She knew that Alexander Westwood had the power to save the Summers Corporation.

But even with his previous attempts to bail them out, both overt and covert, their mismanagement was a deep-rooted problem. This time, the damage wasn’t something that could be easily fixed—helping them would be a bottomless pit. The Summers family knew it too, which is why they stopped asking for his help directly.

Instead, they placed their hopes on Jane Lang.

Alexander, usually an untouchable figure of restraint, now looked anything but. His tie was loosened, his chiseled chest on full display, the raw energy he exuded was intoxicating, his presence as magnetic as ever. He closed his eyes, jaw tight with barely suppressed tension.

"Go back to your own room. We’ll talk tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Jane's frustration flickered in her eyes. By tomorrow, her stepmother would surely be introducing her to another suitor!

Her teeth grazed her lower lip, the color vivid and inviting. She had known from the start that Alexander wouldn’t be easily swayed, which is why she’d orchestrated this seduction.

Tonight’s birthday celebration wasn’t just a party for her. Besides the wealthy heirs and high-society figures attending, Alexander’s presence was crucial. After all, he was closer to Jane than anyone, and her family wanted his input on the possible matches.

Drinks had flowed, conversations blended together, and eventually, Alexander had stayed the night at the Summers' villa.

Everything had gone according to Jane’s plan. Now, it was up to her to make her move. If her family was set on marriage as a solution, why couldn’t it be to him?

She was all in. Either Alexander agreed to help her escape this arranged fate, or she would cross the final line.

She would have him.

Alexander was leaning back on the sofa, eyes closed as he breathed heavily in the dimly lit room. Jane stared at the faint flush of red creeping up his neck, her eyes gleaming with determination.

She moved gracefully, her silk dress slipping precariously from her shoulders, the delicate straps barely clinging to her frame. In one smooth motion, she straddled him, her long legs settling across his lap.

Alexander’s hand instinctively gripped her waist, his eyes snapping open to find the girl hovering above him, her gaze intense and tempting. She leaned forward to kiss him, one hand wandering lower, testing boundaries.

"Get off," he growled.

“Why not? You don’t like it?” Jane asked, her voice soft, her lips almost brushing his. “But… I don’t know what else to do. You should teach me, Alexander.”

His eyes narrowed, surprise flickering through his usual icy stare. He had always known she was rebellious at heart, but she usually masked it well, presenting herself as the well-behaved, harmless girl.

But this side of her—this bold, seductive side—was entirely new.

"Teach you?" Alexander scoffed, his voice cold as he tried to push her away. But suddenly, the world around him spun, dizziness settling in. Her teasing touches broke through the iron wall of his self-control, stripping it away.

His pulse quickened, and desire surged uncontrollably. He let out a deep breath.

“You really have some nerve.”

He could feel it now—she had drugged him.

Jane’s gaze flickered downward, her nervousness showing for just a moment as she caught sight of his growing reaction.

“Looks like your lessons really worked,” she whispered, her voice shaky but still daring.

“Oh, really?” Alexander pulled off his glasses, and the cold, calculated man was gone, replaced by something darker, more dangerous. His hand tightened around her neck, not enough to hurt, but enough to remind her who held the power here. His voice dripped with menace.

“If this is what you want, then I’ll give you a lesson you won’t forget.”

His lips crashed against hers, his kisses demanding, as if trying to steal the breath from her lungs. Jane tilted her head back, gasping for air, trapped between the man’s relentless desire and her own rising excitement.

His grip on her neck was firm, not painful but commanding. The heat of his breath against her ear sent shivers down her spine, stirring something deep inside her.

“Jane,” he growled lowly, his voice rough with lust. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Jane’s head rested in his large hand, her back pressed against the sofa, nowhere to go. Her heart raced wildly in her chest as she stared up at him, her body trembling with anticipation.

His dark eyes bore into hers, a dangerous storm brewing behind them.

She bit her lip, trembling fingers reaching for him again. "I won’t regret it," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

With a sharp, cold laugh, Alexander’s eyes darkened, the last of his restraint shattering as he tore at her dress. The storm he had been holding back finally broke free.