CHAPTER ONE The Man with No Heart

Alexander Vance did not believe in second chances especially not in love.

At exactly 6:00 a.m., the city of New York was still half asleep when the lights in the penthouse office of Vance Global Holdings flickered on. From the top floor, glass walls revealed a skyline dressed in steel and ambition. It was a view Alexander had conquered, yet it never moved him.

He stood by the window, hands in his pockets, jaw tight, eyes cold.

“Another day,” he murmured, not to anyone in particular.

At thirty-four, Alexander was the youngest CEO to ever sit at the head of Vance Global. Magazines called him brilliant. Rivals called him ruthless. Employees called him the ice king behind his back, of course.

To Alexander, emotions were liabilities. Trust was dangerous. Love was a mistake he had already paid for.

Once.

“Mr. Vance,” his assistant, Clara, said cautiously as she entered the office. “The board meeting starts in ten minutes.”

“Cancel my morning calls,” he replied without turning. “I don’t want interruptions.”

Clara hesitated. “The new designer from Paris is scheduled to meet you today.”

Alexander turned slowly, irritation flashing in his eyes. “I didn’t approve any designer.”

“She was approved by the board,” Clara said. “They said the executive floor needs warmth.”

Alexander gave a humorless laugh. “Warmth doesn’t increase profits.”

Clara lowered her eyes and nodded. She knew better than to argue.

When the meeting ended, Alexander returned to his desk, drowning himself in numbers and forecasts. That was when the door opened without permission.

“I was told to come in.”

The voice stopped him.

Not loud. Not nervous. Calm. Steady.

Alexander looked up and froze.

The woman standing before him did not look intimidated. She wore a simple cream-colored dress, her dark hair tied loosely behind her neck. Her eyes soft but sharp met his without hesitation.

“I’m Elena Moreau,” she said. “Interior designer.”

For reasons he didn’t understand, Alexander felt unsettled.

“You’re late,” he said coldly.

Elena checked her watch. “Actually, I’m early. You just forgot the appointment.”

Silence fell between them.

No one spoke to Alexander Vance like that.

Interesting.

“You have five minutes,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “Convince me why you’re here.”

Elena didn’t rush. She walked slowly around the office, observing the sharp edges, dark colors, and heavy silence.

“This space feels like a battlefield,” she said. “Cold. Defensive. Lonely.”

Alexander’s eyes narrowed. “This is an office.”

“And you’re a man who hides behind it,” she replied softly.

That struck something deep.

“Careful,” he warned.

Elena finally faced him. “You can fire me if you want. But the truth is people work better where they feel human.”

For the first time in years, Alexander felt something unfamiliar.

Curiosity.

“You’re brave,” he said.

Elena smiled faintly. “Or foolish.”

He studied her for a long moment, then nodded once. “You start tomorrow.”

As she turned to leave, Alexander didn’t realize it yet but the walls around his heart had just developed their first crack.

And somewhere deep inside the man with no heart, something long buried began to stir.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***