Cleopatra stepped out of the limousine, accompanied by Peter Moon, her personal secretary who had picked her up from home. As she stepped in front of the Dimitri Group building, everyone working there couldn't help but stop and stare at her beauty. She wore a red and white blazer set with a white striped scarf around her neck, along with GUCCI sunglasses and diamond earrings worth millions of dollars. Her luxurious appearance stood out, drawing the attention of everyone around her.

All the employees at Dimitri Group couldn't resist whispering to one another, admiring Cleopatra's graceful demeanor and undeniable charm. Cleopatra walked with confidence, each step firm, as if the world was in her hands. Peter, always professional, kept a respectful distance while accompanying her into the building.


As they entered the elevator to head to her office on the second floor, Cleopatra spotted a familiar figure—Louis Toreto. The financial consultant, who was also the man involved in her contract marriage, stood awkwardly in the corner of the lift, his eyes fixed forward, his expression polite but uncomfortable. Louis, aware of Cleopatra's presence, greeted her with a polite nod.

'Good morning, Ms. Thompson," Louis said cautiously, his tone respectful.

Cleopatra glanced at him but said nothing, her lips curling into a faint smile, though her expression remained cold. The silence between them was palpable, and Louis, feeling the pressure of Cleopatra's gaze, became even more awkward where he stood.


Peter, sensing the strange atmosphere inside the lift, cleared his throat. He quickly stepped in to break the tension. "Ah, Louis," Peter said with a warm smile, "how are the financial records going? We need to report everything to the audit team soon."

Louis felt relieved to have another topic to talk about. He turned toward Peter. "Everything is going well," Louis replied, his voice calm but polite. "No issues."


As the lift ascended to the second floor, Louis quietly stole a glance at Cleopatra. He hoped for some kind of reaction, perhaps a look that would acknowledge his presence. But Cleopatra, seemingly unaffected, was chewing gum nonchalantly, completely uninterested in the conversation between the two men inside the lift.

The lift finally reached the second floor and the doors opened. Peter smiled at Louis before nodding toward Cleopatra. "Goodbye, Ms. Thompson," he said warmly.

Cleopatra did not respond, simply stepping out of the lift with graceful poise, as if Louis was not even there. Peter, always professional, briefly looked at Louis and gave a short smile before following Cleopatra.

Louis stood still for a moment, feeling a mixture of emotions. A sense of guilt and confusion seemed to linger. As the lift doors closed, he felt the chill of Cleopatra's demeanor. He hadn't expected warmth from her, but the silence and indifference she showed made him feel strange. They parted ways in different directions, but Louis couldn't stop watching Cleopatra.

Even though their encounter was brief, Louis couldn't ignore it. He had always known that Cleopatra was a powerful and wealthy woman, but today he felt something different. The indifference she showed was truly surprising. The way she completely ignored Louis, without any acknowledgment, made him feel insignificant.

Louis felt strange. Why did Cleopatra's cold behavior disturb him so much? After all, he knew he couldn't expect more. They came from different worlds. Cleopatra was a woman who had everything, while Louis... was just a man working hard to meet his needs.

However, the more Louis thought about Cleopatra, the more he found himself drawn to her. Her beauty, confidence, and toughness—all of these created a huge wall that was difficult to break through. Louis realized that he would never be able to enter Cleopatra's world, and he would just remain the man standing far behind her shadow.

Yet still, even though he knew it was all in vain, Louis couldn't stop thinking about Cleopatra. Every second of their brief encounter left a mark on his mind that couldn't be erased.

In the midst of his busyness, Louis tried to focus on the work in front of him. However, his thoughts always returned to Cleopatra. Like a magnet, she kept drawing his attention, unable to be stopped.

Peter, on the other hand, seemed unaffected by the tension. Peter was always calm, professional, and friendly. Louis knew that Peter had gotten used to Cleopatra's coldness, but still, it made Louis feel more isolated. The work they had to do only added more distance between them.

Cleopatra was a woman who seemed untouchable, full of luxury and power, while Louis could only watch her from a distance, hoping he could reach something that he would never have. However, as more time passed, it became clearer to Louis that Cleopatra was not just a wealthy and powerful woman—she was a puzzle that was hard to understand.

And although Louis knew that what he hoped for would never come to fruition, the feeling still lingered, troubling his mind. Like a magnet, Cleopatra continued to pull Louis, and he didn't know how to break free from the attraction.

When they arrived in her office, Cleopatra immediately placed her black Chanel bag on the desk with a stylish movement. She let out a deep sigh, the sound of her exhale almost deafening. The atmosphere in her elegant and spacious office seemed to respond to the complaint that came from her mouth. Peter, who had been standing near the door, noticed something unusual in Cleopatra's demeanor that morning. Especially after seeing the strange behavior in the lift earlier.

Peter stood closer and looked at Cleopatra, who appeared to be deep in thought, her gaze distant. "Ms. Thompson, is there a problem with Louis?" Peter asked carefully, his voice full of concern.

Cleopatra glanced at him briefly, her eyes sharp and filled with anger. "That man is such a jerk," she answered bluntly, turning her gaze toward the window as if trying to throw all her frustration out of it. "He doesn't know his place."

Peter was silent for a moment, feeling the tension that was enveloping the room. "In that case, Ms. Thompson, do you want to find another candidate for your contract marriage?" Peter asked in a quieter voice, carefully gauging Cleopatra's reaction.

Cleopatra nodded, then with a cold voice, she said, "Yes, I want to find someone better. I have to meet my father's conditions, even after his death, and fight against Theodore, my uncle. I won't let him take my father's wealth and assets."

Peter felt a little surprised by Cleopatra's quick decision. However, as her personal secretary who had always been by her side, he knew this was a command that couldn't be ignored. Carefully, he opened the iPad in his hand, scanning the data he had, and finally mentioned a name. "How about Alvin Cultis, Ms. Thompson? He's a politician, a mayoral candidate in New York, and also a volunteer."

Cleopatra listened attentively, but her expression quickly turned sour. "A politician?" she muttered sarcastically. "You're not serious, Peter. There's no way I could be with a politician like Alvin Cultis. We'd have trouble managing the divorce later, and don't forget, he's bound to deal with the media! The press coverage will be disastrous." Cleopatra frowned, her face showing disgust. "I don't want to live tangled in such dirty politics."

Peter, who had been unsure, now began to realize how hard Cleopatra's rejection was. "Alright, Ms. Thompson. I'll analyze other candidates. Give me some time," Peter replied in a calm but thoughtful tone.

Cleopatra stared at Peter expressionlessly, glancing at him briefly, then returned to sit in her chair lazily. "Do whatever you want, Peter," she said, her voice full of boredom. "I don't have time for a man like that."

Peter nodded and then turned toward the door. "Alright, I'll be back shortly to analyze further," he said as he opened the door, leaving Cleopatra who seemed even more exasperated in her office. Once the door closed, Cleopatra leaned back in her chair, letting out a long sigh and muttering quietly.

"Such a fool," she whispered to herself. "This isn't going according to plan."

Cleopatra felt frustrated. What was supposed to be a shortcut to securing her family's wealth was now feeling more complicated. Louis, who was supposed to be nothing more than a pawn in her contract marriage, was having a much bigger impact than she had anticipated. Even though her cold heart tried to suppress the feeling, there was one thing she had to admit: Louis wasn't so easy to dismiss.

Outside, Peter let out a sigh of his own. He knew very well the state of his employer and how every step she took was always carefully considered. He returned to his desk and began to open other files, trying to find the best solution for Cleopatra, even though he knew, this decision would be complicated... and futile.