HEART OF ICE

CHAPTER 1 : The Cold CEO

The Davis Group building was unusually quiet that morning.

The kind of silence that comes before a storm.

Inside the massive company, employees walked carefully as if the floor were covered with eggshells. There was no laughter. No noise. Even greetings were whispered.

There was only one reason for it.

Damian Davis.

A young CEO whose success far exceeded his age.

A man with dangerously handsome features capable of driving women crazy within seconds.

But behind that face…

Was a man with a heart of ice.

He hated mistakes.

He hated disturbances.

And more than anything — he hated people.

Employees changed almost every month in that company.

Some left in tears.

Some were fired in front of everyone.

Others quit before his poisonous words completely destroyed them.

Damian had a habit of humiliating people until they felt worthless.

And no one had ever dared to answer back.

Until she came.

Asha.

A quiet girl with gentle eyes and a smile that carried hidden sadness within it.

She didn't talk much.

She kept to herself.

Yet every single day, she endured Damian's cruelty more than anyone else.

"That girl has a heart of steel, wallah…" the employees whispered daily.

Because no one understood why she was still there.

That morning, Asha walked into the company clutching files tightly against her chest as though they were the only thing giving her courage.

She wore a fitted black office skirt and a clean white blouse. Her dark hair was neatly tied back.

She walked quickly toward Damian's office.

Every step made her heartbeat faster.

The moment she stopped in front of the large glass door—

"COME IN!"

The sharp voice from inside made her freeze for a second.

Asha took a deep breath before slowly opening the door.

The office was large, filled with the scent of expensive masculine perfume and an intimidating silence.

Damian sat in his large leather chair, eyes fixed on his laptop. He didn't even bother to look up at her.

"Where are the files I asked for?"

"I brought them, boss," Asha replied softly as she approached his desk.

Damian grabbed them roughly and opened them.

A few silent seconds passed.

Then suddenly, his expression changed.

"Asha…"

His low voice was more terrifying than shouting.

Asha swallowed nervously.

"I'm sorry, boss?"

Damian slammed the file onto the desk so hard that papers scattered onto the floor.

"What kind of stupidity is this report?!"

Asha flinched.

"I checked everything carefully—"

"SO YOU THINK I'M STUPID?!"

The force of his voice filled the entire office.

Outside, the employees exchanged sympathetic looks.

They already knew Asha was being punished again.

Inside, Asha remained silent, her fingers tightening nervously.

Damian stood abruptly.

He slowly walked toward her until the scent of his cologne and the heat of his anger surrounded her.

"Do you even have a brain?" he mocked while looking her up and down. "Or did I hire you because of your face?"

Those words hurt.

Badly.

But Asha didn't defend herself.

"I'll fix it, boss."

Damian frowned even more.

The more he humiliated her…

the calmer she seemed to become.

And that confused him more than anything.

"Are you pretending to be innocent in front of me?" he asked coldly.

"No, boss."

"Then tell me why you're still here." His sharp eyes pierced into hers. "Everyone else ran away."

Asha's heart pounded hard.

Because I love you…

But she couldn't say it.

Instead, she lowered her gaze.

"I need the job."

Damian let out a mocking laugh.

"Liar."

For a second, Asha felt like she couldn't breathe.

Their eyes locked.

And for the first time…

Damian saw something in her eyes that he had never seen from anyone else.

Love.

Real love.

The kind of love willing to break itself apart for him.

Quickly, Asha bent down to pick up the scattered papers before tears escaped her eyes.

"I'll fix the report."

She turned and hurried out.

But behind her…

Damian remained standing there silently, his eyes following her until the door closed.

And for the first time in years…

His chest felt something unfamiliar.

Something dangerously close to fear.