Wicked Games

Caroline

Caroline Rivolta sat in the back of her car as it glided through the busy streets of the city, her mind racing with thoughts of the meeting that had just transpired. She stared out the window, the familiar skyline passing by in a blur, but her focus was far from the bustling world outside.

Leonardo Romero.

His name echoed in her thoughts, an unwelcome intrusion she couldn’t quite shake. She prided herself on her ability to keep business strictly business, to never let her emotions interfere with her work. But something about Leonardo had gotten under her skin, and that unsettled her.

Caroline replayed their conversation in her head, analyzing every word, every glance. From the moment she had stepped into his office, there had been an undeniable tension between them, a charged undercurrent that she hadn’t been able to ignore.

It wasn’t just the way he looked at her, with those piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through her, or the way he moved, with a casual confidence that spoke of power and control. It was something more—an unspoken challenge, a battle for dominance that neither of them had been willing to concede.

She had walked into that office fully prepared to assert herself, to show Leonardo that she was not someone to be trifled with. But he had matched her, step for step, meeting her challenges with an infuriating ease that only deepened her resolve. He was playing a game, one that she refused to lose.

But as much as she hated to admit it, Leonardo had rattled her. Caroline could feel the cracks forming in the armor she had so carefully constructed over the years, the mask of professionalism and detachment that had served her so well.

It wasn’t just his words or his presence; it was the way he had looked at her, like he was peeling back the layers of her defenses, seeing the real her beneath the surface.

And that scared her.

Caroline had worked too hard to let someone like Leonardo Romero unravel her. She had built her career on being unshakeable, on never letting anyone get too close. But now, with every interaction, she could feel him chipping away at the walls she had erected, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep him at bay.

She clenched her fists in her lap, her nails digging into her palms. She refused to let him see how much he affected her. To show any weakness in front of a man like Leonardo would be disastrous.

He thrived on power, on control, and if he sensed even a hint of vulnerability, he would use it to his advantage. Caroline knew she couldn’t afford to let that happen.

As the car pulled up to her apartment building, Caroline took a deep breath, willing herself to regain control. She was stronger than this, stronger than him. She had faced down tougher opponents in the courtroom, had navigated treacherous legal waters that would have drowned lesser lawyers.

She wouldn’t let one arrogant CEO get the better of her.

But as she stepped out of the car and walked into the lobby, her thoughts remained clouded with the memory of Leonardo’s gaze, the way it had lingered on her just a moment too long, as if he could see the turmoil beneath her composed exterior.

She hated that he had gotten under her skin, that she was still thinking about him hours after their meeting had ended.

Caroline reached her apartment and closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment as she let out a slow, shaky breath. This was just another challenge, another obstacle to overcome. She would find a way to outmaneuver Leonardo, to regain the upper hand and put him in his place.

But deep down, in the part of her mind she tried to ignore, Caroline couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if she couldn’t. If, despite all her efforts, Leonardo managed to slip past her defenses and see the parts of herself she kept hidden from the world.

Shaking off the thought, Caroline pushed away from the door and headed for her bedroom. She had a merger to prepare for, a battle to win. And she would win—because she always did.

But as she lay in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling, Caroline couldn’t help but feel the slightest twinge of doubt. Because for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t entirely sure who would come out on top in this battle of wills.

And that uncertainty scared her more than she cared to admit.