CHAPTER 1: THE CASE OF A LIFETIME
An overwhelming symbol of wealth and power, Knight Enterprises' shining office rose above the skyline of New York City. With her heels clicking on the gleaming marble floor, Valeria Russo entered the lobby. Throughout her career, she had worked in many high-rise offices, but this one had a certain edge that she couldn't ignore. Perhaps it was the quiet, effective staff or the tension-filled hum in the air. In any case, it made her nervous.
"Ms. Russo?"
She was pulled back to the present by the receptionist's clear voice. Valeria adjusted her leather briefcase's strap and nodded. "It's me."
"Mr. Knight is anticipating your arrival."
To your left is the elevator that takes you to the top floor. Thanking her, Valeria made and headed for the elevator. She spent days going over the specifics of the case against Knight Enterprises in order to get ready for this meeting. In a dispute that may cost the business millions of dollars and damage its impeccable reputation, the plaintiff accused the company of fraud and breach of contract. She had been personally asked by CEO Dominic Knight, and the stakes were high.
Valeria ironed the lapels of her blazer as the elevator rose, telling herself that this was her chance to make an impression. The city's elite had not yet heard of her, but this case has the potential to change that. Her career would soar to heights she could only imagine if she were successful.
When the elevator doors opened, an large office space. The city was breathtakingly visible from the floor-to-ceiling windows, but her attention was drawn to the man standing close to the desk.
Knight Dominic.
As she walked in, he turned and met her gaze with his sharp blue eyes. His broad shoulders complemented his well-tailored suit, and he was taller than she had anticipated. He exuded authority due to his well-defined jawline and well-groomed dark hair. She hesitated, however, because of his strong, even smothering presence. The chamber echoed with his booming voice as he said,
"Ms. Russo." "I appreciate you coming."
Not to be shaken by his menacing atmosphere, Valeria squared her shoulders and took a step forward. It's nice to meet you, Mr. Knight. After carefully examining the evidence, I am certain that we can put up a solid defense.
A slight smile curled Dominic's lips, but it didn't extend to his eyes. "All right. Failure is not acceptable to me, Ms. Russo".
Without wasting a beat, she answered, "I don't deliver it."
His eyes flashed, maybe with enjoyment. Whatever it was, it was gone as fast as it had come. He pointed to a modern chair in front of his desk and said, "Sit."
Valeria placed her briefcase on the floor and sat down. Sitting opposite her, Dominic's presence was as overpowering as the skyline in the background.
"Let's get started," he said.
"How would you rate the case?"
Valeria lay out the important papers on the desk and opened her folder. According to the complaint, Knight Enterprises caused large financial losses by breaching a distribution agreement. By pointing to differences in the terms of the contract, they are also accusing fraud. Dominic sat back in his chair and looked intently."Do they have a case, too?"
Valeria did not wince as she looked into his eyes. "They don't have a case, they have a story. Poor record-keeping on their part is probably the cause of the disparities they have found. Their witnesses are untrustworthy, and their evidence is at best circumstantial".
Something that might have been a sneer flickered across Dominic's lips. "You seem assured."
"I am," she firmly said.
His gaze was unreadable as he observed her for a moment. "All right".
"I consider confidence to be a great advantage. But, Ms. Russo, exercise caution. There is a fine line separating arrogance and confidence".
"Mr. Knight, I understand the difference very well."
A heavy, heated quiet hovered between them for a minute. Dominic then put his elbows on the desk and leaned forward. His voice was low as he stated, "This lawsuit is more than just a nuisance, It's an assault. Whoever planned this wants to harm the reputation of my business. I want you to expose them as the scammers they are by dismantling their case piece by piece".
Valeria gave a nod. "I'll exert every effort to make sure that occurs." As if gauging her sincerity.
Dominic's eyes lingered on her. Then, in a subdued but obvious sign of approbation, he nodded.
"All right. My legal team and any other resources you require will be completely available to you. I anticipate frequent update".
"Of course,” she replied.
As the meeting continued, Valeria couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this case than Dominic was letting on. His intensity, the way he spoke about the lawsuit—it felt personal. But she pushed the thought aside. Her job was to defend him, not to question his motives.
When the meeting ended, Dominic walked her to the elevator.
“Ms. Russo,” he said as the doors opened.
“Yes?”
“Be careful. The people behind this lawsuit aren’t playing by the rules. If you dig too deep, you might not like what you find.”
The warning sent a shiver down her spine, but she refused to let it show.
“I can handle myself, Mr. Knight.”
He nodded, a faint smile tugging at the at the corner of his mouth.
"I have no doubt that you can. Best of luck".
Valeria reenacted the exchange in her thoughts as the elevator went down. She had never encountered a person as charming, powerful, and profoundly mysterious as Dominic Knight. She suspected that this case would be more difficult than she had thought.
But one thing was certain: she wasn’t going to back down. Never, ever.
***
Later that night, Dominic was standing with a glass of whiskey in the shadows of his private office. Beneath him, the city glistened, a vast empire he had constructed with equal parts ambition and brutality.
However, this lawsuit served as a reminder that empires were brittle.
He had told Valeria the truth when .when he said that the attack was planned. For months, Rafael Torres, a rival mafia boss, had been eroding his company. Dominic was determined to win the game, and the lawsuit was simply the latest move in that game.
A wildcard was Valeria Russo. She was astute, resourceful, and utterly oblivious to the world she had entered. She was therefore a liability as well as an asset.
As he sipped his whiskey, Dominic's thoughts were whirling with plans and backup plans. He had lived too long to allow someone like Torres to defeat him.
But something strange flickered in his mind as he remembered Valeria—her confidence, her defiance, the fire in her hazel eyes.
Curiosity.
Dominic laid the glass down and shook his head .with a soft clink, down. Distractions were not welcome in his world.
He was still unable to get rid of the thought that Valeria Russo might be more than just his attorney, though.
She may be his downfall.