A man sat comfortably in his penthouse office, the skyline of Barcelona stretching out before him, bathed in the soft light of the setting sun.
His hair was ink-black and messy, his eyes were honey-colored and his face was sculpted like a god. He was incredibly charming. And his gaze was sharp and penetrating like a predator.
This was Dominic Romano, one of the most wealthiest and renowned tycoons in spain.
His companies dealt in stocks, shares, import-export and cyber security, and he made billions annually.
But the legal business wasn't the only thing bringing in this billions... he had another private 'organisation' that was quite illegal to say the least.
In short, he was the leader of a cartel.
He had taken over the cartel years ago after his uncle retired... oh that's right, when Dominic was 5, he lost both parents to an explosion during a war with a rival cartel.
He had been raised by his uncle ever since, and he had learnt all about the ways of the mafia. The blood. The brutality. And he had no problem accepting these norm, but... he wanted more than just basic inflation, drug dealing and illegal trading.
He wanted something... clean.
Which is why the moment he became the leader of the syndicate, he changed things a little. The cartel that once ran on drug dealing and trafficking, now specialises in surveillance, crypto laundering and political manipulation.
This earned him not only tons of money, but also power. Political power.
Politicians relied on his cunning which made him someone useful to them, someone they would protect at all cost, someone they would always favour.
The city was his playground, and his empire was built on the kind of wealth that made men untouchable—but he wasn't untouchable. Not really. He could feel the weight of his uncle's legacy pressing down on him, the shadows of the past always lurking just out of sight.
Behind his polished, imposing desk, Dominic was alone, save for the files spread out in front of him—thick manila folders with names, dates, photographs, and detailed reports. One file, in particular, was open, the pages flipped to a picture of Catalina Morales, the woman he was about to marry, the woman who would be his ticket to ensuring the future of his empire.
Dominic wasn't one to deal in surprises. Knowledge was his weapon. Information was his power. He had spent days, weeks, meticulously gathering everything there was to know about—the supposedly heiress to one of the most dangerous and influential cartels in Spain. Her father was the 'Don'.
And she herself wasn't known to be timid or weak. She was a woman whose beauty and intelligence were matched only by her cold resolve.
She had a reputation, no doubt about it. The name "Morales" was known across the continent, whispered in fear and awe. Joaquín had carved out his empire in blood and fear, a ruthless man who controlled the drug trade with a cold, calculating hand. And then there was Lina—his sharp, defiant daughter.
Her father had made sure she was groomed for power, raised to take her place in the cartel, but there was something different about her. Unlike other women of her status, she wasn't a pawn or an accessory. She was dangerous.
Dominic ran a hand through his hair, leaning back in his chair as he looked over her photograph again. A woman with a fire in her eyes, a woman who could hold her own in any room, and more importantly, a woman who didn't fear him—or anyone else, for that matter
Then he glanced through her info...
[Catalina Morales, 28 years old. Daughter of Joaquín Morales. Educated at the University of Madrid. Fluent in five languages. Known for her involvement in the family business, including logistics and financial strategies. Recently distanced herself from the cartel's operations following the death of her brother, Miguel Morales]
The report wasn't complete, not by a long shot. It was missing crucial pieces—the why and how behind her distancing from her father's operations, what kind of person she had become since Miguel's death, and most importantly, how she'd react to the marriage that had been arranged for her. He knew this would be a challenge. She wouldn't be easy to control.
She was lethal, beautiful, and brilliant. Just the kind of woman he doesn't want—but precisely the one he needs to keep peace between old-world crime families
His finger hovered over the next file, a report from one of his most trusted informants. The report detailed Lina's recent activities—business meetings in the dark corners of Madrid, late-night walks through Barcelona's dangerous districts, whispers of her involvement in dealings outside of the Morales cartel's operations. She was branching out, just like him.
[Lina Morales has been seen meeting with various underworld figures not directly affiliated with her father's operations. Her recent meetings with minor politicians and influential figures have raised questions about her loyalty to the cartel]
The implications were clear: she was no puppet, no simple piece of her father's game. She was a player in her own right.
A sudden knock at the door broke his thoughts, followed by the quiet hum of a man entering the room.
"Mr. Romano?" his assistant, Marco, said, pushing open the door and walking in without waiting for permission.
"Talk," Dominic said, his voice cold, never taking his eyes off the report in front of him.
Marco stepped forward, placing a new file on the desk. "This just came in. A shipment is arriving from the south. There's a problem with the logistics. We need to act quickly."
Dominic's mind snapped back to business, pushing the thoughts of Lina aside for now. The Romano family's mafia ties weren't just a legacy—they were a business, one that required constant vigilance. And in the world of organized crime, any slip-up could cost you everything.
"Take care of it," Dominic said, his voice low but commanding. "I want it fixed before dawn."
Marco hesitated, then spoke again, more cautiously. "Mr. Romano, there's something else. There's news about the Morales family. Lina—"
Dominic's eyes snapped up, a dark glint in them. "What about her?"
"She's been summoned to the villa. Joaquín is pushing for the marriage to go through sooner than expected," Marco said. "It seems he's already made the arrangements."
Dominic nodded, his lips pressing into a tight line. "I know. I've already seen the reports."
He paused for a moment, letting the silence fill the room. His thoughts wandered back to Lina. She wasn't what he expected. She was colder, more calculating, and yet, there was an undeniable spark in her—a fierce independence that made her a challenge.
But challenges were what Dominic thrived on. Deep down, he wanted the marriage with Lina to happen, and not just because it was strategic. He wanted to see if she would break, or if, like him, she would play the game until the very end.
The door closed behind Marco, leaving Dominic alone with his thoughts once again. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze turning back to the cityscape.
"If she plays nice, I'll give her gold. If she plays smart, I might respect her. But if she plays with fire... she'll burn." he muttered to himself with a grin.
Soon, he would meet her. And when he did, he would have to decide: Was she a pawn in his game, or something more useless.
Both Dominic and Lina had strong resolves He will not play husband, and she will not play wife. It was simply a business contract, and nothing more.