Secret Cradle (Mateo POV)
"Cynthia, meet me at our spot in thirty minutes."
My voice came out sharper than I intended, echoing in the empty boardroom where I'd locked myself in after that endless meeting with Ysabel's lawyers. I gripped the phone tighter, waiting for her reply, my thumb hovering over the end call button if she hesitated.
"Excited na ako, Mateo. Ano'ng surprise mo?" Her tone was breathy, that familiar mix of curiosity and hunger that always pulled me back.
"Just get there." I hung up, pocketing the phone before anyone could barge in. The air in the room felt thick, like it was pressing down on my chest, but I shook it off, grabbing my keys and slipping out the back door of the Montoya building. No way was I letting Ysabel's security detail spot me sneaking off. The driv
