HIS EMPIRE, HER RULES.

CHAPTER 2: BENEATH THE SURFACE

Valeria's thoughts was still racing from the intensity of her meeting with Dominic Knight when she arrived at her small Brooklyn apartment. As she poured herself a glass of wine and processed the day, she kicked off her shoes and placed her briefcase on the counter.

Dominic was... threatening. His presence was overwhelming, and his eyes seemed to be able to see through the barriers she had spent years erecting. She was drawn to him, nevertheless, because of a subtle vulnerability that lay beneath his armor of authority and control.

She shook her head and whispered to

herself, "Snap out of it."

Although it was the most well-known case of her career, this was merely another one. She only had Dominic Knight as a customer. How his piercing blue eyes appeared didn't matter.to stay with her or the way his warning kept coming back to her.

After settling down at her desk, she opened her laptop and began looking over the documents she had previously received. The contents of the complaint were complex, replete with contradictions and complexities. The stakes were indisputable, despite the plaintiff's weak arguments.

She spent an hour carefully formulating her plan. Her focus was disrupted by her phone buzzing. The text came from an unidentified number.

Dominic Knight: "I hope you've begun working, Update me"

As she read the message, her heartbeat accelerated. His blunt tone reflected his direct manner, there was no space for polite conversation.

She quickly responded with a tap.

Valeria: "In the thick of things already. By morning, I will have an update for you".

The answer happened right away.

Dominic: "All right, Watch who you tell about this".

She was uneasy about the warning, but she dismissed it. She had to keep her mind on the case, not her mysterious client.

***

Dominic, meantime, was sitting in the backseat of a sleek black sedan across town, his face briefly shadowed by the city lights. Marcus Kane, his longtime confidant and second-in-command in his underworld activities, was seated next to him.

Marcus remarked of Valeria, "She's sharp, But is she aware of what she's getting herself into?"

Dominic's mouth tensed. "She doesn't have to be aware, She will be safer if she has fewer suspicions"

Marcus's eyebrow went up "When Torres discovers who is defending you, do you believe she will remain safe? She is now a pawn as well as a lawyer in his game."

Dominic clenched his hand over his whiskey glass. Although Valeria had demonstrated her ability to manage herself, he detested the idea of entangling her in his conflict with Torres. Nevertheless, Dominic was aware of the extent Torres would go to in order to attack him.

At last, Dominic murmured, "Watch her, I want no one, including Torres, to get to her."

Marcus gave a nod. "Think of it as finished."

***

Valeria discovered a bouquet of crimson roses on her desk when she arrived at her office the following morning. She scowled as she looked at the card within the flowers.

"A stunning woman shouldn't play risky games with other women. Be cautious when treading. – R.T"

She gazed at the initials, her stomach turned over. A detective wasn't necessary for her to Determine the sender's identity. "Rafael Torres."

Her assistant stuck her head in before she had a chance to properly comprehend the ramifications. "A Mr. Knight is on the line for you, Ms. Russo."

Valeria took a deep breath and reached for the phone. "Mr. Knight."

Dominic said, "Good morning, Ms. Russo," in a cool but sharp voice. "Did you get anything out of the ordinary today?"

She paused. "A bunch of flowers."

"You must have read the card."

"Yes."

"Then you see why I warned you to exercise caution," Dominic remarked. "Torres doesn't follow the guidelines. He's attempting to frighten you. Keep him out".

Valeria gripped the phone more tightly. "I won't. However, it could be time for you to specify the type of game I've been drawn into."

A protracted silence followed by Dominic's final words. "Ms. Russo, you're dealing with a lawsuit. Nothing more, nothing less."

Despite hearing the falsehood in his voice, she chose not to press the issue just yet.

"So let's concentrate on winning it."

***

Valeria was called to Dominic's penthouse that evening. It was far more intimate than the antiseptic, business like setting she had anticipated.

The penthouse combined subtle elegance with contemporary extravagance. A stunning view of the city was framed by floor-to-ceiling windows, and the room was softened by the warm glow of ambient lighting.

With his shirt's top button undone and his tie unfastened, Dominic met her at the door. She experienced an unwanted flutter in her chest when she saw him in a more relaxed manner.

"Ms. Russo," he acknowledged, His voice was silky soft. "I believed that discussing strategy here would be simpler. Reduced distractions."

With her shoes clicking on the marble floor, Valeria entered. "Mr. Knight, you seem to be followed by distractions."

A little smile twitched his lips. "Touché."

Dominic poured them each a glass of wine as they took their seats in the living room.

With an appearance of effortless authority, he leaned back on the couch and inquired, "Have you made progress?"

Valeria placed her files on the sofa table and said, "Yes, Although the plaintiff's evidence is circumstantial, their case depends on demonstrating fraudulent intent. We will destroy their credibility if we are able to discredit their key witness."

Dominic's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Very impressive."

As they examined the specifics, Valeria couldn't get rid of the sensation that being observed. She was intensely aware of every movement and every phrase because of the weight of Dominic's stare.

Dominic's expression hardened as the topic of Torres' flowers came up.

"He's trying to test your resolve," Dominic remarked.

"He's trying to intimidate you into resigning."

Valeria firmly responded, "Well, he'll be disappointed, I don't get intimidated easily."

A rare, sincere smile curved Dominic's lips. "All right, I picked you for that reason."

Unspoken tension infused the air between them as their eyes met. The world outside the penthouse seemed to vanish for Valeria for a minute.

The magic was broken as she cleared her throat. "I'll give you an update tomorrow, if nothing else comes up."

As she grabbed her belongings, Dominic stood up. "An additional thing, Ms. Russo"

She turned to look into his sharp eyes. "Take caution. You don't know how much you mean to me."

She shivered at the thought of his words, but she kept it from him. "I'll remember that," she stated in a firm voice.

Valeria couldn't get rid of the impression that Dominic Knight was far more alluring and deadly than she had expected as she left the penthouse.