The evening had ended in a blur of flashing lights, loud music, and a quiet, underlying tension that Melanie had spent years suppressing. Her new empire, "L'Impièriu di Scott," was officially launched, and it was a success. But as the last guests trickled out and the champagne flutes were cleared away, something stirred inside her—a feeling she hadn't anticipated.
Rhys.
It was like a shadow over the night. The instant their eyes met across the room, everything else faded. Her heart had skipped a beat, then picked up speed, thudding against her chest as though it could escape. The icy wall she had built around her emotions cracked, just for a second, and for the first time in years, she felt vulnerable.
Melanie stood alone in the dimly lit hallway of her private mansion in Sicily, her hand running along the smooth, cool marble of the walls. The evening had been a whirlwind, and the tension between her and Rhys still felt like an electric current zipping through her veins. She'd seen it in his eyes too—the shock, the desire, the possessiveness that had flared up when their gazes locked.
For the first time in years, Rhys had looked at her like she was his. Not just a business rival, not just someone to be manipulated or ignored. No, tonight, she'd seen something different. Something darker. And it made her pulse race with anticipation.
Dana came up behind her, her heels clicking on the floor. "You okay?" she asked softly.
Melanie turned, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just... thinking."
Dana raised an eyebrow. "About him?"
Melanie didn't need to ask who Dana meant. "Why does he always do this?" she muttered under her breath, her gaze flicking to the hallway mirror. Her reflection was a goddess in a daring, form-fitting dress, and yet she felt a storm brewing inside her.
"Because you let him," Dana replied, her voice taking on a teasing edge.
Melanie's breath hitched at the sharpness in Dana's words. "I don't let him," she snapped. "He has no control over me."
Dana didn't back down, locking eyes with her. "Sure, but you can't deny the way he looks at you."
Melanie clenched her jaw, the tension from the party rushing back in waves. Rhys had been too close all night, too determined to brush past her, to leave a lingering touch or a heated glance. It was maddening. And the fact that he hadn't tried to take her away, to drag her into some hidden corner and make her his—well, that was enough to set her on fire.
She turned abruptly, facing Dana. "You think I want him? You think he's worth the trouble?"
Dana's eyes gleamed with understanding, her lips curving into a sly smile. "I think you both want each other. But neither of you is willing to admit it."
Melanie's pulse quickened. "No. I've worked too hard for this."
Dana shrugged, clearly unconvinced. "And yet, here you are—still thinking about him. Still letting him take up space in your head."
Melanie opened her mouth to argue, but the words died on her tongue. Was she thinking about him? Was she letting him control her emotions? The thought unsettled her, but she wouldn't admit it aloud. Not yet. Not when she had so much more to prove.
---
The next morning, the cool Sicilian breeze whispered through the open windows of Melanie's penthouse. The city below bustled with life, but inside, all was still. As she sipped her coffee, her mind wandered back to the night before. The tension that had simmered between her and Rhys had left an undeniable mark on her.
But she had to focus. This new chapter in her life, her empire, was everything. It was the culmination of everything she'd sacrificed. She couldn't let him—Rhys—distract her now.
But what if she was wrong? What if it wasn't just a fleeting moment? What if the connection they shared was real?
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She wasn't expecting anyone. Frowning, she set her coffee down and walked toward the door, her heels clicking against the floor. She opened it to find Dana standing there, a wide grin plastered on her face.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," Dana said, her voice dripping with mischief. "But I thought you might need some company."
Melanie stepped back, letting Dana in. She didn't have the energy for games, not today. But something in Dana's eyes made her pause.
"What's going on?" she asked, sensing something was off.
Dana raised an eyebrow. "Rhys."
Melanie's heart stuttered in her chest. She was about to dismiss it when Dana spoke again.
"His father is furious."
Melanie blinked. "Furious about what?"
Dana's voice dropped to a low murmur. "Because Rhys isn't taking control. He's been distracted. And his father—he's not happy with how things are going. He wants Rhys back in Sicily. To take over the family business. To get his act together."
Melanie's mind raced. Rhys wasn't just a businessman—he was part of a legacy, a family empire that reached far beyond his own ambitions. She'd seen it in his cold demeanor, in his constant need to assert dominance over everyone in his path. But now, hearing that his father was pushing him harder than ever before—what did that mean for them? What did that mean for her?
"What does this have to do with me?" Melanie asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Dana smiled knowingly. "It's simple, really. Rhys is conflicted. And you're the reason."
Melanie's stomach twisted. Rhys was conflicted? Over her? Did he even realize how much control he'd been willing to surrender to her, just by being near her, by being in her orbit?
"Why are you telling me this?" Melanie's voice was hoarse, her thoughts tangled.
Dana's gaze softened. "Because it's time to stop running. Time to stop pretending you don't care. You're not fooling anyone, least of all yourself."
Melanie exhaled slowly. The weight of the night before, the touch of his hands on her skin, the heat in his gaze—it all came rushing back. She didn't want to care. She didn't want to be entangled in the mess that was Rhys Edwards. But every instinct in her screamed that she was already caught.
And there was no way out.
---
Meanwhile, across the city, Rhys sat alone in his office, staring at the phone in his hand. His mind was elsewhere, his thoughts consumed by the woman who had haunted his every step since that night. Melanie. He couldn't stop thinking about her, about what had happened between them, about how her presence had ignited something deep inside him that he couldn't ignore.
But he wouldn't chase her. Not yet. Not when he had so much to prove. Not when his father's demands were so pressing.
Still, every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was her—dressed in that seductive dress, the one that had made him lose his composure in front of the entire room.
He clenched his jaw. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.