Page 1 of Ruined By the Enemy
Chapter One
Sophie
It’s hard to believe he’s the son of the man who killed my parents.
“How may I help you?” The scowl on his mouth is unwelcoming, and his fingers tap the desk impatiently as if he’s in a hurry to be done with me.
Scratch that.
From the cold look on his face to his eyes that are darker than any I’ve ever seen, well-chiseled jaw framing downturned lips, Domenico Moretti looks like the kind of man who would take a knife to another man’s throat without a shred of remorse.
His laid-back yet alert demeanor only makes it worse. If I were someone else, I might’ve lost my confidence the second I stepped into his office and breathed in the chilly air.
Unfortunately, I’m not here to call him out on his behavior.
Not yet.
“Sophie Greco,” I say with a polite smile as I step towards him with my hand outstretched, ignoring his brusque attitude. “I spoke with the head of More Media, Mr. D’Amico. He said he’s discussed it with you? I apologize if that’s not the case.”
“Raffaele?” He ignores the handshake and frowns even harder.
Then he leans back, observing me with eyes that slowly move from my hair neatly slicked back to a bun, to the muted blazer and even duller dress pants.
It’s with mild disinterest, but the way that his eyes linger when they lift back to my face sends an unexpected flush down my throat. His gaze dips to my mouth, and his eyes darken briefly, sending another flush of heat down my spine.
I inhale sharply without realizing it and clear my throat hastily to cover it up.What’s wrong with me?
I did my research before reaching out—Domenico Moretti. Thirty-one. CEO of Moretti Group and prime billionaire bachelor. Also, one of the sexiest men in the last five years, according to GQ.
The last part wasn’t needed, but the articles that referenced everything else about him apparently needed to make sure readers were aware.
“Yes,” I nod briskly. I sent him a document for Blackwater Talent.” His brow arches subtly, but it’s enough to show his curiosity. I reach into my bag for the same document, placing it on his desk. “I know your company has been trying to acquire it for a year, and I can make that possible.”
Domenico tilts his head as he folds his arms, and I’m immediately drawn to the way the soft fabric of his shirt clings to his upper arms. His shoulders stretch wide and firm.
Maybe they weren’t lying. He is…nope. I shake my head briskly, pushing the thought aside. “Would you like me to go on?”
There’s a long silence; then he points to the empty leather chair. “You can sit.”
I do.
“Blackwater Talent,” he repeats. “It’s public knowledge that we’ve made several offers to them over the past couple of months, and they’ve rejected each time. What could you possibly try that we haven’t?”
My mouth curves into a knowing, secret smile. “I think the better question would be, can I help you get what you want?”
His chuckle is dry, but the sound it makes as it rumbles through his chest stops my train of thought for a long second. “No, Miss Greco. I think the question is—what do you want in return?”
The articlesdidcall him brilliant.
It doesn’t impress me, though. If he were any less talented, the stakes wouldn’t be this high. “Why don’t you take a look at my proposal? You be the judge of whether I’m useful or not.”
He studies me even longer, his long, thick lashes gently flickering as his eyes stay fixed on mine, almost pinning me to the chair. A lump gathers in my throat, throwing me off course a little, but I force the smile to remain on my face.
He thinks I’ll back down after a while.No chance in hell.
The longer Domenico Moretti stares at me, though, the smaller the room gets and the heavier the air around us. At some point, it feels like I’m breathing him in… that smell of ground coffee and subtle hint of mint.
“Sure,” he finally breaks the silence with a noncommittal shrug, picking up the document. He quickly flips through it for a few seconds before settling on a page.
