Sinful Flames

Chapter 5

As the door closed behind Chiara Moon, my office felt smaller, like the walls were closing in. I paced around my desk, fists clenched, teeth grinding. She'd crossed a line, asking questions that no one in their right mind would dare to bring up in my presence. If anyone else had tried that, they'd be on their way to a shallow grave. But Chiara had a way of getting under my skin without breaking it. She was lucky I had a soft spot for her, or maybe she was playing with fire and didn't realize just how hot it could get.

"Evangeline," I barked, barely able to keep the edge out of my voice. My assistant came in, her eyes cautiously assessing my mood. "Buy Insight City. I want it under my control by the end of the week."

"Yes, Mr. Romano," she replied, her voice calm, though I could tell she was trying to gauge just how far I'd been pushed.

I sat back in my chair, tapping my fingers on the desk. Chiara had guts; I'd give her that. It wasn't every day that someone had the audacity to look me in the eye and ask about my Mafia connections. Even the police knew better than to go there. But Chiara? She seemed almost fearless, her eyes steady, her questions pointed. She was dangerous, but not in the way most people thought. Not the kind of danger that comes with guns and knives. Hers was more like a subtle poison, seeping in through cracks, softening defenses before you even knew what hit you.

And she was beautiful. It didn't help my temper, knowing that I was attracted to someone who could make my blood boil so quickly. It was her confidence, the way she walked into my office like she owned the place. The way she challenged me, like she didn't give a damn about my reputation. Not many people had that kind of nerve.

I rubbed my temples, trying to calm myself down. Chiara was a problem, and I needed to find a solution. I'd make sure she wrote the right story, something that painted Romano SecurTech in the best light. All those rumors about my other business? They'd disappear. I'd make sure of it. But a part of me, the part that couldn't stop thinking about her eyes, her voice, the way she smiled when she knew she'd hit a nerve—it didn't want to scare her off entirely.

I had to be careful. I couldn't just threaten her like I would anyone else. There was something different about Chiara, something that made me hesitate. It was almost like I wanted her to see through the act, to know that beneath the CEO facade, there was something more. Something that wasn't all about power and control. But I'd never let her know that. I couldn't afford to.

As I sat in my office, the scent of Chiara's perfume lingering in the air, I wondered what it would be like if things were different. If I could be honest with her, let her in on the secrets that no one else knew. But that was a dangerous path, and I didn't have the luxury of indulging in fantasies. I was a monster, and monsters don't get happy endings. They just survive, no matter the cost. And I'd make sure Chiara Moon understood that, one way or another.

Antonio burst into my office without knocking, his heavy boots thumping across the floor. The man wasn’t subtle, but then, he wasn’t paid to be. He was muscle—loyal, efficient, and deadly when needed. But right now, his loyalty meant he was concerned about the choices I’d made."Boss," he said, his voice a mix of confusion and irritation, "why’d you let her go? That journalist, Chiara. She was asking some real dangerous questions. You don’t let people walk away after asking those kinds of things."

"I've got plans, Antonio," I replied, keeping my voice calm. "Plans that require a bit of finesse. If I just made her disappear, it would draw too much attention. Besides, I’m not in the business of killing journalists... at least, not when I have other options."Antonio frowned. He wasn’t a man who liked complications. "But why buy Insight City? Isn’t that just inviting trouble?"

"Not if we control the narrative," I said, leaning forward. "Think about it. If we own the media outlet, we control what gets published. Chiara's ambitious. She’s also not stupid. If we can get her to write the story we want, all those rumors about Romano SecurTech will disappear. And she’ll be none the wiser."Antonio seemed to process my words, his eyes narrowing. "So you’re going to manipulate her?"

"Precisely," I replied, a cold smile playing at the corners of my mouth. "I’m going to keep her close. Make her feel like she’s uncovering something important while feeding her what I want her to know. It’s the best way to handle someone like her. She’s curious, which can be useful if directed properly."He nodded slowly, but I could see he still had doubts. "And if she doesn’t go along with it?"

"Then we have other ways to deal with that," I said, my voice dropping low. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Chiara is smart, and she's ambitious. If we can use those traits to our advantage, we won’t need to resort to anything... drastic."Antonio seemed satisfied, though I knew he’d be keeping an eye on the situation. It was his job to protect me, and he took it seriously. He gave a curt nod and left the office, his footsteps echoing down the hall.

I wasn't used to being challenged, especially not by someone who was as intriguing as Chiara. There was something about her that made me curious, made me want to see just how far I could push her. But I couldn't let that distract me from my ultimate goal: to ensure that Romano SecurTech's image remained spotless. No matter what.

I allowed myself a brief smile, knowing that the game had just begun. Chiara thought she was playing by her own rules, but soon enough, she'd realize that I was the one holding all the cards. And when I was done, she'd write exactly what I wanted her to write. Anything else... well, let's just say I had other ways of ensuring compliance.

"Game on, tuono," I mutter to myself, a slight smile curling my lips.