The First Step

ALEX

I was sitting in the room on top of the Corbin Modern Art Museum, Philip Corbin's office. New York's most mysterious businessman sat behind his desk, staring at me, a faint smile curving his mouth. Many legends grew around Philip Corbin. Some said that he was born in the slums and started working for the mafia when he was six. Some said that he had been adopted by one of the Chinese Triads' bosses and that he inherited quite a fortune after the boss's death. Then again, another story said that he saved the money he earned doing all kinds of shady business and tripled it playing cards in casinos around the world. People admired him, respected him, but mostly were extremely wary of him. He had been known for rejecting ninety-nine percent of business offers, but the one percent that he accepted received his utmost attention and always turned out to be a financial success.

I took a risk reaching out to him and an even bigger risk revealing the plans for my secret project. I didn't kn