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"I am strong."

"I can do it."

"I deserve to win."

Diamond Perez, took deep breaths while chanting her mantras in front of the mirror. She tied her shoulder-length black curls into a tight French braid and made her way to make breakfast.

The sun wasn't up yet, but she was. Whisking eggs two at a time in her almost non-existent kitchen. After seasoning and scrambling the protein-rich goodness, she plates them up with some toast and a cup of hot milk.

Life was just the same for her every day: Eat, train, work, sleep and repeat. Her social life could be seen through a needle's eye. But that was not on her list of priorities; she had her eyes fixed on the one and only thing she had ever wanted - THE GOLD MEDAL.

Gulping down the now-warm milk, she cleaned up the dishes, tidied up her miniature studio apartment and got herself ready to train. Putting on a jacket over her singlet, she tightened her shoelace and jogged down five floors and three blocks to her wrestling gym.

Today, she wished to train alone with the rising sun, but her coach had already beat her to it.

Just like he always did.

“Thought you could beat me, eh?” The smirk on Vincent's face irritated the hell out of Diamond.

She scowled, “I'll beat you one day, Vince.”

“And I'll be happy to lose" he replied, Diamond ignored him completely and stood on the treadmill for yet another round of warm-up.

As the time went by, more wrestlers started to pour in, taking practice sessions one by one. The air went thick with the scent of sweat and determination as bodies slammed against the worn-out mats. The rhythmic sound of punches hitting pads echoed through the gym, where wrestlers push their limits. Vincent barked instructions, his voice blending with the grunts of effort and the clang of weights.

Beneath the flickering lights, the lone wrestler tightened her wraps, eyes burning with unshakable focus.

At 22, Diamond was the star of Vincent Delgado’s Team; she was the top nominee to participate in the upcoming “New York State Women's Wrestling Championship”.

She was quick, she was smooth, she was impossible to beat, she was, in fact, a “Diamond”.

After the strict training and matches, Diamond was done for the day. She gathered up her stuff and mentally prepared herself for the day which was about to get more tiring and mentally exhausting.

“Hey Diamond, wanna get some smoothies with us?” Lena Park, her extra-friendly training partner, asked when Diamond was almost out of the door.

Diamond cringed at the question but felt grateful to have her back facing Lena. She took a deep breath and politely declined the offer as she turned away. Lena, with an honest smile on her face, didn’t judge or make a face. Instead, she asked Diamond to promise that she wouldn’t say no next time. Diamond felt guilty to have declined her so many times, but she had no time for it. She had to reach South Hampton before noon or else her job would be at risk.

***

The afternoon sun casted a golden glow over the estate as Diamond reached the venue with her team. The ride from Queens to South Hampton was not shorter than three hours, and during that time Diamond was not able to even close her eyes for a nap. She was busy rechecking the guest lists, overlooking the new people invited, checking their backgrounds etc.

Diamond now wore a fitted black tactical shirt, cargo pants, and lace-up combat boots, her attire built for both agility and authority. A lightweight security vest hugged her frame, while a utility belt carried her essential gear. Fingerless gloves covered her hands, enhancing her grip.

Her dark hair was pulled into a high ponytail, not a strand out of place. A subtle flush highlighted her sharp cheekbones, and mascara framed her striking green eyes, making them even more intense. A small nose pin caught the sunlight, adding a hint of understated elegance. In her ear, an earpiece crackled softly, ready for her to lead her team with precision.

As the Head of Security for the event, she was now in her work mode; cold, calculated and alert.

Reginald Vanderbilt, CEO of Vanderbilt Ventures, had thrown a luxurious party at his estate. The guest list included tech moguls, fashion icons, multi-millionaires, Wall Street titans, A-list celebrities, influencers, athletes, and musicians—each bringing their own brand of power and prestige to the event.

The oceanfront estate exuded luxury, with a sprawled infinity pool reflecting the clear blue sky. White canopies lined the terrace, shading plush lounge areas with gold-accented furniture and crisp linen cushions. A marble bar stood at the centre, stocked with the finest champagne and handcrafted cocktails, while soft ambient music played from hidden speakers.

Soon guests pooled in one by one, each dressed better than the other. Expensive suits, showstopper cocktail dresses and whatnot! Pearls here and gold there, millions here and billions there, that's what they all talked about. Whether it was over the golf match at the far end or at the shooting range at her right; everyone was busy talking about wealth.

Amidst the extravagance, Diamond stood at the perimeter, her sharp eyes scanning each and every corner. Dressed in sleek security gear, she radiated quiet authority, her earpiece buzzing with updates.

She was not here to enjoy the party—she was here to make sure nothing ruins it.

As she scanned the place, she noticed her first target: a man in a crisp suit who towered over almost everyone. He was flirting with one of the waitresses, and it was evident that the poor girl was on the verge of tears. Diamond had been walking toward her, but the moment the man touched the waitress's backside, her pace transformed into a sprint.

Diamond reached him in seconds, grabbing his wrist in a vice-like grip before he could retreat.

“I suggest you keep your hands to yourself,” she said, her voice like steel.

“Oh really! What are you going to do?” He said, rolling his eyes.

“I think it's better to show you than to tell.”

The man barely had time to scoff before she twisted his arm behind his back and swept his legs out from under him. He hit the ground with a thud, the impact knocking the air from his lungs. Gasps echoed around them, but Diamond didn’t hesitate—she straddled him, fist connecting with his jaw in one clean, brutal punch.

Blood smeared across his lip as he groaned in shock. “You—”

Diamond grabbed his collar and yanked him up just enough to meet her glare. “Touch another woman without her consent, and I’ll break more than just your pride.”

By this time a small crowd of people had gathered around them. The poor waitress was terrified, she was sure that it would be her last day at work. But Diamond knew very well that Mr. Vanderbilt had given her full authority. He had said, even if it was the wealthiest guest on the list, she was allowed to put them in their place if they did anything wrong.

“FABIO!!”

Diamond's head snapped to the commanding voice; her green eyes clashed with honey-coloured - almost golden- eyes. His face with a straight nose, a well-trimmed beard and a sharp jaw, was chiselled to absolute perfection. His skin, tanned in the perfect shade of golden brown. A black, crisp, well-tailored suit covered his muscular body. The two open buttons displayed the light freckles of hair and a thick gold chain with a pendant she couldn't clearly see. She had to crane her neck to see over his jet black hair that was gelled to perfection.

He was tall, god, he was taller than anyone she had ever seen. Taller than the dickhead whom she still had a tight grip on.

Like a switch, she immediately left the man whom she now knew was called Fabio. She stood up and dusted herself, trying her hardest to avoid looking at the man who was now talking to Fabio in Italian. Diamond asked the waitress if she was alright and then sent her away. The crowd had cleared by now and she was moving back to her position when his voice stopped her.

“I apologise on Fabio's behalf, he has a bad habit of wooing beautiful women.”

Diamond's heart raced with his smooth, throaty words, laced with an Italian accent.

Why the hell was she feeling this way!!

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and turned to face him. It took all her strength to stop herself from buckling in front of him. He was now just a foot away, and also at least a foot taller than her.

Gathering up some courage she spoke, “You're not the one to apologise and surely not to me. Tell him to apologise to her.”

Without leaving his eyes from her, he called Fabio and asked him to find the girl and apologize at once.

Diamond could see the confusion on Fabio's face, but he did not choose to argue and went to find the waitress.

Maybe the guy was Fabio's boss, she thought.

When Diamond resumed her eyes back on the Italian man, she found him checking her out quite blatantly. The honey-coloured eyes raked her body, the slow sweep from her shoes to her legs, a short skim on her midsection and then a halt at her chest.

She. Fucking. Stopped. Breathing.

Goosebumps rose all over her body just with his gaze. He was devouring her, with his eyes. Her heart raced at a mile speed. She could feel him on her neck as he looked at the visible skin just above her collarbone. His glazed eyes could clearly tell that there was something really carnal behind those orbs.

When those orbs returned to her eyes, there was no shame in them that they were caught red-handed. In fact, he shamelessly smirked at her.

The audacity of this man!

“Are you done?” The sarcastic comment came out of nowhere from her.

“No.” He replied, giving her yet another round of goosebumps.

“I don't have time for this, I have work to do.” She spoke, planning to turn away but his next words stopped her.

“I said I wasn't done.”

“Listen Mr…” She didn't know his name, he looked familiar, but that was because she saw pictures of all the guests beforehand.

“Luca, Luca Ferrara.”

Dammit, she thought.

His name… She did research on him on her way here.

Luca Ferrara.

Owner of Ferrara and Sons Development at the young age of 26.

And also rumoured to be tied to the Italian Mafia!!

She should be staying away… far far away from him, especially because of how he was making her feel things.

She pulled herself out of the trance, took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. She didn't have time for this.

“Mr, Ferrara, I apologize for my earlier comment. But I have to return to my duty; I hope your friend will not cause any more trouble.”

“You don't need to apologize, Bambina.”

Did he just… call her… Bambina??!!

“Bambina?” She repeated.

“I would have taken your name if I knew it.” He smirked.

Diamond was about to tell her name but stopped when she saw the hint of a smile on his gorgeous pink lips. She figured it was his way of finding out her name. And if she doesn't tell him, he will keep calling her Bambina.

“Smart move.” She rolled her eyes at him and started to walk back. “Bambina, I'll find it out sooner or later,” he called, her lips curved into a small smile, she took a deep breath and moved forward, an invisible thread pulling her attention to him no matter how much she tried to ignore it.

And Luca Ferrara made sure he didn't leave his eyes off of her. Diamond could feel his eyes on her everywhere she went.

When Mr. Vanderbilt called her in for a security update, she could feel Luca standing too close, his presence a solid, unshakable thing.

He was there when she took her rounds at the golf course. Then when she checked the shooting range. Everywhere she turned, she felt him watching. It was distracting. No—more than that. It was maddening.

She couldn’t think straight. Every time their eyes clashed, even from ten feet away, she lost her train of thought. It wasn’t normal, the way the air seemed to spark between them, the way her pulse tripped over itself like an amateur on the mat. She was supposed to be focused, supposed to be working.

But Luca Ferrara made it impossible.

By the time the party ended and everything was wrapped up, Diamond was exhausted. She had changed into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, finally allowing herself to breathe. The guests were gone, the estate had gone quiet, and she was ready to leave.

She reached for her phone, expecting a message from her team, but there was nothing. Her brows furrowed as she dialed their numbers—one after the other. No answer. Not a single call went through.

Her stomach twisted.

They left her.

A cold sensation spread through her chest as she stared at her screen. That wasn’t possible. They wouldn’t just leave. Right? Unless…

Her eyes lifted instinctively, scanning the dimly lit estate. The weight of Luca Ferrara’s gaze from earlier still lingered in her mind. Could he have had something to do with this? He had the kind of power that could make people disappear—or at the very least, make sure they weren’t where they were supposed to be.

Her thoughts were still spinning when a presence emerged from the shadows.

“Miss Perez.”

She turned sharply. A man stood a few feet away – tall, dressed in black, face unreadable.

He inclined his head toward the driveway. “Mr. Ferrara is waiting for you in the car.”

Diamond’s pulse kicked up.

Of course, he was.

He did this on purpose!

How can she sit with him the whole time when she knows she feels a certain way for him. He has sparked something inside her and she doesn't trust herself with him.

What does he want with her?

A one night stand?

A casual fling?

She should stay away from him, he was distracting, he had taken all her attention the whole evening. She could not afford to lose focus, this was not in her plans.

But what the fuck could she do!

It was impossible to go back alone, the highway was too far away. If she hired a taxi it would cost her about two weeks of groceries. She couldn't handle that kind of expense right now.

Her fingers curled around her phone as she weighed her options. Maybe it was a coincidence. Maybe her team really had just left by mistake.

Or maybe… Luca Ferrara had orchestrated this entire thing.

Either way, she was stranded. And no matter how much she hated it, she didn’t have much of a choice.

Helpless, she inhaled deeply and stepped forward.

Moving inside the black SUV, Diamond knew that she was not just stepping into Luca Ferrara's car, she was stepping into his world!