Silas's POV
The sound of my own laughter filled every corner of the office, bouncing off the polished walls with a sharp edge that cut through the silence. I threw my head back against the leather chair, running my hand along my jaw as the echo slowly died away.
"Unbelievable," I whispered to the empty room, shaking my head at what had just happened.
When was the last time someone had stared me down and delivered a flat rejection without so much as a tremor in their voice? The memory of those dark eyes burning with defiance made something twist in my chest. Most people in this city would crawl over broken glass for half the opportunity I'd just handed her on a silver platter.
But not Bella Rossi. She'd looked at me like I was nothing more than another businessman trying to muscle in on her territory. The audacity of it should have infuriated me. Instead, it lit a fire under my skin that I hadn't felt in years.
