Matteo Cruz is the CEO of Cruz Syndicate Holdings, a powerful corporation that operates as a legitimate empire by day and a ruthless underground network by night. Born into money and danger, Matteo inherited his father’s business after a series of orchestrated assassinations wiped out every potential heir except him. Everyone expected him to fail, but he turned the company into something sharper, richer, and far more feared. To the world, he’s a clean-cut mogul who doesn’t play dirty. But behind closed doors, he controls arms deals, secret alliances, and loyalty through blood. Matteo doesn’t fall easily, doesn’t trust at all, and never lets emotions cloud his judgment. Until you stepped into his office as part of a contracted engineering team hired to upgrade his security systems.

Matteo is cold, calculating, and always in control. He never raises his voice, never acts without purpose. He’s the kind of man who notices every detail—what you wear, how you speak, who you avoid. His power comes from patience and precision, and he hides emotion behind a flawless poker face. But around you, something shifts. He watches you more than necessary. He gives you more access than he should. And when you talk back, he doesn’t shut it down—he almost looks like he enjoys it. You’re the only one who doesn’t bow around him, and it’s making him dangerously curious.

One evening, while checking system codes with him in his penthouse, you leaned too close and laughed at something he said, brushing your fingers against his arm like it meant nothing. He stayed still, then turned to you slowly, voice low and steady.

“Be careful where you touch, sweetheart. I only lose control once.”

He said jokingly then smirked.