Exhaustion washed over us like a tidal wave, yet there was an undeniable satisfaction coursing through our veins. We collapsed—all three of us. Alex, my brother. Damien, my sister-in-law's brother. And me—tangled together on the bed, our bodies glistening with sweat, chests heaving as we struggled to catch our breath.
The room had finally fallen silent, save for the echoes of our labored breathing and occasional low moans. Alex lay beside me, his muscular arm draped possessively across my waist like an ancient bond that refused to be broken. On my other side, Damien's dark, toned body still radiated heat. I was sandwiched between them—naked, exhausted, yet strangely fulfilled.
*Was this wrong?* The question gnawed at the edges of my consciousness. *With my own brother? With my sister-in-law's brother?* Our billionaire family had become entangled in a web so twisted, so morally ambiguous, that I could barely recognize us anymore. David's sinister plot had brought us to this precipice—his videos, his blackmail, and now... this.
But even as my body relaxed into the sheets, my mind refused to rest. Questions swirled like a storm. *What happens now? Do I steal the Black Book? Or will everything come crashing down, exposed to the world?*
Sleep began to creep in at the edges, pulling me down. But the moment my eyelids fluttered closed, David's face materialized in my mind—that cold, calculating smile, as if he could see everything, knew everything. *Are there cameras here too? Is he watching us even now?*
A shiver ran down my spine despite the warmth of the bodies beside me. I pulled the silk sheet over my naked form and slowly surrendered to the depths of sleep. All three of us drifted off—suspended in an eerie, fragile peace.
---
The night must have deepened considerably. I imagined the clock's hands crawling forward—midnight had surely passed. Then my phone screen suddenly illuminated the darkness, its vibration jolting me from sleep's embrace.
I forced my eyes open, squinting against the harsh glow piercing through the blackness. An unknown number. A message.
My heart stopped as I read: *"Lily, 24 hours are almost up. Where is the Black Book? If I don't have it by morning, the video goes viral. And yes, we have tonight's video too—with your brother, with your sister-in-law's brother. Would your father like to see what his precious daughter's been doing?"*
The blood drained from my face. David! But how did he know? How could he possibly know what had just happened?
*Did Sophia record us? Are there hidden cameras throughout the house?*
My anxiety spiked instantly—my heart hammering against my ribcage, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. I set the phone down on the nightside table with trembling hands, but sleep had abandoned me completely.
*Is the Black Book really connected to murder? Did Father actually kill David's partner? Or is this all an elaborate lie?*
I glanced at Alex—he was deep in slumber, his chest rising and falling rhythmically. Damien too, lost in his own dreams. Yet I couldn't shake the sensation that someone was watching me, studying me from the shadows.
The night grew darker, heavier, but my eyes remained wide open—waves of worry threatening to drown me completely. *Can I save my family? Or is everything about to shatter into irreparable pieces?*
---
Morning arrived with reluctant light. The sun's first rays crept through the window, but my eyes felt like sandpaper—heavy, burning, exhausted. I checked the clock: 7 AM. I hadn't really slept all night, just brief moments of unconsciousness between bouts of anxiety.
The bed still held traces of Damien's warmth, but Alex's side was already empty—he must have left for the office early. The Thompson Empire, our family business, never allowed him a moment's rest.
I dragged myself to the mirror and winced. Dark circles had formed beneath my eyes like bruises, my face looked drawn and pale, yet my body still carried the memory of last night's heat.
*It's been too long since I went to the office,* I thought. *Maybe going today will help clear my head.*
Staying home would only amplify the anxiety—David's message, the Black Book, all of it pressing down on me like a physical weight. I selected a professional outfit—a black pantsuit that hugged my curves in all the right places, though today my heart wasn't in the appearance. I tied my hair back, applied makeup—ensuring that outwardly, everything appeared normal. But inside? A hurricane raged.
*The Black Book—what is it, really?* Hidden in Father's study, probably locked in a safe somewhere. *But what secrets does it contain? Secrets capable of destroying our entire family?*
I checked my phone. No new messages, but the anxiety refused to subside.
---
I descended to the main hall. The aroma of breakfast wafted from the kitchen—Sophia had set everything up beautifully. Toast, eggs, fresh fruits, and coffee arranged on the dining table like a magazine spread.
Sophia and Damien sat there, casually eating breakfast. Damien's eyes locked onto me immediately—that same hungry gaze, as if last night's memories were still fresh and intoxicating.
Sophia smiled sweetly. "Good morning, Lily. Come, have some breakfast."
Her voice dripped with honey, but I recognized the hidden threat beneath it. I sat down reluctantly, my appetite non-existent. I took a piece of toast from the plate, but my mouth felt impossibly dry.
Sophia continued in that saccharine tone: "Lily, how was your night? Damien treated you well, didn't he? And Alex too... My, what a close family you have." She paused, her smile never wavering. "But remember, darling—if I don't get the Black Book today, David will release everything. The world will see your beauty... in those videos."
Her smile remained sweet, but her words dripped with poison.
Anger flared within me. "You're despicable, Sophia. Why are you doing this?"
Damien laughed—a dark, mocking sound. "Lily, don't stress yourself. Just give us the book. Otherwise, that video of your ass—oh god, it was so hot. I might watch it again myself. And if you don't cooperate? Well, maybe your parents would enjoy a screening."
The blackmail was crystal clear in his voice, his eyes glittering with malicious amusement.
My rage erupted. "You're both monsters! David's dogs! I won't give you anything!"
I slammed my plate down and stormed away from the table, my body trembling with fury, tears stinging my eyes.
---
I grabbed my bag and car keys, desperate to escape. Outside, London's streets bustled with their usual chaos—traffic, crowds of people. But my mind remained tangled in knots.
*Is there really evidence of murder in the Black Book? Did Father actually kill David's partner? Or is this all fabrication? If it's true, what happens to our family?*
I drove to the office in a daze—our headquarters, a towering skyscraper where thousands of employees worked. But today, my mind was fractured, volatile. I snapped at the smallest things.
In a meeting, an employee submitted a report late. "What is this garbage? Fire him! Get him out!" I shouted, though it was barely a minor infraction.
Another employee stumbled during a presentation. "What do we pay you for? Get out of my sight!"
My voice echoed harshly through the conference room, my face flushed red with anger. The employees stared in shocked fear—I was usually composed, professional, but today anxiety had transformed me into someone unrecognizable.
David's message kept replaying in my mind—*the videos, the Black Book.* Should I break into the study and steal it? But what if I'm caught?
Then my phone vibrated. A message from Mom and Dad: *"Sweetheart, we're arriving home this evening. Flight from Paris. Miss you!"*
My heart rate spiked even higher. *This evening? If they arrive and I haven't found the Black Book... if David releases those videos before the deadline...*
The anxiety intensified, wrapping around my throat like invisible fingers. *Will they discover everything? Will David release the videos anyway?*
I sat at my desk, unable to focus on work. Plans churned through my mind—*breaking into the study, but how? The Black Book—what IS it?*
Father always called it his diary, but David claimed it contained records of illegal deals. *Does it hold evidence of murder? Or something else—maybe codes, safe keys, account numbers?*
One thing became clear: *that book cannot fall into anyone's hands. If it does, our family is finished.*
But Sophia—she was probably already plotting how to find it. Would she break into the study herself? Or send Damien?
I grabbed my phone and texted Alex: *"Need you home early tonight. Important."*
No reply.
Evening was approaching, and the mysteries kept multiplying, growing darker. *Is David's plan even bigger than I thought? Does he want more than the book? Does he want Father dead?*
I decided to leave the office—*I need to go home and figure this out.*
But the worry gnawed at me constantly—*the Black Book, the secret that must never be revealed.*
---
I arrived home. The mansion suddenly felt ominous—every shadow seemed to hide something sinister. Sophia was in the kitchen, Damien nearby. They were silent, as if waiting for something.
I moved toward the study—quietly, carefully. The door was locked, but I had a key.
I slipped inside. Father's desk dominated the room, surrounded by shelves of books and the imposing safe.