Semua Bab One Night, Bound Forever (SPG): Bab 261 - Bab 270

[The Space Between Power]Paola’s POVThe door closes behind Dominic.And the silence that follows is heavier than anything he said.For several seconds, neither Gabriel nor I moves.The office feels strangely different now, as if the walls themselves heard the conversation and are still processing it.They want Paola.The words echo in my mind like a distant alarm.I slowly release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.“That was a ridiculous conversation,” I mutter.Gabriel doesn’t answer immediately.His hand is still resting lightly at my waist.Warm.Steady.Dangerously grounding.Finally, he speaks.“It wasn’t ridiculous.”I glance at him.“Yes, it was.”“They’re serious.”“That doesn’t mean it makes sense.”He studies me carefully.“They rarely make offers without intention.”My chest tightens.“I’m not taking it.”“I know.”The certainty in his voice catches me off guard.“You didn’t even hesitate.”His lips curve faintly.“You already decided before Dominic finished the sen

[The Terms They Set]“About you.”The words don’t crash into me.They sink.Slow. Heavy. Inevitable.Like something that had already been decided long before either of us stepped into this room.My fingers curl slightly at my sides, grounding myself as Gabriel sets his phone down on the desk with too much control.Too much calm.“What do you mean by ‘about me’?” I ask, my voice steady even when my chest isn’t.His eyes don’t leave mine.“They moved faster than I expected.”A cold unease crawls up my spine.“That’s not an answer.”“It’s the only one I have right now.”I shake my head.“No. I need details, Gabriel.”A brief pause.Then he exhales slowly, unlocking his phone again, scanning the message like he’s memorizing it.“Emergency session. Executive governance review.”My stomach tightens.“And?”His jaw hardens.“And your name is on the agenda.”The air shifts.Not dramatically.But enough that I feel it in my lungs.Like breathing suddenly requires effort.“That doesn’t mean any

[The Cost of Standing Equal]Paola’s POVSilence doesn’t end the meeting.It sharpens it.The kind of silence that forces decisions instead of avoiding them.I can feel it pressing against the walls, crawling under skin, settling into the spaces between every person in that room.They didn’t expect that answer.Not from me.Not like that.Across the table, the interim chair studies me with new interest—not dismissive anymore, not strategic in the predictable way.Evaluating.

[Lines We Don’t Cross]Paola’s POVAdrian Velasco arrives, a highly influential and dangerous third party whose presence threatens both Paola and Gabriel. The moment the elevator doors open, I feel it—a presence I didn’t expect. Not a board member, not an assistant. Someone else. Someone whose reputation precedes him.Adrian Velasco.I know who he is. The man whose capital can shift empires with a single signature. The man who can either make us untouchable… or erase everything we’ve built.He doesn’t smile. Doesn’t extend a hand. He steps in like a storm entering calm waters. Everyone else in the boardroom seems to shrink back instinctively. And I notice Gabriel’s posture tighten slightly, just enough for me to feel it.He’s here for one reason: to disrupt everything.Adrian moves slowly, deliberately, surveying the room. His gaze lands on me. “Paola,” he says, voice even and controlled. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Wanted to see if the stories were true.”I tilt my chin. “Which sto

[What He Took From Me]Paola’s POV“He didn’t just take my lawyer—he took my advantage.”The words don’t leave my mouth right away.They settle first. Sink in. Spread through my chest like something cold and controlled.I’m still holding my phone when I finally say it.Gabriel doesn’t move.But I see it in his eyes.He understands.Not just what happened—But what does it mean?Because this isn’t about inconvenience.It’s not even about delay.It’s about exposure.Everything I built quietly… every move I planned before things escalated… every layer of protection I put between myself and losing control—Gone.Not erased.But taken.And used against me.I set the phone down slowly on the table.Carefully. Like if I move too fast, something will break.Or maybe I will.“When did you contact them?” Gabriel asks.His voice is calm. Too calm.“Three weeks ago,” I answer.“Before the hospital.”“Yes.”That matters.That changes the timeline.Which means—Adrian didn’t just react to what’s ha