Chapter 3 – The First Day

...Lily woke up to the sound of her daughter’s soft breathing beside her. Aria, her four-year-old, had crawled into bed with her again last night. Lily didn’t mind—it had been just the two of them for so long that Aria’s warmth was comforting....

...She gently brushed a few strands of dark curls away from Aria’s peaceful face and smiled. “It’s a big day today, sweetheart.”...

...Aria mumbled something in her sleep, curling closer....

...Lily sighed. As much as she wanted to stay in bed with her daughter, she had to get ready. Today was her first official day working for the Blackwood brothers....

...After carefully slipping out of bed, she tiptoed to the tiny kitchen in their apartment and started making breakfast. The place was small—barely enough for both of them—but it was home....

...Her mind drifted back to yesterday’s interview. The brothers were… intimidating. Each one of them carried an energy that was hard to describe—dangerous, powerful, and unreadable....

...And yet, she had felt something else too. Interest....

...Not just from them toward her, but her own curiosity about them....

...Lily shook her head, pushing those thoughts away. She had a job to do, and getting caught up in the mystery of five dangerous men wasn’t part of the plan....

...“Mommy?”...

...Lily turned to see Aria rubbing her sleepy eyes....

...“Good morning, baby.” Lily bent down, kissing her forehead....

...“Are you going to work today?” Aria asked, her little voice full of concern....

...Lily nodded. “Yes, sweetheart. But I’ll be back soon. Auntie Kate will take care of you, okay?”...

...Aria pouted but nodded. “Okay. But you have to bring me a cupcake.”...

...Lily laughed. “Deal.”...

...---...

...Arriving at Blackwood Enterprises...

...By the time Lily reached the building, she was already nervous. She had left Aria with her best friend, Kate, who reassured her that everything would be fine....

...Stepping into the luxurious lobby, Lily adjusted the strap of her bag and walked toward the private elevator. A security guard was already waiting for her....

...“Miss Parker,” he said, scanning her ID. “The bosses are expecting you.”...

...The elevator doors opened, and she stepped inside. Her reflection in the mirrored walls showed a woman who was composed on the outside but battling uncertainty on the inside....

...When the doors slid open again, she found herself in a long, sleek hallway. A young woman with sharp eyes was waiting for her....

...“You must be Lily Parker.”...

...Lily nodded. “Yes.”...

...“I’m Ava, Anderson’s assistant. Follow me.”...

...Ava led her to a private office, where the five Blackwood brothers were waiting....

...Lily’s heart skipped a beat as she entered....

...They were all dressed in sharp suits, exuding effortless power....

...Anderson, the eldest, was seated at the head of the room, flipping through documents....

...Leon, the flirt, smirked as he saw her....

...Venom, the wildcard, leaned against the desk, arms crossed....

...Adam, the quiet observer, studied her carefully....

...Antonio, the youngest, looked skeptical....

...“Welcome to your first day, Miss Parker,” Anderson said, closing the file in his hand. “Let’s get one thing straight. We don’t trust outsiders easily.”...

...Lily nodded, keeping her posture firm. “Understood.”...

...Leon chuckled. “Don’t let him scare you. We just want to see if you can handle working with us.”...

...Venom’s smirk widened. “Yeah. Let’s see if you break or not.”...

...Lily swallowed but held her ground. “I’m here to do my job, nothing else.”...

...Adam finally spoke. “We’ll see about that.”...

...---...

...Meeting the Clients...

...Lily’s first task was to meet the employees she would be working with. However, as Ava led her down a private hallway, she quickly realized that these weren’t ordinary employees....

...Her first session was with Ethan Carter....

...Lily was surprised when the door opened to reveal a rival gang leader. Ethan Carter wasn’t just any man—he was the head of the Carter Syndicate....

...Why was he here?...

...Ethan studied her with sharp eyes, sitting back casually in his chair. His presence was just as commanding as Anderson’s, but there was something more dangerous about him....

...“You’re the new therapist?” he asked, amusement in his tone....

...Lily hesitated for only a second before responding. “Yes.”...

...He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I don’t do therapy.”...

...She raised an eyebrow. “Then why are you here?”...

...Ethan smirked. “To see if you’re worth my time.”...

...Lily met his gaze head-on. “I guess we’ll find out.”...

...---...

...Unspoken Tensions...

...The day went by in a blur. Lily met several members of both Blackwood Enterprises and the Carter Syndicate....

...What she had thought was a normal corporate job quickly turned into something more complex. There was tension between the two groups—a deep history that neither side wanted to discuss....

...And yet, she could feel the unspoken attraction in the room....

...Ethan wasn’t the only one interested in her. The Blackwood brothers watched her carefully, their interest undeniable....

...Leon flirted with her casually....

...Venom tested her patience....

...Adam remained mysterious....

...Antonio challenged her with every word....

...And Anderson… he observed her like he was waiting for her to prove something....

...But then, there were the Carter brothers....

...Jack Carter, the enforcer, kept throwing smirks her way....

...Gray Carter barely spoke but watched her with intrigue....

...Olivier Carter made teasing comments....

...Frederick Carter—dangerous and unreadable—was always nearby....