Chapter Five
Dawn
The elevator hums softly beneath me, descending floor after floor, but my heart is still lodged somewhere in my throat.
I feel electric. My pulse won’t settle, my skin tingles, and no matter how many deep breaths I take, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve just stepped off a ledge without knowing where I’ll land.
I signed the contract. I said yes. I work for Nikolai Blackthorn now. The thought sends a slow, curling sensation through my stomach.
The elevator doors glide open, spilling me into the sleek marble lobby of the tower. It’s nearly empty at this hour, the silence pressing in around me as my heels click against the polished floor.
I step outside, inhaling deep, hoping the fresh air will clear my head. It doesn’t.
Instead, my phone buzzes. I already know who it is before I even look.
I hesitate, pulse fluttering, before finally pulling it out.
Unsaved number: I will see you Monday morning. 9 AM. Don’t be late.
My breath catches. No small talk. No pleasantries. Just an order.
My fingers hover over the keyboard, stomach twisting, before I force myself to type a response.
Me: Yes, sir. Understood.
The moment I hit send, the read receipt appears.
No reply.
But then I feel it. A sharp prickle at the back of my neck. I glance up toward the top of the tower, my chest tight. The glass windows reflect nothing but the evening sky, but my gut tells me I’m not alone.
I can’t see him, but somehow… I know he can see me.
A shiver rolls down my spine. I swallow hard, shove my phone back into my bag, and start heading back to my apartment.
. . .
The apartment is quiet when I walk in.
The sound of my heels clicking against the bare floors only emphasizes how empty the space is. No bed. No table. Just my couch and the rest of my things in a couple of boxes shoved against a wall.
I toss my bag onto the counter—where the Black Card catches my eye immediately.
It’s still in my purse, nestled between my phone and my keys. I pull it out, turning it over in my fingers.
Sleek. Heavy. Stamped with his name.
It feels too personal. Too much like something I shouldn’t have.
I exhale sharply, shaking off the unease. Instead of staring at it all night, I decide to grab my phone and call Luke.
He answers on the third ring. “Dawn?” There’s noise in the background—voices, papers shuffling. He sounds distracted. “Hey, give me a sec—"
A door closes. The background noise cuts off.
Then, quieter, “Okay. Hey! You good?”
I sink onto the couch, pulling one knee up. “Yeah, you?”
“Campaign chaos. Nothing new.”
I smile faintly. “How’s it going?”
Luke exhales, the sound low and tired. “It’s a fucking nightmare. Polling looks good, but the debates are coming up, and the oppositions already coming for my throat.”
“You always did have a punchable face.”
He snorts. “Thanks, sis.”
I smirk, but something about his voice makes me pause. There’s tension there. “No, really… I’m proud of you.”
A beat of silence.
“Wish Dad was here to see it.” The words hit harder falling from my lips than I expect them to. I swallow hard around the tightness in my throat.
“Yeah… me too.”
The silence stretches. Too much. Too painful.
I shift in my seat on the couch, clearing my throat. “So… is it everything you expected?”
There’s a pause. Then, “Yeah. Mostly.”
I know him well enough to catch the hesitation. My stomach tightens. “Luke.”
“Don’t do that voice.”
“You’re being weird.”
“You called me out of nowhere. What’s going on?”
I hesitate. “I’m back in LA.”
His voice sharpens. “…since when?”
“Yesterday afternoon.”
A pause. A little too long.
“And you’re just now calling me?”
“I was gonna tell you,” I say, leaning my head back against the couch. “It’s been a long day.”
“Why are you back?”
I hesitate again. “Well, I just… couldn’t handle being there in Colorado alone after…”
He hums. “I get it.”
“I got a job.” I chirp, trying to lighten the conversation once more.
“Yeah? Doing what?”
“Executive assistant.”
“Damn, look at you. Who for?”
I stare at the ceiling, heart thudding.
The NDA. I’m not supposed to talk about it. But he’s my brother. And I’m sure I can mention that I’m employed in this position, even if I can’t talk about details.
“…Blackthorn Inc.”
The silence is instant. Sharp.
He lets out a low whistle. “Ah.”
I roll my eyes. “What?”
“Well, you do know it’s companies exactly like Blackthorn that are everything I fight against, right?”
I roll my eyes. “Luke, it’s a job. Relax.”
“I don’t have to relax. I know how corporations like them work—they buy power, and they don’t do anything without expecting something in return.”
I shift in my seat. “It’s not that deep.”
Luke exhales. “I hope you’re right.” A brief pause. “Does it at least pay enough?”
I swallow. “I’m covered.”
Another pause. “That’s not an answer.”
I don’t give him one.
Because I can’t tell him the truth. That I don’t even get a paycheck. That I have his credit card sitting in my purse.
Luke exhales. “Just… Watch yourself, alright?”
My stomach twists. “What does that mean?”
He hesitates. Too long.
“Nothing. Just… I’m just not a fan. That’s all. Congratulations on the job, Dawn. Really...”
“Thanks.” I murmur.
His voice softens. “Andrea needs me to sign some papers, but we should grab dinner this week.”
“Yeah. That would be nice.”
“Welcome home, Dawnie.”
I smile faintly. “Thanks.”
We hang up. I stare at my phone, an uneasy feeling surrounding me.
I shake it off. I need a distraction. My fingers move before I can second-guess it.
Me: Meet me at Roscoe’s at 8 again tonight. I’ve got big news.
Cassidy: Girl, what? Spill.
Me: Nope. In person.
Cassidy: Ugh, fine. You’re lucky I love you.
I smirk, tossing my phone onto the couch and stretching my legs out. I need this. A few drinks, a night of playful jokes—something normal.
But first, I need to feel like myself again. I push off the couch, making my way toward the closet. My fingers skim past a few boring options before stopping on a shimmery black mini dress. It’s tight. Low cut. Dangerous in the right lighting.
I pull it off the hanger and slip it on. Fishnets. Black stilettos. Mascara and I’m ready to go.
For the first time all day, I look like me again.
Not someone’s assistant. Not a girl who signed a contract she doesn’t understand.
Just Dawn.
I grab my purse, check the time, and head for the door.
Time to drop the bomb.
. . .
Roscoe’s is already buzzing by the time I step inside.
The scent of beer and something greasy clings to the air, the low thrum of music weaving between bursts of laughter and the clatter of pool balls from the back.
Comforting. Familiar. Normal.
Exactly what I need.
I spot Cassidy immediately—curled up into our usual spot on the back patio, drink already in hand, legs kicked up onto the chair across from her.
The second she sees me, her face lights up. “There she is! I was starting to think you were standing me up.”
I laugh, dropping into the seat beside her. “And risk whatever wrath you unleash? No chance.”
Cassidy grins, pushing a Bloody Mary toward me. “I took the liberty of ordering for you. Because I’m the best.”
I take a sip, the sharp tang of tomato and vodka sliding over my tongue. Perfect. “Remind me to keep you around.” I tease.
Cassidy leans in, eyes gleaming. “Okay, spill. What’s this big news? You get engaged? Adopt a dog? Find out you have a long-lost twin?”
I roll my eyes, setting my drink down. “I got a job.”
Cassidy gasps, dramatically clutching her chest. “Holy shit. The way you set that up made me think you had joined the circus.” She laughs.
“Not far off.” I mutter, swirling the ice in my glass.
Her brow arches. “Okay, now you have my full attention.”
I exhale slowly, tapping my nails against the table. “I work for Blackthorn Inc.”
She nods slowly, processing. “Damn. Okay, that’s legit.” She takes a sip of her drink before continuing. “What do you do? Office stuff? Reception?”
I tilt my head. “Executive assistant.”
Cassidy blinks. “That’s fancy.” She narrows her eyes. “Wait… to who?”
I hesitate for a second. Then casually, “…Nikolai Blackthorn.”
Cassidy chokes on her drink. “I’m sorry, what?” Her eyes go wide like I just told her I won the lottery. “You work for Nikolai Blackthorn?”
I can’t help it—I laugh. “That’s the reaction?”
“Girl.” She says again, pointing at me like I’m missing something. “Blackthorn, as in the biggest security and tech conglomerate in the goddamn country?”
“Yeah.”
“And your boss is…?”
I giggle, “Still Nikolai Blackthorn.”
Cassidy shrieks with excitement.
I hiss, “Cass—"
“No! No, you don’t just drop ‘I work for Nikolai Blackthorn’ like it’s a casual Tuesday.”
“Well, a casual Friday works, right?” I joke.
She ignores me. “Dude, he’s literally the country’s most eligible bachelor. He was on the cover of at least two major magazines last year alone. Do you understand the kind of man you’re working for?”
I roll my eyes. “A rich one?”
“A stupid rich one. A stupid hot one. A stupid powerful one.” She leans in like she’s delivering classified information. “And a playboy. The man has never had a relationship last longer than a headline.”
I sip my drink. “Good thing I’m not dating him, then.”
Cassidy gives me a knowing look. “Yet.”
I choke on my drink. “Oh my god, shut up.”
She grins. “I’m just saying. Men like that get what they want.”
“And what they want are supermodels, not me.”
Cassidy taps her nails against the table. “You know, that’s exactly what a soon-to-be-Blackthorn mistress would say.”
I groan. “I hate you.”
She laughs, giving my arm a light squeeze. “I love you.”
I shake my head, but I can’t stop the smile pulling at my lips.
For the first time today, I relax.