Chapter 9 - The Man Who Gave Away the ThroneGabriel stood before the board.
The company was his.
Legally.
Completely.
He could keep everything.
Instead, he announced the restructuring.
“Criminal assets are being liquidated.”
“Victims will be compensated.”
“Employees will be protected.”
“The foundation will be converted into a transparent public trust.”
“And the Moretti family will have no private control.”
The board stared.
One director asked:
“Then what will you do?”
Gabriel answered:
“Build something clean.”
Nora watched from the back.
Later, she found him alone.
“You gave up everything.”
“No.”
“You gave away billions.”
“I gave away what wasn't mine.”
She smiled.
“That sounds like you.”
He looked at her.
“Do you regret helping me?”
“No.”
“Do you regret meeting me?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She laughed.
“Why?”
“Because I want to ask you something.”
He took her hand.
“Will you stay?”
Nora blinked.
“Stay where?”
“Beside me.”
She smiled.
“As what?”
Gabriel looked nervous.
It was the first time she had seen him like that.
“Whatever you want.”
She stared.
“The billionaire is finally nervous.”
He laughed.
“Terrified.”
“Good.”
They didn't rush.
They dated.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Nora kept her company independent.
Gabriel kept his.
They built a joint foundation.
Their relationship was not built on rescue.
It was built on trust.
On nights when Nora woke from nightmares, Gabriel didn't tell her not to be afraid.
He stayed.
On days when Gabriel struggled with guilt over his family, Nora didn't tell him the past didn't matter.
She listened.
One evening, he took her back to Kensington Tower.
Level P4.
The garage was renovated.
Brighter lights.
Security cameras.
New exits.
Nora smiled.
“You changed everything.”
“No.”
He looked around.
“We changed it.”
She smiled.
Then he gave her a key.
“To what?”
“An office.”
She laughed.
“I have an office.”
“A bigger one.”
“I don't need it.”
“You don't have to use it.”
“What is it?”
“Your company's new headquarters.”
She stared.
“Gabriel.”
He smiled.
“No conditions.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because the first time I met you, you were afraid of losing your freedom.”
He took her hand.
“I don't ever want you to think loving me means giving it up.”
Her eyes filled.
She kissed him.
For the first time, the garage that had once felt like a trap became a place she could breathe.
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But Gabriel wasn't finished.
He had one more question.
