CHAPTER TEN: Unsettled Thoughts

Olivia

The moment I stepped out of the conference room, I felt the tension slowly uncoil from my body. But my mind? My mind was another story.

I walked through the pristine hallways of Carter Wave Solutions, my heels clicking against the marble floor, my posture composed—at least on the outside. Inside, however, I was still reeling.

Dimitri Stavros.

The name alone had carried weight before today, but now? Now it had an entirely different meaning.

The way he commanded a room without saying much. The quiet arrogance laced in his words. The way his dark eyes had held mine like they could see straight through me.

I had never felt intimidated by a man before. Not in a way that made my skin feel too tight or my breath catch in my throat. But Dimitri exuded something rare—real power. Not just the kind that came from wealth and status, but the kind that came from knowing you could control any situation, any person, with nothing but sheer will.

It was threatening.

It was irritating.

And, worst of all… it was attractive.

I shook my head, forcing my thoughts to realign. This is business, Olivia. Focus.

But my mind betrayed me, flashing back to the way he had leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable yet somehow teasing. How his voice had wrapped around every word like he knew he had all the time in the world to make his move.

I had seen handsome men before. Dated some of them. But none had ever made my stomach twist in unfamiliar ways the way Dimitri had. The worst part? I hated that feeling. I hated that for the first time in my life, I had felt butterflies in my stomach over a man.

I entered the elevator, pressing the button for the basement parking lot. As the doors slid shut, I exhaled sharply, leaning against the cold steel wall.

He was dangerous—not in the way most men were. No, Dimitri Stavros wasn't the kind of man who simply wanted control. He was control. He wielded it effortlessly, unapologetically, and with a confidence that made even seasoned businessmen wary.

And yet, something about him intrigued me.

The ride home was quiet. My driver, James, knew I preferred silence after long meetings. As the city lights blurred past the tinted windows, I let my head rest against the seat, my mind still stubbornly replaying the encounter.

I lived in a secluded estate outside the city—far enough from the corporate chaos, but close enough to remain in control of my company. The large, modern house was more of a fortress than a home, but it suited me. I had my privacy, my space, and the trusted workers who maintained it.

As the car pulled up to the long driveway, the motion-sensor lights flickered on, casting a soft glow on the sleek architecture.

I sighed, stepping out as one of my workers, Maria, greeted me at the door. "Long day?" she asked, taking my coat.

I nodded, offering a tired smile. "Something like that."

I made my way upstairs, kicking off my heels the second I reached my bedroom. The moment my body hit the bed, I closed my eyes, willing my mind to quiet down.

But it didn't.

Because no matter how much I tried to push him out, one thought lingered.

Dimitri Stavros wasn't just a business rival.

He was a problem 

And a dangerously attractive one at that.