Chapter 2 :Obsidian Truth

    Anna’s Pov 

I found my way back to Rita’s place. She’d been my roommate since I moved back to the city. We were more like good friends—her dad was best friends with mine, after all.

I collapsed onto the couch and released a long, exhausted sigh, replaying every second of the day in my head. Every moment. Every word.

Rita walked in just then, an iced coffee in her hand.

“Hey you… how did it go?” she asked, sounding excited.

Her smile faded the moment she really looked at me.

“Oh my God… you didn’t get it?”

She dropped her coffee on the side table and sat beside me, pulling me into a warm hug.

“Oh dear, it’s alright. I mean, I didn’t even get the job when I applied two months before your arrival, so why would they even want to employ you? You came from the farm and—gosh…” Her voice cracked as she sobbed.

“Hey,” I said, breaking the hug, a wide grin spreading across my face as my hands rested on her shoulders. “I got the job, sweetie.”

I did a small shoulder dance. Rita froze, staring at me like she’d just seen a ghost. Shock… then excitement.

A huge smile bloomed on her face. Her brown eyes widened, and she pulled me into a tight hug.

“Oh my God! For a moment I was scared. I’m so happy for you. This is big news. How… how did you get the job?”

I hesitated, then shrugged it off, even though I knew the story would sound embarrassing.

I told her everything. She listened to every detail.

“Wait. Mr. Ethan didn’t even request a CV or documents? That’s strange—almost inappropriate,” she said, her brows furrowing.

“I don’t know. I don’t care,” I replied, getting up, suddenly tired. “I got the job, and that’s all that matters. I’ll be earning a lot by the end of the month. I’ll take care of my dad too.”

“We should celebrate. Tonight,” she said.

I nodded. “Sure thing.”

Then I walked out.

Author’s POV

Rita couldn’t believe it.

Her heart raced, not with joy—but with rage. Anger bubbled violently inside her chest.

She wanted to slap the smile off Anna’s face.

Why did she get her spot? Her job? Why did Anna get to walk through life with that stupid face card?

Mr. Ethan probably wants to sleep with her.

Disgusting slut. She’ll do anything to get what she wants.

She scoffed.

She probably tried to seduce Mr. Eden, but he’s a cold-blooded mafia man—he wouldn’t give a damn about her body. That’s why she ran to Ethan and gave herself away.

“That stupid bitch,” Rita muttered. “I’ll make her lose her job on her first day. She doesn’t deserve everything. Why is she so selfish?”

Her lips curled into a dangerous smile.

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The air inside the office felt hotter than a sauna.

The two brothers stood on opposite sides of the room, a heated argument raging—all because of one woman.

“I only said you shouldn’t have dismissed her on the spot. No proper interview, no questions—nothing!” Ethan yelled through gritted teeth.

Eden stood by the window, a cigarette lighter in his hand as he exhaled smoke through his nostrils.

“And you?” he scoffed. “You stupidly employed her. No proper interview. No background check. Nothing. What the fuck will Father think of you?”

He shook his head in disappointment and pulled his gun from his belt.

“Well, I’ll have that done tomorrow,” Ethan said, his eyes alert.

“If I see her here tomorrow,” Eden said coldly, cocking the gun, “her blood will be on your hands.”

“Goddamn it!” Ethan slammed his hand on the table.

At that exact moment, the office doors opened.

“Whose blood is on whose hands?”

The tall man entered, leaning on his staff, followed by a few bodyguards.

Eden slowly lowered his gun and set it aside.

Ethan straightened, visibly annoyed. “Welcome, Father,” he said sternly.

“I won’t ask again,” Mr. Vilonia growled. “Whose blood was mentioned?”

Even in his sixties, he looked powerful—healthy, sharp, dangerous. His eyes burned into his sons as they stood still.

“It’s a girl,” Eden finally said. “Ethan employed her on the spot.”

“You fired her on the spot just because you couldn’t control your damn temper,” Ethan shot back.

“You don’t even know who the bitch is,” Eden snapped. “What if she’s a spy? From our rivals on the Eastside? Or our competitors? Did you think of that?”

He took a slow drag from his marijuana stick, leaning against the wall, clearly satisfied with his point.

“He has a point,” Mr. Vilonia said calmly. “Why don’t we sit and discuss this like adults?”

They obeyed instantly.

“She should be here tomorrow with her documents,” Mr. Vilonia continued. “But the girl in question… is she pretty? Does she have a face convincing enough for our investors?”

Ethan glanced at Eden. “Yo, don’t look at me. You’re the one who talked to her—and kissed her.”

“Shut the fuck up, bro. We didn’t kiss,” Ethan defended.

“Oh, I saw the footage alright—”

“Enough!” their father snapped. “Answer my question.”

“Yes, Father,” Eden said. “She is. Blonde. Curvy enough. Sea-foam green eyes.”

Ethan frowned. “And yet you said you didn’t see her?”

Eden smirked. “I’m smarter than you, brother.”

Mr. Vilonia leaned back in his chair, tapping his staff against the floor.

“Interesting,” he murmured. “Very interesting.”

Eden stiffened slightly.

“Tomorrow,” their father continued, “she comes in. We observe her. Test her. If she’s clean, she stays. If she’s not…”

His eyes darkened.

“…we erase her.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened.

“She’s just a girl,” he said quietly.

Eden chuckled. “That’s exactly how trouble walks in—on soft legs and innocent eyes.”

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Anna insisted on a quiet bar.

Somewhere calm. Somewhere normal.

Rita laughed it off.

“A bar?” she scoffed. “Please. You just landed a high-paying job. We’re celebrating properly.”

Before Anna could protest again, they were already stepping into Obsidian—the most exclusive club in the city.

The bass vibrated through Anna’s bones. Neon lights sliced through smoke-filled air. The place reeked of money, power, and danger.

Anna swallowed.

“This place is… a lot,” she shouted over the music.

Rita smiled. Too sweet. Too quick.

“You’ll loosen up. Trust me.”

She disappeared toward the bar and returned with two glasses.

Anna hesitated. “Just one drink.”

Rita nodded eagerly. “Of course.”

Anna didn’t see Rita’s fingers tilt slightly.

Didn’t notice the clear liquid dissolve seamlessly into her glass.

She drank.

Minutes later, the world tilted.

Her head felt light. Her limbs heavy. The music slowed—then sped up. Laughter bubbled out of her mouth for no reason.

“Rita…” she slurred. “I feel… funny.”

Rita was already scanning the room.

And then she saw him.

Black hair. Cold eyes. Dressed in power like it was skin.

Eden Vilonia.

The club belonged to him.

Everyone in it knew.

“Sit tight,” Rita said. “I’ll be right back.”

She never came back.

A man appeared beside Anna soon after. Handsome. Too close. His hand brushed her waist.

“Hey beautiful,” he said smoothly. “You look lonely.”

Anna frowned, trying to focus. “I’m… I’m waiting for my friend.”

He smiled. Predatory. “I can keep you company.”

His hand tightened.

That was when the air changed.

The man froze.

A shadow loomed behind him.

“Get your hands off her.”

The voice was calm—but lethal.

The man turned pale when he saw who stood there.

“E-Eden… I didn’t know—”

“You have three seconds,” Eden said quietly.

The man disappeared instantly.

Eden turned to Anna.

She was swaying.

“Trouble follows you,” he muttered.

She blinked up at him. “Oh… it’s you.”

He frowned. “You recognize me?”

She giggled. “Of course. You’re the grumpy one. Black hair. Talks like a tornado, you fired me remember.”

Eden stiffened.

He lifted her effortlessly and guided her to the VIP section, sitting her down.

“You’re drunk,” he said flatly.

“No,” she whispered seriously. “I’m flying.”

He watched her closely. Calculating.

“Who sent you?” he asked.

“You didn’t answer my question,” Eden said calmly.

She squinted. “Which one?”

“Who sent you.”

Her brows knitted together. “Sent me… where?”

“To my company,” he clarified. “To my brother. To me.”

Her lips parted. She stared at him for a long moment, then laughed softly.

“You think I’m important enough to be sent?” she asked, genuinely amused.

Eden leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. His voice dropped.

“People don’t just walk into Vilonia Corp by coincidence. Girls don’t just get hired on the spot. Someone always pulls the strings.”

Anna’s laughter faded. She hugged herself, suddenly small.

“I didn’t know your building was dangerous,” she whispered. “I just wanted a job.”

“That’s not an answer,” Eden said.

He reached out, gripping her chin—not roughly, but firmly enough to force her to look at him.

“Names,” he demanded. “Eastside? North Syndicate? Rival families? Government?”

She blinked rapidly, eyes glossy.

“I don’t know those people,” she said, voice cracking. “I know my dad. And the hospital. And bills.”

Her composure broke.

“My father’s sick,” she cried suddenly, tears spilling freely. “He coughs at night and pretends he’s fine because he doesn’t want me to worry. I don’t want him to die while I’m useless.”

The words poured out uncontrollably.

Eden didn’t move.

“You expect me to believe you walked into my life because of a sick man?” he asked coldly.

She nodded hard. “Yes.”

Then she sniffed and laughed through her tears.

“And your brother—he’s nicer than you. He smiled. You look like you want to kill people for fun.”

Eden stiffened.

“You’re not afraid of me?” he asked.

She tilted her head. “I should be. But I’m drunk. And you smell like trouble.”

Silence stretched.

He watched her breathing. Her pulse. Her unfiltered honesty.

“No rehearsed story,” he murmured. “No hesitation.”

He leaned back slowly.

“If you’re lying,” he said quietly, “you’re the best liar I’ve ever met.”

She smiled lazily. “Thank you?”

He exhaled sharply, frustration flickering across his face.

“Who told you about my brother?” he pressed.

“You… did,” she replied. “With your yelling. Tornado speech.”

Against his will, something almost like amusement tugged at his lips.

Almost.

" And your friend?" He asked suddenly.

Her smile vanished. “She left.”

Eden’s jaw tightened.

That was the moment he knew.

She wasn’t bait.