Chapter 4

Valeria's POV

The morning air was crisp and biting, carrying the faintest hint of the city waking up, but my mind was elsewhere. My hand brushed over a stack of legal files, documents ready to bury anyone who crossed me in bureaucracy, but they were nothing more than background noise. For the first time in years, I found myself distracted. And the source of that distraction? None other than Adrian Blake.

I barely knew him, yet the man had somehow managed to push past my carefully constructed barriers. He had this infuriating habit of looking at me as though he could see beyond the façade I'd perfected over the years. I was Valeria Moretti, feared CEO and the queen of my own empire. I didn't get distracted by men. Yet Aiden… He looked at me like he was memorizing my every move, storing every word I said as if he planned to piece me together from them. I couldn't decide if it was irritating or… exhilarating.

The more I tried to shake him from my mind, the more he lingered. I poured over the details of his profile—the dossier my team had compiled for me weeks ago. Despite all the careful details of his life and career, the pages felt hollow, like they were missing something. I knew Adrian was driven, skilled, and connected in his own right, but I sensed he was hiding something, too. His presence in my life was still a mystery, and as much as I hated to admit it, that intrigued me more than it should.

I was pulled from my thoughts by a faint knock on the office door. Before I could respond, Aiden strode in, a smug smile on his face like he was fully aware he'd been on my mind. The audacity.

"Ms. Moretti." He inclined his head, his tone respectful but with a hint of insolence. Like he knew exactly how much he was getting under my skin.

I narrowed my eyes at him, adopting my usual air of aloofness. "Blake. I don't recall inviting you in."

He didn't miss a beat. "I like to think you wouldn't mind a little company," he replied, his voice smooth and unbothered.

"I do mind," I retorted, feigning an air of annoyance. But even I knew it lacked conviction. I was more curious about what he was doing here this early than I cared to admit.

Adrian smirked, clearly enjoying this little game. "Good thing I'm not easily deterred."

He settled into the chair across from my desk without waiting for an invitation, making himself at home. There was something infuriatingly natural about the way he looked, like he belonged here despite my clear boundaries.

"What do you want, Blake?" I asked, hoping my tone came off as impatient rather than curious.

He leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest, a lazy smile playing on his lips. "I wanted to talk to you about our contract."

"Our contract?" I arched an eyebrow, skeptical. "Or are you just looking for an excuse to be here?"

He didn't falter, didn't even blink. "Can't it be both?"

I let out a short, humorless laugh. "Careful. You might start sounding desperate."

"I think that's your specialty, Ms. Moretti," he shot back, his words laced with a touch of arrogance. "Isn't that why you hired me? To be desperate enough to stick around when everyone else walks away?"

The boldness of his words caught me off guard, momentarily breaking my carefully cultivated composure. "Don't mistake my tolerance for an invitation," I said coldly, hoping to put him back in his place.

His gaze never wavered. "Maybe that's exactly why I'm still here, Valeria."

The sound of my name on his lips sent a shiver down my spine, one I quickly forced myself to ignore. His eyes held a look I couldn't quite place—a mix of defiance and something more, something dangerously close to admiration. It was unsettling, but also… intriguing.

I exhaled slowly, maintaining my stoic expression. "You're here to discuss business. Stick to it."

He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as if daring me to break my own rules. "Fine. The contract. But tell me this, Valeria—how much of this contract is really business, and how much is you testing me?"

"Testing you?" I repeated, genuinely thrown for a moment. "What makes you think I'd waste my time testing you?"

"Because that's exactly what you've been doing since day one," he replied, his voice low and controlled. "Every task, every meeting… You're watching, waiting to see if I'll flinch. Admit it."

I leaned back, crossing my arms, evaluating him. He was sharper than I'd given him credit for, and that was both annoying and… impressive. "Maybe I am," I replied, my voice laced with a hint of challenge. "Does that intimidate you?"

He smirked, shaking his head. "Not at all. I like a good challenge."

For the first time, a genuine smile tugged at my lips, one I quickly masked. His confidence was infectious, a boldness that, against my better judgment, made me feel… alive.

"Then perhaps we should raise the stakes," I suggested, my tone cool but laced with intrigue. I'd seen this kind of confidence before, countless times. But Adrian wore it differently, as if he didn't just believe he could stand up to me but had already decided he would.

He leaned in, his gaze intense. "By all means, Valeria. Raise away."

There was a silent challenge between us, a quiet understanding that neither of us was willing to back down. His audacity was maddening, yet I couldn't deny the thrill that came with it.

"You should be careful, Blake," I warned, my voice low. "You're not the first to think you can handle me, and you won't be the last to fail."

His eyes gleamed with something fierce, something unyielding. "Then maybe I'll be the first to succeed."

Our eyes locked, the room filled with a charged silence. For the first time in years, I found myself on the edge, teetering between control and surrender. And though I'd never admit it, the idea of letting go, even for a moment, was… tempting.

But I pushed the thought away, reminding myself who I was. This was nothing more than a game, a carefully constructed dance where I held all the strings. And if Adrian thought he could change that, he was in for a rude awakening.

"Then I look forward to seeing you try," I said, my tone dismissive, as if I hadn't felt the intensity of the moment as much as he had.

He smirked, rising from his chair. "Oh, don't worry. I intend to. See you tomorrow."

As he walked out of my office, I watched him go, a mixture of frustration and fascination simmering beneath the surface. This man was playing with fire, and he didn't even realize it.