Tangled Loyalties

CHAPTER 2 : THE POWER PLAY

Sam sat in the sleek, sterile conference room, her hands folded neatly on the table in front of her. The hum of the air conditioning was the only sound as she stared at the contract in front of her, the words blurring together.

She should’ve been reading it. She knew that. The terms, the conditions, the way Russo had structured everything to his liking. But instead, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being "trapped".

It was the kind of deal that made her stomach churn. A power play. A strategy meant to break down resistance, to weaken her resolve. Russo knew her well enough to know that she would resist every inch of this merger -- every last detail. He knew how to push her buttons. How to make her feel like she was losing control.

And she hated it.

The door opened with a soft click, and she looked up. Dominic Russo walked in, his presence immediately filling the room. He was effortlessly composed, a picture of authority in his tailored suit, his sharp jawline and intense gaze making it impossible for her to ignore him.

He didn’t sit right away. Instead, he leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, watching her with that infuriatingly knowing look.

“Sam,” he said with that voice of his—smooth, measured, but with an undercurrent of something that made her skin prickle. “How’s the contract looking?”

She met his gaze without flinching, though the sharpness in his eyes made her feel like he could see straight through her. “I’m still reading,” she replied coolly, hoping to mask the agitation she felt. “And if you’re hoping for a quick signature, you’re going to be disappointed.”

Dominic smirked, pushing off from the wall and walking around to sit across from her. “I’m not asking for your signature, Sam. I’m asking for your cooperation. But I can see how hard that is for you.” His eyes flicked to the papers in front of her, then back up to her face. “You don’t like the idea of someone else calling the shots, do you?”

Her chest tightened, her jaw setting in a hard line. “You know nothing about me, Dominic. And you definitely don’t know how to *negotiate*.”

His lips curled into a half-smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I know exactly what you need. You just don’t want to admit it.”

Sam narrowed her eyes. “And what’s that?”

His gaze never wavered. “Control.”

Her breath caught in her throat at the way he said it—so effortlessly. Like he’d known her weakness for years. It made her skin flush with anger. “You’re right. I like being in control. And that’s exactly why I’m not going to roll over and let you have your way with me.”

“Is that really what you think this is about, Sam?” He leaned forward, his voice dropping lower, tinged with something dangerous. “Because if it is, you’re wrong. It’s not about control. It’s about winning. And we both know that’s what you really care about, don’t we?”

Her fingers clenched around the pen in her hand, the tips turning white from the pressure. *Winning*. That word—the one thing that had always driven her. The one thing she couldn’t lose sight of. She had fought for every inch of success she’d gained, and Dominic Russo had been there in every courtroom battle, every high-stakes case. He was a constant, a thorn in her side—and now, he was going to be in her firm.

She hated how right he was. She hated the way his words made her feel exposed, like he could read her too easily.

“I’m not going to play your games, Russo,” she said, her voice steady, but beneath it, there was a tremor. “I don’t care how much you want to win, or how much you think I need your *help*. I can do this on my own.”

Dominic’s gaze softened for a split second—just enough for Sam to notice. But it was gone before she could fully process it. He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “I never said you needed my help. I said we need each other.”

She shook her head, disbelief running through her veins. “That’s not the same thing.”

“It’s close enough.” He paused. “You and I are alike, Sam. You might not want to admit it, but I can see it in you. You fight for control, for power, for dominance. And right now, you don’t have it. *I* do. But we can still make this work. If you stop fighting me.”

She stiffened, her heart pounding faster. There it was again. That pull. That dangerous familiarity between them, the thing she’d tried to deny for years.

“I’m not "like" you, Dominic,” she snapped. “And I’m certainly not going to bend to your will. Not now, not ever.”

He studied her for a moment, his eyes flickering with something she couldn’t quite place. Then, in a move that surprised her, he pushed the papers toward her. “I’m not asking you to bend, Sam. I’m asking you to see the bigger picture. You can fight me on this, or you can fight alongside me. But in the end, we’re both going to be winners.”

Sam stared at the papers for a long moment, the words swimming in front of her. She knew Dominic wasn’t going to back down. And as much as she hated to admit it, she *did* see the logic in his plan. Together, they were unstoppable.

But could she trust him? Could she trust him with her firm? With her career? With everything she had built?

Her fingers hovered over the contract, the weight of the decision pressing down on her chest. She wanted to say no. She wanted to fight him. But there was something inside her—something she didn’t want to acknowledge—that was whispering she had no choice.

Dominic’s gaze didn’t leave hers. “What’s it going to be, Sam? Are you going to keep playing this game, or are you going to "join" me?”

She let out a slow breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle around her. For all her pride, all her resistance, she knew one thing: she couldn’t do this alone. Not anymore.

She grabbed the pen. “Fine. I’ll play your game. But make no mistake—this isn’t over. Not by a long shot.”

Dominic’s smirk deepened, his eyes dark with something dangerous. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

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                   Later That Day

Sam walked out of Russo & Partners, the weight of the contract she’d just signed heavy in her hands. The finality of it all made her heart race, but she pushed the feeling down. This was just business. This was just the next step.

And yet, as she stepped into her car, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between them. Something that went beyond rivalry, beyond the business.

It was dangerous. She knew it.

But that only made it more irresistible.

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