The city pulsed with restless energy, the morning sun casting sharp reflections against the mirrored towers that lined the streets of Manhattan. But from the top floor of Kane Enterprises, the chaos below seemed insignificant.
Felix Kane stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, his hands tucked into the pockets of his tailored suit. The city belonged to him â the gleaming skyline a testament to his dominance. He didn't just own skyscrapers and companies. He owned influence. Control. Power.
Yet the view didn't satisfy him. Not today.
"Sir, your nine o'clock has arrived," the clipped voice of his assistant, Claire, came through the intercom.
Felix's jaw tightened. Meetings bored him. They were a routine dance of numbers and acquisitions. But this one intrigued him â a rare occurrence.
"Send them in," he commanded.
The heavy oak doors swung open, and in walked Evelyn Moore.
She wasn't what he expected. No designer labels, no rehearsed smile. Just a simple navy dress that hugged her slender figure, her dark curls cascading freely over her shoulders. She carried no briefcase. No papers. Just herself.
Her gaze met his. Hazel eyes steady, unflinching. Most people crumbled beneath the weight of Felix Kane's stare. Evelyn held it like a challenge.
"Mr. Kane," she greeted, her voice even. "Thank you for seeing me."
Felix's expression remained unreadable. "You're late."
"I wasn't aware charity work operated on your schedule," she replied without missing a beat.
Felix's brow twitched. Bold. He liked that. But boldness could be dangerous. Especially when directed at him.
"You requested this meeting," he reminded, his voice low and commanding. "I assumed you'd value my time more."
"I value the time of the children I fight for. But since you're the one holding the checkbook, here I am."
A lesser man might've been offended. Felix wasn't. He found her defiance intriguing. Most people groveled, desperate to impress him. Evelyn Moore didn't care to play the game.
He stepped away from the window, his powerful stride purposeful. "You run a non-profit, yes? Something about providing educational resources for underprivileged schools."
She nodded. "The Moore Initiative. We've built six community learning centers in the last two years. Our literacy programs have helped thousands of children â children who would otherwise be ignored."
"And now you're here. Asking for my money."
"I'm asking for support," she corrected, her eyes narrowing. "Your foundation claimed to be interested in funding causes that matter. I'd hoped that wasn't just for show."
Felix's lips curled into a faint smirk. Few people spoke to him this way. Even fewer survived it.
He motioned toward the sleek leather chair across from his desk. "Sit."
Evelyn hesitated for only a moment before lowering herself into the chair. Felix took his seat, the vast oak desk between them. The city glimmered through the panoramic windows behind him, but his focus never wavered from the woman in front of him.
"Tell me," he began, his fingers steepled. "Why should I invest in your little project?"
She didn't flinch. "Because education is the only chance some children will ever get. You can spend your billions on whatever makes you feel powerful, but none of it will change lives the way our programs do."
"Appealing to my conscience?" he mused. "Bold move."
"I'm not interested in flattery. I'm interested in results."
Felix leaned forward slightly, his piercing blue eyes locked on hers. "And if I don't think your results are worth my investment?"
"Then that's your loss."
A charged silence followed. Felix could feel the tension crackling between them, like two opposing forces unwilling to yield. She fascinated him. There was no desperation in her voice, no pleading. Just conviction.
He liked that.
"I'll give you fifty million," he said abruptly, his tone decisive.
Evelyn blinked, momentarily thrown off. "Excuse me?"
"Fifty million dollars. That's what I'm willing to invest in your initiative."
Her eyes flickered with surprise, but she didn't celebrate. She knew better than to trust something so easily given.
"There's a catch," Felix continued, his voice dropping. "For the next six months, you'll report directly to me. I want to know how every cent is spent."
Evelyn's jaw clenched. "You want control."
"I want assurance. My money doesn't go to waste."
She shook her head. "You think you can buy control over everything."
Felix's lips curled into a dark smile. "I don't think, Miss Moore. I know."
Evelyn didn't respond immediately. She weighed the offer, the risk. But Felix could see the fire in her eyes. She hated the idea of accepting his terms. Yet, fifty million dollars meant thousands of children could have a future.
"You'll have your reports," she said, her voice firm. "But I'm not your employee, Mr. Kane. I won't be intimidated."
Felix's smirk deepened. "We'll see."
She stood abruptly, her hands trembling slightly though she tried to hide it. "I'll have my lawyer review the contract."
"Of course," he said smoothly. "But we both know you'll sign it."
She shot him a glare, but he could already see the decision forming. She would accept. She had no choice.
Evelyn Moore may have been strong-willed, but Felix Kane was a force no one resisted.
And for the first time in years, the Alpha billionaire felt something stir â something dark, possessive.