A high-end car stops in front of the entrance of a gleaming skyscraper. Roma is wearing an impeccably cut pant suit in neutral tones. She steps out with innate elegance. Her hair is gathered in a low bun, revealing delicate but defined features. Although her clothing is discreet, her slender figure and distinguished bearing do not go unnoticed by those present. Even though the uncertainty of what might happen consumes her, she shows a serenity that actually makes her look more attractive.

The doorman opens the restaurant door for her with a respectful bow.

Seeing her, the manager immediately approaches with great respect and a polite voice. "Welcome, Miss Parker. Your date is waiting for you."

"It's not a date, it's a meeting," she clarifies, and the manager regrets what he said.

"Forgive my boldness. Please, follow me."

She nods with a tilt of her head-no smile, but an expression of seriousness that the manager interprets as approval. She follows him through a discreetly lit hallway, past a private elevator. The elevator ride felt eternal to her, as what she wanted most was to get out of this matter as soon as possible.

The elevator doors open directly into a spacious and bright lounge.

"Go right in, I'll take my leave," the manager said, and Parker prepared to step out of the elevator. She swallowed hard upon seeing that man-the indomable, arrogant, drop-dead gorgeous man carved by the gods: Esteban Hamilton.

He was already waiting. Impeccably dressed in a dark suit, his figure was slender and powerful. He was standing tall, his back to her, facing the large windows. The light highlighted the contour of his silhouette, giving him an imposing presence.

Roma's footsteps echoed clearly in the silence of the room as she headed toward the table. He heard her, but he didn't turn around to look at her immediately, making the air in the VIP room-where they would dine in private-heavy with palpable expectation.

She stopped a few steps from the table, waiting. Finally, he turned around with calculated slowness. His gaze was intense, evaluating, without a hint of warmth. His dark eyes scanned her figure from head to toe before settling on her face, causing her discomfort-not from annoyance, but from the sensation of that hungry look he threw her. "Remember he's a womanizer," she told herself mentally, so she arched an eyebrow.

"Thank you for accepting this meeting, Mr. Hamilton. I've come to talk about a collaboration that I consider mutually beneficial. Shall we begin?" Her question, delivered in a serious voice, made him frown slightly, as it confirmed what they said about the girl: she was intelligent and sharp in business.

Esteban took his seat first with a barely perceptible smile forming at the corner of his lips. His tone was deep, almost defiant, as he told her: "My time is very valuable, Miss Parker. I've been here six minutes, and that's thousands of dollars lost, so get to the point." He looked her directly in the eyes and could perceive the anger of the woman in front of him, who didn't hesitate for a second and prepared to sit down with elegance. "While you are losing thousands of dollars, I am losing time that is truly a treasure, Mr. Hamilton, but I haven't come to argue." She smiled; her perfect teeth and those full lips were provocative.

"You are a shrewd businessman. And a shrewd businessman is always willing to listen to any proposal that could bring benefits. It is a minimal investment of time for a potentially significant return."

"You are colder and more direct than I imagined."

She brushed off his comment, accustomed to dealing with strong personalities. She went straight to the point, her voice formal and controlled.

"Your corporation is sinking my family, and that is something I cannot allow, Mr. Hamilton. You cannot lead to ruin what has taken my father years to build. I have been at the forefront of everything, and everything was going excellently until you Hamiltons took it upon yourselves to start bothering us."

He interrupted her intentionally, raising a hand. He shifted the conversation toward the personal, with a seductive and provocative attitude.

"Before you list all the wonderful advantages of this strategic union you have in mind-because I know perfectly well why you asked to see me-tell me one thing: what do you think of me as a husband?"

The question took her by surprise. Her eyes widened slightly, but she forced herself to maintain her composure. Her mind worked at full speed, searching for the right answer that wouldn't show weakness.

Without hesitating, even though inside her heart had skipped a beat, she answered him.

"You are a powerful ally." She swallowed and wanted to hold that deep gaze, but she didn't think she could stand it for long; he didn't even blink, and his strong temperament made her nervous.

Esteban Hamilton smiled, a predatory smile that showed a perfect row of teeth. He moved closer, reducing the distance between them. The tension in the room became almost tangible. His body loomed over her, exerting pressure step by step, like a hunter cornering his prey. Roma swallowed hard; no man had ever gotten so close to her, but with him, she was practically frozen.

"You speak very well of this marriage, of this 'alliance.' But you aren't negotiating with me, Miss Parker... you're begging." He looked into her eyes, and he could hear her labored breathing from his cruel proximity.

Blood rushed to her cheeks. She feigned being calm, but her lips were tight-a fine line on her face. Her heart beat forcefully, a violent drumming against her ribs. She felt the heat of the pressure, the shame of being exposed in that way. She knew he had seen through her facade, that he had discovered the desperation underlying her cold logic.

He stopped in front of her, staring fixedly into her eyes. There was a glimmer of triumph in his gaze. Upon confirming that she had no escape, that he had cornered her completely, his expression softened just a fraction-a sign of his acceptance.

She remained motionless, as if she had been nailed to the floor, the echo of his gaze burning her skin.

"That man shouldn't mistake me for a fool. I have the upper hand; I am the kind of woman any man of status would want. Esteban's father will only accept me as a daughter-in-law, not those women who surely only want money and fame," she said. "Let's see... Esteban doesn't do charity; he already knew all about this marriage, and it's surely because his father demanded it." She swallowed hard. "As for the rest, he would never have agreed because he isn't a one-woman man," she thought, but the flood of thoughts had her on the verge of collapsing, fearing that perhaps she didn't have as much control as she believed. "I can't give up. My family needs me. My father would die if he lost his corporation. I can't give up, nor can I allow myself to be the laughingstock of a man like Esteban. H

e's going to hear me out when we see each other."

Esteban Hamilton, seeing that he had achieved what he wanted so much, stepped back as if nothing had happened. He adopted a cold personality, which made Roma regain her composure as she saw him stand up and head for the elevator door. Silence hung between them, an echo of the tense negotiation. Esteban showed no emotion; his face was a closed book despite the possessiveness he had exhibited moments before. She, for her part, had recovered her cold composure and stood up, approaching him quickly.

"Is that all?" her question stopped him right at the elevator door.

"Were you perhaps expecting a moment of passion between us?"

"I'm making it clear that I'm not like those women you usually go out with, Mr. Hamilton. Show more respect," she told him with determination.

"It turns out I'm doing you a favor by marrying a woman as controlling as you, and I repeat: you are in no position to complain, are we clear? And to make something else clear to you, you should be very happy to marry the man who will be your savior," he spoke to her in a deep voice. "I'll send someone to pick you up. You'll be told which residence you'll be moved to. An important event awaits me. Until later, Miss Parker."

The elevator doors opened and Esteban stepped in; he didn't even wait for her to get in, but pressed the button and the doors closed.

"You're a fool, Esteban Hamilton!!" Roma snapped, crossing her arms. "Now I have to accept the new rules of your damn game. What matters is that we're on the same side now."

Arriving at the mansion in her beautiful red luxury car, Roma went inside, taking off her expensive coat. She felt somewhat stressed by what had happened with Mr. Hamilton and by what was to come, accepting the new rules of the game.

"Daughter, it's so good you're here! Your father has been asking for you," her mother greeted her with a strong hug.

"And where is he, Mother?" Roma approached the sofa and took a seat, taking off her heels to relax a bit.

"You know how your father is... he's looking for solutions to keep from losing the company, honey. He refuses to let you get married. Look, they're talking about the company on the news, honey." Her mother prepared to turn up the volume on the television, while Roma tried not to pay attention; she was worried about her father and his opposition to this marriage.

"Everyone is finding out that we are in the Hamiltons' hands. How is it possible they found out?"

"We are one of the most important families, Mother; it's impossible for them not to know. I think I'll go to my room; I have a headache."

"Wait, daughter, look!" Her mother, Gala Parker, looked at the television in surprise. "Do you see, honey? That's the reason your father refuses to have you marry that handsome young man."

Roma stood frozen. On the screen, Esteban Hamilton appeared walking the red carpet, arm in arm with a young woman dressed in an elegant and fiery red dress, during the anniversary gala organized by Alpha Group Hamilton. He was giving her a light caress on her bare back, which was favored by the sexy dress.

Gala Parker, Roma's mother, saw the images on the television, recognizing Esteban and the woman by his side. Her face contorted into an expression of alarm.

"Daughter, please... are you sure about this?" she asked, looking into her eyes, wishing to save her daughter from a disappointment.

Roma forced herself to stay calm. She turned toward her mother, a mask of serenity on her face despite the internal turmoil-despite wanting to scream and tell Esteban off for being with another woman when they had supposedly reached an agreement.

"It must be a commercial event scheduled in advance, Mom. Don't worry. Everything is under control. You know how the Hamiltons are. I'm going to my room; please, don't bother me," she said, leaning down to grab her heels and then her coat. The girl almost ran to her room and, upon arriving, locked the door and dropped her coat. She was furious.

After pacing back and forth so much, she ended up standing in front of the large mirror where she could see her whole self. She thought about that woman who was walking arm in arm with her future husband. That image of the woman in the red dress was superimposed over her own. She brushed a lock of hair from her cheek, a nearly unconscious gesture.

But in her mind, she couldn't stop reliving the day's events: the negotiation, Esteban's possessive gaze, and now, the image of him with another woman. She let out a long, weary sigh.

"That man shouldn't mistake me for a fool. I have the upper hand; I am the kind of woman any man of status would want. Esteban's father will only accept me as a daughter-in-law, not those women who surely only want money and fame," she said. "Let's see... Esteban doesn't do charity; he already knew all about this marriage, and it's surely because his father demanded it." She swallowed hard. "As for the rest, he would never have agreed because he isn't a one-woman man," she thought, but the flood of thoughts had her on the verge of collapsing, fearing that perhaps she didn't have as much control as she believed. "I can't give up. My family needs me. My father would die if he lost his corporation. I can't give up, nor can I allow myself to be the laughingstock of a man like Esteban. He's going to hear me out whe

n we see each other."