Chapter 1
In her dream, the world was full of warm sunshine and the sweet smell of fresh flowers.
Nancy was a little girl again, wearing a bright yellow dress. She was sitting on a soft blanket, laughing happily. Her mother looked at her with kind eyes and brushed a piece of hair away from Nancy's face. Nearby, her father was kneeling in the grass, holding open his arms and calling her name with a deep, loving voice.
"Come here, my little rose," he said, his face bright with a warm smile.
Nancy ran into his arms, feeling completely safe and loved. In that beautiful moment, nothing hurt. There was no sadness, no loneliness, and no worries. Everything was perfect.
Slowly, the dream began to fade like a gentle mist. The warm sunshine turned into the soft morning light of her real bedroom.
Nancy blinked her eyes open. She sat up slowly in her bed, pulling the blanket tight against her chest. She felt a little bit happy because the memory of her parents smiles felt so real and warm. But she also felt a little bit sad, a familiar ache in her heart, because she knew they were gone. She had lost them in that terrible accident when she was only eleven, and her mind had locked away most of her childhood memories to protect her from the pain.
Nancy took a deep breath and forced herself to look at the bright side. She turned her head and looked at her nightstand. Resting right next to her lamp was a tiny, old, silver arrow keychain. It was scratched and faded, but it always made her feel safe. She didn't remember exactly how she got it, but she knew it was a treasure from her past.
She picked it up, her small fingers tracing the cold metal, before slipping it carefully into her pocket.
"Nancy! If you don't get out of bed right now, I am going to eat the last piece of toast!"
The cheerful voice of her best friend, Nova, echoed from the kitchen, instantly breaking the morning silence. Nancy smiled, the sadness melting away. Nova is her college best friend, and the only person who felt like real family to her now.
Nancy hopped out of bed. She wore her fluffy slippers and walked into their small kitchen. The room was tiny and the table shook a little, but it felt like home.
Nova was standing by the counter, holding a plate of slightly burnt toast and a mug of coffee. She took one look at Nancy's face and softened. "Hey. Did you have that dream again?"
Nancy smiled brightly, shaking her head lightly as she took the mug of coffee from Nova’s hands. "I did. But it was a good one this time. I saw my parents. They were smiling at me."
"Good," Nova said, hugging Nancy tightly with one arm. "They are definitely watching over you today. Especially because today is the big interview! Lockwood Industry is huge, Nancy. Just imagine the salary. We might actually be able to buy a toaster that doesn't burn everything."
Nancy laughed. Her voice was sweet and clear. "Let's not get too excited. "I just need to get through the interview without tripping over my own feet first."
"You're going to do amazing," Nova said proudly, checking her watch. "Oh no, I am going to be late for work! Your clothes are hanging on the closet door. Go look like a smart, beautiful professional!"
With a quick wave, Nova grabbed her bag and rushed out the front door, leaving Nancy alone with her coffee. Nancy stood by the window, sipping her warm drink and looking out at the busy city. She felt a flutter of nervous excitement in her stomach. It was a brand new day, full of hope, and she was ready to face whatever came next.
While Nancy was finishing her coffee in her cozy kitchen, a very different kind of morning was starting at the top of the city.
The headquarters of Lockwood Industry was a giant tower made of black glass and shiny steel. It looked grand, clean, and completely cold. At the very top of this tower was the executive floor.
The elevator door opened, A man stepped out, and the entire floor instantly went dead silent.
This was Jace Lockwood.
At twenty-eight years old, Jace was the CEO and the absolute boss of the company. He was tall, with a sharp jawline and dark, piercing eyes that never seemed to blink. He wore a flawless black suit that had no wrinkles. He walked with long, heavy steps. He looked incredibly handsome, but he also looked dangerous, like a storm waiting to happen.
As Jace walked down the long hallway, the change in the room was instant.
A group of employees who were laughing near the water cooler immediately stopped. They stood up straight, hiding their smiles, and bowed their heads in fear. A young secretary holding a stack of papers accidentally dropped a pen. The sound of the plastic hitting the floor felt as loud as a gunshot in the silent room. She looked up at Jace, her face turning pale with absolute terror.
Jace didn't stop. He didn't even look at her. He simply walked past, his face as hard as stone. He hated mistakes, and he hated slowness. Ever since his mother died when he was fourteen, Jace had shut off his heart. He did not show kindness, and he did not care if people liked him. He only cared about power and perfection.
He pushed open the heavy glass doors of his private office. His best friend and business partner, Jack, was already sitting on the leather sofa, looking through a folder. Jack was the only person in the entire building who wasn't afraid of Jace.
"You're late by two minutes," Jack joked, trying to lighten the heavy mood Jace brought into the room. "The managers downstairs are sweating through their shirts. They think you're going to fire them today."
Jace walked straight to his massive desk, which was made of shiny black stone. He did not smile. He sat down and opened his computer with quick, cold movements.
"If they did their jobs correctly, they wouldn't have to sweat," Jace said. His voice was a low, deep growl that could make anyone freeze. "Tell the marketing team they have ten minutes to bring me the new reports. If there is a single mistake, they can leave the building permanently."
Jack sighed but nodded. He knew Jace was a man of steel. Nobody could melt his icy heart.
