Crossed Desires.

It's not nice to stare at what's not yours.

Damian's POV

Some people use inspirational mantras or love nonsense to navigate life—not me. The moment I understood that success is just about perception, all changed.

It's about how you work your ambition. People often tag ambition as a bad thing, but I don't. For me, being ambitious is like ordering an alcoholic drink, depending on your will, you can order a malt scotch on the rocks or a neat one. We all know the rocks will water it down, yeah it's easier to drink, but it'll lose its taste. Or, you can get to enjoy it neat.

I spin the glass in my hand and take a sip. The scotch slides down my throat, a warm yet burning sensation relaxing my shoulders, convincing me to stay for another hour. The laugh of the guys becomes louder, some playing pool, others chatting. If I were to leave now, I'd cut the night short. The dance floor's sounds pique my interest, I exhale and rise to my feet to move at the railing. My lips keep the savor of scotch when I scan through the crowd, and I see her.

My lips curl. It's her. I saw her the last time I was here, surrounded by men almost fighting for a turn to dance with her and fuck, she made the wait look fucking worth it. But tonight she is alone, moving at the rhythm of the music, swaying her hips and shoulders. My throat gets dry at the sight. Her body, tightly embraced by a black sleeveless dress. Another sip of scotch goes down, my eyes focused on the way her hair moves with her dancing.

Her silk brown hair makes me wonder how it would be to pull from it while-

"Mr. Rivera, another?" Juan takes me out of my thoughts.

I turn to my side and hand him my glass. "Yes, neat."

When my gaze returns to the dance floor, she is no longer alone. A man is next to her, and she gives him a wide smile, lowering her body provocatively. I cross my arms over my chest, an interest sparking within me. Another man approaches her from behind, gripping her hips to stop her movement. She leans back into him, her eyes close and a smile appears, the first man steps away. The way she moves keeps me intrigued, not wanting to take my eyes off her.

The man faces his back to me, she grabs a piece of his clothing and pulls him to the middle of the dance floor, slowly a group of five men surround them strategically. They make several alarms go off on me, five men to look after her? I can't remember if she had men to escort her last time.

"Here, sir," Juan says handing me back the glass.

"Thanks." I nod, but soon enough my eyes go back to her, the way she sways her hips is making something to me.

A laugh comes from him. "Ah, enjoying the view, sir?"

Asshole. My shoulders rise, and a short scoff leaves my lips. "Who's that?"

"Her?" He makes a face, almost undressing her with his eyes. "That, sir, is Madeline Lambert."

I stop for a second. Trying to recognize her name, and going over every important family, but no matches. I turn to him again. "Is she important or something?"

Juan gives me a huge grin. "She is Mr. Biancci's wife."

Wife. And as if any less of him. The biggest asshole I've ever had the misfortune of knowing. And they are married? She looks too young to be married to him. Let alone the fact she is too free to be with a dominant possessive jerk like him. "How long they've been married?"

Juan's eyes are also on her, devouring her. Can't blame him, the way she moves could make anyone stumble at the sight. "If I'm not wrong, around two years."

Two years, huh? He had her hidden, and I can see why. I turn around and go back to my seat, spinning my glass and drinking it in one go. There is an instinct fighting the urge to go back to look at her, but I shut it down. Don't be that immature, looking at her to annoy him is low, even for me.

She is a wife. Married. Taken. To my fucking competitor... To that fucking asshole. Which makes her my enemy too. But fuck, only thinking about her makes me readjust my position.

"Sir," Eduardo steps next to my seat, phone in hand. "Mr. Lin is calling you."

I look up and grab the phone. "Mr. Lin, good night..." I keep my tone neutral, not letting the fact that he called me on a Friday night blow up the deal going on.

Once Mr. Lin is done with his yapping, I go back and give back the phone to Eduardo. My body involuntarily goes back to the edge of the balcony. My eyes wandering on the place to find her, it doesn't take me much time. She is... I exhale heavily. Fuck. She is married to the fucking bastard I hate. I can't do this.

"No está bien tocar lo ajeno." My mom used to say every time I got into a fight about toys. To respect what's not mine, but she forgot to mention it's not easy. I run a hand over my beard. She is just another fucking woman. There's nothing special about her. I walk to the stairs to leave. My bodyguard follow surrounding me. When I lower the stairs, the sight clears, and she keeps dancing around him, energetically. She must be younger than 30, I'm sure.

"Sir, they already have your car pulled up."

I nod without turning to them. My eyes are on her, the way her lips curl to a smile, the way her dress moves with each step. A scoff leaves my lips when he grabs her by the waist, almost covering her with his body. She is tall, even with him behind her she doesn't look small, and I remember he is almost as tall as me. But it's his build-up physique that manages to cover her, the men around them close down to them, shielding them into the back exit.

Shaking my head, I continue to lower the stairs to get to where they have my car. One of my men gets into the driver's seat, and they get me into the rear seat. My head leans on the seat, my eyes close. And, a second later my phone chimes.

"Yeah?"

A second of silence. "Sir," he hesitates.

"What?" I grunt annoyed, opening my eyes.

Silence, then a short sigh. "Mr. Biancci acquired the Benson company."

My hand clenches, before it slams into the window. "When?"

"Early today."

Fuck. "Get me the Benson competitor's number, now!"

"Yes, sir," He answers before I disconnect the call.

Estúpido cabrón, that must've been why they went out to celebrate. I groan in annoyance.

"All good, boss?"

"No. The Benson's sold to Biancci," I say through gritted teeth. "That fucking asshole. He doesn't even know the market."

Natan clears his throat, looking from the rear mirror. "I heard Enzo has been acquiring several buildings in the area, he must want it for the space, not the business."

I raise an eyebrow. "He has?"

He nods and returns his gaze to the street. "The word says he is focusing on expanding a new brand."

A new brand? As if he cared about a fucking brand... Wait, a dry laugh comes out of me. Fucking jerk. "Is this about the launch of The Vidda?"

"I believe so, sir."

Fucking hell. I should've seen he was going to pull something like this. Of course, he was. I shake my head and lean it back. Last week, it was our warehouse, and before that, my men at the port. And now he is buying buildings to affect the launch of my new hotel? He is forcing me to do something, he is practically begging now.

And oh, he can count on it.