The Siren's Contract

over a stack of legal files, documents ready to bury anyone who crossed me in bureaucracy, but they were nothing more than backgrou

yond the façade I'd perfected over the years. I was Valeria Moretti, feared CEO and the queen of my own empire. I didn't get distracted by men. Yet Aiden... He looked at m

all the careful details of his life and career, the pages felt hollow, like they were missing something. I knew Adrian was driven, skilled, and connected in his own r

r. Before I could respond, Aiden strode in, a smug smile on his

spectful but with a hint of insolence. Like he k

g my usual air of aloofness. "Blak

you wouldn't mind a little company," he

even I knew it lacked conviction. I was more curious abou

ing this little game. "Good t

ation, making himself at home. There was something infuriatingly natural a

ked, hoping my tone came off as

chest, a lazy smile playing on his lips. "I

ow, skeptical. "Or are you just l

didn't even blink.

s laugh. "Careful. You migh

ds laced with a touch of arrogance. "Isn't that why you hired me? T

my carefully cultivated composure. "Don't mistake my tolerance for

Maybe that's exactly why

to ignore. His eyes held a look I couldn't quite place-a mix of defiance and something m

stoic expression. "You're here

wn rules. "Fine. The contract. But tell me this, Valeria-how much o

thrown for a moment. "What makes you

e replied, his voice low and controlled. "Every task, every meet

him credit for, and that was both annoying and... impressive. "Maybe I am," I

s head. "Not at all. I

I quickly masked. His confidence was infectious, a boldne

ue. I'd seen this kind of confidence before, countless times. But Adrian wore it different

intense. "By all mean

g that neither of us was willing to back down. His audacity w

ice low. "You're not the first to think you can

erce, something unyielding. "Then

ars, I found myself on the edge, teetering between control and surrender. And tho

more than a game, a carefully constructed dance where I held all the strings

id, my tone dismissive, as if I hadn't felt t

chair. "Oh, don't worry. I i

frustration and fascination simmering beneath the surface. T