Heated Rivalry Book Novels & Stories

He's backstage, laughing at something off the camera, his hair slightly disheveled and wearing one of his own designs. A pink shirt, unbuttoned at the top and sleeves rolled to his elbows. I stop breathing for a second. Unwanted heat spreads through my body, curling low in my stomach. "Velles is the hottest brand in the world right now," Maya continues, completely oblivious to the war raging inside me. I take my eyes away from the screen, but it's too late. My mind is already racing, filled with desperate desires. "He would never agree," I say, my voice tight even to my own ears. "Not after everything."

"He’s trying to take it back? After we won?" Liam was already shoving his feet into his boots, his jaw set in a hard, dangerous line. "He’s trying. But he hasn't met me when I'm hungover and pissed off." Liam looked up, his eyes locking onto Ethan’s. The intimacy of the last few minutes was gone, replaced by the fire of the rivalry that had defined them. But there was a new layer now—a protective edge. "Get dressed, Ethan. We’re going to go over there, and we’re going to remind them why we’re the best architects this school has ever seen."

Just thinking about it made me look forward to what was coming. After handing all the evidence over to Cleo, I stopped involving myself further. Business warfare was her specialty. Soon enough, rumors about Green Inc.’s situation began appearing across tabloids and financial news reports. At the same time, Cleo started aggressively targeting Green Inc.’s business operations from every angle. Even though Green Inc. dominated the industry, Juniper spent most of her time indulging herself with Sean instead of managing the company. In less than half a year, Cleo’s company had completely overtaken Green Inc.

“Make them regret challenging us.” Sophia shivered, a dark, hungry light returning to her eyes. “Yes, Mother.” The rivalry had become something far more dangerous than either family had anticipated. It was no longer just about dominance. It was about who could break the other’s most prized possession first. And Sophia Kane was caught directly in the middle — torn between blood and an emerging, terrifying new craving.

“You’re going to outshine me all summer.” He tilted his head, his voice still low. “I don’t need to plan that.” I caught my breath — half fury, half fascination. God, he was impossible. Infuriating. Unavoidable. And one truth settled heavily in my chest as he walked away, leaving the faintest sign of cologne in the air: This rivalry wasn’t dying. It was evolving. Into something far more dangerous. ************* I didn’t sleep that night. Not because of Milan. Not because of the press. Not because of the constant hum of danger that swirled around Dante Romano like a storm cloud. I didn’t sleep because the past won’t stop replaying itself behind my eyes.

“I was just curious.” I knew my brother, he would never sound convinced. “Rowan…” “I’m fine,” I insisted. “Are you getting into trouble?” “Not intentionally.” He sighed quietly. “Try not to create unnecessary rivalries.” I looked out across the grounds, thinking of Theo’s eyes on me. “Rivalry found me,” I said calmly. “Without my intention.” Henry went silent for a second. “Then be careful,” he finally said. “Not everyone sees competition as harmless.”

And then our eyes had met. Something had clicked. Not friendship. Not respect. Hatred. Pure, unadulterated hatred. Because Miles had seen me... really seen me, and he had known, in that instant, that I was his rival. And I had known the same. We had clashed from the very beginning. Every test. Every trial. Every damned assignment. If I was first, he was second, and vice versa. If I won a duel, he challenged me to another. If he proved himself in combat, I pushed myself harder, faster, stronger. It had been a war... one without bloodshed, but no less brutal for it.

"Maybe you just haven't given me much to laugh about." "Fair point." We kept talking about nothing important from books to movies to even high school experiences. That one time in high school when I broke my arm falling off a roof trying to get a frisbee. The time he got food poisoning before a championship game and played anyway. Forty-five minutes passed before I even noticed and when I looked at the clock it was hard to believe we were rivals who hated each other's guts with the way we were talking like friends who actually liked each other.

He had a beautiful fiancée. As I stared blankly at my monitors, the twisted pieces of the puzzle began to fit together in my head. That's why he did it, I thought bitterly. That's why he treats me like a stranger and acts so heartless. He was protecting his perfect, high-society life. If a single word leaked out that the elusive CEO of Gibson Enterprises had spent a wild night with a woman in his private penthouse, his relationship with Sophie and his pristine reputation would be completely destroyed. But as the minutes ticked by, a deeper, uglier anger began to take root in my chest.

'Ways to kill competitors' Agad na umarko ang kilay ko when I read those words boldly printed on its cover. He's out of his mind! "A book of course." He stated without even looking at me while inspecting another book. "Of course. I know this is a book but can you atleast give me a hint why the hell you're giving this to me!! Are you going to justliterally kill your enemies now instead of competing against them?" The bastard just shrugged and then walked to another shelf without even answering me! The maggot! With gritted teeth, I tightly hugged the damn book on my chest saka sumunod rito.