Irresistible Obsession

LILY'S POV

The city buzzed outside my apartment window, the distant hum of traffic and the occasional wail of a siren filtering through the thin walls, but inside, everything felt suffocatingly still. Caleb was late again. No surprise there. He always was. But tonight, the quiet felt different, heavier.

I wrapped my fingers around the warm mug of green tea, but the heat did nothing to soothe the tightness that had settled deep in my chest. He'd promised he'd be home by eight. It was already ten, and there was no word. No call. No text.

I checked my phone again, half-expecting to see a message from him, an apology or an explanation. But the screen was bare, save for a few spam texts and random notifications.

I paused when I saw Caleb's name, my thumb hovering over it, the usual routine playing out in my mind. I'd call, he'd apologize, and I'd pretend it was okay. But there was a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something wasn't right. Something hadn't been right for a while.

Just then, a message from Jess popped up on the screen.

Jess: You awake?

Me: Yeah. Caleb's late again.

Jess: What a shocker.

Me: He's at a business dinner.

Jess: Business dinner or business anything else dinner?

Me: Don't start.

Jess: I'm just saying, girl. You deserve better. You're too good for him.

Me: I'm fine. Seriously.

Jess: Sure you are.

I snorted at her message, shaking my head. Jess had been on me for months about Caleb. She knew. I knew. Hell, everyone knew Caleb wasn't the perfect boyfriend I made him out to be. He was a liar. A cheater. But I kept making excuses. I wasn't ready to face it. Not yet.

A faint creak from the front door interrupted my thoughts. Caleb had finally arrived. I glanced at the clock. Ten-thirty. Not that it mattered.

He stepped in, his dark suit slightly rumpled, tie hanging loosely around his neck. He looked like the same charming, well-put-together man who came home late from "work" every night. But there was a lingering scent in the air, floral and expensive—definitely not my perfume.

"Hey, babe," he said, his voice low and apologetic, like he'd rehearsed it. "Sorry I'm late. Dinner ran longer than expected."

I didn't respond right away. I just stood there, staring at him, trying not to ask the question burning on the tip of my tongue. Where were you? But the words got stuck in my throat.

"Green tea?" he asked, his smile quick, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'll make you another cup."

"Don't bother," I said, my voice quiet, too quiet. The unease gnawing at me was impossible to ignore now.

He leaned in, brushing his lips against my forehead in what I knew was supposed to be a casual, loving gesture. But something about it felt wrong, forced. And that damn scent lingered, hanging in the air like an accusation.

"Everything okay?" Caleb asked, pulling back, his eyes searching my face, like he was looking for a crack in my facade.

I blinked, forcing a smile, even though it felt brittle. "Yeah. Just tired."

He gave a small nod, seemingly satisfied with my answer, before disappearing into the bathroom. I exhaled a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

I grabbed my phone again, scrolling through the messages. I didn't need to look far to see Jess's name flashing at the top.

Me: He's home. Smells like someone else's perfume.

Jess: I swear, Lily, if you don't confront him, I will.

Me: Drop it, Jess. You don't get it.

Jess: I get it. You just don't want to.

Her words hit harder than I expected. They stung, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth, but I couldn't argue. Not yet. I wasn't ready to face it. Not when I wasn't sure if I could handle the truth.

The next morning, I glanced at the clock—9:30 a.m. Caleb had already gone. No surprise there. He was always out early, always had some "meeting" or "client" to entertain. His world was full of convenient excuses, and I was starting to wonder if I still believed them.

I grabbed my phone, scrolling through the messages. Jess was the first to reach out.

Jess: You okay?

Me: Yeah. Just waking up.

Jess: Are you meeting Caleb's brother today?

Me: We're supposed to have lunch at his place.

Jess: Damien? He's the one I told you about, right? The scary one?

Me: Yeah. Him.

Jess: I hope you're not going to let him mess with your head, too.

Me: What do you mean?

Jess: You'll see for yourself. Just... be careful.

Damien Black. I'd met him a few times—always at Caleb's insistence. Each time, I felt unsettled by him, though I couldn't put my finger on why. He wasn't like Caleb. He wasn't charming, not in the way that Caleb could be. Damien didn't need charm. He was cold, calculated, and his gaze… his gaze never seemed to miss a thing. And when our eyes met, I felt like he was looking through me, seeing something that didn't belong to Caleb.

When Caleb and I arrived at Damien's penthouse, the tension in the air was thick, suffocating. The brothers stood at opposite ends of the room, barely acknowledging each other. Damien's gaze, though, never strayed far from me.

"Brother," Damien said, his voice smooth but distant, like he was addressing a subordinate, not a sibling. "You're late."

Caleb grinned, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Had a long dinner."

Damien didn't respond right away. His dark eyes shifted to me again, and for a split second, the faintest of smirks tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Lily," he said, his voice low, commanding, like he was already in control. "It's been too long."

"Yeah, it has," I said, my voice a little too light, trying to sound casual, though the weight of his stare made it hard to breathe.

"Come in," he said, stepping aside, but his eyes remained fixed on mine. "Dinner's already served."

I didn't move at first. Something about Damien unsettled me more than I cared to admit. The air between us was thick with unspoken words, promises of something darker.

But I walked in anyway.