C7 The Heart Beneath His Ice

Cleopatra stepped out of the taxi, her heels clicking softly against the pavement as the towering headquarters of INK Model rose before her.

She lifted her gaze, and her breath caught.

The skyscraper pierced the heavens, its sleek obsidian glass reflecting the golden sunlight in fractured waves. For a long moment, she simply stood there, frozen beneath its shadow.

“It's so beautiful,” she muttered, “it took me a long time to come here.”

She retrieved her phone from a bag and dialed Katie's numbers.

“Hello,” she paused, listening, “okay.”

She ended the call; she inhaled deeply before walking towards the entrance. The scent of expensive perfume lingered in the air as she walked across the lobby.

People moved with purpose. Models, executives, designers, and dreamers.

Suddenly the atmosphere shifted; heads turned instinctively.

Conversations faltered.

“She’s gorgeous…”

“Wait… who is she?”

“Is she debuting under INK?”

“Her proportions are insane.”

“That face—”

Whispers spread through the atrium like wildfire.

Cleopatra tried to ignore them, but her pulse quickened beneath the attention.

“CLEO!”

A familiar voice thundered across the lobby.

Katie hurried across the lobby in designer heels, her smile radiant as she threw her arms around her.

“Look at you.” Katie gasped dramatically, holding her at arm’s length. “Oh my God, you’re absolutely lethal today.”

Cleopatra laughed softly, though her eyes wandered around the magnificent building once more.

“I still can’t believe this place is real,” she admitted quietly. “The INK Model’s structure is mind-blowing.”

Katie smirked knowingly.

“Careful. Fall too hard for this place, and it’ll consume you alive.”

The teasing in her tone couldn’t hide the truth beneath it.

Cleopatra tilted her head.

“That's why I'm here?”

Katie chuckled softly as they both walked toward the executive elevators while curious gazes continued to follow Cleopatra from every corner.

Inside Katie’s office, Katie settled behind her desk and pressed the intercom.

“Two coffees.”

“Yes, Director.”

Moments later, Katie slid a contract file across the desk toward Cleopatra.

Her playful demeanor faded.

“This,” Katie said softly, “is the contract we discussed.”

Cleopatra stared at the papers.

Katie leaned forward, her expression suddenly serious.

“I know I could’ve easily announced you as a new model,” she continued. “But I don’t want people calling you a nepo baby before you’ve even started.”

Her hand reached across the desk, squeezing Cleopatra’s gently.

“I want you to stand on your own. I want people to respect your talent, not your connections.”

Emotion flickered across Cleopatra’s face.

“You’ve always wanted the best for me,” she whispered. “I will go with the flow.”

Katie smiled warmly.

“Damn right you are.”

A shaky laugh escaped Cleopatra before she picked up the pen.

But the second the tip hovered over the paper. Her chest tightened; pain stabbed through her chest, sharp and violent.

Her breathing faltered instantly before her hand flew to her chest.

“Haa… haa…”

The pen trembled violently between her fingers.

Fear flickers across Katie’s face.

“Cleopatra, are you alright?”

‘Why did this feel wrong?’

‘Why did it feel like betrayal?’

‘Like I'm betraying someone.’

Cleopatra muttered inwardly, her uneasiness mounting with every passing second as though she was driving a knife into a heart that had once loved her completely.

“Cleopatra, look at me,” Katie squeezed her hand, “Cleo.”

Cleopatra lifted her gaze; their eyes met.

“I'm fine, Katie.”

Katie grip loosened.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” she asked carefully. “After everything that happened… after your parents died.”

The room fell silent.

A shadow crossed Cleopatra’s beautiful face.

Pain lingered in her eyes like a wound that had never closed. But then, slowly, her fingers tightened around the pen.

“I don’t have a choice,” she whispered hoarsely. “This is my only chance.”

Katie blinked, confused.

And with trembling determination, Cleopatra signed. Just then the door opened as the secretary entered quietly with the coffee. She placed the coffee at the front of them and then bowed respectfully before exiting the office.

The tension eased slightly.

Cleopatra reached for her cup.

“… Is Calvin around?”

A grin exploded across Katie's face.

“Hmmmm.”

Cleopatra narrowed her eyes immediately.

“Don’t start.”

“Oh, I’m absolutely starting.” Katie leaned forward mischievously. “So this is why you came dressed like a heartthrob.”

“Hahaha—no.”

“Liar.”

Katie pointed dramatically at her outfit.

“Girl, if Calvin sees you dressed like this, that man’s blood pressure is finished.”

A faint blush crept onto Cleopatra’s cheeks.

Katie’s eyes widened in mock horror.

“OH MY GOD.”

She slammed her desk lightly.

Thud!

“You really dressed for him?!”

Cleopatra took a sip of her coffee before lowering it back to the saucer. Her fingers pressed together shyly like a guilty child being caught.

“… Maybe.”

Katie gasped, pressing her palms against her nose.

“C’mon, say the truth.”

A tiny smile appeared on Cleopatra’s lips as she finally surrendered.

“Okay, fine,” she admitted softly. “I wanted him to notice me.”

Katie stared at her a second, the grin on her lips slowly fading.

“Are you serious about Colder?”

Cleopatra nodded.

Katie punched the bridge of her nose.

“This feels surreal,” letting out a helpless sigh. “But Calvin isn’t the same anymore.”

Cleopatra’s smile weakened.

“He changed after you left,” Katie added.

The words landed heavily.

“He’s colder now,” Katie continued quietly. “Sometimes even towards me.”

Cleopatra’s eyes darkened slightly.

“We met last week,” she murmured. “And yeah… he felt distant.”

A pause.

“… Is he dating someone?”

Katie laughed immediately.

“Relax, lover girl.”

“I’m serious.”

“As far as I know? No.” Katie shrugged casually. “That man barely has time to breathe, let alone date.”

A dangerous little smile curved across Cleopatra’s lips.

“Good.”

Hope flickered inside her chest again. She lifted her coffee again, but suddenly the cup slipped.

Coffee splashed violently across her dress.

“Oh my God!”

Katie shot up instantly.

“Are you burned?!”

“No, I’m okay—”

“Turn around!”

Katie grabbed her hand anxiously, inspecting her with panic written all over her face.

Cleopatra laughed softly despite herself.

“It’s fine,” she said reassuringly. “It’s not that hot.”

Katie still looked unconvinced.

“That was hot; stop saying it isn't. Please come with me.”

She immediately led Cleopatra toward the private dressing room connected to her office.

Once inside, Katie carefully helped unzip the gown, checking her skin for burns.

Katie exhaled in relief.

“Thank God,” she brushes her palm over her skin. “Your body is literally company property now.”

Cleopatra burst into laughter.

“Stop saying it like that.”

Katie chuckled.

“You are now Calvin’s and the company’s. Please take it off.”

Cleopatra shook her head dramatically and removed her dress, extending it to Katie.

“There are clothes in the wardrobe,” Katie muttered, accepting it, “wear whatever you want until your dress comes back.”

She turned and walked out of the dressing room; she stepped out of her office and handed the dress to her secretary.

“Hey, little kitty,” a drawling, lazily deep voice echoed behind Katie. “What crime did I commit for you to ignore me this long?”

Katie turned; her gaze landed on him.

“Colder.”

Without warning, he ruffled her hair roughly.

Katie smacked his arm instantly.

“Stop roughing my hair!”

Calvin laughed deeply.

“I’ve been busy,” Katie huffed dramatically.

“Busy avoiding me?”

“Exactly.”

Calvin placed a hand over his heart.

“Cruel.”

Katie rolled her eyes before sticking her tongue out at him.

“At this rate,” she teased, “you’ll need to book appointments just to see me.”

Calvin snorted.

“Quit being a director and become a model instead.”

“Hahahaha, I can pull that off.”

“You’d make millions.”

Before Katie could reply, one of her staff members hurried over.

“Director,” he closed the distance, “regarding the welfare project, can I have some minutes?”

Katie nodded and then turned to Calvin.

“Wait inside my office,” a smug tugged her lips. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

She hurried off with the man, and Calvin walked towards the office door. He pushed it open and stepped inside, closing the door.

“I hope she doesn't keep me here for time,” he crossed the room, a smile curling on his lips. “Try to be busy, huh?”

At that same moment Cleopatra hurried out from the dressing room.

“Katie—”

Her words died in her throat as their gaze collided. Her heartbeat plummeted slowly as they stared at each other, unable to break contact.

Calvin froze mid-step, his gaze slowly drifting down her body, the delicate orchid-colored lingerie tugging her skin sexily as his pulse spiked.

‘So sexy.’

He swallowed hard, and his Adam's apple bobbled, and suddenly the air became unbearably hot.

Cleopatra held his gaze.

‘He’s looking away; this means I still have an effect on him.’

A dangerous silence stretched between them.

She slowly walked towards him; her heartbeat thundered violently beneath her ribs, but she refused to retreat.

“Cal,” she whispered softly, closing the distance between them, “I didn't know you came in.”

Calvin's gaze drifted to her lips, his heartbeat thudding sharply against his chest.

‘She's now completely a woman. So sexy and beautiful.’

‘Why can't I think straight? Why can't I push her away?’

Heat surged through his body.

“Cal…”

KNOCK.

The spell shattered instantly, the office door swung open, and Smith walked in.

Calvin instinctively moved, pulling her tightly against his chest, shielding her body completely from view.

Possessive, jealous, and protective.

Before Smith could fully register the scene, Calvin shot him an icy glare

“GET OUT!”

Smith's eyes widened.

“I'm sorry, sir.”

He disappeared quickly.

Calvin returned his gaze to Cleopatra; his eyes slowly softened.

Suddenly Cleopatra's eyes widened.

‘Is that Calvin's heartbeat?’