Chapter 2
Lily’s POV
Nathan’s eyes locked onto mine in the VIP lounge, his expression flickering with unease. He recognized me—there was no doubt. A one-night stand was probably routine for him, but the way his jaw tightened suggested he hadn’t expected to see me here. He strode toward the greasy man who had me cornered, his voice a low growl. “Get out.” The man scrambled away, mumbling apologies, not daring to look back. Nathan’s gaze softened briefly as he draped his suit jacket over my shoulders, the fabric warm and smelling faintly of his cologne. My heart fluttered, traitorous and unsteady.
“It’s alright,” he said, his voice quieter now. “I’ll have Derek move you to another room.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, clutching the jacket tighter, my cheeks burning.
He nodded curtly, then signaled to someone outside. Moments later, Olivia, Jade, and I were ushered into a different room on the second floor of Skyline, where William Sullivan, Nathan’s older brother, sat with James, the bald-headed security guy, and a few other men. My breathing hitched. I’d never been up here before, and the heavy security presence—men in suits with earpieces and visible holsters—screamed danger. I’d known for months that the Sullivans were more than nightclub owners; they were mafia, a truth that hung over me like a blade. Every step in their world felt like walking on thin ice.
“Oh my, Lily, calm down. You’re shaking,” Jade said, her fingers gently combing through my chestnut hair. She always noticed when I was unraveling.
I hadn’t even realized I was trembling until she pointed it out.
“Just serve drinks and snacks. We don’t need to dance or do anything else. It’s just service,” Olivia explained, her voice gentle, but it only deepened my dread.
She leaned closer, her voice dropping. “Remember the most important rule, Lily. Whatever you hear in that room stays in that room. If anyone says or does anything, don’t react. Let security handle it. Understand?”
What is heard in the room stays in the room. The words were a stark reminder of the Sullivans’ power. One wrong move—spilling a drink, saying the wrong thing—could be catastrophic in this world of guns and secrets.
“It’s easy money, Chipmunk,” Olivia sighed, as if I was already exhausting her. “Just breathe and relax.”
Easy money? My hands shook at the thought. All I had to do was not screw up.
“Come on, girls, let’s go,” James said, his tall, muscular frame filling the doorway. His shaved head gleamed under the lights, and my eyes caught the gun at his waist. My body tensed instinctively.
Pull yourself together, Lily. Of course, he has a gun—you’ve always known what they are. Six months in this mafia-controlled club, and the sight of a weapon still made my heart race.
“Hey, Chipmunk, don’t you usually work downstairs?” James asked, stepping closer to study my face.
Nathan’s henchman? How did he know my nickname? Had Nathan told him? My stomach lurched.
“Y-yes,” I stammered, forcing a smile.
He extended a hand. “I’m James. Don’t be scared. I’m here to protect you,” he said, gesturing to his gun like it was supposed to comfort me.
“Lily, right?” he confirmed.
I nodded, faking a smile while screaming inside. Several men in suits, including William, settled around a large table, their voices low and serious. Glass separated us, giving me a moment to steady myself, but I felt dizzy.
“You okay?” James asked, noticing my pallor. I wanted to beg him to get me out of here.
He frowned. “It’s weird. Richard told us not to touch you or come near you, and yet you’re here… for this kind of meeting.”
“Richard had to leave last minute. Derek brought her,” Olivia clarified.
“That tracks,” James said, nodding like it all made sense.
We were each handed a tray. Jade and Olivia got appetizers, while I was stuck with champagne—naturally, the job most likely to go wrong. My nerves frayed further.
I trailed behind Jade and Olivia, lost in my own head.
“Follow my lead,” Jade whispered, tugging my shorts to line me up. “Relax, it’s like downstairs.”
I nodded, gripping the tray, wondering why Derek had picked me for this. I wanted to be invisible.
When William started the meeting, the room’s atmosphere shifted, heavy and tense. I stood off to the side, my legs numbing, arms aching from holding the tray. The Sullivans’ world—guns, power, secrets—terrified me, but I couldn’t look away.
William was all business, his voice clipped and precise. Unlike Nathan’s magnetic charm, William was cold, his sharp features and piercing eyes intimidating.
However, I couldn’t stop staring at Nathan—he was just too handsome. His jacket draped over my shoulders, making me blush slightly.
“Don’t stare at the boss. Are you crazy?” Jade hissed in my ear, snapping me out of it.
She was right. What was I doing? Had Nathan noticed? I dropped my gaze, praying I hadn’t drawn attention, especially after that night with Nathan.
“So, Nathan, shouldn’t your father be running this?” one of the men said, smirking. “A bit risky letting you handle it.”
“My father chose me,” Nathan replied coolly, his authority unshaken.
Their jargon flew over my head, but I stood there, tray wobbling, counting seconds to distract myself. My arms burned, my legs ached.
“It’ll be over soon,” Jade whispered, flashing an encouraging smile.
William’s voice cut through. “Get these men some drinks!”
I froze until Olivia nudged me. “That’s you, with the drinks.”
Right. Drinks. I circled the table, serving champagne, avoiding eye contact. So far, so good. But when I reached the last two glasses, dizziness hit me. My hand shook, and a splash of champagne hit a man’s suit.
“What are you doing? Apologize!” William snapped, his tone slicing through me. He was a known perfectionist, and I’d just messed up.
“I-I’m s-sorry,” I stammered, dabbing at the suit with a napkin, tears pricking my eyes.
The man grabbed my hand, smiling. “Don’t worry. It’s just a suit.”
I blinked up at him, surprised. He was young, maybe my age, with a kind glint in his eyes.
The man cleared his throat, and I flushed, setting down his drink carefully before stepping back. Just as I turned, he grabbed my wrist, leaning close. “Are you okay?” he whispered, a trace of concern in his voice.
His touch sparked memories of that night with Nathan, and I pulled away, nodding quickly. I rejoined Jade, frozen in place.
“You okay?” she asked, worried.
I nodded, humiliated. Nearly fainting was bad enough; I didn’t need more eyes on me.
As the meeting neared its end, my stomach churned violently. William sat directly across from me, his sharp eyes scanning the room. Nausea hit like a tidal wave, and before I could stop it, I retched, vomiting all over his pristine suit. Jade and Olivia gasped, their faces pale with shock. I stared, horrified, at the mess splattered across William’s chest, my own panic choking me.
"What the fuck?!" William barked, his voice cutting through the stunned silence. "You wanna die?!"