Page 17

CHAPTER 16

J essica

For Immediate Release

(Chicago, Illinois, June 4, 2025)—Wilder Blackwell, CEO of The Blackwell Group announced today the release of their highly anticipated virtual reality game, Dark Nights. The release coincides with a weekend of celebrations regarding the formation of the company with by invitation only festivities being held Saturday night at the Waldorf Astoria.

“I have a surprise for you.”

I had my phone cradled against my neck as I continued typing in several strings of code. I hated to admit I was barely paying attention to Stephanie. My mind had remained in a tremendous fog for the few days since…

Ugh.

I couldn’t even think about what had occurred at my house only a few nights before. Since then, I’d questioned everything from my morals to my sanity. That had been in the process of attempting to figure out not only why I hadn’t struggled more when the masked monster had been in my home or why I hadn’t called the police after he’d left. Even worse, how in God’s name I’d come close to enjoying the experience.

Don’t lie to yourself. It was the perfect fantasy.

“Uh-huh,” I finally said before hitting the testing mode. Shit. It didn’t work. What was I doing wrong?

“Did you hear what I said?” Stephanie said, increasing the volume of her voice. Oh, that did it.

“What?” Now I was more exasperated. Not with her. With my entire life. I was now fucking up at work on top of being a terrible human being. I’d said someone deserved to die and couldn’t take the words back because at the time, I’d meant them. Yes, I did believe true butchers of this world deserved any and every punishment they received no matter how heinous, but I had no clue if what Sinner had told me was even correct.

“I have a surprise. Remember the gala for the Blackwell Group?”

At this point, I couldn’t even think about that job. Well, I had a couple of times since no new invitation had arrived in the mail. That meant I was likely out of the competition. I wasn’t certain how to feel about it since all I’d really wanted was revenge. Somehow, it paled now to everything else.

“You know my dad is a huge contributor to various arts programs. Right?” Stephanie rattled on.

“You mean your father, one of the richest men in Chicago?”

She giggled as if I was teasing her. Her father was rich as sin and made no bones about spouting the details regarding his good fortune either. “Okay, I know. But sometimes his connections work to our benefit.”

“What does that mean?” I studied my notes then the computer screen. Shit. I’d typed a few numbers incorrectly. I just couldn’t concentrate at this point.

“That means he was invited to the huge event but can’t go. So… I asked if I could use them. He said yes!”

“Good for you. Have fun.” I dropped the phone and quickly retyped the numbers, holding my breath before hitting the testing button. A huge sigh of relief floated from deep in my chest. It worked.

“Are you there?” Stephanie shouted.

Exhaling, I grabbed the phone, trying to put a smile on my face so I didn’t sound as aggravated as I felt. Why was my life crumbling around me? I needed to get control over myself. “I’m here. I hope you have a great time. Are you going with your boyfriend?”

“Oh, please. I kicked that two-timer to the curb.”

“Ouch.”

“He’s the one who should be saying that right about now since I punched him in the eye.”

I had to laugh. “You’re a tough girl. I love that about you. So who are you going with?”

“Duh. Had any coffee today? You, silly. I thought if you went, then maybe you’d make an incredible impression and they’d feel compelled to hire you.”

Oh, hell, no.

“I am not going to some swanky event. Over my dead body. You know how I feel about dressing up.” I glanced down at the faded jeans and older shirt I’d chosen that morning. I was lucky I’d managed to crawl out of bed and pick something clean to wear. After the sleepless night, I felt raw and mostly unstable.

Mostly because my behavior had been so out of the ordinary. All I’d been able to determine was that the vile game had somehow managed to alter my brain waves.

“Oh, come on. When you dress up, you look amazing,” she chided.

“Oh, thanks. That means I look like shit the rest of the time. I feel so adored.”

Stephanie snorted in that cute way of hers. “I’m serious. This could be the break you’re looking for.”

“Do you really think I have anything to wear?”

“Well, no… But we can go shopping ahead of time.”

“For a long dress and heels?”

“Yep. And I know the perfect store you’re going to love.”

“I didn’t say I was going with you,” I told her, smiling from the results of the test.

“Yes, you are. What do you have to lose?”

Maybe the rest of my sanity if I got the job and was forced to work on insane games like the one I played. And it was releasing today of all days. I couldn’t imagine the feeding frenzy the stores would have. I imagined there were lines leading around the block.

“I’m not good at formal events. Just ask my dad.” It was true. I’d gone with my father to one of his fancy events at a posh and upper class location near the Baltimore Harbor and had fallen into the fountain outside after tripping on my own two feet. My father had been so embarrassed he’d never asked me to be his plus one again.

“You’ll do fine. We’ll just mingle, have a couple drinks and see if we can catch the eye of the board of directors.”

“What about Xander?”

“You can steer clear of him. No biggie. I can help with that. Maybe I’ll even flirt with him a little. Or a lot.” She was giggling far too much. “Remember that there are four other board members.”

Yes, there were. Including Elizabeth. She’d been very nice, receptive to my ideas even after I’d been a bitch while making my recommendations. I’d allowed Xander to push my buttons because of the past. Not the present. And certainly not the future. Was it possible I could ignore the electricity I’d felt with the man?

I thought about the offer, weighing the pros and cons. While I wasn’t in the right mindset at all, the idea wasn’t bad. As long as I wanted to be conniving, why not thrive on chaos along the way? Oh, I could already tell I was in way over my head. All the years of thinking about the terrible things I’d do to the man and his entire world suddenly seemed childish. What I was doing wouldn’t bring my sister back nor would it alleviate the pain. I had my future to think about.

“Fine, I’ll go, but if this backfires on me, your ass is grass,” I told her.

“Bring it, baby. By the way. Have you heard about this secret society thing with Blackwell?”

A small knot formed in my stomach. “You’re talking about the frequent flyers who get glorious perks? Every company has them.”

“No, silly. The Obsidian Society.”

I closed my eyes. “No, I have no clue what you’re talking about. What society and how did you hear about it?” I’d been terrible at being honest with myself lately, but I’d continued to dig for information on the possibility it existed. What was it I hoped to find other than an easier way of bringing Xander down?

“Oh, my father hears things.”

I would never tell her, but from the little experience I’d had with the man, her father had meddled in things he shouldn’t stick his nose in. I’d heard certain rumors about him as well. He wasn’t the down to earth guy from Kentucky he liked to portray himself as. “What things?”

“Let’s see. There’s very little known, but the people in the club are all required to wear obsidian stone rings at all times. Did you notice one on Xander’s finger?”

I pictured the man in my mind, but I wasn’t wasting time looking at his fingers. I’d been stupid enough to remain mesmerized by the man’s stunning good looks. “Not really.”

“Well, that can be our mission. If the board is all wearing them, it’s confirmation this society exists. Daddy told me the ring signifies their loyalty to the organization. Only death is an acceptable out. Can you believe that?” I wasn’t certain if Steph was just trying to get a reaction.

“You know how people like to talk and make up shit. Your father might have fallen prey to sensationalism. Even if it’s true, maybe it’s for those in the company who achieve certain goals.”

“Maybe, but from what Daddy said, the initiation into this great society is very suspect and highly dangerous.”

“Dangerous? How so?”

“I heard people have died going through the tests.”

The bratty part of me was curious and wanted to ask if her father had applied and failed. Nope. I couldn’t sink that low.

“And how would your father know?” I had more of a demanding tone in my voice than I’d wanted.

“He knows things. You said so yourself he knows people. Daddy mentioned the company is highly suspect and the three brothers deadly dangerous. They use predatory methods to get what they want. Not just in business.”

“Are you attempting to talk me out of going after the position?”

“I’m suggesting you might not know what you’re getting yourself into. But I know you well enough even after only being your friend for three years. You’re going to stop at nothing to get what you want. I just don’t understand why you’re willing to play their games. Or to play by their rules. Make your own.”

Now that was one decent piece of advice.

Stephanie didn’t often mince words, but she was attempting to be polite, including the use of metaphors. “The reward is worth the effort.”

“If you say so.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to get back to work. Right now, I couldn’t think about the Blackwell Group. The entire situation had unnerved me to the point where I was wired beyond normalcy. “Well, then I’ll keep that in mind. Just try not to fall prey to gossip. Tell your father that as well.”

“Ri-ight. You, the current gossip queen. And my daddy would kick my butt. Plus, remember. He’s providing the tickets.”

“I am not a gossip hound, but if he’s so worried about the three men being so damn dangerous, why did he give you the tickets in the first place?” When she didn’t answer, I sat back in my seat, closing my eyes and holding my hand over them. “You stole them. Didn’t you?”

“Maybe.”

“Oh, my God. You’re worse than I am.”

We both laughed, but I now wondered whether I had a fucking clue what I was getting myself into.

“There’s just one thing about the event. One tiny thing.”

“Now you tell me. What?”

She hesitated briefly. “It’s a masked party.”

“What? For a fifteen-year celebration and the release of a new game?” But in a way it made perfectly good sense. Anonymity in the gaming world was a necessity. Plus, it would make for a juicy concept around the release of Dark Nights. What an appropriate name. “As in full costumes?”

“Just masks. Any kind.”

A slight series of creepy crawlies swept up my spine. “That’s… interesting.” Make my own rules. Maybe I’d use that as a mantra.

“It could be fun. I know a little place we can grab a couple masks as well,” Stephanie said.

“Is there any store in town you don’t know?”

“A few. After work? Shopping? Maybe a little vino. I do need a buddy with a shoulder to sob on.”

“Oh, yeah. You sound really broken up.” She’d been through more men in one year than I’d dated in my lifetime. And I was twenty-six years old, for God’s sake.

“I am. Not. But it will be fun to do some shopping.”

As if she didn’t have some new fabulous outfit on every time I saw her. “Yes, it’s fine. Where do you want to meet?”

She mentioned a location and I made a mental note, praying my screwed-up brain wouldn’t forget.

“One last question,” Stephanie muttered and I’d be damned if her tone wasn’t coy.

“What?”

“Are you ever going to explain why you’re using an assumed name?”

“Um, maybe.”

“You do know falsifying records could get you fired before you’re hired.”

“I’m willing to take that chance. Just remember if anyone recognizes us at the event, I’m Sophie. Got it?”

“Oh, so mysterious. Got it.”

After we ended the call, I tossed the phone on my desk and glanced at the screen again. At least something had worked over the last few days.

The night would haunt me for a long time. Since then, I’d seen no sign of him. Not one. But I’d felt him. As if he was enjoying remaining in the shadows, making me as uncomfortable as possible.

I was so lost in thought that I hadn’t noticed someone was suddenly standing right by my cubicle door.

The presence made me jump.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Jessica. I didn’t mean to scare you.” My boss was standing right there. He was such a nice guy, but only came down to the trenches when we had our group team meeting. Other than that, he stayed behind a locked door performing magic with codes and designs.

“It’s okay. Just a little jumpy today. What can I do for you, Mr. Carter? Um, Sam.” He’d insisted only first names be used by everyone.

He grinned. “Do you have a couple minutes? I’d like to talk to you.”

“Of course.”

He nodded over his shoulder and I followed behind him like a dutiful employee when I also felt as if I was betraying the man. Yes, people switched jobs often including in this industry, but he’d been very good to me, including nurturing my original games by offering his supportive advice.

At least he was whistling, which meant he was in a good mood. Every associate in the company had taken bets he’d be in a rotten mood because of the surprise release from the Blackwell Group. Maybe he had something up his sleeve. We’d all been working so hard on our own new products, but I never learned about official releases until it was usually two weeks out.

He took the stairs up to the floor above as he usually did, nodding to several of our colleagues as he headed to his office. Once inside, he held the door open for me and I was surprised when he closed it. He never did unless the situation was serious.

I stood where I was and he seemed amused. “You can sit down, Jess. I’m not upset with you.”

Sitting down meant on one of his huge beanbag chairs where he preferred meeting with clients or associates. I’d thought it weird at first, but that was his way. He wanted everyone around him comfortable.

He was even wearing jeans, his usual attire every single day.

I chose the purple beanbag. He’d told his entire staff what color you chose often indicated your mood. I hoped this indicated playful.

“Are you happy here, Jess?” he asked and immediately, red flags were raised.

“You’ve been extremely kind and generous to me over the last couple of years.”

“That didn’t answer the question.”

“Yes, I’m very happy. I feel as if I make a difference.”

Sam nodded. “You do. Your work is tremendous and not just with coding either. Your designs are creative and you have a way of bringing your worlds to life with just a few sentences. I value your input as well.”

He was making me feel like a shit for even considering leaving. “Well, thank you. That means a lot.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Very glad because I’d like to offer you a promotion.”

I almost choked. While it wasn’t unheard of by any means for a current firm to offer more money to keep an employee from leaving, I was still shocked.

“I don’t know what to say.”

He laughed. “Don’t say anything until I tell you what I’m thinking. I’d like to make you vice president of creations. You’d be able to set your schedule and of course, your office would be on this floor. However, you’d have complete access to everyone on the team at your discretion. You know how much I like to remain in the loop and I expect you’ll be the same way. You’re good with people and very conscientious and I think you’ll be perfect for the job.”

I couldn’t tell if he had a clue that I was kind of interviewing with Blackwell, although at this point, I wasn’t certain if that was on the table. “I truly don’t know what to say.”

“And I don’t expect you to give me your decision until after the weekend either. I have additional information on what your salary and additional perks would be.”

“You act as if there’s a downside.”

“Well, the hours will be much longer from time to time. I also might task you to handle some traveling.”

“Not a problem.” I sensed there was more.

He stared me directly in the eyes and that also wasn’t like Sam at all. Not to this degree. “I’m going to trust you with something, and I would appreciate if you’d keep it under wraps.”

“Of course. I won’t tell a soul.”

Sam shook his head. “I assume you heard about Joel Merrick’s murder.”

“I did. Horrible thing.”

“Well, no one knows Joel and I were old buddies from a long time ago. We were in the process of merging the two companies prior to his untimely death. Given where we were at in the legalities, both companies now fall on my shoulders and that means I need additional team players who can help me create a force to be reckoned with. As you might imagine, with the release of Blackwell’s latest game, they are soaring into the stratosphere in sales already and we’ll need a tremendous boost to beat them at their own game.”

Wow. That was the only thing I could think. My confusion must be showing on my face. He smiled as if we were old friends. “Like I said, think about it over the weekend. If I want the combined companies to be able to compete with the likes of Blackwell, I need the best people standing by my side. I’d like one of those people to be you.”

“I feel honored, Mr. Carter. I mean Sam. I really do.” He was still searching my eyes just like Xander had done. God, I felt like a shit. I stood at the same time he did.

“As you might imagine, if this gets out in the industry, which so far it hasn’t, the early release of information could be detrimental. I want to hit the ground running, especially with the incredible game Joel had been working on. It could just send a stake through Blackwell Group’s heart. I can trust you with the confidential information. Yes?”

“Of course.” I had to admit that I was curious what Merrick had designed. It had always seemed Blackwell was lightyears ahead of anyone considered competition, Sindom included.

“Good to hear.”

“May I ask a terrible question about your friend?”

Sam lifted his eyebrows. “You’re curious as is everyone else about whether he was the monster the media portrayed him to be. Correct?”

The news had finally broken about his involvement with a seriously underage girl. Heinous acts had been alluded to, but I knew how the press liked to glorify the truth just a bit. “I was wondering of your involvement in the company might hurt this partnership and everything you’ve worked so hard to build.”

“I won’t lie; I had more than one sleepless night while thinking about whether I should continue moving forward. I have no doubt if Merrick’s name remained on any product the combined company would be hurt, potentially catastrophically. But I’m dropping all reference to his products and simply using my own. That was at the advice of my corporate attorney and while he and I have fought over the years, I’m going to take his advice this time. Joel was brilliant, but over the last few years, he changed. Sadly, I didn’t know how much.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“I am too, but I’ve learned during my forty-eight years on this planet that everyone has a secret. Mine? That I keep Twizzlers in my bottom drawer.”

His admittance was so out of the blue I laughed. “I don’t know what mine is. Maybe that I could eat chocolate for breakfast.” The guilt continued to eat at me, swirling like a taste of the plague.

My darkest secret is that I hunger for masked men to break into my home and fuck me.

That would go over well.

“I think we all could. Ask my wife. She is required to hide the chocolate chip cookies from me. Thank you for taking your time, Jess. Please do think about my offer. I would love to have you in the new position.” He handed me an envelope and all I could do was smile since I felt so awkward.

I nodded and headed for the door.

“Just one thing, Jess. Keep in mind that the Blackwell Group are snakes. Truly venomous snakes who will do anything in their power to destroy their competition. Including foul play of every kind. I just thought you should know.”

Something told me the promotion was a counter measure and in truth, I wasn’t certain how I felt about that at all.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” And I would, although I wondered what fate had in store for me at this point.

What terrible fate did I deserve?