HIS EMPIRE, HER RULES.

CHAPTER 3: LINES BLURRED

For Valeria, the days that followed were hectic. She meticulously dismantled the plaintiff's case piece by piece while immersed in witness testimony, depositions, and records. The real litigation was a complex jumble of financial documents and unclear contracts, but it was nothing she couldn't manage.

However, the weight of Dominic's warning and Rafael Torres's silent menace persisted. It lingered in the back of her mind like a dark cloud, subtly influencing every decision she made. A part of her was also fascinated by the facets of Dominic Knight's universe that he had not yet disclosed, despite her refusal to acknowledge this.

***

Late one evening, Valeria was seated at her desk, her lamp casting a warm glow over the neatly arranged papers before her. The Except for the occasional creak of old floorboards and the soft hum of the air conditioner, the office was quiet. Her phone buzzed after she had spent hours looking through financial spreadsheets.

Dominic Knight: "Are you still in the office?"

The unexpected message caused Valeria to frown. She didn't know how Dominic knew her schedule so well, and it was almost ten o'clock. She paused, then answered.

Valeria in agreement; "Why?"

The response was prompt.

Dominic: "A car is on its way. I invite you to my penthouse."

As she read the message, her eyes grew wide. Given how intimately her career and this investigation were linked to Dominic, she couldn't afford to ignore his desires. However, the boldness of his voice touched a chord.

But curiosity prevailed. She sighed, packed her briefcase, and went downstairs, where a sleek black car was waiting for her outside the building.

***

The Penthouse Encounter Dominic's penthouse was just as luxurious as she had imagined, with marble floors shining under soft, recessed lighting and glass walls offering a panoramic view of the city. The subtle scent of leather and cedar hung in the air, adding to the space's understated luxury.

As she entered, he stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his hands in his pockets, and the city glittered behind him, a vast canvas of light and shadow, but his entire attention was on her.

"You work too much," he said, his voice carrying a mixture of reprimand and amusement.

Valeria raised an eyebrow, determined not to be enchanted by his unassuming power.

“That’s rich coming from you.”

What could have been a smile twisted his lips. "Touché. However, I need you to rest tonight. Get a drink. Get your thoughts straight."

Valeria folded her arms. "Mr. Knight, thank you for your concern, but I fail to see how this relates to the case."

Dominic's face grew serious, the playful sparkle in his eyes giving way to the intensity she had learned to expect. "Ms. Russo, everything I do has a reason. I promise you that taking a brief break from the chaos will improve your productivity."

She sat on one of the soft leather couches and, against her better judgment, drank the glass of wine he gave. Dominic joined her, his actions purposeful, his eyes unwavering.

"So," she interrupted the quiet. "Why did you actually ask me here?"

For an instant, she believed Dominic would not respond as his sharp blue eyes met hers. Then he leaned back on the couch and let out a breath. His voice was low as he said, "You're good at what you do. Better than I thought. But you don't comprehend how dangerous this case is."

Valeria placed her drink on the coffee table and leaned forward. "You say it repeatedly, but you haven't given an explanation yet. Now is the time to let me know if there is anything I should know."

Dominic appeared to pause for a second, a glimpse of vulnerability passing across his face.

He then ran a hand through his dark hair and sighed. "Torres Rafael," At last, he said. "The plaintiff in this case is more than just a competing businessman. He is in charge of a strong criminal organization. This goes beyond contracts and money. It has to do with power."

Valeria maintained a neutral demeanor even though her heart skipped a beat. "And you? Do you belong to this... planet as well?"

Dominic's eyes grew piercing. "I run a business. However, power and business are frequently entangled in my society."

Unspoken truths began to weigh heavily on the air between them. Valeria couldn't give up even though she knew she was going too far. "Why didn't you inform me of this earlier?" She made a demand.

Dominic acknowledged, "Because I didn't want to scare you off. This case needed to be handled by someone who wasn't influenced by fear."

"I'm not frightened. I don’t scare easily" she said steadily.

And there was a flicker of admiration in Dominic’s eyes. “I’ve noticed.”

***

As the evening wore on, the tone between them changed, and Valeria found herself lowering her defenses, letting little tidbits of banter slip through the lines of professionalism.

Dominic, for his part, seemed content to watch her with a mixture of fascination and amusement, and when she finally got up to leave, he led her to the elevator. “Be careful, Valeria,” he said as the doors opened, his voice softer than usual, his face nearly unreadable. “Torres won’t stop at the lawsuit. If he sees you as a threat, he’ll come after you.”

“I can handle myself,” she responded. Seeing him in the eye. With an overwhelming presence.

Dominic took a step closer. "I'm sure you can. However, I defend what is mine."

For a minute, the air between them crackled with something unsaid, and her breath caught at the ferocity of his words. The elevator doors slid closed before she could react.

As the elevator lowered itself, Valeria's mind was racing. She no longer merely had Dominic Knight as a client. He was evolving into something far more complex and frightening.

***

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit office across town, Rafael Torres stared at the dossier on his desk. Valeria Russo’s name and photo stared back at him, the accompanying details outlining her impressive career. But it wasn’t her credentials that intrigued him—it was her connection to Dominic Knight.

“She’s a liability,” Torres said, his voice a low growl. “And liabilities need to be dealt with.”

The man seated across from him nodded. “Do you want her scared or silenced?”

Torres leaned back in his chair, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. “Let’s start with scared."

"Send a message. Make sure she knows exactly who she’s dealing with.”

As his subordinate left to carry out his orders, Torres picked up the photo of Valeria once more. He could see she was strong. But there was a breaking point for everyone. And he was going to locate hers.