The sharp chime of an alarm jolted Lilith Carter awake. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, painting golden patterns across her bedroom walls. With a groggy sigh, she threw off the covers and sat up, blinking away the last remnants of sleep. Today was the day. The beginning of everything she had planned for years.
She rushed through her morning routine, pulling on a sleek black blouse that hugged her figure just right, paired with high-waisted grey slacks that accentuated her long legs. Her dark auburn hair cascaded in soft waves down her back, and a touch of crimson lipstick painted her full lips. She had to look the part—polished, professional, untouchable.
Grabbing her handbag, she hurried out of her bedroom, nearly colliding with her younger brother, Elijah, who stood in the hallway rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"You're leaving already?" he mumbled.
Lilith crouched, pressing a quick kiss to his forehead. "I'll be back later, okay? Be good for Mom."
Elijah grinned sleepily. "I'm always good."
With a soft chuckle, she straightened and made her way to the kitchen, where her mother was setting down a cup of tea.
"Lilith, eat something before you go," her mother urged, concern lacing her voice.
"I'll grab something on the way," Lilith reassured her, kissing her mother's cheek before heading for the door. She couldn't afford to be late today.
The towering glass structure of Knight Enterprises loomed ahead, sleek and imposing against the sky. The company's name was embossed in bold silver letters above the entrance, a statement of power. Inside, the lobby was pristine—marble floors polished to perfection, tall glass windows flooding the space with natural light. A massive chandelier hung above, casting delicate shadows over the reception area.
Lilith approached the front desk, her heels clicking against the floor. A woman in a tailored navy-blue suit barely glanced up from her screen.
"Miss Carter?"
"Yes," Lilith replied, keeping her voice even.
"Mr. Knight is expecting you. Take the elevator to the top floor."
Lilith nodded, striding toward the chrome elevator. As she stepped inside, the doors slid shut, enclosing her in silence. The polished steel walls reflected her composed expression, but beneath it, her heart drummed wildly. This was it.
As the numbers climbed, her mind betrayed her, pulling her into the past.
Flames. The scent of burning metal. The deafening roar of the explosion.
Lilith had been fifteen when she watched her father and elder brother's car erupt into flames. One moment, they had been driving off, her brother flashing her his usual teasing smirk. The next, a blast ripped through the night, the force knocking her to the ground.
She had screamed, throat raw with agony, as fire swallowed the vehicle whole. No one could have survived it. No one did.
The police called it an accident. A gas leak. But Lilith knew better.
The whispers in the underworld spoke of Adrian Knight's father—an untouchable, ruthless man. He had secrets to keep, and her family had gotten too close. He made sure they never spoke again.
And now, years later, the son sat on the throne his father had once ruled from. A man just as dangerous, just as merciless.
The ding of the elevator snapped her back to the present. The doors glided open, revealing an office floor that reeked of power. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined the walls, offering a breathtaking view of the city skyline. The scent of leather and expensive cologne filled the air. A mahogany desk stood at the center of the room, sleek and unyielding.
And behind it stood Adrian Knight.
He turned at the sound of her heels, dark eyes meeting hers.
For a split second, time froze.
Adrian was the epitome of effortless dominance. He wore a tailored black suit, crisp white shirt unbuttoned just enough to tease the tan skin beneath. His jaw was sharp, dusted with the lightest shadow of stubble, and his hair—a deep shade of onyx—was styled to perfection. He was, without a doubt, strikingly handsome, but there was an undeniable edge to him. A predator in a silk disguise.
Lilith stepped forward, her pulse hammering.
Not out of attraction. No. It was rage. Confusion.
Because the moment she locked eyes with him, her world tilted dangerously. The man she had spent years hating, the monster who had inherited his father's sins…
She knew him.
Not as a CEO.
Not as the heir to a criminal empire.
But as a man she had seen in shadows before. As a name whispered in the darkest corners of the city.
A mafia lord.
Her stomach clenched, but she forced herself to exhale, to keep her composure. She had come here with a plan, a purpose. The past could not shake her now.
Adrian's gaze raked over her, dark and assessing. He was unreadable, his expression a mask of cool indifference. He leaned back slightly, sliding his hands into his pockets, exuding a quiet authority that made the air thick with unspoken power.
"Miss Carter." His voice was deep, smooth, but carried an authority that left no room for defiance. "I assume you're here for the position."
Lilith forced a smile, gripping her bag tighter. "Yes, Mr. Knight."
He studied her for a moment, then turned back toward his desk, as if she were nothing more than another business transaction.
"Let's begin."
Lilith's breath steadied, but the fire inside her refused to be extinguished. This was only the beginning.