Wicked Games

Leonardo

Leonardo was in his office, staring blankly at a report that had been sitting on his desk for the past hour. Normally, he would have gone through it with meticulous precision, but today, the words blurred together, meaningless against the backdrop of his thoughts. Caroline dominated his mind, and no matter how hard he tried to focus on work, he couldn't shake the memory of their last encounter.

He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair in frustration. The tension between him and Caroline had reached a breaking point, and now, he was left grappling with the fallout. He knew that he should be focusing on the company, on the negotiations with their international partners, and on the upcoming board meeting. But all of that seemed insignificant compared to the chaos raging inside him.

The kiss had been explosive, igniting a fire between them that he couldn't extinguish. But it was more than just physical—there was something deeper, something that scared him more than he wanted to admit. He had always been a man in control, but with Caroline, that control slipped through his fingers like sand.

He thought back to the way she had looked at him when she left his penthouse, torn between desire and fear. He could see the same conflict in her eyes that he felt within himself. It was as if they were both standing on the edge of a cliff, knowing that one wrong move could send them plummeting into the unknown.

But even as the rational part of his mind warned him to pull back, to regain control, the rest of him couldn't stop thinking about her. He wanted her, needed her, in a way that went beyond anything he had ever experienced before. It was dangerous, reckless even, but the thought of walking away from whatever was between them felt impossible.

Leonardo knew he was playing with fire. Caroline was not just any woman—she was his rival, someone who had the power to challenge him in ways no one else could. And yet, that was part of what drew him to her. She was fierce, intelligent, and unyielding, a force to be reckoned with in the boardroom. But beneath that armor, he had glimpsed something more—something vulnerable, something that called to him.

His phone buzzed on the desk, snapping him out of his reverie. He glanced at the screen and saw a text from Alessandro, his brother and the COO of Silverstone and Co.

Alessandro: "We need to discuss the merger details before the board meeting. Meet in my office at noon?"

Leonardo sighed, typing a quick response.

Leonardo: "I'll be there."

He put the phone down, rubbing his temples. The merger was important—potentially one of the biggest moves the company had ever made. But right now, all he could think about was Caroline, and the fact that they hadn't spoken since that night.

He knew he had to talk to her, to figure out where they stood. The uncertainty was eating at him, making it impossible to concentrate on anything else. But he also knew that pushing her too hard could backfire, that she needed time to process everything that had happened.

Leonardo stood up, walking over to the large windows that overlooked the city. The skyline stretched out before him, a reminder of the empire he had built, the power and influence he wielded. But for the first time, it all felt hollow, meaningless without her.

He had always thought of himself as a man who could have it all—success, power, and control. But with Caroline, he was beginning to realize that he might have to sacrifice something if he wanted to keep her in his life.

The thought unsettled him. He wasn't used to making compromises, especially when it came to matters of the heart. But Caroline wasn't like anyone else. She challenged him, pushed him, made him want more than just success. She made him want a connection that went beyond the superficial, beyond the power games and the constant struggle for control.

But how could they make it work? How could they navigate the treacherous waters of their relationship without sinking both their careers in the process?

Leonardo clenched his fists, the frustration building inside him. He wasn't used to feeling this way—vulnerable, uncertain, and out of control. But with Caroline, he was learning that some battles couldn't be won through sheer force of will. Some things required patience, understanding, and a willingness to let go.

He thought about their last conversation, about the way she had told him she needed time to think. He had given her space, but now, the waiting was becoming unbearable. He needed to know where they stood, needed to know if she was willing to take the same risks he was.

Leonardo glanced at his watch. There was still time before his meeting with Alessandro. He could reach out to Caroline, see if she was ready to talk, to figure out what was next for them.

He hesitated, his hand hovering over his phone. He didn't want to push her, didn't want to risk driving her away. But the uncertainty was tearing him apart, and he needed to know if there was a future for them, or if he was chasing a fantasy.

Taking a deep breath, he picked up his phone and started typing a message.

**Leonardo:** "Caroline, can we talk? I know things are complicated, but I don't want to let this—whatever it is between us—go unresolved. I need to know where we stand."

He stared at the message for a long moment before hitting send. It was a risk, but it was one he was willing to take. Because despite everything, despite the danger and the uncertainty, he couldn't imagine walking away from her.

The waiting game had begun, and as Leonardo put the phone down, he couldn't help but feel that the stakes had never been higher. Whatever happened next would set the course for both their futures, and for the first time in a long time, he wasn't sure if he was ready for what was to come.