Novel Male Lead & Cover visuals: KADEN HAMMOND #instagramStar The world was steel gray and smelled of gasoline. Zander Morte, or "Ice" as the menial workers called him, was meticulously wiping down the chrome grill of a custom-built Morte Motors Phantom. His hands, though scarred from the recent accident he could not recall, moved with an unconscious, almost surgical precision, wiping away a speck of dust no client would ever see. Ice’s current workspace was a concrete cubby in the deepest level of the Morte Tower parking garage, a dark, pressurized place where the city’s noise died. He didn’t know he was the heir to the entire conglomerate that owned this tower. He only knew he was "Ice", the new, quiet, and slightly clumsy in-house driver. The company paid him just enough to rent a room in a noisy boarding house miles away.He wore a cheap, polyester uniform that was perpetually damp with cleaning solution. His ID badge was blank, a deliberate choice by the security team (Onyx Bla

Under the cover of a fake printer error reported by Ellvys Fog, "Ice" was dispatched to the Executive Suites on the Morte Tower's top floor. His new master keycard (from Onyx) allowed him discreetly access to the server room located beside Sable's office.Ellvys Fog, disguised as a temporary corporate auditor, was waiting inside. "Ice", Ellvys whispered, his eyes on the server racks. "You look horrible. Sable's killing you." "I can't remember any of this, Ellvys." Ice admitted, his voice raw. Ellvys shook his head. "Doesn't matter. Your hands remember. The moment you touch that keyboard, your code will write itself." Ellvys pointed to the main server tower. "Sable is about to authorize a wire transfer that will funnel the remaining liquidity out of Morte into five shell companies. If he hits 'send', the company is bankrupt. We have to shut down the router." Ice approached the server. The sight of the blinking lights and complex wire structure triggered another painful memory, but t

Ice's grip on the steering wheel tightened, but his expression remained blank. The insult wasn't just fueling his revenge; it was triggering fragmented memories of a passionate, driven Zander Morte who would never have considered himself weak. Merk, using a subtle code they had pre-arranged, cleared his throat and nudged the rearview mirror slightly. The action subtly drew Sable's eyes away from Ice's reflection. Merk was signaling that the lie was dangerous, and Ice should proceed with caution. Sable arrived at the restaurant, feeling invincible. As he stepped out, he threw his car keys directly at Ice's face, caught it without flinching. Sable: "Wait here. Don't move. Don't speak. Just be a good driver, for once." Ice watched Sable enter the restaurant. He pulled out the burner phone. Sable just gave me everything I need for the final attack, he thought. The driver is gone; only Zander, the strategist, remained. Later that night, Zander/Ice has been ordered to clean the Bentley

Sable let out a rich yet barking laugh. Dimé chuckled along, his tone calculated. Dimé: "Oh wow. Stop it, Sable. If the Morte knows it, are you sure you're not in trouble?" They all laughed, the sound echoing in the lobby. Inside Teggo's mind, a fresh thread of suspicion twisted tight. Is Dimé a true best friend of Sable? Teggo forced a laugh, a dry, internal joke about the depths of Morte treachery. Sable, Teggo, and Dimé arrived at the Morte’s New York office at 10 AM. As soon as the three men separated; Sable heading for his meeting, Teggo for a fake negotiation & planning to go out in Morte's office, and Dimé in Sable's office waiting for his driver, Merk Keen found his opportunity. Merk, still playing the role of Sable's indispensable, efficient assistant, cornered Ellvys. In the underground garage, near the executive parking section. Merk leaned against a pillar, his posture casual, his voice strained. "Ellvys, what's your take on Ice with the Morte Firewall moment? Did he

Mrs. Cassandra Morte looked back at him once, holding the door open, her eyes sharp as ice. "Oops, a great man always keeps his promise. Always remember that." The door closed, leaving Sable alone in the silence, trembling not from fear of Zander, but from fear of the Mother of the Morte clan. At 7 PM, the air in the vintage restaurant in Jack County, USA, was charged with volatility. Merk and River had messaged Teggo and Onyx to meet again. When Teggo arrived, he immediately sat beside River, placing a heavy, brotherly grip on his shoulder, trying to diffuse the tension from the day before. "Hi Princess River, how was your sales this month?" Teggo asked, the sarcasm laced with genuine concern for his stressed friend. Onyx sat beside River, silent and watchful. A few chuckles from them, but River didn't join in. They all acknowledged that the joviality was thin. River and Merk had something serious to announce. Onyx: "What now, River? Merk?" River: "Is Madame Morte knows? That Za