His Empire...Her Endgame

tteo's voice thundered across the room. "I sent one of my best men to the Lopez estate, and this is what I get?!" His eyes burned with fury as he took a step closer. "A weakli

, can it? You're stalking me! Do you have any idea how creepy that is?" She glared at him, waiting for an explanation. Matteo swallowed, composing himself. "Love makes us do foolish things," he said smoothly, forcing a smile. Griselda scoffed. "Love? Love? Matteo, are you even capable of that?" She shook her head, disgusted, then shoved past him, storming down the hall. Matteo remained in place, touching his burning cheek. Instead of deterring him, her fierceness only fueled his obsession. He had to make this right. Immediately, he called one of his men, instructing him to book a private dinner at the hotel's rooftop restaurant. He was determined to shift her impression of him-to win her over, one way or another. As he hung up, he exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. Why was he sweating? Why was his heart pounding? He cursed under his breath, shaking his head. Falling in love isn't good for business. Meanwhile, in her suite, Griselda paced the room, wrestling with a whirlwind of emotions. Matteo wasn't a terrible option-aside from his manipulative nature. She could handle him. Couldn't she? She scoffed at herself. Why had she gone out of her way to confront him like that? Why did she care? Letting out a deep breath, she resigned herself to waiting-if he truly wanted her, he'd make his next move. And he did. A few hours later, a sharp knock startled her awake. Instinct kicked in. In a swift motion, she reached into the nightstand for her gun. Years of being a drug lord's daughter had conditioned her well. She moved toward the door, checked the peephole, and let out a sigh of relief. Matteo. Adjusting her expression to look irritated-still fuming, still not impressed-she opened the door. The moment their eyes met, something inside her shifted. For the first time, she saw sincerity in his gaze. She raised a brow, silently questioning his presence. Matteo cleared his throat, but before he could speak, she cut him off. "Meet me on the rooftop for dinner," she said coolly. "I don't know how you'll arrange it, but you're a man. Figure it out." And with that, she shut the door in his face. Matteo stood frozen for a moment, dumbfounded-then, realization hit him. He chuckled, shaking his head. Something inside him lurched. No. No, this wasn't love. It couldn't be. Shoving the thought away, he strode back to his room to prepare. Matteo waited at the rooftop restaurant, restless, checking his watch. An hour passed. No sign of her. He clenched his jaw. She's playing games. Then, just as he was about to leave, a flash of red caught his eye. Griselda She stepped out of the elevator, exuding effortless grace and power. Her silk dress clung to her in all the right places, her luminous skin glowing under the dim lighting. His breath hitched as he took in the delicate tattoo on her neck-Mandarin script, a secret he desperately wanted to decipher. He swore under his breath, shifting uncomfortably as desire pooled in his gut. He straightened his suit, masked his reaction, and stood to greet her. As she reached the table, she extended a hand for a handshake. Instead, Matteo pulled her in for a hug. His face brushed against her neck, inhaling the intoxicating scent of lilies. She tensed but didn't pull away. As they took their seats, silence settled between them. Then, Griselda smirked. "So... what do you do when you're not stalking me?" Matteo chuckled, swirling his wine glass. "You know what I do," he said smoothly. "I run my business-just like your father. And I have a winery back in Italy." She tilted her head, amused. "Mmm. Wine and crime. Such a poetic combination." He chuckled, but she wasn't done. "I, myself, am a lab scientist," she said, taking a sip of her drink. "Though, I'm not working at the moment. I prefer to paint and be left alone." She emphasized the last words with a pointed look. Matteo smirked. "I intend to respect that. But at least give me a chance to get to know you." She pretended to consider it, her lips quirking in amusement. "And what happens when the thrill of the chase wears off?" she asked, arching a brow. Matteo leaned forward, locking eyes with her. "I don't play games. I know what I want, and I go for it." Before he could stop himself, the words left his mouth. Will you marry me?" Silence. The air grew thick with tension. Matteo realized what he had just said and felt his body go cold. Damn it. Not now. Not tonight. Griselda studied him, her expression unreadable. "That was... impulsive," she mused, swirling her wine. Matteo exhaled, nodding. "I know. But it's the truth. I am going to marry you-just didn't plan to ask today." He flashed a lopsided grin. "Maybe the universe is trying to tell us something." She opened her mouth to respond, but just then, their meals arrived. Her eyes lit up in surprise. "Oh my God... Arepas?!" She looked genuinely delighted. "So thoughtful of