Chapter 1: The Contract

Selene Carter thrived on high-pressure cases.

Her days were built around power suits, airtight contracts, and negotiating multimillion-dollar deals with the kind of precision that left no room for error. It was a world where emotions were liabilities and attachment was a distraction. And she had no intention of making exceptions.

So when her assistant, Ava, stepped into her office with urgency written all over her face, Selene barely glanced up from the stack of documents she was reviewing.

"You need to see this," Ava said, sliding a thick file onto her desk.

Selene sighed, picking it up. "Who's the client?"

Ava hesitated, then said, "Castellan Corp."

Selene stilled.

It wasn't the first time she had heard that name, and it sure as hell wasn't one she could ignore. Rafael Castellan's empire was synonymous with power—luxury real estate, billion-dollar acquisitions, and an influence that stretched across industries. He was a man who played the game with absolute control, and from what she had gathered, he rarely, if ever, lost.

Flipping open the file, she scanned the details. Castellan Corp was facing legal complexities in finalizing an exclusive real estate deal—one that could set a new benchmark in the market. High stakes. High rewards. And from the looks of it, Rafael wanted her to handle it personally.

Selene's brow furrowed. Why her?

"The request came in directly from his team," Ava continued. "And get this—Castellan Corp was insistent that you, specifically, take the case. If you don't, they walk."

Selene tapped a pen against her desk, considering. She wasn't flattered. She was skeptical.

Men like Rafael Castellan didn't make demands without a reason. And if he wanted her involved, it wasn't just about legal expertise.

It was about control.

And she had no intention of being controlled.

Selene closed the file, her fingers drumming against its thick cover as a dull sense of unease settled in her chest.

Rafael Castellan wasn't just another CEO—he was ruthless. A man known for making impossible deals happen, for bending the world to his will without breaking a sweat. He was also the type of client who demanded absolute loyalty, and Selene wasn't in the business of bending to anyone.

"I don't like this," she murmured, pushing the file away.

Ava gave her a pointed look. "You don't have to like it. You just have to do it."

Selene sighed, already knowing where this was going. Castellan Corp wasn't just a client—it was a power move. If her firm secured this case, it would solidify their reputation at the top. The partners wouldn't just want her to take it. They would expect it.

Right on cue, her office phone rang.

She picked up. "Carter."

"Selene." Richard Holloway's voice came through the line, smooth but firm. "I assume you've seen the Castellan file."

"I have."

"And?"

She leaned back in her chair. "It's a high-risk case with an even higher-profile client. A client who, I might add, doesn't take no for an answer. Which means that if we take this, I'll be dealing with more than just legal paperwork."

There was a pause before Holloway responded. "You're the best we have, Selene. That's why Castellan wants you. And that's why we want you on this."

A muscle in her jaw ticked.

"You're not giving me much of a choice," she said flatly.

"Not really," Holloway admitted. "But let's be honest—you love a challenge."

Selene exhaled slowly, eyes drifting back to the file.

Rafael Castellan was a man who commanded attention. Who controlled everything in his orbit. And now, whether she liked it or not, she was about to step directly into his world.

Fine, she thought.

If this was a game of control, she'd make damn sure she wasn't the one being played.

Selene stepped into Castellan Corp's headquarters, her heels clicking against the polished marble floors. The sheer scale of the building was impressive—glass walls, sleek lines, a seamless blend of modern architecture and quiet opulence. Everything about it screamed power. And at the very top of it all sat Rafael Castellan.

The elevator ride to the executive floor was smooth, silent. She took the brief moment alone to steel herself, mentally preparing for the man she was about to face. She had met countless CEOs—billionaires who thought their wealth made them untouchable, men who mistook arrogance for authority. Rafael Castellan, however, was different.

He didn't have to pretend to be powerful. He simply was.

The doors slid open, revealing a spacious, minimalist office bathed in soft, ambient lighting. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the city skyline, and in front of them, behind an imposing glass desk, sat the man himself.

Rafael didn't stand when she entered. He simply lifted his gaze, his sharp features unreadable as he watched her approach.

Dark hair, perfectly styled. A black suit that fit him like it had been made for his body alone. His presence was controlled, his expression one of pure calculation.

Selene wasn't easily unsettled, but something about the way he looked at her—cold, assessing, as if peeling back layers she hadn't even realized she was wearing—made her pulse tick just a fraction faster.

"Ms. Carter." His voice was deep, smooth, but there was no warmth in it.

She met his gaze head-on. "Mr. Castellan."

For a moment, there was only silence. A quiet battle of wills.

He didn't offer a handshake, didn't bother with pleasantries. He simply studied her like a puzzle he was in no rush to solve.

Finally, he leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled together. "You're later than I expected."

Selene arched a brow. "And yet, I'm here."

A flicker of something—amusement?—crossed his face, gone as quickly as it came.

Good, she thought.

If he was expecting her to cower under his scrutiny, he was going to be disappointed.

Selene kept her posture poised, unwavering, even as Rafael's gaze bore into her. The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken tension.

Then, he spoke.

"You reviewed the case." It wasn't a question.

She nodded. "I have."

"And?"

She exhaled slowly, keeping her voice even. "It's high-profile, high-risk. There are significant legal obstacles, and the opposing party won't go down without a fight. Your company will be under heavy scrutiny."

Rafael's lips curled slightly—not a smile, but something close. "I didn't ask for an assessment, Ms. Carter. I asked if you'll take the case."

Selene held his gaze. "I haven't decided yet."

He hummed, the sound low and thoughtful. "Interesting."

She frowned. "What is?"

Rafael leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk, the movement slow and deliberate. "I don't usually deal in uncertainty. When I want something, I get it. And right now, you are the only one I want handling this."

There was something dangerously final about the way he said it.

Selene tightened her grip on the arm of her chair. "I don't mix work with power plays, Mr. Castellan. If I take this case, I'll be in control of my own decisions."

He studied her, something unreadable flickering in his dark eyes. Then, with the ease of a man who knew he was always one step ahead, he pulled out a sleek, leather-bound folder and slid it across the desk toward her.

"What's this?" she asked, not reaching for it.

"An exclusive contract." His tone was calm, confident. "It outlines your firm's role in this case. But more importantly, it ensures that you are the lead counsel. No substitutions. No delegation."

Selene's pulse kicked up a notch. He wasn't just hiring her firm—he was locking her in, making it so she had no way to pass this case off to someone else.

"You really don't take no for an answer, do you?" she murmured.

Rafael tilted his head slightly. "I don't believe in wasted opportunities."

Selene exhaled, her fingers grazing the folder's cover. She wasn't a woman who backed down. If Rafael Castellan thought he could intimidate her into submission, he was in for a surprise.

Still, as she flipped the contract open, she couldn't shake the feeling that, from the moment she stepped into this office, she had already been playing his game.