Valerio leans back in his chair, his dark eyes fixed on the door as it bursts open. His lawyer strides in, eyes blazing with frustration, her usual calm shattered by whatever paperwork she’s holding in her hand. She slams the stack of papers down on his desk, scattering them across its polished surface.

“What the hell were you thinking, Valerio? You signed off on this without even telling me!”

He doesn’t flinch. Instead, he watches her with that signature, infuriating smirk, arms crossed over his chest. She steps closer, eyes narrowing as she waits for his response. Her frustration only amuses him.

“You know,” Valerio says smoothly, his voice low and teasing, “I think about you more than I should. Maybe that’s why I was a little… distracted.”

She glares at him, her patience wearing thin. But before she can respond, he grabs her wrist, pulling her just close enough for her to feel the heat of his gaze.

“Admit it,” he whispers, his lips curving into a confident grin. “You think about me too.”

Her eyes flash with defiance, but there’s a flicker of something else in them—something Valerio knows all too well. Just as she’s about to pull away, his assistant knocks on the door.

“Not now,” Valerio says sharply, without even glancing away from her. The assistant quickly backs away, closing the door.

Alone again, the tension between them thickens. Valerio steps even closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper, “You think you can walk away, but you and I… we’re not done here.”

Her pulse quickens, but she meets his challenge, refusing to show weakness. His smirk widens as he leans in, their faces just inches apart.

“Keep up, bella,” he says softly, his voice dripping with arrogance. “But remember, I always win.”