olivialockett0

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

The view from my penthouse in Manhattan stretched out before me, a glittering sea of lights against the night sky. But for once, the city's skyline didn't hold my attention.

I leaned back in the sleek leather chair of my in-home office, my fingers resting on the stack of documents before me—everything I needed to know about Carter Wave Solutions.

And more importantly, about Olivia Carter.

The meeting earlier had been… interesting. I had walked in expecting another predictable CEO—someone who would posture, resist briefly, then ultimately fold under pressure like the rest. But Olivia? She had been a surprise.

She had sat there, completely unbothered by my presence, her spine straight, her chin lifted. She didn't so much as flinch under my scrutiny. No hesitation, no nervousness—just unwavering confidence. Bold for someone facing a predator.

A deep, piercing green, framed by dark lashes—eyes that had held mine without fear, without submission. Mesmerizing.

I exhaled, rubbing a hand over my jaw as I leaned forward, flipping through the detailed financial reports on Carter Wave. It was a solid company, one built on strong foundations, but it had its vulnerabilities. Everything does.

But for the first time in a long time, I wasn't thinking about business.

Olivia Carter was different from the women who usually crossed my path. I had known my fair share of beautiful, ambitious women, women who sought my attention for power, money, or sheer pleasure. But Olivia? She wasn't trying to impress me. She wasn't trying to seduce me.

And yet, I couldn't stop thinking about how her full lips had moved when she argued, how her elegant posture had remained unshaken, how the fire in her gaze had burned even brighter each time she rejected my offer.

I shifted in my seat, jaw tightening at the realization of my own reaction. She was a challenge. And I liked challenges.

My groin stirred as I recalled the way her blouse had hugged her body, the smooth curve of her neck, the way her fingers had tapped lightly against the table as she spoke—controlled, poised, yet effortlessly alluring. She was undeniably attractive. And not just in the way most women were. There was something else about her.

Something that made my blood heat.

I clenched my fist, pushing away the thought. This was business. She was just another obstacle in my way. Another company I would acquire, another deal I would win.

But as I sat there, staring at her name on the documents in front of me, I knew one thing for certain.

Olivia Carter wasn't going to be just business.

That made her even more dangerous.

CHAPTER ELEVEN : Intriguing Distraction