Chapter 171
ROO POV
Minutes before the hallway
My office slled like smoke, ink, and sothing floral I hadn’t allowed.
Marina. She sat on my lap like it was her rightful place, wrapped in a silk robe that was more suggestion than clothing.
One leg draped over mine. One manicured hand resting on my chest, tracing slow, deliberate lines ant to distract.
I didn’t touch her. Didn’t pull her closer. But didn’t push her away.
Across the desk, Antonio stood with a folder tucked under his arm, posture straight, face unreadable.
He’d already clocked it—the tension, the restraint, the lie we were all sitting in.
Marina laughed softly, leaning back against my shoulder. "You’ve been working nonstop," she murmured. "You should relax, babe."
I stared past her, at the dark window behind my desk. My reflection stared back. If she had any idea how much effort it took not to throw her off , she wouldn’t be smiling.
"These are the files you requested, Don," Antonio said evenly, placing them on the desk.
Marina waved a dismissive hand without even glancing at him. "Business can wait." She shifted on my lap, intentional. "My husband has barely spent ti with today."
Husband. The word landed so wrong. This girl was delusional.
I felt my jaw tighten, but my expression didn’t change. I’d learned a long ti ago that control was more valuable than honesty.
"Drop the file," I said calmly and she turned her head, looking up at with bright, satisfied eyes...as if that answer pleased her.
Did she think I wasn’t going to look at it, as if she thought she mattered but that was exactly the illusion I needed her to believe.
The Valeros empire didn’t bend.
They didn’t fold under threats, didn’t break under torture. I’d seen n from that family bleed out without saying a word.
Loyalty like that couldn’t be ripped out—it had to be handed over willingly. Force wouldn’t get what I needed.
Violence wouldn’t either.
Marriage would. Access. Proximity. Trust.
A daughter they adored sitting at my side. A wife they believed had won . Soone they’d speak freely around. Soone they’d never suspect was the key.
Marina wasn’t power. She was the door.
Antonio’s eyes flicked briefly to mine, sharp enough to ask a question without words. I gave him nothing.
If it hadn’t been the old telling about that top secret they had, I wouldn’t had known this girl was useful despite already proposing marriage.
Marina leaned closer, her lips brushing near my jaw. "Nonna keeps irritating ," she whispered, "If she weren’t your grandmother, she’d have been dealt with already."
My hand finally moved to still hers that were moving to my lips, my fingers closed around her wrist with precise pressure, enough to stop her, and enough to leave a bruise.
Her breath caught, the room changing atmosphere. I as trying my best to to physically react to her disrespectful words but this girl had no limits.
I turned my head slowly and looked at her. Really looked. The smile on her lips faltering.
"You don’t say her na like that," I said quietly, I wasn’t going to raise my voice.
I had tolerated so much, I should tolerate this to, having already gone to far. I don’t need my anger spoiling my plans.
Marina laughed nervously, trying to twist her wrist free. "Roo, I was just—" I tightened my grip a fraction.
She stopped talking. "She is family and family demands respect." Antonio lowered his gaze respectfully, though I knew he was listening to every word.
Marina nodded quickly. "Of course, I didn’t an it like that. You know I adore her."
A lie. But I let it pass.
I released her wrist. She imdiately smoothed the skin as if trying to erase the mont while I reached for the file Antonio had dropped.
The folder was thicker than it looked, wrapped in a disguised, polished leather but underneath that was an aged leather, Valeros seal pressed deep into the corner.
My spy hadn’t stolen a copy. He’d stolen the original.
The real docunt. The spine of the Valeros empire.
Marina followed my movent with her eyes, curiosity lighting up her face as she leaned closer.
"What’s that?" she asked lightly, like it was nothing more than another business ledger. The girl doesn’t even recognize it, I opened it anyway.
Inside were signatures layered over decades. Nas that ant armies. Routes. Ports. Shell companies hidden inside charities and foundations no governnt had ever fully mapped.
At the center—waiting, untouched—was the final line.
Marina Valeros. Her father had done it carefully. Brilliantly, even.
He’d transferred operational authority to his daughter under the guise of protection. Made her the living keystone.
If anything happened to him, power wouldn’t fracture. It would settle cleanly on her shoulders.
And by extension.....Mine. Marriage alone gave access. Legitimacy. A seat at their table.
But this? This would make unquestionable.
If Marina signed it, the Valeros n wouldn’t revolt. They wouldn’t hesitate.
So might wonder. So might whisper.
But tradition was ironclad. A signed handover, witnessed, sealed, authentic.....Even if Marina disappeared tomorrow, they would still follow the ink.
I dropped the folder slowly.
Marina’s fingers slid up my arm again, playful. "You look serious," she teased. "Is that another thing you’re trying to conquer?"
Conquer?
I looked down at her. She had no idea what’s needed. Had hear family not included her about any of this? Was her father too stupid to even know he had just handed both his family and his precious daughter to the devil?
Oh this will be easy.
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So guys, this Chapter had been the hardest for . I’m trying and failing btw to project this scene and I don’t know if it went well.
Please comnt if anywhere is confusing, or if sothing feels wrong because damn this Chapter took almost a full day to craft and I still feel it’s not good.
Thanks for reading
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