The CEO and the Enemy

The town of Alvorada seemed too small for the size of the ghosts Vivian carried upon her return. Every street, every corner, held a memory of the past, buried but never forgotten. The sky was covered with gray clouds, as if the weather was in tune with the restlessness in her heart. After 20 years of absence, she was back, no longer the insecure girl of before, but a determined woman, ready to claim what was rightfully hers.

The imposing facade of Bravo Corp, the heart of the empire Logan Bravo controlled with an iron fist, stood before her. The company had been in rivalry with the Oliveira legacy for decades, but now, Vivian had more than just a business interest here. She had come to claim her share of the stock, but she knew this battle would be more personal than professional.

As she stepped through the revolving glass door, Vivian was immediately surrounded by a luxurious atmosphere. The company's lobby was adorned with white marble, with golden details gleaming under the elegant lighting. Ornamental plants filled the corners of the room, while the walls displayed contemporary art. The air was fresh, but there was a tension in the atmosphere that seemed to anticipate her arrival.

She walked with firm steps, her heels echoing on the polished floor, and the receptionist looked at her with curiosity. Everyone knew who Vivian Oliveira was, even if they hadn't seen her in two decades. The murmurs began immediately.

"I have a meeting with Mr. Bravo," she said, her voice calm yet firm.

The receptionist nodded nervously. "Mr. Bravo is expecting you in the conference room on the top floor."

Vivian nodded and walked to the elevator. The journey to the top floor was silent, but inside, a storm of emotions consumed her. The memories of Logan Bravo, the man who had once meant everything to her, came rushing back with intensity. They had been more than friends, more than partners... they had been lovers. Until everything fell apart.

The elevator opened with a soft mechanical sound, and she found herself facing double doors carved from dark wood. As she pushed them open, she was immediately struck by the grandeur of the conference room. Huge windows stretched from floor to ceiling, revealing a panoramic view of the city. In the center, a glass conference table reflected the surrounding environment.

And there he was.

Logan Bravo, tall, imposing, with his suit perfectly tailored to his athletic frame. His piercing green eyes locked onto hers the moment she entered, and time seemed to stand still. The air grew heavy, as if the past had returned to haunt them at that very moment.

Vivian stopped in the middle of the room, maintaining a confident expression. She couldn’t show weakness, not now.

"Vivian Oliveira," Logan said, his deep voice reverberating through the room. "I can't say I'm surprised to see you, but I certainly didn't expect you to have the courage to return."

His tone was cold, calculated. There was anger there, but also something deeper, a shadow of something neither dared to mention.

Vivian held his gaze. "Things change, Logan. And so have I."

He laughed, a low, bitter sound. "Change? Maybe, but the past is still here, buried in every wall of this city."

Vivian knew he was testing her, trying to unnerve her. But she wouldn't give in. "I didn’t come to talk about the past. I’m here to talk business. The Bravo Corp shares, part of the deal my father made with yours, belong to me. I’m here to claim my place."

Logan crossed his arms, moving closer to her, the tension between them almost palpable. "Claim your place?" He shook his head slowly. "You have no place here, Vivian. Bravo is mine. Everything here was built by my hands, my effort. And you think you can just come back after 20 years and take your share?"

She took a deep breath, standing firm despite Logan’s proximity. The woody scent of his cologne hit her, bringing back memories of long-lost nights, of touches that now seemed so distant. But she couldn’t allow herself to stray from her goal.

"I don't think," she replied calmly. "I have a right, Logan. It's in the contract. And as much as you hate the idea, that won't change."

He stepped even closer, until they were just inches apart. The heat between them was undeniable, the anger mixed with something far more dangerous. Logan leaned in slightly, speaking low, almost in a whisper.

"Do you think you can play this game with me, Vivian? Do you think you can come in here and challenge me without paying the price? I know you. I know what you’re capable of doing to get what you want. But I won’t make it easy for you."

Vivian felt the impact of his words but didn’t let it show. She raised her chin, staring directly at him. "I don’t expect it to be easy, Logan. It never was."

For a moment, Logan’s eyes seemed to soften, as if he were fighting something within himself. He took a step back, breaking the tension between them, but the air still felt electrified. He walked toward the window, looking out over the city.

"You should never have come back," he said, his tone darker.

Vivian crossed her arms, feeling her heart race. "I came back because it’s the right thing to do. I won’t let my father be erased from history. And I won’t let you intimidate me."

Logan turned back toward her, his eyes burning with anger and... desire? There was something there that he couldn’t hide, something even hatred couldn’t erase.

"You never knew when to give up," he said, approaching her again. "That’s always been your weakness."

She laughed, a dry sound. "Or maybe it’s my strength. You know that very well."

The two stood in silence for a few moments, their eyes locked, until Logan finally seemed to lose control for a brief second. He reached out and grabbed Vivian’s arm, pulling her closer. His touch was firm but not aggressive. Their faces were mere inches apart.

"Do you still hate me?" Vivian whispered, challenging him.

Logan watched her intensely, his eyes moving from hers to her lips. "Hate is the only thing keeping me away from you."

She swallowed hard, her heart racing wildly. "And do you think that’s all that’s left between us?"

He hesitated for a moment before abruptly letting her go. "Maybe."

Vivian stepped back, adjusting her coat. "Then I guess we’ll have plenty of time to find out."

Logan watched as she walked toward the door, his body tense, his thoughts chaotic. He knew he should hate her, but as she left the room, he couldn’t shake the overwhelming feeling that his attraction to her had never truly disappeared.

And that could be his greatest weakness.

Vivian turned and started walking toward the door, trying not to let the internal turmoil show. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if the intensity of that encounter was draining her. Logan, for his part, remained standing in the center of the room, his eyes fixed on her, watching her movements, her posture, and every nuance of her expression. He should have felt relieved to see her leaving, but something kept him from looking away.

With each passing second, the tension between them seemed to expand, filling the room. The sound of Vivian’s heels echoed off the marble floor, each beat synchronized with the rhythm of Logan’s racing heart, and he hated it.

He hated that she had returned after so many years. He hated that she was trying to claim something he deemed entirely his. He hated that she still had the power to send his mind spiraling into an avalanche of conflicting emotions.

When Vivian reached the door and placed her hand on the handle, Logan exhaled a restrained sigh. His body was taut like a rope about to snap. He should let her go. He should maintain control, as he always did. But the mere sight of her, so close yet so distant, irritated him in a way he couldn’t explain. And then, the truth hit him like a wave: the hatred he felt for Vivian was intertwined with something much more dangerous. A desire he had buried but that had never died.

Before he could stop himself, Logan took two quick steps toward her.

"Vivian."

The word came out more as a command than a call, and she stopped immediately, her hand still on the door handle. She didn’t turn, but Logan could see her tense shoulders, her rigid body, as if she were fighting her own internal battle.

He approached, hesitant but determined. His heart pounded in his chest, the tension between them becoming almost unbearable. Logan knew that if he took one more step, he would cross a line that could not be undone. But he also knew, with an uncomfortable certainty, that he could no longer ignore what was really happening inside him.

Vivian finally turned her face slightly, just enough for their eyes to meet. There was something in her eyes—a mix of defiance, pain, and an attraction she also seemed to be trying to deny.

"You can’t just walk away," Logan said, his voice hoarse, emotions raw.

She raised an eyebrow, still maintaining an exterior calm, but Logan could see her accelerated breathing, the slight tremble in her hands. "I’ve already said what needed to be said, Logan. Unless you have more to discuss regarding the contract, I’m leaving."

In a few swift strides, he closed the distance between them, standing so close now that he could smell her perfume. No matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise, Vivian’s presence still awakened in him an overwhelming desire. It wasn’t just her beauty, but the history, the memories, and everything they had lived through together. What he had buried—or believed he had—was now at the surface.

"You think it’s just about the contract?" Logan almost whispered, his voice laden with something he couldn’t fully name. "You think all that’s left between us is this damn stock dispute?"

Vivian remained silent, but Logan saw something in her eyes, a reflection of everything he also felt. A mixture of hate, yes, but also a desire both of them were desperately trying to ignore.

"Don’t be fooled, Vivian," he continued, his voice deeper, closer. "What happened between us was never just about business. And that hasn’t changed."

Vivian felt her heart tighten. She had always known, on some level, that Logan represented a dangerous weakness for her. And even after so many years, when she thought she was immune to him, that same Logan—powerful, arrogant, and irresistible—still had the power to undo her. And that scared her.

"Logan," she said, trying to maintain control, "that was a long time ago. We both moved on."

He took another step closer, so near now that their bodies almost touched. The heat radiating from him enveloped her, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.

"Moved on?" Logan let out a low, bitter laugh. "Do you think I moved on after what happened? Don’t be naive."

Vivian swallowed hard. His words hit her with force. She tried to stay strong, but his proximity was beginning to unravel her. She could smell Logan’s familiar and intoxicating scent, and her body reacted, even as her mind screamed at her to get out of there as quickly as possible.

"It doesn’t matter anymore, Logan. What happened in the past should stay in the past. We’re different now," she insisted, but her voice sounded less convincing than she intended.

Logan reached out and, without thinking, touched her arm, a firm but charged touch. Vivian felt her skin burn under his hand, as if every cell was being reactivated. Her heart pounded wildly.

"Are we really that different, Vivian?" Logan said softly, his voice now filled with dangerous warmth. "Because I still see the same woman in front of me. And no matter how hard I try... the attraction I feel for you never disappeared."

The words hung in the air between them, laden with overwhelming tension. Vivian felt the ground shift beneath her feet. She hadn’t expected that. She wasn’t ready for that.

For a moment, all she could do was stare at Logan, her eyes wide, her chest rising and falling with her rapid breathing. What was she supposed to say? How was she supposed to respond to something that, deep down, she also knew to be true?

But before she could answer, Logan released her, stepping back quickly, as if the closeness between them had been a mistake. He ran a hand through his hair, irritated with himself for allowing his emotions to slip out of control.

"You should go," he said, his voice suddenly cold again. "Before I regret even more letting you come back."

Vivian took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. She looked at him one last time, but Logan had already turned his back, staring out the window as if he couldn’t face her any longer.

Without saying another word, she opened the door and left the room, her heart racing and her mind in a whirlwind.

The days following the first encounter between Logan and Vivian were marked by palpable tension. She had left the conference room with a racing heart and a mind swirling with confused emotions. The attraction she still felt for Logan was undeniable, alive, and it infuriated her. On the other hand, Logan couldn't erase the moment of weakness he had when he admitted to himself that his desire for Vivian had never disappeared. He hated himself for it, but he knew the game she wanted to play was only beginning.

Now, he was about to face her again, this time in a crucial meeting for the future of Bravo Corp.

The meeting room was bathed in sunlight streaming through the large windows, reflecting off the chrome details of the glass table at the center. Executives and shareholders of Bravo Corp were seated around the table, murmuring among themselves as they waited for Logan and, especially, Vivian Oliveira to arrive. Everyone knew that this meeting wasn’t going to be just about business. There was something else going on behind the scenes, something personal, and everyone could feel the tension in the air.

Logan entered the room with firm steps, dressed in a dark gray suit that emphasized his imposing presence. He scanned the room, but his attention was immediately captured by the one person he truly wanted to face.

Vivian was already seated at the table, wearing an elegant white pantsuit that contrasted with her olive skin. She was perfectly composed, her face revealing no emotion, but Logan knew that behind that calm facade, there was a storm of determination. Their eyes met briefly, and for a second, the world seemed to stop. There was so much they needed to say, but this was neither the time nor the place.

"Let's begin," Logan said, taking his place at the head of the table.

He glanced at the documents before him and began speaking about the company’s latest figures, expansion strategies, and ongoing projects. He was focused, as always, but he could feel Vivian’s gaze fixed on him, as if she were waiting for the perfect moment to intervene.

"As everyone knows, Bravo Corp remains a leader in the construction and energy sector, but we face new challenges ahead," Logan said, maintaining his authoritative tone. "Our focus will be on expanding into international markets, especially in sustainable technologies."

Vivian couldn’t hold back any longer and raised her hand in a calculated manner, drawing everyone's attention. "And what will be the real costs of this expansion, Logan?" She deliberately used his name, her cold tone echoing through the room.

Logan felt the impact of her question. She was challenging his plan right from the start, something he had anticipated but wasn’t fully prepared for given her relentless tone. He took a deep breath before responding, maintaining control. "The costs have been carefully calculated, Vivian. The expansion plan has already been approved by the board, and we are ready to move forward."

Vivian smiled slightly, a calculated, almost provocative smile. "Are you really? Because from what I’ve seen, the project carries a much higher risk margin than you’re admitting. This could put the company in a vulnerable position in the short term."

The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Logan. He clenched his fists, controlling the anger that was beginning to rise within him. Vivian knew exactly how to push the right buttons.

"Risk is part of any expansion," Logan responded, his voice firm but clearly irritated. "Bravo Corp is prepared to handle it."

"Are you sure?" Vivian shot back, leaning forward slightly. "Because, according to what I have here," she pulled out a small dossier from her leather folder, "the project’s costs are significantly underestimated. Not to mention, there are pending issues with environmental licenses that could delay the entire timeline."

Logan froze for a moment. He had no idea how Vivian had obtained this information. It was confidential, details that only he and the most intimate members of the board knew. How had she gained access to it? A shadow of doubt crossed his eyes as he processed the situation.

"Those details are... incorrect," Logan said, recovering quickly, but Vivian could see that he was shaken. "We have everything under control. And as for the licenses, we are already handling those issues."

Vivian raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Under control? Logan, I know very well how environmental licenses work. There’s no point in underestimating the challenges. And if the company is already so exposed, wouldn’t it be wiser to reevaluate this project before you compromise next quarter’s results?"

The murmuring in the room grew louder. The other executives seemed intrigued by Vivian’s information and, for the first time, began to question Logan’s position.

Logan felt the pressure building. He looked directly at Vivian, his eyes flashing with frustration. She knew exactly what she was doing. She was trying to undermine his authority, and it infuriated him. Worse, she was using information he didn’t even know she possessed.

"I assure everyone that the expansion plan is being executed with the utmost caution," Logan asserted, attempting to restore the confidence of those present. "These details are incomplete and taken out of context. Nothing will compromise Bravo Corp’s results."

Vivian kept her gaze fixed on him, her expression impassive. "Well, if you say so, Logan... I just hope you’re right. But perhaps the board should have access to all the data before proceeding with such a risky decision."

The atmosphere in the room grew even more tense. Logan found himself in a difficult position. He couldn’t allow Vivian to discredit him in front of everyone, but he knew that if he tried to confront her directly, he might end up revealing even more information.

"This is an attempt to divert attention from the true purpose of this meeting, Vivian," Logan said, his tone taking on a cold firmness. "We are here to discuss the company’s growth, not for you to make baseless insinuations."

Vivian leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with a confidence that was almost provocative. "Growth is important, Logan. But growth with caution is even more important. I’m here to ensure that Bravo Corp doesn’t make the same mistakes other companies have made by trying to expand too quickly, without considering all the variables."

The frustration inside Logan was reaching a boiling point. How had she gotten that information? And why was she so well-prepared? The fact that Vivian was clearly in the lead bothered him deeply. He was used to having total control, but at that moment, he felt like he was losing ground.

"I appreciate your concern," Logan replied, his voice icy, "but as the person in charge of Bravo Corp, I’m the one who decides the direction of the company."

Vivian nodded slowly, but not without casting a sharp glance at Logan. "I just hope your decisions are the right ones, Logan. Because I’ll be here to ensure Bravo continues to thrive—with or without you in control."

Her last words dropped like a bomb in the room. Logan narrowed his eyes, sensing the implied threat in her words. He knew Vivian was playing a dangerous game, but he had no idea how far she was willing to go.

The meeting continued for a few more minutes, with Logan trying to keep the focus on the main topics, but the tension between him and Vivian was impossible to ignore. When everyone began to leave the room, Logan stayed behind, glancing at Vivian as she stood up, calmly organizing her documents with an irritating calm.

As soon as everyone was gone, he quickly approached her, giving her no space to escape.

"Where did you get that information?" His voice was low, but filled with restrained anger.

Vivian looked up, her calm smile returning to her lips. "I have my resources, Logan. Think of it as a reminder that you can’t control everything anymore."

Logan felt his blood boil. She was playing him, and he knew that, as much as he hated her, the dangerous attraction he felt for her only made everything more complicated.

"This isn’t over yet," he muttered.

Vivian smiled. "No, Logan. It’s just beginning."