Lila's finger hovered over the "Accept" button, the NDA's fine print glaring back at her. The Vantage Enterprises Tower felt colder now, its glass walls closing in as the clock ticked past 11:55 p.m. Elias Vantage's threat echoed in her mind—"Don't try to run. I'll find you."—and that encrypted file, Aurora: Phase Two, pulsed like a warning on her laptop.
She clicked "Accept."
The decision felt like signing her life away, but $50,000 upfront could clear her mom's medical bills, maybe even give her a shot at something better than scraping by in Brooklyn. Still, the clause about relocating to Elias's Hamptons estate twisted her gut. Live with a billionaire who'd just threatened her career? Dig into a conspiracy that could ruin her? Her dad's voice whispered, Numbers don't lie, Lila. People do.
By 1 a.m., a black SUV was waiting outside the tower, its driver a silent man in a suit who didn't meet her eyes. Lila clutched her laptop bag, the city's neon lights blurring as they sped toward Long Island. She tried to focus on the money, on survival, but the memory of Elias's gray eyes—sharp, unyielding—kept her on edge.
The Hamptons estate loomed into view at dawn, a modern fortress of glass and stone nestled against a stormy beach. Manicured gardens stretched toward dense woods, and a gated entry buzzed open as the SUV approached. Lila's breath caught at the sheer scale—marble steps, towering windows, a private helipad glinting in the early light. It was breathtaking, but it felt like a cage.
Inside, the foyer was all sleek lines and chandeliers, the air heavy with the scent of cedar and wealth. A woman in her thirties, sharp cheekbones and a tailored blazer, approached with a tablet in hand. "Lila Carver?" Her voice was crisp, her dark eyes assessing. "I'm Zara, Elias's COO. Follow me."
Lila nodded, her sneakers squeaking on the polished floor. Zara led her through a maze of hallways to a high-tech office, where banks of monitors lined the walls. Elias stood at a glass desk, his back to them, staring at a screen displaying financial data. He turned, his suit as impeccable as last night, but his expression was colder, like he'd already forgotten their encounter.
"Miss Carver," he said, his British accent clipped. "You've signed the contract. Good. You'll start immediately."
Lila's jaw tightened. No pleasantries, no acknowledgment of his threat. "What exactly am I doing here?"
He gestured to a workstation loaded with encrypted drives. "Aurora Holdings. You'll analyze its transactions, trace the source, and report only to me. Zara will provide access codes. No one else is to know."
Zara's eyes narrowed, a flicker of resentment crossing her face. "Elias, she's a contractor. Are you sure—"
"I'm sure," he snapped, his gaze never leaving Lila. "She found the discrepancy. She's capable."
Lila's cheeks warmed at the unexpected praise, but she pushed it down. Capable didn't mean trusted. She sat at the workstation, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she accessed the files. The data was a labyrinth—offshore accounts, coded transfers, and firewalls she'd need days to crack. But one thing was clear: Aurora wasn't just a shell company. It was a pipeline, siphoning millions to unknown recipients.
Elias hovered nearby, his presence distracting. "What do you see?" he asked, his voice low, closer than she expected.
Her pulse quickened. "It's… complex. The funds loop through multiple accounts, but they're tied to a single IP address. I need time to trace it."
"You have 48 hours," he said, his breath brushing her ear. She stiffened, caught between irritation and a traitorous spark of awareness. He stepped back, as if sensing her discomfort, and turned to Zara. "Get her settled. She starts now."
Zara led Lila to a guest suite, a sprawling room with a four-poster bed and ocean views. "Don't get comfortable," Zara said, her tone icy. "Elias doesn't keep strays long."
Lila bristled. "I'm here to work, not play house."
Zara's lips twitched, but she said nothing, leaving Lila alone. The suite was luxurious, but the locked door and security cameras made it feel like a prison. She set up her laptop, diving back into the Aurora files, but her mind kept drifting to Elias. His intensity, his secrecy—why her? Why not a senior analyst?
That night, unable to sleep, Lila wandered the estate's halls, drawn to muffled voices from a study. Elias and Zara were arguing, their words sharp but indistinct. She caught one phrase: "Phase Two can't be exposed."
Her heart pounded. Phase Two. The same name as the encrypted file.
She crept back to her room, her mind racing. But as she reached her door, a folded note lay on the floor, its message scrawled in sharp ink: Trust no one. Aurora is watching.