HIS COLD HEART, MY LAST CHANCE

Chapter One: The Girl Who Refused to BowThe twenty-third floor of the Kingston Group headquarters was unusually quiet for a Monday morning.Employees hurried through the glass hallways with tablets in hand, exchanging polite greetings while secretly hoping not to cross paths with the company's youngest CEO.Everyone knew his reputation.Ethan Kingston.Twenty-nine years old.A billionaire.The heir to the Kingston empire.Handsome enough to grace magazine covers, yet cold enough to make seasoned executives tremble with a single glance.People called him the Ice King behind his back.Not because he shouted.Not because he insulted anyone.But because disappointment from him came in silence.Silence that could end careers....Meanwhile, standing awkwardly in front of the revolving doors was Emily Carter.She adjusted the strap of her worn leather bag and stared at the towering skyscraper."This is it," she whispered.Kingston Group.The company every business student dreamed of joining.Emily wasn't from a wealthy family.She worked nights at a café.Attended university during the day.And had fought harder than anyone she knew just to earn an internship at Kingston Group.Her father had passed away years earlier, leaving behind debts instead of savings.Her mother worked tirelessly as a nurse.Emily had made herself one promise."One day, I'll become successful enough that Mom never has to work another night shift."Taking a deep breath, she walked inside.The lobby sparkled with polished marble floors and crystal chandeliers.Everything screamed luxury.Emily suddenly felt painfully aware of her inexpensive suit.A receptionist smiled politely."Good morning. Name?""Emily Carter.""Ah, the new marketing intern."The receptionist handed her a visitor badge."The orientation room is on the fifteenth floor."Emily thanked her before stepping into the elevator.Inside were executives dressed in designer suits.Nobody looked at her twice.She preferred it that way.Orientation lasted nearly an hour.The HR manager spoke enthusiastically."Kingston Group rewards excellence.""We value discipline.""We value professionalism.""And most importantly..."She paused dramatically."Never make the CEO wait."Several employees laughed nervously.Emily noticed.Nobody laughed comfortably whenever Ethan Kingston was mentioned.That was interesting.Later that afternoon...Emily accidentally bumped into another intern while carrying several heavy folders.The papers scattered everywhere."Oh no!"She knelt immediately."I'm so sorry.""It's okay," another intern said."I should've watched where I was going."Together they hurriedly picked everything up.Unfortunately...One folder slid beneath an opening elevator.Emily chased after it.Just as she reached down—The elevator doors opened.A pair of polished black shoes appeared before her.The hallway became silent.Someone whispered..."The CEO..."Emily slowly looked up.Tall.Broad shoulders.Dark tailored suit.Perfectly styled black hair.Cold grey eyes.He looked exactly like the business magazines described him.Ethan Kingston.His expression remained unreadable.Emily quickly stood."I'm sorry."He glanced at the folder in her hands.Then at the scattered documents.Finally...At her.His voice was calm."First day?""Yes.""You've already blocked an executive elevator."Emily's cheeks burned."I'm very sorry."He said nothing.Instead...He stepped around her and entered the elevator.The doors closed.That was it.No lecture.No anger.Nothing.Yet Emily somehow felt she'd failed an important test.Inside the elevator...Ethan stared at the closing doors.His assistant sighed."Should I report the intern to HR?""No."The assistant blinked."No?""It was an accident."That surprised him.Normally Ethan had zero tolerance for carelessness.Days passed.Emily worked harder than anyone.She arrived first.Left last.Double-checked every report.Volunteered for extra assignments.Still...She couldn't seem to avoid crossing paths with Ethan.Every meeting.Every presentation.Every hallway encounter.She somehow found herself standing in front of him.Each encounter ended exactly the same.His cold nod.Her nervous apology.One rainy evening...Emily remained in the office after everyone else had gone home.Her university assignment was due the next morning.She still had company reports to organize.Yawning, she rubbed her tired eyes.The lights on the executive floor suddenly switched off.She frowned."Did everyone leave?"A familiar voice answered."Almost."Emily nearly jumped.Ethan stood near the conference room entrance.Without his jacket, his white dress shirt was rolled to his elbows.For the first time...He looked human.Not like the untouchable CEO everyone feared.She quickly stood."I didn't realize anyone else was here.""I could say the same."She smiled awkwardly."I have school after work."His eyes lingered on the stack of textbooks beside her