Hi everyone I just remind you this story is fictional, the time, person, place is all fake...Thats all and I hope u enjoy reading.

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[*Vince P**ov*]

The city never slept, and neither did I. Sitting behind my polished mahogany desk, I watched the rain streak down the glass walls of my penthouse office. The lights of Metro City shimmered like scattered diamonds below, indifferent to the lives crawling in its streets.

I didn’t care for the chaos. I didn’t care for people. Love? That was a fairy tale for the weak. I had learned that the hard way. My parents gone, My family is broken. I had nothing but my empire, my business, and the control I held over every corner of my world. And that was enough or so I told myself.

A soft knock on the door broke the quiet hum of the city outside.

“Come in,” I said, voice cold, measured, distant.

The door opened, and a boy stepped in bright eyed, messy hair, and a smile that dared to reach every corner of the room. I immediately wanted to roll my eyes.

“Hi! I’m Mark Denoso,” he said cheerfully, oblivious to my icy stare. “I’m here for the project discussion?”

I tilted my head, studying him. He was young 22 yrs old, barely out of college, but there was…something in his energy. Something infuriatingly bright.

“You’re late, I don’t have time for introductions.” I said flatly.

Mark blinked but didn’t falter. “Sorry! I took the bus. Traffic was terrible, but I made it!” His smile didn’t waver. It felt like a slap to my carefully maintained calm.

I leaned back, crossing my arms. “Traffic excuses are meaningless. You either plan properly, or you fail.”

He chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck. “Yeah…planning. Right. Got it.”

Inside, something in me bristled. Who was this kid, daring to smile at me like the world was a playground? I had no patience for sunshine. No patience for people who thought happiness was that simple.

...------//-------------//------------//-------...

[*Mark P**ov*]

Vince Mondragon. The name alone sounded like someone straight out of a magazine perfectly sculpted, impossibly wealthy, and icy enough to freeze a river. And yes, I was terrified. But at the same time…there was something magnetic about him. He didn’t smile. Not once. His eyes were sharp, calculating. And yet, as he studied me, I felt like he was trying to see through me, peeling away layers I didn’t even know I had.

“Okay…So…about the project. You want me to take over the marketing strategy for your new line, right?” I said, trying to keep my nerves in check.

He nodded once, almost imperceptibly.“Do it right. I don’t tolerate mistakes.”

I swallowed. “Got it. No mistakes.”

I wanted to reach out, to say something like don’t worry, I’ll make you proud, but the aura around him was suffocating. Still…my curiosity wouldn’t let me turn away.

...------//-------------//-------------//------...

[*Vince Po*v]

The kid was annoyingly persistent. He didn’t cower under my tone. Didn’t flinch at my words. It was…strange. Irritatingly strange.

I picked up the project files, flipping through them with clinical precision. “This campaign has multiple flaws. Your preliminary ideas predictable. Safe. Weak. Are you always this optimistic despite mediocrity?”

Mark’s eyebrows shot up. “Mediocrity?” His voice was calm, but there was a spark in his eyes. “I wouldn’t call it that. I’d call it…potential waiting to explode.”

I blinked. The nerve. Potential waiting to explode. Who talks like that?

“You’re…bold,” I said, though my tone was neutral. In truth, I didn’t know if I was impressed or just annoyed.

Mark shrugged, leaning casually against the edge of my desk. “Someone’s gotta make the world interesting, right?”

Interesting. That word was dangerous. It hinted at life. At laughter. At warmth. Things I hadn’t felt in years.

...-----//---------------//-------------//-----...

[Mark Pov]

I could feel his gaze on me, sharp enough to cut glass. And yet…there was something broken behind it. A sadness buried so deep it made his coldness even more frightening.

I wanted to ask him, what happened to you? But I didn’t. Some walls weren’t meant to be crossed so easily. Not yet.

"So... I’ll take care of this project. I promise you won’t regret it.” I tried again, forcing my smile,

He looked at me long and hard, silence stretching uncomfortably between us,“I don’t need promises. I need results” he said, softly but with finality.

I nodded. I could work with that. And yet, somewhere deep inside, I knew this wasn’t just about work.

...-------//---------//-------------//---------...

[*Vince P**ov*]

After he left, the office felt colder than ever. I tried to focus on the reports, the numbers, the endless meetings but I couldn’t shake the image of that boy’s bright, infuriating smile.

It was impossible. I didn’t want it. I didn’t need it.

But for the first time in years, I wondered what would it feel like to let someone in? To let warmth touch me again?

I quickly shoved the thought away. I couldn’t afford weakness. Not again.

Yet somehow…Mark Denoso had already started melting corners of my frozen world

...------//------------//---------------//-----...

[Mark Pov]

Walking out of the building, I felt a strange mix of excitement and fear. That man…Vince Mondragon…was infuriatingly cold, and yet there was something beneath that icy surface. Something I wanted to reach.

I didn’t know if he’d ever let anyone close. But I was determined to try.

...-------//--------------//-----------//------...

{Writer Pov}

Little did they know…there lives were about to collide in ways neither of they could predict. And that collision? It would change everything.

...-------End of Chapter 1-------...

[*Mark P*ov]

The next morning, I stepped into Cassell Enterprises, the city’s most talked about corporation, trying to appear confident. My nerves screamed otherwise.

“Mark! Over here!” a familiar voice called.

I turned to see Lia Santos, my bubbly coworker from the marketing team. Her brown eyes sparkled as always, and she waved energetically. “You’re finally here! I’ve been dying to meet the CEO!”

I chuckled nervously. “CEO? Don’t make it sound so dramatic.”

She giggled. “Oh, trust me, it is. Everyone’s talking about him. Vince Mondragon…Mr. Ice King himself.” I frowned. Ice King? Already? I hadn’t even started properly.

“You’ll see, He’s…different” she whispered conspiratorially.

Different? Yeah, I knew that already. But nothing could prepare me for the cold storm I was about to face.

...---//--------//----------//----------//------...

[Vince Pov]

The office was unusually busy today. Meetings stacked on my schedule, assistants buzzing like flies. And yet, my focus was pulled toward the young man stepping into my domain. Mark Denoso. Bright. Energetic. Too cheerful for this world.

I had observed him yesterday. Observed how he smiled at everything, laughed too easily, and worst of all didn’t seem intimidated by me. Most people cowered in my presence. Most.

He was standing in the marketing department now, talking animatedly with one of my senior managers, Lara Villanueva, a sharp and ambitious woman with a reputation for ruthlessness.

“Good morning, Mark, I hear you’re working directly with Mr. Mondragon?” she said smoothly.

“Yes, ma’am, I’ll make sure the strategy is top notch” I heard him answer, his tone respectful yet casual.

Lara smirked. “We’ll see about that"

I narrowed my eyes. Confident. Bold. Dangerous combination.

...--------//-----------//-------------//------...

[*Mark P**ov*]

I had barely started organizing my workspace when a tall figure approached. My stomach flipped before I realized who it was. Vince Mondragon himself.

He stopped just in front of my desk, towering, his gaze sharp enough to cut steel. “I hope you’re not wasting company resources. Mistakes are…costly.”

“I…uh…yes, sir,” I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady.

He studied me silently for a long moment, making me squirm under his stare. Then he said simply, “I’ll be watching.”

And with that, he turned and walked away. Just like that. No emotion. No warmth. Nothing but his chilling presence.

I sank into my chair, exhaling shakily. Why did I think this job would be easy?

...-------//-------------//--------------//----...

[Lia Pov]

(Mark coworker from the marketing team)

Watching from across the room, I couldn’t help but smirk. Typical Vince. Intimidating, cold, untouchable. And now he had Mark Denoso under his watchful eye.

I leaned closer to Mark. “Don’t let him scare you. He’s all ice on the outside, but I hear rumors…he has a softer side somewhere. Somewhere very hidden.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You’re brave, stepping right into his path. Most would have run screaming.”

I saw Mark glance toward Vince, who was now speaking with Ramon Delgado, the head of finance. His expression remained unreadable, but something flickered in his eyes when he looked at Mark. Curiosity? Annoyance? Something else?

I made a mental note. This was going to be interesting.

------//--------------//------------//------

[Vince Pov]

Meeting the marketing team today was…necessary. But unnecessary people made it worse.

Mark was sitting there with a notebook, smiling, nodding, contributing ideas without hesitation. I hated it. Hated how naturally he fit into discussions, hated the way people seemed drawn to him.

Lara leaned toward me quietly. “He’s impressive, isn’t he? Fresh ideas, confidence…he might shake things up around here.”

I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I watched Mark present a small proposal for a campaign. His energy was contagious, and I felt unbelievably drawn in.

Focus, Vince.

...I cleared my throat. “Interesting.” My voice was flat, but it had authority. The room quieted immediately. Mark’s eyes flicked up at me, and for the first time, I noticed something nervous excitement, but no fear....

...Damn it, I thought....

...--------//-------------//------------//-----...

[Mark Pov]

He said something, Interesting.

It was only one word, but it made my chest pound. Vince Mondragon…CEO, legendary, untouchable had just acknowledged me.

I grinned slightly to myself, trying not to get carried away. Focus, Mark.

During the meeting, he asked pointed questions, dissected ideas with surgical precision. Some people flinched under his gaze. I…kept going. I answered honestly, sometimes challenging him slightly but carefully.

Afterward, when the room emptied, Vince lingered. My heart thumped like a drum.

“Your ideas…are bold, Don’t get used to praise. I don’t give it often.” He said, voice low. “

“I don’t mind...., I’m used to being underestimated.” I replied casually, trying to sound calm.

He blinked at me, clearly surprised. Then, without another word, he turned and left.

I exhaled shakily. That…was terrifying. And somehow…exciting.

...-------//-----------//-------------//-------...

[*Lara P*ov]

Watching the interaction, I smirked. The kid had guts. Most people froze under Vince’s scrutiny. Most. But Mark? He held his own. Interesting. Very interesting.

I could already see the tension building. The office buzzed with rumors by lunchtime Vince Mondragon, the cold CEO, had finally noticed a new employee.

I leaned over to a junior staff member, whispering, “Watch closely. This is going to be…fun.”

...------//-------------//------------//-------...

[*Vince P*ov]

Back in my office, I couldn’t focus. Mark’s energy gnawed at me like an itch I couldn’t scratch. I hated him. I hated that I felt anything at all.

I poured myself a drink, staring out at the city. I had rules: no distractions, no attachments, no…softness.

And yet…that boy had broken one, maybe two.

This is dangerous, I muttered to myself.

But deep down, a part of me a part I didn’t like admitting wanted more.

...--------//-----------//------------//-------...

[*Mark P*ov]

Walking out of the office that day, I couldn’t stop smiling. Yes, Vince Mondragon was intimidating, frustrating, and impossible. But there was something beneath that cold exterior…something I wanted to discover.

Something I wanted to reach.

And I had a feeling…he didn’t realize how close I was getting to breaking through his ice.

...-------End of Chapter 2--------...

[*Vince P*ov]

The city lights reflected off the office glass, but tonight, even their sparkle couldn’t pierce the shadows in my mind. Normally, work numbed everything. Numbers, contracts, deals they were predictable. Safe. But that boy…Mark Denoso…his energy, his warmth, it kept creeping into the edges of my carefully controlled world.

I tried to push it away. Focus on the quarterly reports, the meetings, the endless emails. But tonight, the memories wouldn’t let me. It was my twenty-second birthday.

I had just graduated from college, excited for the future. My parents were supposed to be there, smiling, proud. But the car crash…that’s all I remember. Screeching tires, shattered glass, and silence. My parents…gone. Just like that.

I had no siblings, no close relatives willing to take me in. My family, the people I loved most, were gone. My home was nothing but an empty apartment filled with echoes of laughter that no longer existed.

And that’s when I decided: emotions were dangerous. Love was dangerous. People were dangerous.

I built walls around my heart so high, so thick, that no one could ever get in or hurt me again......Until Mark.

...--------//--------------//----------//------...

[Mark Pov]

It was late, and the office was emptying. Most people were already gone, but I stayed behind, trying to finish the marketing outline. Vince had left hours ago, or at least I thought he had.

“Mark?” a voice said softly behind me.

I turned and froze. Vince was standing there, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.

“You’re still here?” he asked, not really questioning, more observing.

“Uh…yeah, Just finishing some notes for tomorrow’s meeting.” I said.

He nodded, then leaned against the desk near mine. The silence stretched, heavy, and I realized he wasn’t leaving yet.

“You’re…different from most people, You…don’t fear me. Most people do. Most people run” he said finally. His voice was quieter than usual, almost vulnerable.

I swallowed, unsure what to say. “I…don’t know. I guess I just see people…for what they are. Not what they seem.”

He looked at me long and hard, like he was searching for something. And in that gaze, I saw it a flicker of pain, a shadow behind the ice.

"What happend to you?!" I asked gently.

...Vince’s gaze snapped up, cold and sharp again. “Nothing that concerns you.”...

... But I knew better....

...-------//-------------//-----------//-------...

[Vince Pov]

**(Flashback)**

The first years after the accident were the hardest. I was alone. Friends tried, but they didn’t understand the weight of losing everyone. Teachers sympathized, relatives avoided me. Only the office became my sanctuary. Work was the one thing that didn’t betray me. Love, kindness, friendship they were luxuries I couldn’t afford.

I became Vince Mondragon, the CEO. Cold. Unreachable. Desirable to many, feared by all. A mask to hide the boy who had screamed into the void and received nothing back. And I was fine. Or so I thought.

...-------//------------//------------//-------...

[Mark Pov]

I watched him, heart tightening. The walls were high, but I could see the cracks. And those cracks…they made me want to reach him even more.

“You don’t have to tell me, I just…want to understand.”

Vince’s jaw tightened. “Understanding won’t help. It won’t fix anything. Nothing fixes it.”

“I don’t know, Maybe not. But I can be here. If you let me” I said quietly.

His eyes lingered on mine, a storm of emotions behind the calm exterior. And for the first time, I thought I saw something like…hesitation. Something almost human.

...---------//-----------//---------//---------...

[Lia Pov]

The next morning, I couldn’t help but tease Mark mercilessly.

“So, spill! How was working late with Mr. Ice King?”

Mark blushed but grinned. “It wasn’t…that bad.”

“Not that bad? You practically confessed your soul to him!” I laughed. “Don’t tell me he scared you or—”

“Shh!” Mark hissed. “You don’t understand. There’s more to him than people see. I think…he’s been hurt. Really hurt.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Wow. Deep. Are you falling for him already?”

“I…maybe,” Mark admitted quietly.

I smirked knowingly. “Watch out, Mark. Hearts get broken here, not mended.”

...---------//----------//----------//---------...

[Vince Pov]

I didn’t know how to process it. That kid…Mark…he stayed, he asked questions, he smiled. He laughed. He didn’t fear me, didn’t run. And worst of all, he made me want things I had long buried—friendship, warmth…maybe even love.

I hated him for it.

Yet, every time I caught his bright eyes on mine, every time he laughed at something trivial, I felt…something stir. Something dangerous. Something I had sworn never to feel again.....I needed to control it. I needed to stay distant.

But the walls were starting to crack. And I wasn’t sure I could stop it.

...-------//-------------//-----------//-------...

[Mark Pov]

I noticed the way Vince’s fingers trembled slightly when he reached for his coffee. The way his eyes darkened when he stared out at the city, lost in thought.

He was a fortress. But fortresses have weaknesses. And I wanted to find his.

I didn’t know if he would ever let me in. I didn’t know if he could...But I was willing to try.

Because sometimes, the brightest light could reach the coldest heart.

...-------End of Chapter 3---------...