The first thing Elara realized about Oasis of Joy was that it was more than just a club. It was a world with its own rules—ones she wasn't sure she understood yet.
She sat at the sleek black desk in her designated office, flipping through a folder of paperwork that meant nothing to her. She wasn't here to file reports or handle logistics. No—this job was something else entirely.
A knock at the door made her look up.
Natalia "Tali" Russo, the bartender she met the night before, leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Settling in?"
"If that's what you call it," Elara muttered.
Tali smirked and stepped inside. "You look like someone who just realized they signed a deal with the devil."
Elara sighed. "Not far off."
Tali plopped down into the chair across from her. "Let me guess. Damien gave you the whole 'there's no backing out' speech?"
Elara nodded.
"Yeah, he's dramatic like that."
Elara's eyebrows lifted. "You don't seem scared of him."
Tali laughed. "Oh, I'm scared. But I also know the truth about Damien."
Elara leaned in. "Which is?"
Tali's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Figure it out yourself, sweetheart. That's part of the fun."
Before Elara could press further, the intercom on her desk buzzed.
"My office. Now." Damien's voice was smooth, unreadable.
Tali whistled low. "Looks like the boss wants you."
Elara exhaled sharply, pushing to her feet. "Guess I better go see what the devil wants."
---
Damien's Office
Damien sat behind his desk, flipping through papers like he wasn't completely aware of Elara's presence. The room was dim, the only light coming from the city skyline behind him.
She stood there, waiting, arms crossed.
Finally, he spoke. "You don't seem like the obedient type."
Elara frowned. "Was I supposed to be?"
His lips twitched—something between amusement and challenge. "Most people who work for me don't ask questions."
"Well, I'm not most people."
His gaze lifted, dark and assessing. "That much is obvious."
A beat of silence stretched between them before Damien slid a sleek black card across the desk.
"Your schedule. You'll be where I tell you to be, when I tell you to be there."
Elara picked up the card, her fingers brushing the cool surface.
"Personal assistant duties," he continued, "meaning you handle calls, emails, and—"
"I'm not your secretary," she interrupted.
Damien's eyes darkened, and for a moment, the air thickened.
"No," he said slowly, "you're not. But you work for me now. And that means you don't get to pick and choose."
Elara clenched her jaw. "What exactly do you need an assistant for, Damien? Because I get the feeling this is about more than organizing your schedule."
His expression was unreadable. "You'll find out soon enough."
---
First Day on the Job
By the time night fell, Elara had been pulled in every direction. She met Vince, the sharp-eyed accountant who seemed to keep more secrets than numbers. She caught glimpses of Nico and Jaxon, the two bodyguards who radiated danger. And she quickly realized that Damien ran Oasis of Joy like a kingdom—with him as its untouchable ruler.
The strangest part? Everyone was fiercely loyal to him.
She overheard whispers in the club.
"DeLuca saved my ass once."
"I owe him everything."
"If you cross him, you're done."
What kind of man inspires that kind of devotion and fear?
Elara didn't have an answer yet.
---
Bianca's Warning
"Elara, right?"
The voice dripped with honeyed venom.
Elara turned to find Bianca Laurent standing a few feet away, dressed in designer silk, her nails sharp enough to cut. She had the kind of effortless beauty that belonged to someone born into wealth and power.
"I heard you're Damien's new… assistant." Bianca's smile didn't reach her eyes.
Elara forced a polite nod. "That's right."
Bianca's gaze swept over her, assessing. "Just a little advice—don't get comfortable."
Elara raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"You won't last," Bianca said smoothly, stepping closer. "You're just another toy. Another temporary distraction."
Elara's pulse ticked up, but she kept her face neutral. "Is that what you were?"
Bianca's eyes flashed, but her smile stayed. "You think you're special, don't you?"
Elara didn't answer.
Bianca leaned in. "You're not."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Elara standing in the middle of Oasis of Joy, heart pounding with something she couldn't quite name.
A warning.
A threat.
Or maybe just the truth.
But something in her gut told her—Bianca wasn't done with her yet.
---