Adrian POV
I could still feel the tension in my shoulders from my conversation with Valeria as I made my way down the bustling hallway of Moretti Corp. The woman was like a fortress, fortified and impenetrable. There wasn't a crack in that pristine, ironclad facade she wore, and every attempt to push her buttons only seemed to amuse her more. She was infuriating, to put it lightly. But even more infuriating? She had me coming back for more.
Valeria Moretti didn't let her guard down for anyone, not even for a second. I was certain she saw right through my cool exterior, yet she never flinched, never let on that she cared. And while I should've been using every second of the day to focus on my job, I found myself distracted by her-the way her piercing gaze could cut through a room, the power that seemed to hum just beneath her skin.
As I rounded the corner toward the elevators, I pulled out my phone and absentmindedly scrolled through a list of emails. But before I could get through the morning flood of tasks, the elevator doors slid open to reveal one of the many guys in the building who seemed to be perpetually smitten with Valeria.
He didn't notice me at first, too busy murmuring into his phone about how he'd caught a "glimpse of her" as she walked through the lobby that morning. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Did these guys seriously believe they had a shot?
I stepped into the elevator, leaning against the side and pretending to scroll through my emails. I felt a wave of annoyance that this random guy, like so many others, thought he could get anywhere near Valeria. The thought that he saw her as an attainable goal, as some conquest he could win over, was laughable.
"Hey, man," he said, noticing me with a nod. "You see Valeria around this morning?"
I didn't bother to hide my smirk. "Yeah, I was just with her."
His face lit up with a mixture of awe and envy. "Lucky. She doesn't even know I exist," he muttered, looking down.
I almost laughed. That was the truth for most people in this building. Hell, even the ones she did know often wondered if they were really on her radar.
The elevator opened on the top floor, and I strode out, grateful to escape the lovestruck fools. They could spend their day pining after Valeria all they wanted; it wouldn't get them any closer. I was the one with a front-row seat to her world, and I was determined to make every second count.
I went over the latest reports on my phone as I headed toward the conference room. But as I approached the door, I heard her voice. Low, controlled, laced with that ever-present hint of danger.
"...I don't care how long it takes or what it costs. If the numbers aren't there, make them there."
Her tone sent a shiver down my spine. It was both terrifying and oddly thrilling to see her in her element. This was the Valeria the world saw-the ruthless CEO, the woman who ruled her empire without hesitation. And, damn, she was good at it.
Pushing open the door, I walked in, and her gaze flicked toward me, her eyes sharp and assessing. There was a pause, a single heartbeat where I could've sworn she was sizing me up. Then she gave a slight nod, motioning for me to join the meeting.
I took my seat beside her, the scent of her perfume filling the air between us. Even amidst a room of executives, it was hard not to feel like there was a private energy between us. Valeria's eyes never wavered, but I could feel her awareness of my presence-like the tiniest flicker of a match in the darkness.
The meeting passed in a blur of figures, projections, and high-stakes negotiations, but I wasn't paying attention to the details. My focus was on Valeria, on the way she commanded the room with every word, every look. No one dared challenge her. Even the most seasoned executives listened in silence, hanging on her every word. It was as if she was a storm wrapped in silk, ready to destroy anything in her path with a simple look.
When the meeting finally ended, I lingered as the others filed out, hoping for a moment alone with her. But she was already gathering her things, looking every bit as untouchable as she had in the morning.
"Ms. Moretti," I began, keeping my tone respectful. "A word?"
She glanced at me, her expression unreadable. "Make it quick, Blake. I have another meeting."
I could sense the impatience in her voice, the subtle dismissal. But that only made me want to push further. "Is this how it's always going to be?"
A flicker of surprise crossed her face, quickly replaced by her usual indifference. "What do you mean?"
"Us. The... arrangement." I paused, watching her carefully. "Are you always going to keep me at arm's length?"
Her lips curved into a faint, almost mocking smile. "You misunderstand, Blake. I don't keep anyone close enough to push away."
I felt a surge of frustration, a rare flash of emotion I usually kept buried. "You don't trust anyone, do you?"
She raised an eyebrow, her eyes cool and assessing. "Trust is earned. And even then, it's a fragile thing."
"So, that's it? I work for you, we trade a few words here and there, and I stay in the dark?"
She tilted her head, considering me for a long moment. "If you're expecting more, then perhaps you don't understand who I am."
There was something in her tone, a quiet warning that dared me to keep digging. But I couldn't stop myself. "I think I'm starting to understand, Valeria. I just think maybe you're afraid of letting anyone close."
For a brief second, her expression faltered, the mask slipping just enough for me to glimpse something else. Vulnerability? Doubt? But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by her usual icy composure.
"Be careful, Blake," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Some lines shouldn't be crossed."
Our eyes locked, the air thick with tension, and I felt my heart pound. But I couldn't look away. There was something about her, something magnetic and dangerous, that pulled me in despite every warning sign flashing in my mind.
"I'm not afraid of crossing lines," I replied, my voice low and steady.
For a heartbeat, I thought she might crack, might let down that iron-clad guard she held up so well. But then she pulled away, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Good," she said, her tone mocking. "Then I expect you to be ready for the consequences."
With that, she swept out of the room, leaving me standing there, feeling like I'd just stepped into something far more dangerous than I'd anticipated. As I watched her walk away, her words echoed in my mind. She was a mystery, a storm waiting to be unleashed. And I was dangerously close to getting caught in the middle of it.
But somehow, that only made me want her more.