closed her laptop and rushed towards her bedroom. Today, she was not going to give anyone a reason to reject her. --- Blackwood Global occupied one of the most impressive skyscrapers in Manhattan. The building had glass walls, polished marble floors and a reception area that looked more expensive than Natalie's entire apartment. She stepped inside, holding her handbag tightly. For a few seconds, she simply looked around. Employees walked through the lobby carrying laptops and coffee cups. Everyone seemed busy, confident and professionally dressed. Natalie suddenly became aware of her own appearance. She adjusted the sleeves of her cream-coloured blazer and checked that her hair was still neatly arranged. "Good morning. How may I help you?" The receptionist's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Good morning. My name is Natalie Collins. I have an interview scheduled for ten." The receptionist typed something into her computer. "Yes, Ms Collins. You're interviewing for the executive assistant position." "That's correct." "Please take the elevator to the twenty-eighth floor. The recruitment department will attend to you." "Thank you." Natalie walked towards the elevators. As the doors opened, she stepped inside and pressed the button for the twenty-eighth floor. She took a deep breath. She could do this. It was only an interview. A few questions, a few answers and hopefully a job offer. How difficult could it be? --- The twenty-eighth floor was quieter than the lobby. A woman in a grey suit approached Natalie. "Ms Collins?" "Yes." "I'm Rachel, from Human Resources. Please follow me." Natalie followed her down a long corridor. They passed several glass offices before stopping outside a conference room. "Please wait here. The hiring manager will be with you shortly." "Alright. Thank you." Rachel walked away. Natalie sat down, placed her handbag beside her and looked at the folder containing her résumé. She reviewed it for the third time. Everything was in order. Her qualifications were there. Her previous work experience was there. Even her references were included. She had prepared for every possible interview question. Well, almost every question. A few minutes later, the conference room door opened. A tall man stepped inside. He wore a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, a white shirt and a silver wristwatch. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his expression was serious. He looked at Natalie briefly before taking the seat opposite her. "Ms Collins?" Natalie straightened. "Yes." He placed a folder on the table. "Good morning. I'm Nathaniel Blackwood." Natalie blinked. Nathaniel Blackwood? The Nathaniel Blackwood? The chief executive officer of Blackwood Global? She had expected to meet someone from Human Resources, not the billionaire himself. "Good morning, Mr Blackwood." He opened her resume. "Let's begin." Natalie nodded. "Of course." Nathaniel glanced through the first page. "Your academic qualifications are satisfactory. Your previous experience is limited, though." Natalie swallowed. "I understand, sir. But I'm a fast learner, and I'm willing to work hard." "Everyone says that during interviews." She pressed her lips together. Nathaniel looked up. "Why should I hire you?" Natalie had prepared for that question. "Because I'm organised, responsible and capable of handling pressure. I may not have years of experience, but I know how to learn quickly and take responsibility for my work." Nathaniel studied her for a moment. "Confidence is easy to demonstrate in an interview. Performance is different." "I agree." His eyebrows moved slightly. "You agree?" "Yes, sir. That's why I would appreciate the opportunity to prove myself instead of being judged entirely by my experience." For the first time, Nathaniel stopped looking at her résumé. He looked directly at her. Natalie returned his gaze. The silence lasted several seconds. Then he closed the folder. "Interesting." She wasn't sure whether that was a good thing. Nathaniel stood. "Someone from Human Resources will contact you." Natalie rose from her chair. "Thank you for your time, Mr Blackwood." He gave a brief nod and walked towards the door. Just before leaving, he turned slightly. "One more thing, Ms Collins." "Yes?" "Don't mistake this opportunity for an easy job. I expect excellence from everyone who works here." Natalie managed a polite smile. "I wouldn't expect anything less." He left. She remained standing for a moment. Then she slowly released the breath she had been holding. That man was intimidating. Very intimidating. But she had survived the interview. And as far as she was concerned, that was already an achievement. What Natalie didn't know was that Nathaniel Blackwood had already made a note beside her name. UNUSUAL. And in his world, unusual people were rarely easy to ignore.

Natalie Collins had checked her email fourteen times since leaving Blackwood Global. Fourteen times. And every time, the result was the same. Nothing. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone while trying not to get her hopes up. The interview had gone better than she expected, but she wasn't foolish enough to assume that meant she had gotten the job. Nathaniel Blackwood was not exactly the kind of man who gave people second chances. She remembered the way he had looked at her resume. Her limited experience had clearly disappointed him. Still, she believed she had answered his questions reasonably well. Her phone vibrated. Natalie grabbed it immediately. An email. She opened it. BLACKWOOD GLOBAL – HUMAN RESOURCES Dear Natalie Collins, Thank you for attending your interview today. We are pleased to inform you that you have been shortlisted for the next stage of our recruitment process. Further details will be communicated shortly. Natalie read the message twice. Shortlisted. She wasn't hired yet, but at least she hadn't been rejected. "Mom!" Margaret appeared at the bedroom door. "What happened?" Natalie held up her phone. "They shortlisted me!" Her mother immediately smiled. "That's wonderful!" "I know! I'm getting closer." Margaret walked into the room and sat beside her. "See? You were worried for nothing." "I'm still worried. Shortlisted doesn't mean employed." "One step at a time, Natalie." Natalie nodded. For the first time in weeks, she felt that something might finally work out. --- The following morning, Nathaniel Blackwood was already in his office before most of his employees arrived. He stood beside the large windows, reviewing a financial report on his tablet. His assistant, Daniel Brooks, entered carrying a folder. "Good morning, sir." Nathaniel didn't turn. "What's on my schedule?" "Your meeting with the board begins at nine. You have a call with the London office at eleven, followed by lunch with Mr Harrison." "And the recruitment process?" Daniel placed the folder on his desk. "The executive assistant candidates have been reviewed. Human Resources has recommended three people." Nathaniel turned around. "Three?" "Yes, sir." He opened the folder. The first résumé belonged to a woman with eight years of experience. The second belonged to someone who had previously worked for another major corporation. Then he reached the third. NATALIE COLLINS. He studied the photograph attached to the résumé. "Her experience is still limited." Daniel nodded. "Yes, sir. But Rachel says she performed well during the interview." Nathaniel placed the résumé on the desk. "Did she?" "Apparently, she wasn't intimidated by your questions." Nathaniel gave him a brief look. "Should that be an achievement?" Daniel cleared his throat. "No, sir." Nathaniel returned his attention to the document. "Arrange a second interview with her." Daniel looked slightly surprised. "With Ms Collins?" "Do you know another Collins applying for the same position?" "No, sir. I'll arrange it." "Good." Daniel turned to leave. "Daniel." He stopped. "Yes, sir?" "Make sure the other candidates are interviewed as well. I don't want anyone assuming this position has already been filled." "Understood." After Daniel left, Nathaniel looked at the résumé again. He wasn't impressed by her qualifications. But there was something about the way she had answered his questions that made him want to know whether her confidence matched her actual abilities. He closed the folder and returned to work. He had more important things to worry about. --- At exactly 2:35 PM, Natalie was sitting on the sofa when her phone rang. She looked at the unfamiliar number. "Hello?" "Good afternoon. May I speak with Natalie Collins?" "Speaking." "My name is Rachel. I'm calling from Blackwood Global." Natalie immediately sat upright. "Yes, hello." "We would like to invite you for a second interview tomorrow morning at nine." Natalie blinked. "Tomorrow?" "Yes. Would that be convenient?" "Absolutely." "Wonderful. Please arrive fifteen minutes early." "I will. Thank you so much." The call ended. Natalie stared at her phone. Another interview. She was going back to Blackwood Global. Her mother, who had been arranging groceries in the kitchen, noticed her expression. "What's wrong?" Natalie slowly turned towards her. "They called." "And?" "They want me back tomorrow." Margaret smiled. "That's good news!" Natalie nodded, although a small feeling of nervousness had already settled in her stomach. "Yes. But I have a feeling tomorrow won't be as easy as today." --- The following morning, Natalie arrived at Blackwood Global at 8:42 AM. She had chosen a navy-blue blouse, black trousers and simple heels. She checked her reflection in the elevator doors before stepping out on the twenty-eighth floor. Rachel was waiting for her. "Good morning, Natalie." "Good morning." "You're early." "I didn't want to take any chances with Manhattan traffic." Rachel smiled. "That's understandable. Please come with me." They walked towards a smaller conference room. Natalie expected to see another Human Resources representative waiting inside. Instead, when Rachel opened the door, she found Nathaniel Blackwood sitting at the head of the table. He was reading something on his tablet. He didn't look up immediately. "Good morning, Mr Blackwood," Natalie greeted. He raised his eyes. "You're early." "Yes, sir." "Sit down." Natalie took the chair opposite him. Rachel placed a folder on the table before leaving them alone. Nathaniel put his tablet aside. "Did you research the company before coming here?" "Yes." "What do you know about Blackwood Global?" Natalie straightened. "I know the company operates in technology, investment and commercial development. It has offices in several major cities, and it has expanded significantly over the past five years." "Who is your biggest competitor?" "Sterling Enterprises." Nathaniel watched her carefully. "And why do you think we're better?" Natalie paused. "I don't know if you're better in every area. I would need to understand your internal operations and compare the results before making that judgment." Nathaniel leaned back slightly. "Most candidates would have given me an answer they thought I wanted to hear." Natalie offered a small smile. "I didn't want to give you an answer I couldn't defend." He said nothing for a moment. Then he opened the folder. "Let's discuss the position." Natalie listened carefully as he explained the responsibilities. Managing appointments. Preparing documents. Organising meetings. Handling confidential information. Coordinating with senior executives. And, apparently, dealing with his demanding schedule. "Are you comfortable working under pressure?" he asked. "Yes." "Late hours?" "If necessary." "Last-minute changes?" "I can manage." Nathaniel looked at her. "You seem very confident." Natalie smiled politely. "I'm trying to get a job, sir. I can't afford to sound unsure about everything." For a brief moment, he simply stared at her. Then he closed the folder. "Fair enough." He stood and buttoned his suit jacket. "Human Resources will send you the employment offer. Your proposed starting date is Monday." Natalie froze. "Sorry?" "You heard me. You're hired." She stared at him. For a moment, she couldn't find the right words. "Thank you, Mr Blackwood. I really appreciate the opportunity." "Don't thank me yet. I expect you to prove that I made the right decision." "I will." Nathaniel picked up his tablet. "Welcome to Blackwood Global, Ms Collins." And with that, he walked out. Natalie remained seated, trying to process what had just happened. She had a job. A real job. And not just anywhere. She was going to work for Nathaniel Blackwood. She picked up her handbag and stood. Her phone was already in her hand before she reached the elevator. She had someone very important to call. Her mother. Because after four months of disappointment, Natalie Collins finally had something worth celebrating.

Natalie Collins stood in front of her bedroom mirror, adjusting the collar of her white blouse. It was her first official day at Blackwood Global, and she wanted everything to go perfectly. Her navy-blue trousers were neatly pressed, her hair was styled in soft waves, and her handbag contained everything she believed she might need. She checked the time on her phone. 7:15 AM. She was early. Very early. But after spending four months searching for a job, she wasn't about to risk losing this opportunity because of poor time management. Her mother appeared at the bedroom door. "Are you ready?" Natalie picked up her handbag. "I think so." Margaret looked at her from head to toe. "You look beautiful." "Thank you." "And remember, don't let anyone intimidate you." Natalie laughed. "Mom, I'm going to work, not war." "Sometimes those offices are worse than war." "You're making me nervous." Margaret walked closer and straightened her daughter's collar. "Just do your best. You don't have to impress everyone. Just remember who you are." Natalie smiled. "I will." She kissed her mother's cheek before leaving. Today was the beginning of something new. And she was determined not to waste it. --- At 8:20 AM, Natalie walked through the entrance of Blackwood Global. The building was already busy. Employees moved between departments, phones rang at reception, and several people stood near the coffee station discussing their schedules. She approached the reception desk. "Good morning. I'm Natalie Collins. I'm starting today." The receptionist smiled. "Welcome to Blackwood Global. Human Resources is expecting you. Take the elevator to the twenty-eighth floor." "Thank you." Natalie entered the elevator and pressed the button. When the doors opened, she found Rachel waiting near the reception area. "Good morning, Natalie." "Good morning." "Ready for your first day?" "As ready as I'll ever be." Rachel laughed. "Come with me. I'll show you around before taking you to your office." They walked down the corridor. "This is the executive department. You'll be working closely with Mr Blackwood, so most of your responsibilities will be centred around his schedule and administrative needs." Natalie nodded. "Understood." Rachel pointed towards several offices. "That's the finance department. The conference rooms are on your left, and the employees' lounge is at the end of the corridor." They stopped outside a glass office. "This will be your workspace." Natalie looked inside. A large desk stood near the window, accompanied by a computer, two chairs and a filing cabinet. It was simple but elegant. "This is mine?" Rachel smiled. "Yes. You'll share the executive office area with Daniel Brooks, Mr Blackwood's senior assistant." Natalie stepped inside. "I love it." "I'm glad. Daniel will explain the daily procedures. He knows Mr Blackwood's schedule better than anyone." As if summoned by his name, a man appeared at the doorway. "Rachel?" She turned. "Perfect timing. Daniel, this is Natalie Collins. She's joining us as Mr Blackwood's executive assistant." Daniel offered his hand. "Welcome aboard." Natalie shook it. "Thank you. It's nice to meet you." "Likewise. I hope you're ready for a busy schedule." Natalie smiled. "That sounds encouraging." Daniel laughed. "You'll understand soon enough." Rachel excused herself, leaving the two of them together. Daniel placed a thick folder on Natalie's desk. "These are the basic procedures, important contacts and meeting schedules. Take some time to review them." Natalie opened the folder. "Alright." "Also, Mr Blackwood likes his reports organised before meetings. He doesn't appreciate unnecessary delays." "I'll keep that in mind." Daniel checked his watch. "He's expecting you in his office at nine." Natalie looked at the clock. 8:43 AM. "Already?" Daniel nodded. "Welcome to the executive floor." --- At exactly nine, Natalie stood outside Nathaniel's office. She knocked twice. "Come in." She opened the door. Nathaniel was standing behind his desk, speaking on the phone. He raised one finger, asking her to wait. Natalie quietly closed the door and stood near the visitor's chair. His voice was calm but firm. "I don't care what the previous agreement says. The figures must be corrected before the end of the day." He paused. "No. I want the revised report on my desk before five." Another pause. "Then find a solution." He ended the call and placed his phone on the desk. "Ms Collins." "Good morning, Mr Blackwood." "Sit." Natalie took the chair. Nathaniel opened a document on his computer. "How was your first morning?" "Good so far." "Have you reviewed the company procedures?" "Yes. Daniel gave me the documents." "Good. Your first responsibility is to organise my schedule for the week. There are several meetings that need to be rearranged." He handed her a printed calendar. Natalie examined it. "Some of these meetings overlap." "Exactly." "Would you prefer I move the internal meetings or the external appointments?" Nathaniel looked at her. "Use your judgment. That's part of your job." She nodded. "Alright." He returned to his computer. "One more thing. I don't like people entering my office without an appointment unless it's urgent." "Understood." "And I expect confidentiality. Anything discussed in this office stays here." "Of course." Nathaniel finally looked at her. "Do you have any questions?" Natalie hesitated. "Just one." "Go ahead." "Will I be expected to work directly with you every day, or will Daniel handle most of the arrangements?" Nathaniel leaned back. "You'll work with both of us. Daniel oversees several administrative operations, but my personal schedule and executive appointments will be your responsibility." "Alright." "Anything else?" "No, sir." "Then you may return to your desk." Natalie stood. "Thank you." She walked towards the door. "Ms Collins." She turned. "Yes?" "Your first report is due before lunch." Natalie looked at him. "Before lunch?" "Is there a problem?" "No, sir." "Good." She left his office and gently closed the door. For a few seconds, she stared at the corridor. Her first day had barely started, and she already had a deadline. Wonderful. Just wonderful. --- By eleven thirty, Natalie had discovered that organising Nathaniel Blackwood's schedule was not as simple as it sounded. One client wanted an earlier appointment. Another insisted on keeping the original time. A department head had requested an urgent meeting, while two executives were unavailable for the same afternoon. Natalie rubbed her forehead. She had written everything down, checked the calendar twice and contacted the relevant departments. Still, one problem remained. Three meetings had to fit into two available time slots. Daniel stopped beside her desk. "How's it going?" Natalie looked up. "Honestly?" "Honestly." "Your boss has a very complicated life." Daniel laughed. "That's one way to describe it." "I've been trying to rearrange these meetings for almost an hour." "Let me see." She turned the monitor towards him. Daniel studied the schedule. "Move the marketing review to Thursday morning. The finance meeting can stay on Wednesday, and the client appointment should remain at its original time." Natalie typed the changes. "That actually works." "Told you." She smiled. "Thank you." Daniel glanced at the clock. "Don't forget the report. Mr Blackwood expects it before lunch." Natalie immediately looked at her screen. "I haven't forgotten." "Good luck." He returned to his office. Natalie finished the schedule, checked the details and printed the report. At 11:52 AM, she walked towards Nathaniel's office. She knocked. "Come in." He was reviewing some documents when she entered. "Your revised schedule, sir." She placed the report on his desk. Nathaniel picked it up. He examined the pages quietly. Natalie waited. A few seconds passed. Then another few. Finally, he looked up. "You moved the marketing review." "Yes. Thursday morning was the only available time that worked for everyone involved." "And the finance meeting?" "Wednesday afternoon. I confirmed with the department." He looked at the document again. "Good." Natalie tried not to look too pleased. "Thank you, sir." "Don't thank me. Just keep it organised." "Of course." She turned to leave. "Ms Collins." She stopped. "Yes?" "Your next assignment will be preparing tomorrow's board meeting documents. Daniel will provide the necessary information." "Understood." She left his office. For the first time that morning, Natalie felt a little proud of herself. Nathaniel Blackwood hadn't complained. In his world, that was probably the closest thing to a compliment. --- At lunchtime, Natalie went to the employees' lounge. She bought a sandwich and a bottle of water before finding an empty table. She had barely taken two bites when a woman approached. "Is anyone sitting here?" Natalie looked up. "No. You can sit." The woman placed her lunch on the table. "Thanks. I'm Olivia." "Natalie." "You're the new assistant, right?" Natalie nodded. "Yes. I started today." Olivia smiled. "Well, welcome. I'm in the marketing department." "It's nice to meet you." Olivia took a sip of her drink. "So, how is working for Nathaniel Blackwood?" Natalie laughed softly. "I've only been here a few hours." "That's enough time to know what you're dealing with." "Is he always that serious?" Olivia leaned closer. "Always." Natalie smiled. "Good to know." "Just don't take his moods personally. He expects a lot from everyone." "I've noticed." Olivia laughed. They continued talking about the company, their departments and the best places to get coffee nearby. For the first time that day, Natalie felt comfortable. Perhaps working at Blackwood Global wouldn't be so difficult after all. She just needed to understand how things worked. And learn how to survive her new boss. --- At 5:15 PM, Natalie was preparing to leave when her office phone rang. She picked it up. "Good afternoon. Executive office." "Ms Collins." She recognised the voice immediately. "Yes, Mr Blackwood?" "Come to my office." "Is everything alright?" "I need to discuss tomorrow's schedule." "Alright, sir. I'll be there shortly." She hung up and grabbed her notebook. When she entered his office, Nathaniel was standing beside the windows with his phone in one hand. He turned when he heard the door close. "You're leaving?" Natalie glanced at the clock. "Yes. I finished the tasks assigned to me." "Have you prepared the board meeting documents?" "Daniel gave me the information. I've started organising them, but I haven't finished." Nathaniel checked his watch. "I need the final documents by eight tomorrow morning." Natalie blinked. "Eight?" "Is that a problem?" "No, sir. I can have them ready." "Good." He returned to his desk. Natalie waited for a moment. "Was there anything else?" "No." "Alright. Have a good evening." She walked towards the door. "Ms Collins." She turned again. "Yes?" "Tomorrow, I expect you to be more familiar with how this office operates." Natalie nodded. "I'll do my best." "Good evening." "Good evening, sir." She left. Outside, she released a quiet breath. Nathaniel Blackwood was definitely not an easy man to work for. But she wasn't giving up. She had worked too hard to get this job. And she intended to keep it. What she didn't realise was that her first real challenge at Blackwood Global was only beginning. Because the following morning, she would discover that working for Nathaniel Blackwood required much more than being organised. It required patience. And Natalie Collins was about to need plenty of it.