Chapter 2 CITY OF DREAMS AND LIES

*Point of View: Lila Carter*

Outside my window, I can hear the bustle of the city as I wake up in my little apartment in New York. People yell and cars honk. It is really unlike from my little town. The thought of Ethan Blackwood's grin in that news shot from yesterday night still makes my pulse race. I shove it aside with a shake of my head. Not to worry about him, but to hold him accountable for what he did to Dad. My feet feel chilly on the hard floor as I get out of bed and reach inside the bag for my blue outfit. The interview with Blackwood Enterprises is today. I must be flawless.

I brush my curly hair as I stand in front of the broken mirror. Despite the frightened expression in my brown eyes, I try to grin. I murmur, "You can do this, Lila." Today, I'm not Lila Carter. I'm Lila Smith, an unmarried female who is prepared to work for Ethan. After packing my luggage and filling up my fictitious résumé, I leave. The air in the city smells of smoke and coffee. I go quickly, avoiding pedestrians on the pavement. I feel insignificant as tall structures tower above me, yet I continue.

The massive Blackwood Enterprises is made of bright metal and glass. My sneakers creak on the marble floor as I enter. At the front desk, a lady glances up. "Lila Smith? For the position of assistant?" she inquires. My throat tightens as I nod. She gestures toward an elevator. "The top level. Avoid being late. My stomach turns around as soon as I enter the elevator. A large office with elegant seats and a view of the whole city is accessible via the doors. I feel like a child breaking into an adult gathering.

My name is called by a guy in a suit. "Come in, Miss Smith." I follow him to a big table in a room. Three individuals sit with papers in their hands. One of them, a spectacled lady, grins. She asks, "Tell us about yourself." I inhaled deeply before beginning my made-up tale. "My name is Lila Smith. I like planning and assisting others. I used to work for a small business, where I kept everything organized. My hands tremble under the table, but my voice remains firm. They take notes while nodding.

"Why do you want to work for Mr. Blackwood?" the guy in the suit says. My heart skips a beat. I think about Dad and how he was destroyed by Ethan's company. But I'm grinning. "Blackwood Enterprises' size and success are admirable. I want to develop with it and learn about it. They seem content with it. When the lady inquires about my abilities, I respond that I'm excellent with scheduling and have a fast problem-solving speed. I'm intelligent and know how to put in a lot of effort, so it's not all falsehoods. They claim they'll give me a call shortly and thank me.

My legs are unsteady as I exit the building. Now, the city seems to be supporting me more loudly. I succeeded. I didn't make a mistake. I go to a coffee shop and have a nice beverage while sitting near the window. I am concerned when my phone is silent all day. What if I'm not chosen? Getting close to Ethan is the key to my whole strategy. I have to uncover his secrets, the ones that will cause his business to fail. As I look at folks walking by, I wonder whether they can tell that I'm acting.

I recline on my bumpy bed and look up at the ceiling that night. My thin drapes let in the shine of the city lights. Mom is undoubtedly concerned about me when I think of her back home. I can't go back until I complete this, even if I miss her. I take Dad's photo out of my backpack. He's grinning and cuddling me like a child. I whisper, "I'm doing this for you." Even if my eyes hurt, I don't weep. I must be resilient.

My phone calls the next morning. With my heart racing, I grasp it. A voice says, "This is Blackwood Enterprises, Miss Smith." "You were hired. Are you able to begin tomorrow? I almost drop the phone. Indeed! I'm grateful. I exclaim, raising my voice. I hang up and bounce on my bed, giggling. I'm on board. I will be employed by Ethan Blackwood. I will be in close proximity to him, allowing me to learn everything.

I prepare throughout the day. I fix my clothing and get an inexpensive notepad to seem professional. My thoughts are racing; maybe I will hear him discuss terrible transactions or discover documents in his office. Like a spy in a movie, I'll be cunning. However, Ethan's face keeps coming back to me as I attempt to fall asleep that night. The news picture's blue eyes. What if he treats me well? What happens if I become fond of him? I give a headshake. No. He is the villain. I will not be duped by him.

Morning arrives quickly. I get into my outfit and go to Blackwood Enterprises by the metro. I grip my luggage tightly as it becomes congested. The lady at the desk leads me upstairs when I arrive at the building. She adds, "Mr. Blackwood is waiting." I feel sick to my stomach. It's this. When I enter a large office, I see Ethan Blackwood. He has black hair, a sharp suit, and is taller than I anticipated. My breath catches as he grins. "You mean Lila Smith? He extends his hand and adds, "Welcome to the team."

His grasp is firm and warm as I shake it. Even though my heart is racing, I maintain a composed expression. With a courteous tone, I reply, "Thank you, Mr. Blackwood." He points to a desk outside his office and instructs me to call him Ethan. He explains, "You'll help with meetings, answer calls, and maintain my schedule." Unlike what I imagined, his voice is gentle. I write it down in my notepad and nod. I get a strange feeling, like a flutter in my chest, when he grins again.

I'm sitting at my desk by myself as Ethan departs for a meeting. I glance toward the door to his office. It's there, full with mysteries that I need to know. I look around, but nobody is looking. I grab for the doorknob, but I stop myself. Not quite yet. I must be intelligent. I take a seat again and pretend to concentrate, but my thoughts are racing. Ethan and I are now very close. I have the power to destroy him. However, his grin lingers in my mind while I sit there, and I wonder what he would say to me the next day. Then I hear footsteps. A person carrying a "Confidential" folder is approaching. My heart stops. What's in there?