Morning light filled the executive office as Selena walked in beside Damian, her posture elegant, calm . The devoted wife and capable partner everyone admired.
She played her role perfectly'
Damian adjusted his cufflinks as they took their seats at the conference table. His eyes stayed on her longer than necessary. He always looked at her that way—like she was the only thing in the room worth owning.
Selena noticed.
She always did.
She slid the contracts forward, her voice calm and supportive. "Three investments to review today. I marked the risk points."
Damian smiled faintly. "That's why I trust you."
Trust.
The word almost made her smile.
As he focused on the numbers, Selena studied him instead—not with affection but deliberation. This company was a ladder. Their marriage was part of the climb. And she intended to go higher, even if it meant stepping over everything they had built together.
"The residential project worries me," she said softly. "Permits could be delayed."
Damian leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Then we pressure the contractor. No weakness."
She nodded, the perfect partner. The perfect wife.
Inside, she was already planning possibilities —alternative partners, private investors, names Damian had never seen on the board. Moves that would secure her future, not theirs.
The nightclub file came next. Risky. Volatile. Powerful.
Damian hesitated. "This one could ruin us if it goes wrong. We must proceed with care."
The meeting with Carlos Verdi took place late afternoon, in a private lounge overlooking the city. Floor-to-ceiling windows, muted gold lighting, and a table set with precision—power always preferred elegance.
Carlos Verdi arrived exactly on time.
Mid-forties. Elegant . The kind of man who built empires quietly and expected admiration without asking for it. CEO of one of the largest international development companies, known for luxury resorts and impossible deals.
His eyes went to Selena first.
She felt it instantly—and used it as a weapon.
"Mr. Verdi," she said warmly, standing before Damian could speak. Her smile was effortless, captivating. "Welcome. We're honored you could meet with us."
Carlos shook her hand, holding it longer than necessary. "The honor is mine. I've heard… impressive things."
Damian noticed. Of course he did. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He never did when Selena stepped into this role—because she always won.
They took their seats.
Carlos placed out the vision: a private luxury resort in Hawaii, designed for elite investors, celebrities, and discreet clients. High return. High risk. Absolute secrecy.
"We need partners who understand discretion," Carlos said, eyes flicking back to Selena. "And ambition."
Selena leaned forward slightly, just enough to command attention—not desperation, not arrogance. Control.
"Hawaii isn't just about luxury," she said smoothly. "It's about experience. Privacy. Emotion. People don't invest in buildings anymore—they invest in how a place makes them feel."
Carlos smiled:''I'm interested now."
Damian added numbers. Structure. Authority.
Selena added vision.
"We would restructure the investment phases," she continued, her tone calm, intelligent. "Front-load sustainability and design. Investors feel secure. Guests feel exclusive. And your brand becomes untouchable."
Carlos studied her carefully. "You speak like someone who sees ten steps ahead."
"I do," Selena replied softly.
Their eyes held for a moment too long.
Damian shifted beside her, possessive without realizing why. His hand rested on the table, close to hers—but she didn't reach for it.
Carlos broke the silence. "I've met many partners today. But none who understand both power and presentation the way you do."
Selena smiled again. This time, slower.
"Then perhaps," she said, "we're exactly what you've been looking for."
By the end of the meeting, Carlos stood, clearly impressed. "I'll have my legal team draft preliminary terms. I'd like to continue this conversation—privately."
Damian nodded, satisfied. "We'll review everything together."
Selena gathered her folder, graceful, composed. As Carlos left, he glanced back at her one last time.
This contract wasn't won by numbers alone.
And Selena knew it.
As the doors closed, Damian turned to her, admiration darkening his gaze. "You were incredible."
She met his eyes, the perfect wife, the perfect partner.
"Just doing my job"she said softly
The office was quiet except for the soft hum of the city outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. Selena leaned against Damian's desk, arms crossed, reviewing the latest projections from the Carlos Verdi deal. His office smelled faintly of aged leather and his signature cologne—comforting, familiar, and dangerously intimate.
Damian was at his chair, studying numbers, sleeves of his crisp white shirt rolled up just enough to show the lean strength of his forearms.
"The Hawaii investment could close this month," he said casually, not looking up. "Carlos expects our final proposal soon."
Selena's eyes narrowed at the spreadsheet, but she didn't answer immediately. Something made her pause—a flicker of movement near the door.
The office door opened, and a new assistant stepped in.
She was striking—tall, perfectly groomed, with sharp features and a polished presence that demanded attention. Blonde hair perfectly set, heels clicking lightly against the floor. Her eyes landed on Damian first… and then, almost casually, swept over Selena.
Selena felt it instantly—a subtle shift in the air, a ripple of something dangerous. Jealousy. Not loud, not obvious. But the way the woman's gaze lingered on Damian, the faint smirk she tried to hide—it set Selena's instincts on high alert.
"Good afternoon," the assistant said politely, though her eyes never left Damian. "I'm Dianne. I'm here to begin orientation."
Selena moved smoothly, stepping slightly between Dianne and Damian, her posture perfect, her composure immaculate. She smiled at the woman, coldly sweet.
"Welcome, Dianne," she said, her voice soft but firm. "I'm Selena. I'm sure we'll be working closely together."
Dianne tilted her head, meeting Selena's gaze with the barest flicker of recognition, like a challenge.
"Of course," she replied, her tone measured, smooth. But Selena caught it—something off, subtle yet undeniable.
Damian looked up, oblivious to the undercurrent, and smiled warmly at Dianne.
"Glad to have you," he said. "You'll be helping with my schedule and correspondence."
Selena's hand brushed lightly over the desk as she leaned closer, just enough that her perfume lingered in the air between her and Dianne. Her gaze was piercing, studying every move.
Dianne's smile didn't falter, but Selena could feel it—the tension, a quiet tension of competition started to form.
For a moment, it was a quiet standoff, silent and electric. Then Selena straightened, her smile perfect, almost imperceptibly predatory. Everything was under control… for now.
Selena and Damian returned to the files, checking each detail with precision. The spreadsheets, projections, and legal clauses spread across the desk, but Selena paused for a moment, her finger hovering over a highlighted section.
"We need more than one project like this," she said softly, eyes on Damian, her tone decisive. "If we replicate this model, expand our vision… then we can reach our highest goals."
Damian glanced at her, intrigued. "Ambitious."
Selena smiled faintly, cold and controlled. "Exactly."