CHAPTER 5: The test

The club pulsed with an energy that was both exhilarating and suffocating. The dim, golden lights cast elongated shadows along the velvet-lined walls, and the scent of expensive cologne mingled with the faint trace of cigar smoke. 

The applicants sat stiffly on the leather couches, each one shifting uneasily, their eyes darting toward the large mahogany doors at the end of the room.

Elena stood among them, her fingers clenched tightly around the strap of her purse. Her stomach churned with unease, her chest fell heavily like a massive rock was placed on it, but she masked it with indifference, keeping her expression smooth and her face calm. She had been in worse situations. This was just another role to play. 

Except the stakes were higher than ever.

She had researched every detail about Inferno, the crown jewel of Adrian Moretti’s empire. Everything about it screamed exclusivity, power, and danger. It wasn’t just a place to drink and dance—it was where secrets were exchanged, deals were made, and alliances were either formed or shattered. The kind of men she saw lined up at the entrance weren’t common men, they were men in control of the city. Gaining access to the club meant getting close to Adrian. And getting close to Adrian meant unearthing the truth about her father’s murder.

But right now, she wasn’t Detective Elena Carter.

She was Elena Romano, a desperate woman looking for work. A woman who had been arrested severally for petty crimes.

The applicants around her whispered among themselves, sizing each other up. Some were women dressed in barely-there dresses, their makeup immaculate, their eyes gleaming with ambition. Others were men, their expressions cocky, their posture relaxed—trying to act like they belonged.

Elena wasn’t sure which of them would be hired, but she knew one thing—this wasn’t an ordinary job interview.

The air shifted.

The atmosphere in the room, once filled with nervous chatter, fell into a tense silence immediately Adrian Moretti arrived.

The heavy doors at the end of the room swung open, and in walked a man who commanded attention with nothing more than his presence.

Adrian was a force of nature—tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in a black button-up and dark slacks that fit him like they had been tailored to perfection. His presence was both calculated and effortless, exuding power without the need for theatrics.

But it was his eyes that held Elena still.

Dark. Unreadable. Cold. the aura around him was something thatr even the greatest writer in the world would not know the words suitable to describe it.

The applicants straightened, some shrinking back, others eager to impress. A few women adjusted their dresses, flashing flirtatious smiles in his direction. The men either stiffened under his gaze or smirked, trying to act unbothered.

Adrian said nothing at first, simply surveying the room with an impassive expression. Then, his gaze flicked to his men, and one of them—tall, built like a brick wall—stepped forward.

"You’re here because you think you deserve to work at Inferno," the man announced, voice sharp and stern. "Most of you are wrong."

A few applicants exchanged glances, different thoughts obviously racing through their minds, just as it did in Elena’s.

"If you’re here for a paycheck, leave," the man continued. "If you are here looking for how to enrich your pockets, then you have the oppourtunity to back out now. This isn’t some bar where you flirt for tips and pocket cash on the side. This is Adrian Moretti’s club, and we don’t tolerate incompetence."

No one moved.

“Incompetence, dishonesty will be delt in ways you can’t possibly imagine”

Elena kept her shoulders squared, her expression unreadable.

Adrian’s gaze lingered on each applicant, his scrutiny sharp and unwavering. Then, he spoke, his voice smooth but devoid of warmth.

"Step forward if you think you’re worth my time."

A few hesitated before moving. Others stepped up with too much confidence.

Elena waited a beat, then stepped forward.

Adrian’s gaze flicked to her, and for a second—just a second—his brows furrowed.

But then it was gone.

One by one, the applicants were questioned.

Adrian was ruthless.

A woman with an expensive-looking dress and too much perfume stepped up, flashing a confident smile. "I’ve worked at high-end clubs before," she purred. "I know how to handle VIPs."

Adrian studied her. "Where?"

"Uh—" she faltered. "A few places—"

"Name them."

She hesitated.

Adrian didn’t look amused.

"You’re lying," he said bluntly. "Leave."

Her face turned pale.

Another man stepped up, grinning. "I used to run security at—"

"Not interested."

The man barely had time to react before Adrian’s men were already ushering him out.

Each interview was quick, brutal, and merciless.

Elena was the last one.

She stepped forward, meeting his gaze head-on.

"Name," Adrian said.

"Elena Romano."

"Experience?"

"I bartended at The Red Lantern for two years."

Adrian tilted his head slightly. "The Red Lantern?"

She nodded. "It’s in—"

"I know where it is," he interrupted, his expression unreadable.

Elena held his gaze, refusing to fidget under his scrutiny.

"Why do you want this job?"

"I need it."

A flicker of something unreadable crossed his face. "Need it for what?"

Elena hesitated. "To survive."

Silence.

Adrian studied her, his dark eyes boring into hers, as if trying to peel away every layer of her until she had nowhere to hide.

Then, he leaned back slightly.

"We’ll get back to you later."

Elena felt her heart sink.

She had heard those words before. Every time she had tried to get a real job, it was the same. We’ll get back to you. A polite way of saying no.

Panic crept in.

She needed this job.

This wasn’t just about making money. This was a vital step in getting closer to Adrian Moretti. Closer to his world. Closer to the truth. If she lost this opportunity, she might never get another chance to infiltrate his organization.

No. She couldn’t let that happen.

Before she could think twice, she did something entirely out of character.

She turned back around.

"I—I can do this job," she blurted.

Adrian’s gaze flicked to her, unreadable.

Elena felt the weight of every pair of eyes in the room on her, but she didn’t stop. "I’m good at it. I know how to handle customers, I know how to mix drinks, I—I don’t want to go back to stealing."

Her voice cracked slightly, but she pressed on.

"I need this job. I can’t—I won’t go back to what I was." Her throat tightened. "Please."

For a moment, Adrian just stared at her.

Then, the corner of his lips twitched—barely a movement, but there.

A long pause.

Then—

Hands grabbed her arms.

Elena barely had time to react before she was yanked back.

"What—?"

The bouncers were already dragging her toward the door.

Panic flared in her chest.

"No—wait! I—"

She was shoved out.

The doors slammed shut behind her.

The cold night air hit her like a slap, and Elena stumbled forward, catching herself on the pavement.

She stared at the heavy doors of Inferno, heart hammering.

This was her only chance to get close to Adrian. To uncover the truth.

And she had just blown it.

Her fingers clenched into fists as she swallowed the bitter taste of failure.

Then, she exhaled.

And laughed bitterly.

So much for justice.