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The Price of Rivalry follows Olivia Carter, a fiercely determined CEO, as she battles to prove her worth in the high-stakes world of corporate power. Handpicked to run her family’s green tech empire, Carter Wave Solutions, Olivia has spent her life preparing to defy expectations and make her mark. But her rise is challenged by Dimitri Stavros, a billionaire whose family controls a multinational conglomerate that dominates the business world.

Arrogant, ruthless, and dangerously captivating, Dimitri is used to bending the world to his will. When Olivia outmaneuvers him in a critical boardroom showdown, she shatters his carefully curated dominance, sparking a clash that transcends business.

Their rivalry becomes personal, a battle of manipulation and power where neither is willing to back down. Dimitri, furious at his defeat, devises a plan to punish Olivia in a way that forces her to confront her own vulnerabilities. But as their fiery confrontations lead to undeniable passion, the lines between love and revenge blur, threatening to destroy them both.

The Price of Rivalry

There are two sides to power. The one the world sees—the clean, polished image of wealth, success, and untouchable influence. And then there's the side that remains in the shadows, the one built on blood, fear, and absolute control.

The Stavros name was known across industries—shipping, oil, finance, and now, renewable energy. But what people conveniently ignored was that true power didn't come from boardrooms or contracts. It came from ensuring that every deal was honored, every debt repaid, and every betrayal punished.

That was the part of my family's business few dared to speak about. The part where our enemies didn't just lose—they ceased to exist.

I had learned from a young age that power had to be taken, not given. My father, Marinos Stavros, had instilled that lesson early. He was a businessman on paper, but in reality, he had built an empire through both strategy and ruthlessness. He had ensured that the Stavros Conglomerate thrived—not just because we had the sharpest minds in business, but because we eliminated threats before they could ever become real problems.

And now, as I sat in my office in Athens, nursing a whiskey, I had a new problem.

The name sat heavy in my mind, a minor irritation growing into something sharper. She had rejected my offer—without negotiation, without hesitation. That wasn't how things worked in my world.

Every company we acquired either came willingly or was persuaded. No one simply walked away from the Stavros Conglomerate.

I swirled the amber liquid in my glass, my fingers tightening slightly around the crystal rim. It wasn't about the deal anymore. It was about the principle.

Carter Wave Solutions wasn't just another company. It was one of the few left standing in the way of my expansion into renewable energy. If Olivia thought she could keep her father's company independent, she was sorely mistaken.

I picked up my phone, dialing Alexandros. He answered immediately.

"Of course," he replied smoothly. "The meeting is confirmed for tomorrow. Their head of operations will be there, along with Carter herself."

"I want a full report on their finances before then," I said. "Weak spots, liabilities—anything we can use."

"Already in progress," Alexandros said. "But Dimitri, I have to warn you—Olivia Carter isn't like the other CEOs we've dealt with. She's young, but she's got a reputation for being stubborn. She won't be easy to break."

I chuckled, leaning back in my chair. "They never are in the beginning."

I ended the call, setting my glass down as I stared at the

city skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Tomorrow, I will meet Olivia Carter.

CHAPTER EIGHT : Power, Blood, and Business