His Empire,Her Rules

8

If someone had told me two weeks ago that Lorenzo De Luca would occupy measurable space in my thoughtsI would’ve laughed and dismissed them.Yet there I was on Monday morning, walking into De Luca Enterprises with my coffee in one hand and my bag on the other.

Lorenzo was already in the office when I got in. He arrives early before most of us here and sometimes I often wonder if he has a secret room in the company, but today felt different. His door was half-open, as if he wanted to see the hallway and monitor everyone from inside his office without using the surveillance cameras.

I didn’t look in.

I’m proud like that.

But the moment I passed, I felt him watching.

I sat, powered on my system, and pretended I didn’t want him to come out.He didn’t make me wait long.

“Miss Hawthorne.” His voice slid across my desk like silk,dark, warm, and self-assured.

I looked up, bored on purpose. “Mr. De Luca.”

His jaw flexed. “I need the analytics report you worked on last week.”

“You have it,” I said. “Page eight is updated with the final projections.”

He leaned a hand on the edge of my desk. Too close. Too intentional. “I want you to walk me through it.”

“You want or you need?”

His eyes flickered with amusement, something thick and unspoken. “Both.”

Before I could answer, a voice cut in.

“Lorenzo, darling. There you are.”

Isabella appeared beside him,she slid her hand through Lorenzo’s arm like it belonged there.

“Oh,” she said, finally acknowledging me. “You,uhmmm Sophia,correct?.”

Lorenzo stiffened.

I smiled which took her aback but I didn’t respond to her seeing what she’s trying to do.”

She was about to say something else when Lorenzo interrupted voice sharpened “Isabella, this is not a good time and what are you doing here.”

After the previous incident I did my own little research about Isabella and found out that she’s on of Lorenzo’s business partner’s daughter and I also saw photos of them together at parties,clubs and dinners on social pages and they all hinted they had history together that made me a little jealous.

Isabella ran her finger along Lorenzo’s sleeve like she was claiming a prize.

“I stopped by because I missed you,” she purred. “And your father said you’ve been… distracted lately.”

My stomach dipped annoyance flaring from within me and I hated that i couldn’t shut her up right there unless I wanted to draw attention and cause trouble which won’t be good.

I opened a file to look busy. Their conversation wasn’t my business,until Isabella redirected her sugary attention toward me again.

“Do you fetch coffee?” she asked.

I smile politely. “Only for CEOs.”

Lorenzo coughed into his hand poorly hiding a laugh.

Isabella blinked. “Lorenzo, are you going to let her—”

“Isabella,” he cut in. Sharp. Controlled. “Go wait in my office.”

She looked between us, before she turned to leave her heels echoing as she walked.

Lorenzo faced me again. “She’s—”

“I don’t need an explanation dokt keep her waiting,” I murmured and held up a hand.

He took a deep breath before leaving my desk wanting to say something but keeping quiet which I really appreciated.

“I’ll come back.”

He left before I could respond.

And for the first time that morning, I couldn’t pretend my pulse wasn’t misbehaving.

LORENZO POV

There were many things I prided myself on control, discipline, the ability to control my emotions great precision.

None of them seemed to work whenever Sophie Hawthorne is around.I stood in my office, pacing as Isabella scrolled through her phone on my sofa.

“So,” she said, her tone bright, “I see she hasn’t left”

“Why do you think she would leave?”

“Because I saw you both kissing and I know if you want a side slut for work it’s ok but not her,by the way my father said you’ve been distant and now I see why it’s because she’s still here”

My jaw tightened. “Isabella don’t ever in your entire life again refer to Sophia as a slut ever again or I swear with everything I own you will regret it”

“You’re attracted to her I see,I’ve never seen you worked up over a common staff or another woman like this not even about me,you care about her .”

The reality hit me like cold water on the face,what I didn’t want to admit is what she has just said and she said it all but I’m not ready to admit it even if I wanted to it would be to Sophia first.

I didn’t owe Isabella anything, but her father was an important partner. Relations had to be handled carefully.

Still, the idea of Sophie being reduced to gossip made something primal twist inside me.

“She’s good at her job.”

Isabella laughed lightly. “You’ve had assistants before.”

“She’s not my assistant.”

“You corrected me,” she said pointedly. “Which means she’s important.”

I hated that she was right. Not because of what it implied but because I could no longer pretend Sophie hadn’t gotten under my skin.

Her sharp mouth.

Her confidence.

Her refusal to be intimidated.

Oh my and her eyes and beauty.

And last time at the gala God, the way she carried herself. Light in her eyes, fire in her tongue. Her father’s legacy shone in her spine, even when she pretended she didn’t want to be associated with it.I found myself thinking about her long after the lights went down.

Isabella placed her phone down. “Your problem, Lorenzo, is that you think you’re immune to desire. You’re not.”

I met her gaze. “Neither are you. That’s why I’m asking you to be respectful.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Of her or of you?”

“Both,” I said, my voice dangerously low which made Isabella squirm in her seat,her irritation grew thick, like perfume.

“Fine,” she said which I don’t buy. “But don’t be foolish, Lorenzo. Women like her—”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” I warned.

She smirked but didn’t push further. “Will you take me to lunch later?”

“No. I have work.”

Of all the mistakes I had made recently, allowing her to stay in my office was one I should’ve avoided. I excused myself, stepping into the hallway.

Sophie’s door was open. She was typing, brows furrowed in concentration, lips pressed together in that way that made my thoughts wander places they shouldn’t.

“I need the report,” I said.

She didn’t look up. “It’s in the shared drive.”

“Walk me through it.”

She turned slowly, eyes cold but glowing with something she thought she hid well. “Now?”

“Now.”

Her expression remained calm. “Lead the way.”

SOPHIE

Walking into his office with Isabella sitting there felt like stepping into a storm I didn’t ask for but wasn’t afraid of either.

Isabella looked me over with disinterest.

“Let’s go over it,” Lorenzo said sharply, pulling out a chair for me.

I ignored that, opting to stand.

I presented the numbers cleanly, concisely, with the confidence Hawthornes were known for. Lorenzo listened carefully attention tracing every word from my mouth like he was collecting pieces of me.

When I finished, Isabella crossed her legs. “Ok you’re good I see why he likes you,you can leave now,” she said.

Her words caught me off guard but I quickly composed my self and offered her a polite smile and look towards Lorenzo. “That’s all,thank you.”

Lorenzo’s lips twitched.

Isabella’s eyes narrowed again. “Tell me, Sophie… how long are you planning to stay here?”

“As long as my work adds value,” I said simply.

“Or until something better comes along?”

“I don’t chase better,” I replied. “I become it.”

Lorenzo choked on nothing.

Isabella looked like she wanted to pour bleach into her eyes. “Lorenzo, can we speak privately?”

“No,” he said.

Her head snapped his way.

Satisfaction settled warmly in my chest. Against my will. Against my logic.

I wanted to stay detached, collected, untouched.

But every time Lorenzo shielded me subtle or not my resolve cracked.

I excused myself before I fell into a hole I couldn’t climb out of. “If you need anything else, Mr. De Luca, please let me know.”

I didn’t wait for his response.

The lines are blurring.The attraction no longer one-sided

I sat down at my desk, hands steady even though my chest wasn’t.

I shouldn’t fall for him.

I knew better.

I’d seen what power could do, how ambition twisted relationships into currency.

But Lorenzo…

He didn’t feel like a transaction.

And that was exactly the problem.

LORENZO

When Sophie left, the room felt colder.

Isabella started speaking but my mind stayed on Sophie’s retreating steps, the defiance in her posture, the quiet vulnerability in her eyes she tried to smother.

I shouldn’t want her.

I certainly shouldn’t want to protect her.

But watching Isabella attempt to belittle her had awakened something territorial in me something I hadn’t felt in years.

Something I thought I’d buried.

“Don’t make this messy,” Isabella said sharply.

I met her gaze with ice. “That depends on how many lines you intend to cross.”

She faltered.

I wasn’t in the mood to entertain anyone else. Not today. Not when Sophie’s presence still lingered like a ghost I wanted to chase instead of banish.

“I have work,” I said. “You should go.”

“Fine,” she replied coldly. “But don’t forget where your alliances lie.”

“I won’t,” I said.

Though for the first time, I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant.

When she left, I leaned back in my chair and let out a breath I’d been holding since Sophie walked into my morning.

Falling wasn’t my style.

But I was slipping.

Slowly.

Undeniably.

And Sophie Hawthorne was the only person I

didn’t mind falling for.