The lunch had settled into a fortable hum of chatter. The kids were finishing off their food, and ughter was eg off the walls. Some were still eating, and others were pying, but as soon as Hanna, the orphanage director, tapped the micropho the front of the Main Hall, the noise began to die down.

  Alex Wilson stood off to the side, watg as 200 kids, each with a past that no child should ever have, settled into their seats. Some looked eager, others curious, and a few wary.

  He uood that.

  They'd bee down before.

  He wasn't here to make empty promises.

  Hanna smiled warmly at the room. "Alright, everyone. Before we go back to the fun, I want to introdueone very important. The reason we have this new home, the reason we have all these amazing facilities, and..." she gestured toward the cupcakes and food table, "...these delicious foods. Please give a warm wele to Mr. Alex Wilson."

  The room erupted in appuse.

  Alex exhaled slowly, stepping up to the podium. He wasn't a man of many public speeches, especially when it came to personal matters. But this? This was important.

  He adjusted the microphone, sing the faces in front of him. Kids of all ages, some as young as five, some ie teens. Some looked at him with hope, others with hesitation.

  Some didn't know him.

  Some didn't trust him.

  Not yet.

  He uood.

  He leaned forward slightly, voice calm but firm.

  "I know a lot of you don't know who I am. And holy? That's okay." He gave a small, knowing smile. "Because I'm not here to tell you some fairytale. I'm not here to stand in front of you and act like I uand everything you've been through."

  A few of the older kids shifted in their seats.

  "But here's what I do know." He rested his hands on the podium. "Every single one of you has a future. You might not believe it yet. You might feel like the world has already made up its mind about you. That your past is going to define your life."

  He shook his head.

  "It won't."

  Silence.

  "You are not where you came from. You are not the people who left you behind. You are not the mistakes of others. And you sure as hell are not limited by the circumstahat brought you here."

  Some of the younger kids watched him with wide eyes. The older ohey were listening now.

  He gnced around the hall, making sure he met as many eyes as possible.

  "This pce? It's not just a shelter. It's a home. Your home. And I didn't build it to keep you safe for a little while... I built it to make sure you never have to feel like you don't belong anywhere again."

  A few kids exged gnces.

  "You will have everything you need here. Clothes, food, education. You want to be a stist? We'll get you books, tutors, and all the equipment you need. You want to be an athlete? We'll train you. You want to start a business, learn an instrument, bee a doctor, a writer, a chef..." he gestured broadly, "...whatever it is, we'll make it happen."

  He exhaled, his voice steady.

  "But there's ohing I expect from you iurn."

  Silence.

  "I expect you to chase your dreams without holding back."

  A murmur rippled through the crowd.

  "No excuses. No fear." His voice hardened slightly. "Because I will not accept anyone in this room thinking they are less than what they be. If you fall, we'll catch you. But you will get up. And you will keep going."

  Eyes locked on him now.

  "You don't owe me anything. You don't have to thank me, you don't have to prove anything to me. But you owe it to yourselves to take everything that life took from you—a back."

  Sileretched across the hall.

  Then...

  A slow cp.

  It was Theo, the chess prodigy from earlier.

  He was leaning against a chair, nodding slightly as he cpped. It was slow, thoughtful, but approving.

  The sound spread.

  More kids joined in.

  Until suddenly, the room erupted into full appuse.

  Some were cheering, some were whistling. Even a few of the toughest-looking teens looked like they were holding back emotions they didn't know how to express.

  Alex exhaled. He gave them a small nod, then stepped back from the podium.

  Hanna took over, beaming. "Alright, kids! Back to the fun! And remember... chase those dreams!"

  The hall burst bato chaos, kids running toward the games, the food, the music.

  Alex stepped off the stage, rolling his shoulders slightly.

  Max, standihe back with Caroline, crossed her arms and smirked. "Alright, I'll admit it. That was hot."

  Caroline sighed. "Max."

  "What? It was a rich man giving an inspiring speech. That's like, premium fantasy material."

  Alex, overhearing them as he approached, raised an eyebrow. "Fantasy material?"

  Max smirked, arms still crossed. "Oh, don't act surprised, Moneybags. You just pulled the 'inspirational, secretly soft billionaire' move. That's, like, dangerously attractive."

  Caroline groaned. " you be normal for one versation?"

  Alex smirked at Max. "So, what I'm hearing is... my speech worked?"

  Max rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. You made the kids feel something, grats. And you might have also ignited some new billionaire CEO crushes iaff, but that's beside the point."

  Alex chuckled. "I'll take it."

  Caroline gave him an approving nod. "It was a good speech. They o hear that."

  Alex's smirk softened slightly. "Yeah. They did."

  For a moment, the three of them stood there, watg as the kids ughed, pyed, and just for a moment... fot about the lives they had e from.

  Then Max cpped her hands. "Alright, oment over. Now tell me about this 'big tract' you mentioned earlier."

  He smirked. "Sunday. 9 PM. Over dinner."

  Max narrowed her eyes. "You're really going to make me wait?"

  He shrugged. "Patience, Bck."

  Max scoffed. "Ugh, fine. But just so you know, I'm the most expehing on the menu."

  Alex leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just enough to make her heart stutter.

  "Good," he murmured. "I like a woman with expeaste."

  Max stared at him.

  He winked.

  And then walked away.

  Caroliched Max's eye twitch. "Are you okay?"

  Max exhaled deeply.

  "I AM GOING TO WIN THIS GAME, CAROLINE."

  Caroline sighed. "Yeah, sure you are."

  [Evening]

  The sun had started dipping toward the horizon, casting a golden glow over the orphahe kids were still running around, full of sugar and energy, while the staff began tidying up the remnants of the party.

  Max and Caroline, now ba their messy, flour-dusted clothes, stood he entraheir expensive new outfits carefully folded in their bags.

  Alex stood a few feet away, arms crossed, looking far too put-together for someone who had spent the whole day running a massive charity event. Annoyingly rich people. They always looked fresh.

  Max stretched, groaning. "Alright, Moneybags. We're outta here."

  Alex quirked an eyebrow. "So soon? Stay for the dinner, we pnned a movie night."

  Max punched her right fist on her left palm. "Dang! There goes our expensive free dinner. Haaa... Nothing we do. We've got the night shift at the diner. And if I don't get at least a few hours of real sleep before that, I am legally allowed to it homicide."

  Caroline sighed. "That's not how the w works, Max."

  Max waved her off. "Details."

  He smirked. "Well, try not to colpse into a sugar a before your shift."

  Max scoffed. "Please. My body runs on spite and questionable diner coffee. I'll be fine."

  Alex just chuckled, then g Caroline. "You too, Caroliry not to let her get arrested."

  Caroline smiled sweetly. "Oh, don't worry. I keep a bail fund just for Max-reted emergencies."

  Max gasped. "You WHAT?!"

  Caroline shrugged. "It's a precaution. Remember st time? Sophie had to bail us out and we had to hear her explicit details about her and Oleg's sex life all the way to the apartment. You want to repeat that again?"

  Alex huffed a quiet ugh. "Smart."

  Max narrowed her eyes. "I feel deeply betrayed right now."

  Carolited her shoulder. "You'll survive."

  Alex shook his head in amusement. "Alright, you two. Get some rest. I'll see you..." he g Max, smirking, "...Sunday. 9 PM. Don't be te."

  Max rolled her eyes but smirked right back. "Oh, don't worry, Wilson. I'll be ready. Dressed to kill."

  Alex leaned in slightly, voice smooth as ever. "Looking forward to it."

  "You do?" Max froze for half a sed. 'Damn him. Damn him and his stupid, rich, smooth-talking ways.'

  "Yeah, I'm looking forward to it," He said with his signature smile.

  Caroline, sensing the ining Max brain malfun, grabbed her by the arm and yanked her toward the exit. "Okay! Time to go before this turns into another round of verbal forepy."

  Alex just smirked as Max stumbled after Caroline, yelling over her shoulder, "I'M STILL WINNING THIS, MONEYBAGS."

  Alex only chuckled. "Sure you are, Bck."

  Max groaned loudly as they walked off. Infuriating man.

  [Subway – On the Way Home]

  The subway car rocked slightly as Max and Caroli slumped in their seats, bags in their ps, exhaustion finally catg up to them.

  Max yawned, stretg her legs out in front of her. "I swear, if a single drunk guy hits on me during the night shift, I will climb over the ter and sp him with a pancake."

  Caroline, sitting beside her, was quiet for a moment before finally sighing. "Max."

  Max cracked an eye open. "What?"

  Caroline frowapping her fingers against her bag. "How deep are you getting into this?"

  Max blinked. "Huh?"

  Caroline's brows furrowed. "This thing with Alex. How deep are you getting into it?"

  Max scoffed. "Oh, e on. I'm just messing with him. You know me. I flirt, I tease, I annoy, and then I walk away victorious."

  Caroline raised an eyebrow. "Do you?"

  Max hesitated for half a sed too long.

  Caroline crossed her arms. "Max. Be ho. Are you actually catg feelings?"

  Max let out a loud, exaggerated ugh. "Pfft. Feelings? For Alex Wilson? Please. He's just a hot, rich guy who thinks he outflirt me. It's fun, it's harmless, it's..."

  She gestured vaguely, searg for the right words.

  Caroliared at her. "That was not an answer."

  Max huffed, rubbiemples. "Oh my God, Blondie, why are you suddenly my therapist?"

  Caroline shrugged. "Because someone has to be."

  Max groaned. "Look. I have zero feelings for him. None. Zilada. The only thing I feel is the satisfa of knowing I'm going to win whatever weird game we're pying."

  Caroline squinted. "So if I asked you to stop flirting with him?"

  Max paused.

  For exactly one sed too long.

  Caroline's smirk was instant.

  Max scowled. "I hate you."

  Caroline leaned ba her seat, smug. "I k."

  Max groaned loudly, c her face. "Oh my God, shut up. I do not..." She let out a high-pitched noise of frustration. "I just think he's iing, okay? And he's hot. And rich. And very, very good at messing with me."

  Caroline gave her a knowing look. "Sooo… exactly your type?"

  Max pointed aggressively. "No. Rich me my type. Broke losers who make questionable life choices are my type."

  Caroline sighed dramatically. "You have to raise your standards."

  "I like my standards!" Max insisted. "They're safe! They're predictable! They don't wink at me after stealing my damn ribs!"

  Caroline cackled. "You're actually losing your mind over this."

  Max dramatically threw her arms up. "HE LADY-AND-THE-TRAMPED ME, CAROLINE."

  The older woman sitting across from them gave them both a deeply ed look.

  Caroline, ign the attention, patted Max's knee. "You're spiraling."

  "I am not spiraling."

  Caroline nodded. "You totally are."

  Max groaned, flopping back against the seat. "Fine. Whatever. Maybe I think he's kinda intriguing, but that does not mean I like him."

  Caroline hummed. "Sure. And I'm secretly a Victoria's Secret model."

  Max gred at her. "I don't! And besides, it's not me you should be worried about. It's you."

  Caroline frowned. "Me?"

  Max wagged a finger. "Yup. Because you have a crush."

  Caroliared at her, deadpan. "Excuse me?"

  Max smirked. "Oh yeah. You think I haven't noticed? You've had a thing for Alex since he walked into the diner. That's why you're so ied in my totally ent feelings."

  Caroline blihen blinked again.

  Then burst out ughing.

  Max frowned. "Why are you ughing? I'm right."

  Caroline shook her head, still chug. "Max. That's the stupidest thing you've ever said."

  Max narrowed her eyes. "You're defleg."

  "No, you're defleg," Caroline shot back, wiping a tear from her eye. "God, Max, do you even hear yourself?"

  Max frowned. "What do you mean?"

  Caroline smirked. "You're acg me of liking Alex when you're the one who's been flirting with him non-stop all day long, turning every versation into some weird game of verbal strip poker, aing all flustered when he does it back."

  Max opened her mouth, but Carolieamrolled right over her.

  "And I'm the oh the crush?" Caroline finished, raising an eyebrow. "Really?"

  Max smirked, ready to go in for the kill. "I remember someone feeling insecure about certain... natural parts." She leaned in, grinning wickedly. "Rings a bell, Blondie? You said, 'These are rich-dy...'" Before she could finish, Caroline spped a hand over Max's mouth. She made a muffled noise of protest, eyes wide.

  Caroline, face burning red, hissed, "Max. I swear to God, if you say another word about that in public..."

  Max, still muffled, wiggled her eyebrows.

  Caroliightened her grip. "Do. Not. Test me."

  Max licked her hand.

  "GAH!" Caroline yanked her hand back, wiping it furiously on her skirt. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"

  Max cackled, stretg her arms behind her head. "Oh, nothing. Just basking in the glow of my victory."

  Caroline gred. "You're insufferable."

  Max grinned. "Oh, I know. But e on, you walked right into that one."

  Caroline exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "Okay. Fine. Yes, I said that oime in a moment of insecurity and yanic cookies. But that has nothing to do with Alex!"

  Max crossed her arms. "Suuuuuure it doesn't."

  Caroline rolled her eyes. "Max, I don't have a crush on Alex. You do."

  Max scoffed. "Blondie, please. I do not..."

  Caroline held up a hand. "Max." Her voice was firm, no teasing.

  Max hesitated.

  Caroline sighed, sitting back against the subway seat, looking a little tired. "Listen… I'm not gon in your way."

  Max blinked. "Huh?"

  Caroline's expression softened. "If you do like him… I won't stand in the way. I mean, yeah, he's insanely attractive, disgustingly rich, and kind of annoyingly charming, but..." She gave Max a small smile. "You clearly have something with him. And I'm not about to ruin that just because I think he's good-looking."

  Max stared at her, unsure of what to say.

  She was so ready to tease, to joke, to deny... but suddenly, it didn't feel funny anymore.

  She huffed, shifting awkwardly. "So what you're saying is… if I wao, like, hypothetically date him, you wouldn't cw my eyes out?"

  Caroline smirked. "No, Max. I wouldn't cw your eyes out."

  Max let out a dramatic sigh. "Wow. Look at us. Two best friends, both falling for the same hot billionaire."

  Caroline rolled her eyes. "Falling? Speak for yourself."

  Max nudged her. "Uh-huh. Sure. Deny it all you want, Blondie, but we both got it bad."

  Caroline groaned, burying her fa her hands. "Max. I am not in love with Alex Wilson."

  Max grinned. "Oh, honey. Nobody said anything about love."

  Caroline froze.

  Max cackled.

  The subway doors dinged open, and Caroline practically shoved Max out of the train.

  Max ughed the whole way home.

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  [8 advance chs] [All chs avaible for all tiers]

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