Chapter 160

ELORA'S POV If anyone had warned me that agreeing to an executive retreat would feel like walking into a carefully laid trap, I would've found a way out of it. A fever, a crisis, or maybe an emergency. But Hales Technology doesn't bend for emotions, and I don't get to run just because my past refused to stay buried. The retreat center outside Paris was calm in that curated, expensive way; rolling green fields, tall glass windows, a chateau meant to make people feel inspired and safe. I felt neither. The moment I stepped out of my car with my tablet pressed to my chest, I sensed it. That shift in the air. And then I saw him, Lucian Weston stood near the entrance with his hands shoved deep in his pocket. Dressed in a dark suit, white sleeves rolled up, his posture relaxed and commanding. Executives surround him, listening and nodding to whatever he says. My chest tightened. No one told me he'd be here. My assistant came to my side. “Uhm ma'am, I'm sorry but no one mentioned Mr Weston wou