POV: Gabriel Hale
Sloane walks into my office right on time. Her steps are calm, her tone steady when she greets me. I stand to shake her hand, but she only gives a short nod. I tell myself not to overthink it.
I’ve watched her from a distance for months. Her rise after everything Adrian did has been fast, almost too fast. Every time her name appears in a headline, I feel something inside me tighten. I tell myself it’s admiration, not attraction.
When she sits, I start explaining the proposal. I tell her Hale Enterprises wants to partner with Harper Solutions on the new expansion. She listens quietly, her face unreadable. I can’t tell if she’s interested or bored.
She asks what’s in it for me. The question cuts clean through the air. I pause for a second before answering. I tell her I
