Wicked Games

Leonardo

Leonardo Romero stared out of his office window, the city sprawled beneath him like a kingdom he had conquered. Normally, this view filled him with a sense of pride, a reminder of everything he had achieved. But today, his mind was elsewhere, focused on a woman who had unexpectedly become his latest obsession.

Caroline Rivolta.

He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since their meeting. She had been everything he expected and more—brilliant, beautiful, and utterly unyielding. Leonardo had faced countless adversaries in the boardroom, but none had intrigued him as much as Caroline.

There was something about her, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on, that made him want to dig deeper, to see what lay beneath that icy exterior.

It was more than just the challenge she presented, though that was certainly part of it. Leonardo was used to getting what he wanted, and Caroline was no exception. But this was different. He wasn’t just interested in outmaneuvering her or winning a business deal.

He wanted to understand her, to see what made her tick. And, if he was being honest with himself, he wanted to see her lose control, to see what would happen if she let that carefully crafted mask slip.

Leonardo smirked at the thought. Caroline had been so determined to keep him at arm’s length, to show him that she was untouchable. But he had seen the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, the way she had hesitated for just a moment before steeling herself.

It was a small crack, barely noticeable, but it was there, and Leonardo intended to exploit it.

He turned away from the window and walked back to his desk, his mind already working on the next steps. He knew he had to be careful with Caroline. She was smart, too smart to fall for the usual tactics. But that only made the game more interesting. He would have to be patient, to bide his time and wait for the perfect moment to strike.

Leonardo’s fingers drummed against the polished wood of his desk as he considered his options. He could push her, force her hand in the negotiations, but that might only make her retreat further behind her defenses. No, he needed to take a different approach, one that would catch her off guard.

An idea began to form in his mind, one that brought a sly smile to his lips. Caroline was a woman who valued control above all else. She thrived on order, on predictability. So what would happen if he introduced a little chaos into her life? What if he made her question everything she thought she knew?

It was a risky move, but Leonardo had always thrived on risk. He picked up the phone and dialed a number, his mind already racing with possibilities. As he waited for the call to connect, he pictured Caroline’s face, the way her eyes had flashed with defiance when she’d met his gaze.

She was a challenge, yes, but she was also something more—a puzzle he was determined to solve.

The voice on the other end of the line interrupted his thoughts, and Leonardo quickly issued his instructions. It was time to set the next phase of his plan in motion, to see how far he could push Caroline before she cracked. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, but then, nothing worth having ever was.

As he hung up the phone, Leonardo leaned back in his chair, a sense of satisfaction settling over him. He could feel the anticipation building, the thrill of the chase that always came before a major victory. Caroline might think she had the upper hand, but Leonardo knew better. This was his game, and he was going to win.

But as he sat there, a nagging thought tugged at the back of his mind. For all his confidence, there was a part of him—small, but growing—that wondered if maybe, just maybe, he was underestimating her. Caroline was unlike anyone he had ever encountered, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that she might be the one to turn the tables on him.

The thought both excited and unnerved him. Leonardo wasn’t used to uncertainty, especially when it came to women or business. But with Caroline, nothing was certain. She was a wild card, and that made her dangerous.

Leonardo leaned forward, his gaze narrowing as he considered his next move. Dangerous or not, he wasn’t about to back down. He had started this game, and he intended to finish it—no matter the cost.

Because in the end, there could only be one winner. And Leonardo Romero never lost.