Chapter 59

**THREE YEARS LATER

The air inside the conference hall was thick with tension. A hundred executives sat at attention, their eyes trained on the man at the head of the table: Alexander Kane, the ruthless CEO of the Kane Corporation,whose reputation for being unforgiving and calculating was legendary acrosS Aurora City. He sat with unyielding authority, the sharp lines of his face betraying nothing of the storm brewing beneath his cold exterior.

A faint sound broke the oppressive silence-the gentle breathing of a child asleep on Alexander's shoulde. His three-year-old daughter, Viola,had become a fixture in these high-stakes meetings. Her presence was both a symbol of Alexander's complex. fiercely protective nature and an unspoken challenge to anyone daring enough to disrupt the sacred calm surrounding her.

Before the meeting had begun. Alexander had made one thing crystal clear to everyone present: *Not a single soul would dare disturb his daughter*.His directive had the effect of turning even the most seasoned executives into silent, sweating statues. Who else but Alexander Kane would bring his child to such an intense setting? And who else would fire an employee with a single word if their slightest mistake disturbed his daughter's peaceful slumber? It was a dangerous gamble, but in this room, no one dared question it. The presenter stood, voice shaky and slow,carefully pacing through his slides. His every word was weighed, measured, and scrutinized under the watchful gaze of the powerful men and women surrounding him. Every so often, his eyesflickered nervously toward the small figure nestled against her father's chest, her innocent face framed by her father's broad shoulder. But then it happened. A chair scraped back abruptly, its legs screeching as a director stood too quickly. The chaos that followed felt like a storm cracking through the silence-a loud crash as the chair tumbled to the ground.

The room went still.

Alexander's gaze flickered from the presentation on the screen to his daughter, whose small body stirred, the delicate sound of her whimpering filling the room. Viola rubbed her eyes with tiny fists, a frown forming as she looked up at her father, her innocent face contorted with confusion and distress.

Alexander's eyes narrowed. his lips pulling into a thin, implacable line. His voice, when it came, was ice-cold, cuttingthrough the tension with brutal finality.

"You're fired. Get out."

The words struck like a whip. The director's facedrained of color,panic flooding his chest as he scrambled for any shred of dignity. But there was no point. Alexander's word was law, and his punishment was swift. The man fled, leaving the room in stunned silence.

Viola,still tearful, clung to her father, her cries echoing softly in the sterile room. The air felt thick-charged, almost suffocating. Alexander's attention never wavered. His steely eyes remained fixed on the group of executives, all of them motioning to make their exit."What are you waiting for?" His voice was hard,leaving no room for negotiation. "Leave. Now." The remaining executives fled in a flurry of motion, the room emptied in moments. Only James remained, silently standing by the door, his eyes flickering between the father and the child.

Alexander moved with precision, his tone softening as he turned back to his daughter, his anger melting away. He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, his hands tender as he comforted her.

"Shh... It's okay. Daddy's here. Stop crying now."

Viola's sobs slowly quieted, and her face softened into a contented pout.Alexander stood, cradling her against him, his arms protective and firm as he walked toward his office. James followed quietly behind them, the weight of the aborted meeting hanging over him.

As soon as the door to Alexander's office clicked shut. Alexander adjusted his daughter in his arms, the intensity of the meeting lingering in his eyes despite his apparent calm. His gaze shifted to James.

"What's the situation?" he asked, his tone authoritative but distracted by his daughter's innocent presence.

James hesitated,glancing at Viola. The project they had been discussing was urgent-critical. even-but at this moment, nothing seemed to matter more than the child nestled in Alexander's arms.

"The meeting we just canceled, sir... It was crucial. We need to submit the finalized project plan to the government by tomorrow." Viola's large eyes, innocent yet sharp, looked up at James, as if understanding the gravity of the situation. She'd been the cause of the disruption. yet her father's focus was unwavering. It was as if nothing could deter him from his commitments. Alexander nodded, still holding Viola close. "The project from the first presentation will suffice. Send that to thegovernment tomorrow."

James exhaled in relief. "Yes, sir. I'll make sure it gets done."

With the weight of the decision lifted, James stepped back, preparing to exit the office. Alexander's attention, however, was now entirely focused on his daughter, his icy demeanor melting in her presence.

Viola had barely settled on the couch before Alexander's voice broke the quiet again.

"You need to stay there for a while, alright?" he said gently, motioning to the couch where an array of treats awaited her.

Viola glanced at the treats, her small face scrunching in indecision. "Only if you promise to take me to the airport to pick up Mommy," she bargained,her voice sweet but filled with the kind of quiet power only a child could possess.

Alexander sighed, his resolve slipping just a little. "I already told you,you can't go-it's too late."

Her lip began to quiver, and tears pooled in her eyes. Alexander,despite himself, relented. "Alright, I'll take you."

Viola's face lit up with triumph, and she jumped into his arms. planting a kiss on his cheek. "Yay!" A rare, soft smile touched Alexander's lips as he kissed her forehead.He set her down gently and watched as she made her way to the couch,already excited by the promise of treats. For a moment, the office was still. The man who commanded millions,whose every decision rippled through the business world,was now lost in the simple joy of a child's smile.

As Viola munched happily on her snacks, Alexander turned back to his work. The documents on his desk were a mountain, demanding his attention, yet somehow, with Viola nearby, the burden seemed lighter. He was Alexander Kane-the cold,calculating CEO, a man of great power-but in this moment, he was just a father, quietly balancing the weight of the world with the weight of love.