Chapter 1 The Cost of a Misunderstanding

"Then, satisfy me tonight," the man said, his lips curling into a faint, cold, and lethal smirk.

Those words hit Eva so hard she turned pale. The world seemed to stop spinning inside the luxurious apartment study, which was suffocating with tension.

She stared at Adam with wide eyes. Unable to believe what she had just heard from the mouth of a notoriously ruthless business tycoon.

Meanwhile, Adam remained standing calmly, leaning against the edge of his desk. His facial expression was as flat as a board, completely impossible to read.

‘Should I surrender to fate, or sell my dignity to a billionaire devil in disguise like Adam Moore?’ Eva thought to himself.

"The return on that investment will highly depend on your performance tonight, Miss Harper. If I am satisfied, then I will disburse the funds," Adam continued calmly, effortlessly, as if he were negotiating stock prices on the trading floor.

Eva’s face instantly flushed a deep crimson. Her blood rushed rapidly due to the intense humiliation burning in her chest. She felt degraded to the most wretched point. However, inside her head, a storm of anxiety raged violently.

‘Even though this man is cold and terrifying, he is the only person in this city who can save my late father’s clinic. What should I do?’ Eva lamented inwardly.

"I don't have much time, Miss. If you are hesitant, please leave this place!" Adam said coldly. His hawk-like eyes flicked sharply toward the exit, signaling that the 'audition' time was over.

Eva swallowed hard. Bitter memories suddenly flashed through her mind, triggering a painful flashback.

Just yesterday afternoon, the atmosphere at her late father's legacy clinic was incredibly terrifying. Three heavily built, tattooed men burst into the administration room.

They shouted harshly, slammed the desks, and threw files until they scattered across the floor. "If your father's debt is not settled within one month, we will level this clinic to the ground!" their leader threatened, pointing directly at Eva's face.

Her mother, who lay comatose in the central hospital's ICU, was also threatened with a halt to her treatment due to a mountain of overdue fees. Even though Eva was a doctor, she was completely helpless.

Her mother's illness required specialist care that cost tens of thousands of dollars every month. Something impossible for her to afford on her own.

‘It's better for me to throw away my dignity for tonight. At least I can save Father's legacy and treat Mother.’ She ultimately buried her dignity deep down.

With trembling steps, Eva stepped closer. "Very well, if that is what you want. But you must promise, if I successfully satisfy you, please help clear my clinic's debt and my mother's medical expenses," she requested in a raspy voice.

Adam briefly furrowed his brow, confused to see Eva’s sudden aggressive reaction. In reality, the meaning of the word "satisfy" from his mouth was not 'that thing' at all.

However, he did not have the chance to utter a single word to explain because Eva had already closed the distance. The woman directly silenced his lips with a kiss.

The man froze instantly. Never before in his life had a woman dared to kiss him without permission.

All this time, let alone being kissed, if a strange woman approached or touched him with even the tip of her fingernail, Adam would immediately reject her with utter disgust. Yet strangely, tonight, his body did not reject Eva's 'touch' at all.

‘Why isn't my body rejecting her? Usually, I get highly irritated when women get close. Could she be different?’ Adam thought, stunned in the midst of their locking lips.

Eva, who was already desperate, did not want to do things halfway. With her breathing starting to race, her soft fingers traced Adam's sharp jawline, then moved down to his neck. Her lips began to explore the skin of Adam's neck, planting wet, demanding kisses.

Touch after touch from Eva's skillful fingers caused Adam's body to gradually feel hot. The passion that had been locked tightly behind his expensive suit suddenly erupted violently.

‘Damn it! She actually succeeded in making my heart race. Whatever, I cannot let an opportunity like this slip away,’ Adam muttered inwardly, surrendering to his primal male instincts.

Finally, Adam fought back. As a normal man with healthy hormones, his desire burned intensely when 'attacked' by a woman as beautiful and desperate as Eva.

The man who was usually only occupied with figures in financial reports now turned passionate. He gripped Eva's waist, flipping their positions until the woman was leaning against the desk.

However, Eva knew her boundaries. She had no intention of surrendering her entire body until the very end unless forced to.

Her focus tonight was to make the man in front of her satisfied as quickly as possible. With a bold movement that set the atmosphere ablaze, Eva knelt in front of Adam. Her trembling fingers began to undo his belt and trousers zipper.

Adam tilted his head back. His breathing turning heavy and ragged as Eva began to provide intense stimulation to his manhood, skin met skin.

The skill of Eva's fingers combined with the warmth of her mouth created a magical sensation that Adam had never experienced before. The wild side of Adam that had been hibernating for so long within him was awakened by the woman.

He gripped Eva's hair. Enjoying every breath and lethal move from the woman.

The energy inside the room was so potent, like a volcanic eruption ready to spew hot lava. Second after second passed with low moans escaping Adam's lips.

When he reached his absolute peak, a powerful surge marked an intense climax. All of Adam's tension melted away that night, flooded by sweat that drenched the temples of both individuals.

After the storm of passion subsided, the atmosphere of the study returned to silence, leaving only the sound of their ragged breathing. Eva stood up with knees that felt completely weak.

She wiped her lips, then adjusted her slightly disheveled clothes with trembling hands. Her face was flushed, holding back an overwhelming wave of embarrassment. However, she had to remain looking strong for the sake of her goal.

Staring at Adam, who was re-arranging his clothes with an expression that was gradually turning cold again, she gathered her courage to speak. "When can you provide the investment? I have fulfilled your desire," Eva asked, her breath still slightly hitched.

Adam turned toward the woman. He refastened his trousers with exceptionally relaxed movements, then stared at Eva with an unreadable gaze.

"It seems you have misunderstood, Miss Eva. That is not the kind of satisfaction I meant."