Selene didn't sleep that night.
No matter how many times she tossed and turned, Ethan's words from the elevator wouldn't leave her mind.
"Lucian isn't just reckless. He's calculated. He plays the long game. And when he wants something, he doesn't stop until he owns it."
And right now, she was the prize.
But what disturbed her even more was Ethan's final warning.
"Then he won't be the only one fighting to claim you."
A shiver ran down her spine. She wasn't some possession to be fought over.
l
Yet, somehow, that's exactly where she had ended up, stuck between two men who didn't know how to lose.
The next morning, Selene stepped into Blackwood Enterprises, her heels clicking against the marble floor.
Taking the job as lead marketing strategist for their new luxury brand had felt like a dream opportunity.
That was before she realized exactly what she had walked into.
Before she met them.
A soft chime announced the elevator's arrival. She stepped in, exhaling slowly as she caught her own reflection in the mirrored walls.
She needed to set boundaries.
With both of them.
The doors slid open onto the executive floor, and she straightened her shoulders, walking toward her office.
She barely made it two steps before a deep, commanding voice cut through the air.
"Miss Carter. In my office. Now."
Lucian.
Her stomach tightened, but she kept her face calm as she followed him inside.
The moment the door shut, he turned to her. "Why didn't you answer my calls?"
Selene arched a brow. "You mean the ones at two in the morning?"
His smirk was dark. "So you saw them."
She folded her arms. "Lucian, I work for this company. I'm not…."
"Mine?" he interrupted smoothly, stepping closer.
Her breath caught, but she refused to back down.
Lucian tilted his head, watching her like she was a puzzle he was eager to solve.
"I thought about you all night," he admitted, his voice a dangerous mix of honesty and arrogance.
Selene swallowed hard. Damn him.
He was too much, too intense, too relentless.
"I don't have time for this, Lucian."
His expression darkened. "Who said I'm playing?"
Before she could respond, the office door swung open.
Ethan.
The air in the room grew heavy.
His cold blue eyes flicked between them before settling on Lucian. "If you're done wasting company time, Selene has a meeting to prepare for."
Lucian's jaw tightened, but a slow smirk tugged at his lips. "Always so protective, little brother."
Ethan's voice was ice. "Stay professional, Lucian. Or I'll make sure you regret it."
Selene inhaled sharply. The tension between them wasn't just personal, it was war.
Lucian's smirk deepened, but he finally took a step back. "We'll finish this later, sweetheart."
Selene didn't stick around. She brushed past Ethan and hurried down the hall, her pulse racing.
Even without looking, she could feel their eyes on her.
And no matter how hard she tried to deny it…
She was already in too deep.
Selene barely made it to her office before reality hit her like a ton of bricks.
This wasn't just workplace drama.
This was a war.
And she was the prize.
She dropped into her chair, exhaling slowly, trying to calm the pounding in her chest. How had she ended up caught between two billionaire brothers,one dark and dangerously charming, the other cold and calculating?
She needed to set boundaries.
Before this got out of hand.
Before they took over.
Her phone buzzed on the desk.
Lucian: Dinner. Tonight. We need to talk.
Her pulse quickened. He didn't ask, he ordered.
Another message followed almost instantly.
Ethan: Ignore him. Stay away from Lucian, Selene. You don't know what you're getting into.
A bitter laugh slipped from her lips.
Lucian wanted her.
Ethan wanted to protect her.
But at the end of the day, both were trying to control her.
And Selene Carter wasn't about to let that happen.
That afternoon, she threw herself into work, hoping the marketing presentation would be a good distraction. A chance to prove she was more than just the woman caught between the Blackwood brothers.
But the moment she walked into the boardroom, she knew it wouldn't be that simple.
Lucian sat at the head of the table, a knowing smirk on his lips. His dark eyes dragged over her, filled with confidence, like he had already won.
Across from him, Ethan leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, expression unreadable but sharp.
Selene straightened her shoulders, refusing to let them shake her. She launched into the campaign strategy, keeping her voice steady, her focus sharp.
She was composed. Professional.
But she could feel their eyes on her.
Lucian watched her like she already belonged to him.
Ethan studied her like he was waiting for her to slip.
When she finished, silence filled the room. Then…
"Impressive," Lucian murmured, fingers steepled together. "But I have one concern."
Selene met his gaze. "What is it?"
His smirk deepened. "I don't see the face of our campaign."
She frowned. "The campaign is focused on the product, not a model."
Lucian tilted his head. "Maybe it should be."
He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Tell me, Selene. Have you ever thought about being the face of luxury?"
Heat crept up her neck. "Lucian, I…."
"No."
Ethan's voice cut through the room like a blade.
Lucian arched a brow. "No?"
Ethan's jaw clenched. "She's not part of your games."
Lucian didn't blink. "Who said she was? Maybe I just think she's unforgettable."
Silence.
Selene's pulse pounded in her ears.
This wasn't about business.
It was about power.
Control.
And both brothers were trying to pull her to their side.
The meeting ended, but the tension stayed long after the room emptied.
As Selene packed up her things, Ethan appeared beside her. "Don't do it," he said quietly.
She turned to him, sighing. "Do what?"
"Get involved with Lucian."
She shook her head. "Ethan, I'm here to work. That's all."
His gaze stayed locked on hers. "Lucian doesn't play fair. And if he wants you, he won't stop."
Her heart pounded. "And you? Are you warning me for my sake… or because you don't want me near him?"
For the first time, Ethan didn't have an answer.
A long silence stretched between them.
Then, finally, he said, "Just be careful, Selene."
And with that, he walked away, leaving her more confused than ever.
One thing was clear.
She was caught in a dangerous game.
And only one Blackwood brother would win.