Chapter 3
Liam Carter was the kind of man who commanded any room he entered, not just because of his imposing presence but because of the confidence that radiated with every step he took. This man, who had built his empire from scratch, had not only achieved success but had conquered it in a way few could ever imagine.
His tall, slender figure, always dressed in tailored suits, made him the center of attention wherever he went. Women looked at him as if he were a god, and men watched him with a mix of respect and envy. Liam wasn't just a wealthy businessman; he was the man every woman desired and every man feared.
But for Liam, women were just a pastime, something he enjoyed without strings or commitments. He didn't believe in love or lasting relationships. He had tried and dismissed enough partners to know that nothing was worth the effort. To him, women were like temporary accessories in his perfectly structured life, pieces added when he desired and removed when his interest faded.
That evening, Liam was in his luxurious apartment, a penthouse in the heart of the city with panoramic views reflecting his success. The décor was modern and minimalist, just like his life: no frills, no unnecessary emotions. The soft sound of rain hitting the windows complemented the serenity of his space, but what truly occupied him was the woman sprawled on the white leather sofa, basking in her own pleasure.
Rachel, a young model, had entered his life like so many others, with her eyes set on her goal and a body any man would dream of having by his side. But Liam was never the type to dig deeper. She was simply a pretty face, a perfect body, and pleasant company for the lonely nights that often appeared in a man's life as successful as his.
"Are you staying tonight?" Liam asked without even looking at her, as he reviewed some papers at his desk.
Rachel, her hair tousled and still partially undressed, looked at him with a satisfied smile, knowing the question carried no hint of commitment. Their relationship had always been clear: temporary pleasures without the need for promises or expectations.
"I don't mind staying, as long as I don't interrupt your business," she said, settling into the couch while sipping a glass of wine. "But you know I'm not the kind of woman who stays too long."
Liam nodded slightly, his eyes fixed on his phone as he answered a few important emails. He knew what she wanted, and there was no problem giving it to her. Women like Rachel never stayed more than a night; they understood how his life worked. They knew Liam wasn't interested in anything lasting beyond what was strictly necessary.
"That's fine, Rachel. You're not interrupting," Liam said without looking up.
She smiled, pleased with the confirmation, and returned to her drink, enjoying the calm of the night.
But despite the indifference Liam showed, there was something deep inside him that felt empty. Something neither money, nor power, nor the women around him could fill. It was as if he were trapped in his own empire of success, but with nothing real to drive him. Women came and went, his businesses thrived, but inside, there was a void that nothing could fill.
Rachel was as cold as he was. She was only interested in having a good time with a wealthy man and then moving on to another adventure. She was the kind of woman Liam could enjoy without worrying about anything.
After pouring himself another drink, Liam focused on reviewing some documents he had brought home.
At that moment, his phone buzzed with a new notification. It was a message from his assistant.
"Edward Ainsley's lawyer wants to speak with you. It's time to act on the case. Payment is imminent."
Liam frowned. It was a reminder that his power wasn't built only on superficial relationships but also on tough decisions, where doubt and compassion had no place. Edward Ainsley had been just another piece on his chessboard, and now, with his death imminent, Liam felt closer to what he wanted to achieve.
"All right," he murmured as he turned off his phone. "Tomorrow morning."
Rachel looked at him, her expression vacant as she took another sip of wine.
"You're heartless. That guy just died, and you're building on his grave," she said with a twisted smile, as if it were a joke. But Liam knew she meant it. He knew that to her, he was nothing more than a man of iron, an emotionless being who used her for his own pleasure.
"And you, darling, are the only one who doesn't get it," Liam said, rising from the couch and walking toward his office, leaving Rachel behind. In his mind, he was completely focused on what he needed to do about Ainsley, on the next move that would lead him to take total control of his company.
He already had the buyer and the layoff letters for all of Ainsley's workers. That company wasn't just salvageable; it was an excellent business. And for Liam Carter, that was the only thing that mattered.
The death of that man had only sped things up, and to Carter, that was all that counted. He needed to act as soon as possible.
But deep down, something unsettled him. And it wasn't just the money or the power. It was the fact that Victoria Ainsley, the daughter of the man he had defeated, was beginning to linger in his mind as either a problem to solve or someone to remove from his path.
For some reason, thinking about her gave him a faint and annoying feeling of insecurity. He had only seen her once—one afternoon while driving his Lamborghini down the highway when he saw her with her father, Edward Ainsley.
That man's daughter had something about her that had imprinted itself on his mind.
And with Ainsley's death, her image had resurfaced. That afternoon, she hadn't just struck him as beautiful but also sweet and affectionate. He couldn't forget the way she treated her father, how she looked at him and spoke to him. All of it had stuck in his memory unintentionally, and he hadn't thought about it again until that night.
He couldn't get her image or the feeling that surrounded her out of his head. Annoyed by his inability to shake her off, he brought the stunning model to bed and slept with Rachel, but even after doing so, all he got was a headache.
Something about Ainsley's daughter unsettled him—something that neither his success, nor his conquests, nor his weapons of power could erase. An aura surrounded her, causing a strange sensation he couldn't decipher.