His protruding belly shifted as he transferred his weight awkwardly from one leg to the other. His bald head was red and sweating.
I inhaled, keeping my face cold and my posture rigid as I met his eyes.
“I assume you’re here to explain why you allowed that ridiculous circus earlier today,” I said as greeting, moving around the massive mahogany desk and taking the chair behind it. “And I’m very interested in hearing your explanation.”
The mayor swallowed, shifting nervously, searching for words that wouldn’t incriminate him further.
“I… I’m sorry, Mr. Ferrara, but my hands are tied,” he began. “The residents’ movement is more organized than I anticipated. They mobilized the council. They created a formal association to represent them. They’re blocking essential processes for theresort approval and staging protests. The front of city hall has been occupied for days. And the press is on their side.” He exhaled. “There’s nothing I can do to remove them without attracting negative attention.”
My irritation sharpened.
How had they organized this thoroughly without my team detecting it sooner?
“You’re telling me you’ve been defeated by amateurs?” I asked softly—dangerously. “You allowed a handful of small-town residents to stall a billion-dollar project?”
The man took a step back, clearly terrified.
“Well, perhaps calling it a small town—” he started, then swallowed hard under my stare. “I did everything I could, Mr. Ferrara. The only way forward now is to negotiate directly with the association’s leader.” He hesitated. “I can arrange the meeting immediately if you agree.”
I exhaled, hating every word.
The idea that I had to negotiate with anyone from that group was an insult to my authority and power.
But I didn’t have a choice. The resort needed to move forward—and fast. This project wasn’t just an investment; it was personal—for Eloá, for me.
“Set the meeting,” I said flatly. “Who is this leader who thinks she can challenge Ferrara Group?”
The mayor hesitated, eyes flicking away before he murmured, embarrassed—
“It’s… it’s Ms. Valentina Muniz, Mr. Ferrara.”
It felt like lightning hit my spine.
Heat. Rage. The name detonating in my head.
Valentina.
Again. Always Valentina.
The mayor retreated another step at the silent fury on my face.
“She’s the one coordinating the resistance personally,” he added quickly.
My vision narrowed, red at the edges, my breathing speeding from pure hatred. She wasn’t just defying me—she was standing directly in my way, obstructing something I considered mine by right.
I clenched my teeth until my jaw screamed, every cell in my body burning with the irrational urge to destroy her on the spot.
But I drew in a breath and forced my control back into place.
“Then this meeting will be even more interesting than I expected,” I said, my voice cold and lethal. The mayor visibly flinched. “Set it up. As soon as possible.”
He nodded quickly and fled the room, shutting the door behind him.
The moment I was alone, my fury surged—violent and bright, obliterating the last remnants of calm.
Valentina Muniz would pay for every obstacle she put in my path.
I would crush her resistance. Her delusions of victory.
