Days turned into weeks, and Amelia found herself crossing paths with Draco more often than she'd like. They would exchange brief, tense conversations, each trying to outmaneuver the other in the cutthroat world of business. But beneath the surface, a spark of attraction had ignited, refusing to be extinguished.

Amelia stood in the conference room of a towering skyscraper, her gaze fixed on the skyline outside. The meeting with potential investors had dragged on longer than expected, and her patience was wearing thin. She sighed, running a hand through her hair, trying to shake off the feeling of frustration. It wasn’t just the meeting; it was everything—the pressure, the expectations, and, most annoyingly, the constant presence of Draco De Luca in her life.

Since that night at the ballroom, Amelia had encountered Draco at nearly every significant business event in the city. Each time, their exchanges were brief, loaded with tension and veiled barbs. He was a man who knew how to get under her skin, and he did so with alarming ease.

“Ms. Valenti?” A voice pulled her from her thoughts.

Amelia turned to see her assistant, Lily, standing at the doorway. “Yes, Lily?”

“The representatives from De Luca Enterprises have arrived,” Lily said, a hint of unease in her voice. “Mr. De Luca is with them.”

Amelia’s heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain composed. “Thank you, Lily. I’ll be right there.”

As Lily left, Amelia took a deep breath, steadying herself for the inevitable encounter. She couldn’t afford to show any weakness, not in front of Draco. He thrived on control, on being the one in charge, and she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of rattling her.

With her head held high, Amelia made her way to the meeting room. The moment she stepped inside, she felt Draco’s gaze on her, intense and unwavering. He stood by the large glass windows, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, his presence commanding attention even without a word.

“Ms. Valenti,” Draco greeted, his voice smooth and controlled. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

“Mr. De Luca,” Amelia replied coolly, meeting his gaze head-on. “I wish I could say the same.”

A small smirk tugged at the corner of Draco’s mouth. “Always so direct, Amelia. It’s a trait I’ve come to admire.”

“Let’s skip the pleasantries and get to business, shall we?” Amelia suggested, her tone brisk. She took her seat at the head of the table, gesturing for the others to do the same.

Draco’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he took his seat across from her. “By all means.”

As the meeting began, the air in the room grew thick with tension. Amelia and Draco exchanged strategic blows, their words sharp, each trying to outmaneuver the other. To the other attendees, it was a high-stakes negotiation, but to Amelia, it felt like something more—a battle of wills, a dance of power and attraction that neither of them could deny.

“Your proposal is... ambitious, Mr. De Luca,” Amelia remarked, her eyes narrowing as she studied the document in front of her. “But I’m not convinced it aligns with our interests.”

Draco leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving hers. “Ambitious plans often lead to the greatest rewards. Perhaps you’re just not seeing the bigger picture, Amelia.”

Amelia arched an eyebrow, refusing to back down. “Or perhaps you’re overestimating your position. The Valenti name carries weight in this city, Mr. De Luca. We don’t need your empire to succeed.”

Draco’s smirk widened, but there was a glint of something darker in his eyes. “Don’t mistake independence for invincibility, Amelia. Even the strongest names can fall if they’re not careful.”

Amelia’s heart raced, not from fear, but from the thrill of the challenge. She wasn’t about to let Draco intimidate her. “I’m well aware of the risks, Mr. De Luca. But I assure you, the Valenti name isn’t going anywhere.”

The meeting continued in this vein, with both sides refusing to give an inch. But beneath the surface of their sharp words and calculated moves, there was an undeniable chemistry, a spark that neither of them could ignore. It was as if they were drawn to each other, despite—or perhaps because of—their differences.

Later that evening, Amelia attended a charity gala, another event that demanded her presence. She wore a sleek, black dress that clung to her curves, her hair pulled back into an elegant updo. As she made her way through the crowd, she could feel the eyes on her, admiring, curious, but none of them mattered. None except one.

Draco was there. She spotted him across the room, surrounded by a group of influential businessmen, his presence magnetic as always. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the noise of the gala faded away, leaving only the silent connection between them.

He excused himself from the group, his movements deliberate as he approached her. The tension between them was palpable, the air thick with unspoken words and undeniable attraction.

“Amelia,” Draco greeted, his voice low and smooth as he stopped in front of her. “You look stunning.”

“Draco,” Amelia replied, her voice equally calm, though her heart raced beneath the surface. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Is that disappointment I hear?” Draco’s lips curved into a teasing smile.

“Hardly,” Amelia shot back, though she couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her own lips. “Though I must admit, these events have become much more... interesting since you started attending.”

“Interesting, you say?” Draco stepped closer, his gaze intense as it locked onto hers. “I was about to say the same thing. You have a way of making even the most tedious events... worth attending.”

The double meaning in his words wasn’t lost on Amelia, and she felt a shiver of excitement run down her spine. “Careful, Draco. You’re starting to sound almost... complimentary.”

“Perhaps I’m just appreciating what’s in front of me,” Draco said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.

The space between them seemed to shrink, the world around them fading into the background. For a moment, Amelia allowed herself to get lost in his gaze, in the pull she felt toward him. But then she remembered who he was, what he represented, and the walls she had built around her heart came crashing back down.

“I’m not someone who falls for flattery, Draco,” Amelia said, stepping back slightly, though her voice remained steady.

“Who said anything about flattery?” Draco replied, his expression serious now. “I don’t play games, Amelia. I say what I mean.”

“That’s what makes you dangerous,” Amelia whispered, more to herself than to him.

Draco’s eyes darkened, his gaze searing into hers. “And yet, here you are, standing so close.”

Amelia’s breath hitched, but she forced herself to stay composed. “We’re at a charity gala, Draco. People are bound to be close.”

“Is that all it is?” Draco asked, his voice laced with challenge.

Amelia met his gaze, refusing to back down. “What else could it be?”

They stood like that for a moment, locked in a silent battle of wills, neither willing to break first. But beneath the tension, beneath the sharp words and the challenges, there was something else—something deeper, something that neither of them was quite ready to acknowledge.

“Enjoy the rest of your evening, Amelia,” Draco finally said, stepping back, though his eyes never left hers.

“You too, Draco,” Amelia replied, her voice soft but firm.

As he walked away, Amelia felt the tension slowly drain from her body, leaving her feeling strangely empty. She knew this was dangerous, that whatever was happening between them could only lead to trouble. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the feeling that their story was only just beginning.