The Rival Clause

Rule one: Never mix business with pleasure.

Rule two: Never underestimate a rival in a custom suit.

Dominic Hale walks into my boardroom like he owns it. Like he owns me. Like my company is just another trophy acquisition.

I plan to wipe that smug expression off his face.

Instead, we end up locked in negotiations that stretch past midnight—sharp words, sharper tension, and chemistry that feels entirely inappropriate for two CEOs fighting for control.

Then someone sabotages the deal.

And suddenly the only person who understands the strategy, the stakes, and the pressure I’m under… is him.

I don’t trust easily. And I definitely don’t trust men who smile like they know all my weaknesses.

But when Dominic looks at me like I’m not a competitor—but an equal—

I start to wonder if losing the battle might mean winning something better.

The problem?

He doesn’t lose.

And neither do I.