Chapter5:The Ice King’s Invitation
1300 Words
Aria Betty Taylor had exactly three dollars and seventy-two cents in her bank account.
Three.
Dollars.
And seventy-two cents.
She stared at the ATM screen in complete disbelief while Manhattan hurried around her like life was not actively bullying her.
“How inspiring,” she muttered dryly.
Beside her, the machine beeped impatiently.
Aria canceled the transaction before it could embarrass her further.
The morning air was cold, sharp, and annoyingly expensive-looking, just like everything else in this city.
Normally she would have headed straight toward campus after her hospital shift.
Instead…
She carried the ridiculously luxurious black umbrella beneath one arm while trying not to think about the even more ridiculous man waiting for it.
Kael Verrano.
Even thinking his name felt expensive.
Aria adjusted the strap of her worn backpack before crossing the busy Manhattan sidewalk carefully.
Students rushed past her.
Businesspeople yelled into phones.
Luxury cars glided through traffic like sharks through water.
And towering above all of it stood the black glass building of Verrano Group.
Aria stopped walking.
Jesus Christ.
The structure looked less like a corporate headquarters and more like a place villains planned world domination.
Massive silver letters reflected sunlight near the entrance:
VERRANO GROUP.
Employees moved quickly through revolving doors while security guards stood near the front like professionally trained intimidation tactics.
Aria looked down at herself.
Faded jeans.
Oversized gray hoodie.
Messy ponytail.
Coffee stain near her sleeve.
Yeah.
She absolutely belonged here.
A businessman brushed past her shoulder impatiently.
“Move.”
“Good morning to you too,” Aria muttered.
After inhaling deeply, she walked toward the entrance.
Immediately, one of the guards stepped forward.
“Identification?”
Aria lifted the umbrella awkwardly.
“…I’m returning this?”
The guard looked unimpressed.
Honestly?
Fair.
Another guard approached before suddenly pausing mid-step.
Recognition crossed his face instantly.
“You’re the girl from last night.”
Oh no.
Oh absolutely not.
Aria forced a painful smile.
“I would deeply appreciate it if nobody ever called me that again.”
The guard almost laughed.
Almost.
Instead, he spoke quietly into an earpiece before stepping aside.
“You’re expected.”
Aria blinked.
“…Expected?”
The large glass doors opened immediately.
That somehow felt more threatening than welcoming.
Inside, the building looked exactly how rich people imagined heaven.
White marble floors.
Silver detailing.
Floor-to-ceiling windows.
Fresh flowers that probably cost more than tuition.
Aria suddenly became hyperaware of her sneakers squeaking against the polished floor.
A sharply dressed receptionist smiled professionally.
“Miss Taylor.”
Okay.
That was unsettling.
“Mr. Verrano is waiting for you upstairs.”
Of course he was.
Because apparently billionaires now summoned exhausted medical students before breakfast.
Aria stepped into the private elevator nervously.
The doors closed softly.
Then the elevator shot upward so smoothly it barely felt real.
Thirty seconds later, the doors opened directly into another world.
Silence.
Luxury.
Power.
The top floor of Verrano Group overlooked the entire Manhattan skyline like the city belonged beneath it.
Aria stepped out slowly.
A man in glasses approached immediately.
Late thirties.
Perfect suit.
The expression of someone permanently stressed by his employer.
“Miss Taylor,” he greeted politely. “I’m Adrian Park, Mr. Verrano’s executive assistant.”
“You look tired.”
The man blinked once.
“…Thank you?”
“She says that to everyone,” another voice sighed nearby.
Aria turned.
A tall man lounged lazily against a nearby desk holding coffee in one hand.
Unlike everyone else here, his suit jacket hung open carelessly, tie slightly loose.
Relaxed.
Dangerously handsome.
And very clearly amused.
“You tackled Manhattan’s Ice King into traffic,” he said. “That automatically makes you interesting.”
Aria narrowed her eyes.
“And you are?”
“Damien Laurent.” He grinned easily. “Kael’s best friend and part-time emotional support system.”
“That sounds exhausting.”
“You have no idea.”
Adrian cleared his throat professionally.
“Mr. Verrano is in a meeting.”
“Translation,” Damien interrupted, “he’s terrifying shareholders again.”
Aria tried not to smile.
Tried.
Failed slightly.
Damien noticed immediately.
“Oh, thank God. Someone who reacts like a human being.”
Before Aria could answer, movement behind the glass conference room caught her attention.
Kael Verrano stood at the far end of a long table surrounded by executives.
And somehow…
He looked even more dangerous in daylight.
Black suit perfectly tailored.
Dark hair neat again.
Expression cold enough to freeze oceans.
The entire room listened when he spoke.
No interruptions.
No hesitation.
Pure authority.
Aria suddenly understood why magazines feared him.
This man was not simply rich.
He was powerful.
There was a difference.
As if sensing her stare, Kael looked up suddenly.
Directly at her.
Even through glass and distance, the intensity of his gaze hit instantly.
The conversation inside the meeting room continued.
But Kael no longer seemed focused on any of it.
Damien noticed the silence beside him and groaned softly.
“Oh no.”
“What?”
“That look.”
Aria frowned.
“What look?”
Damien pointed subtly toward the conference room.
“Kael only stares at people like that when they become problems.”
Excuse her?
Before Aria could defend herself, the conference room doors opened smoothly.
Every executive inside straightened immediately.
Kael stepped out calmly.
The entire atmosphere shifted around him.
Like pressure entering the room.
His eyes moved first toward the umbrella in Aria’s hands.
Then toward her.
“You came.”
Aria lifted the umbrella awkwardly.
“You threatened me through email.”
“I instructed you.”
“That somehow sounds worse.”
Damien choked on his coffee.
Adrian looked seconds away from resignation.
Meanwhile—
Kael Verrano’s expression almost softened again.
Almost.
He stepped closer.
Too close.
Aria immediately noticed how unfairly attractive he was at this distance.
Annoying.
“Did you sleep?” he asked suddenly.
What kind of question was that?
“…Why?”
“You look exhausted.”
“Well spotted, Sherlock.”
Damien outright laughed this time.
Kael ignored him completely.
His gaze lowered briefly toward the faint dark circles beneath Aria’s eyes.
Then toward the cheap coffee cup in her hand.
Then—
Without warning—
He took the cup from her fingers.
Aria blinked.
“…Excuse me?”
Kael looked at the label once.
“You call this coffee?”
“I call it survival.”
“It’s terrible.”
“It’s affordable.”
A quiet silence passed between them.
And for some reason…
That answer affected him.
Aria saw it clearly.
A tiny shift behind his eyes.
Like guilt.
Weird.
Why would Kael Verrano feel guilty about her being poor?
Then suddenly—
A sharp female voice cut through the room.
“Kael.”
Everyone turned instantly.
The elegant woman from last night approached across the office floor in impossibly high heels.
Perfect makeup.
Designer clothes.
Cold expression.
And the moment her eyes landed on Aria—
Dislike flashed openly this time.
Ah.
So this was going to be one of those situations.
The woman stopped beside Kael possessively.
“You left before the gala ended last night,” she said coolly.
Kael’s face hardened immediately.
“I was busy.”
“With her?”
The question dripped venom.
Aria sighed internally.
Rich people really did treat human interaction like territory wars.
Kael’s expression became dangerously unreadable.
“She saved my life, Celeste.”
“And now she’s in your office.”
Aria immediately raised one finger.
“In my defense, I was summoned by corporate Batman over here.”
Dead silence.
Damien nearly collapsed laughing.
Even Adrian looked emotionally conflicted.
Meanwhile—
Kael Verrano stared directly at Aria.
And for the second time since meeting her…
He smiled.
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