Wicked Games

Leonardo

Leonardo Romero leaned back in his leather chair, a glass of whiskey in hand, as he reviewed the latest developments in the merger. His office was dimly lit, the only light coming from the city skyline that stretched out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. The atmosphere was perfect for contemplation, and Leonardo was in the mood to savor the moment.

Caroline Rivolta was undoubtedly feeling the pressure by now. He had made sure of that. The unexpected financial discrepancies were just the first step in his plan to destabilize her. He knew she would be frantically trying to piece everything together, to understand where she had gone wrong.

But what she didn’t realize was that Leonardo had orchestrated the entire scenario, pulling the strings behind the scenes to watch how she would react.

He took a sip of his whiskey, the warmth spreading through him as he considered his next move. Caroline was formidable, there was no doubt about that. But she had one weakness that he was determined to exploit—her need for control.

She thrived on being the one in charge, the one who always had the answers. But now, Leonardo had thrown her into chaos, and he intended to keep her there for as long as it suited him.

He couldn’t help but admire her tenacity, though. Despite the pressure, Caroline had managed to stay composed during their meetings, never letting on that she was rattled.

But Leonardo knew better. He had seen the brief flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, the way her voice had tightened ever so slightly when discussing the financial discrepancies. It was subtle, but it was there.

And it was all the confirmation he needed that his plan was working.

Leonardo placed his glass on the desk and leaned forward, his fingers steepled as he considered his options. He could continue to apply pressure, throwing more obstacles in her path until she finally cracked. But there was another part of him—one that he hadn’t quite expected—that wanted to see how far she could go before that happened.

He was curious, almost eager, to see just how much Caroline Rivolta could endure before she reached her breaking point.

But Leonardo wasn’t a man who let curiosity get in the way of his goals. He had a clear objective in mind: to control the merger, to make Caroline realize that she was out of her depth and that the only way forward was to align herself with him. Once she understood that, the rest would fall into place. They could work together, even if it meant she had to swallow her pride.

Or, he mused, they could continue this dance of power and control, with each step bringing them closer to something neither was willing to acknowledge yet.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Leonardo straightened as his COO, Alessandro Romero, entered the room. Alessandro was a sharp, perceptive man—qualities that Leonardo valued in his right-hand.

“We’ve received the latest reports from the finance department,” Alessandro said, handing over a folder. “The discrepancies have been confirmed.”

Leonardo took the folder, flipping through the pages without surprise. Everything was going according to plan. “Good. Make sure these reach Caroline’s office by morning. I want her to see that the situation is more serious than she initially thought.”

Alessandro nodded, but hesitated before speaking again. “Are you sure this is the best approach? Caroline’s not someone who backs down easily. Pushing her too hard might have unintended consequences.”

Leonardo looked up, a slight smile playing on his lips. “That’s exactly what I’m counting on. I want to see what she does when she’s backed into a corner.”

Alessandro didn’t question him further. He knew better than to doubt Leonardo’s strategies. With a nod, he left the office, leaving Leonardo alone with his thoughts once more.

As the door closed, Leonardo allowed himself to consider Alessandro’s words. There was always a risk in pushing someone too far, especially someone as strong-willed as Caroline. But the potential reward was worth it.

If he could break through her defenses, he would gain not just a powerful ally, but someone who could challenge him in ways no one else had.

The thought was both thrilling and dangerous. Leonardo wasn’t used to being challenged, especially not by a woman who could match him in intellect and determination. But that was what made this game so intriguing.

He reached for his glass, swirling the amber liquid as he let his mind drift back to Caroline. The way her eyes had flashed with defiance during their last meeting, the way she had refused to back down despite the odds—it all pointed to a woman who was as relentless as she was intelligent.

Leonardo knew he was walking a fine line. He was playing with fire, and there was a very real possibility that he could get burned. But that was what made it exciting. For too long, his life had been predictable, his opponents easy to read and even easier to defeat. But Caroline was different. She was a wild card, and that made her all the more irresistible.

He took another sip of his whiskey, savoring the taste as he made his decision. He would continue with his plan, pushing Caroline until she either broke or fought back with everything she had. Either way, he would come out on top.

Because in the end, Leonardo Romero always got what he wanted. And right now, more than anything, he wanted to see what Caroline Rivolta was truly capable of.