NOVPUB
Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Liam’s Initiation II
Liam barely had time to process the madness around him before a woman with massive tits suddenly passed right in front of him, deliberately shaking her jiggling assets in his face. His deep blue eyes flickered as he instinctively took a small step back, but damn—those things were defying gravity. She winked at him before disappearing into the crowd, her hips swaying dangerously with every step.
Liam exhaled sharply, muttering under his breath, "Shit... If this is what every initiation looks like, they need to start hiring new members every damn day."
He was still processing the sheer absurdity of this place when he suddenly felt a strong hand grab his wrist. His first instinct was to jerk away, but when he turned his head, he saw that it was one of the burly guards from the entrance.
"You’re in the wrong place, sir," the guard said firmly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in Liam’s appearance—the black suit, the shining dress shoes, and the thin black cloth strapped around his eyes.
Liam furrowed his brows, his lips parting slightly. Wrong place? He glanced around again at the half-naked, drunk people grinding against each other and thought, Yeah, no shit. But what the hell did that mean?
Without another word, the guard began leading him away. Liam followed, stepping through the chaotic crowd as music pounded in his ears. The further they walked, the fewer people were around, until they reached a dimly lit corridor at the back.
Liam recognized this hallway—it was where he came from earlier. But instead of heading back to the entrance, the guard took a sharp turn toward the other side of the hall.
Liam immediately frowned.
"That’s a dead end," he pointed out, crossing his arms.
The guard simply glanced at him before saying, "No, it isn’t."
Before Liam could argue, the guard walked straight up to the wall and pressed his palm against it.
Click.
Liam’s jaw dropped slightly as the entire wall shifted backward before silently sliding open, revealing a hidden passage. Behind it, a sleek, modern elevator stood waiting, its metallic doors gleaming under the dim light.
Liam blinked. "What the actual fuck?"
The guard didn’t respond. He simply gestured for Liam to enter.
Liam hesitated for only a second before stepping inside. As soon as he did, the guard watched him closely, waiting until Liam was completely inside before pressing something on the panel. The elevator doors slid shut, and just like that, Liam was descending.
The ride was eerily smooth—too smooth. There was no jerking motion, no mechanical sounds. It was almost as if he was floating downward.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
Liam pulled it out and saw a new message from Ann. It was a video file.
His brows furrowed slightly, but just as he was about to tap on it, the elevator came to an abrupt stop.
The doors slid open, revealing a stunningly elegant scene.
Liam stepped out and immediately felt like he had walked into a completely different world.
The underground chaos of the club above was gone. Instead, he found himself standing in what looked like a luxurious private gathering—a party for the elite.
The room was massive, its high ceilings adorned with intricately designed chandeliers that cast a golden glow over everything. Soft classical music played in the background, blending seamlessly with the faint murmurs of people engaged in hushed conversations.
Men dressed in perfectly tailored black suits stood in small groups, sipping expensive wine and exchanging quiet words. Some of them had their faces hidden behind elegant black masks, adding to the air of mystery.
The women were no less captivating, dressed in stunning evening gowns, their movements graceful and refined.
Liam barely had time to take it all in before a familiar scent brushed past him—sweet yet dangerously alluring.
His body tensed. He knew that fragrance.
Turning his head slightly, his eyes landed on her.
Lilith.
But unlike before, she wasn’t in her usual sharply tailored suit.
She was wearing a black evening gown, and holy fuck did she wear it well.
The fabric clung to her hourglass figure, hugging her waist before flaring subtly at the hips. The gown was designed to be both elegant and seductive, with a deep V-cut neckline that revealed just enough of her smooth, flawless skin to tease the imagination.
Her golden-blonde hair was styled in loose waves, cascading over her shoulders like liquid gold, and her feline-like eyes gleamed under the soft lighting, holding that dangerous, unreadable intensity.
The slit of her dress ran dangerously high along her left thigh, revealing long, sculpted legs as she took a slow, deliberate step forward. The thin straps of her dress rested lightly on her shoulders, framing her delicate collarbones and the subtle curve of her neck.
If she looked dangerously beautiful in a suit, then in this gown—she was downright lethal.
Liam was still processing her appearance when she rolled her eyes at him.
"Took you long enough," she said, her voice smooth and dripping with amusement.
Liam exhaled slowly, shoving his hands into his pockets as he arched a brow.
"You never said my initiation came with a damn dress code."
Lilith just laughed at Liam’s words, the sound smooth and rich, like velvet laced with amusement. Her feline-like eyes sparkled under the warm golden glow of the chandeliers as she lifted her glass, taking a slow sip before finally speaking.
"Welcome to the Black Lotus."
Liam blinked. Then he blinked again.
That was it?
He raised a brow, staring at her with an almost deadpan expression. "That’s it?"
Lilith, who had already begun turning away, paused mid-step. She turned back to face him, eyes narrowing slightly.
"What?"
Liam exhaled, running a hand through his dark brown hair, messing it up even more. "So, let me get this straight... I dressed up in a suit, came all the way here, and that’s all you have to say? ’Welcome to the Black Lotus’? You couldn’t just text that over the phone?"
Lilith blinked twice.
What the actual fuck was this guy on about again?
For a second, she just stared at him, processing the sheer absurdity of his complaint. Then, she let out a slow, exaggerated sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Liam, we’re literally throwing a party for you," she said, sounding both amused and exasperated. "The least you can do is show some appreciation, bitch."
With that, she turned on her heel, rolling her eyes dramatically before striding off, her black gown flowing elegantly behind her.
Meanwhile, the two men standing guard beside her?
They were frozen.
Their eyes were wide as they turned to look at Liam, then back at Lilith’s retreating figure, then back at Liam again.
They looked like they had just witnessed a miracle.
Because what the hell did they just see?
This kid just called their boss out, and instead of gutting him on the spot, she just... walked away?
If it were anyone else, their head would’ve been rolling across the marble floor already.
Yet this guy? He got away with it.
They exchanged glances before shaking their heads, silently deciding to pretend they saw nothing.
Liam, on the other hand, was completely unaware of the mini heart attacks he had just given them. He simply exhaled through his nose before deciding to explore the party on his own.
As he walked around the venue, he could feel people’s eyes on him.
Occasionally, someone would turn their head and smile at him, a polite but curious expression on their faces. It was obvious he was new, and many of them took it upon themselves to silently welcome him.
Liam, being the socially adaptable guy he was, offered them a small nod and a forced smile in return.
On the outside, he looked calm and approachable.
On the inside?
This is so fucking cringe.
The entire "warm welcome" thing made him itch, and the more he walked, the more he realized how fake everything felt.
This isn’t a gang... It’s a damn networking event.
Shaking his head, he decided he needed a drink.
He made his way over to the bar, where an older bartender stood behind the sleek, glass-countered setup. Bottles of aged whiskey, fine wine, and premium spirits were neatly displayed behind him, glowing under the ambient lighting.
Liam leaned against the counter, tapping his knuckles lightly against the surface.
"Give me something," he said.
The bartender, a middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair, simply nodded. Without a word, he grabbed a few bottles, expertly mixing a drink.
Liam watched as the guy poured, stirred, and added some kind of garnish before sliding the glass across the counter.
Raising a brow, Liam picked up the drink, bringing it to his lips. 𝒏𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝒐𝙢
The moment the liquid hit his tongue—
He froze.
His entire body went still.
It took everything in him not to immediately spit it out.
His throat burned as he was forced to swallow, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.
After a second, he exhaled sharply, staring down at the now offensive drink in his hand before looking back up at the bartender.
His voice was flat. "I told you to give me something, not alcohol."
The bartender gave him a look. "This is something."
Liam pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just give me wine, please."
For a moment, the bartender just stared at him before shaking his head, muttering something under his breath as he turned to grab a bottle of red wine instead.
Liam didn’t even argue.
He wasn’t here to cause trouble.
Since this was his first time at the Black Lotus, he was on his best behavior.
And that included not snapping at the bartender for trying to burn his insides with pure gasoline.
When the bartender finally handed him a glass of wine, Liam took a slow sip, letting the rich, smooth taste settle on his tongue.
Much better.
With his drink in hand, he leaned back against the bar, scanning the room.
If this was a "welcome party" for him, then he had to admit—
It wasn’t entirely terrible.
But still...
Something about this whole thing felt too polished. Too controlled.
And Liam had a feeling...
The real initiation hadn’t even begun yet.
