Her Dreams, His Fortune Novel

 Chapter One – Bread and Dreams

Emily Carter was used to surviving on very little.

At thirty-two, she had worked at nearly every job her city offered: waitress, dishwasher, delivery girl, cleaner. Whatever she could find, she did it—with pride. She wasn’t chasing wealth or fame. All she wanted was to make life a little easier for her aging parents.

Their tiny rented apartment was old but clean. The kitchen tiles had cracks, but the walls echoed with love. Emily’s mother, Rose, still called her “my sunshine” every morning. Her father, Mr. Carter, quietly prayed for her every night.

Each day, Emily worked long shifts at a local hotel. She served guests with a warm smile, even though her feet ached and her back hurt. The manager, a gruff but fair man, often handed her leftover food in a paper bag at the end of the night. Others may have felt insulted—but to Emily, it was a blessing.

That evening, she clutched her small envelope of cash—her weekly pay. It wasn’t much, but enough. She walked through the bustling market, choosing vegetables, rice, and a small bottle of oil. She even bought her mother’s favorite tea and a packet of sugar.

As she entered the apartment, her mother looked up from the stove, her eyes lighting up. “You bought all this for us?”

Emily smiled, handing her the bags. “We’re eating properly tonight. No more skipped meals.”

That night, as the three of them sat cross-legged on the floor, sharing warm food and laughter, Emily felt like the richest woman in the world.

Later, while her parents slept, Emily sat quietly at her second-hand laptop. The screen flickered as she opened her graphic design software. With tired but determined eyes, she began to sketch. Her designs were clean, thoughtful, and bold—like her.

She didn’t want pity. She wanted purpose. A job where her skills mattered. A place where she could belong.

She had no idea that a new opportunity—and a man named Liam Hart—were just around the corner.

Chapter Two – The Design That Spoke

It was just another ordinary morning—sunlight creeping through the curtains, the clinking of tea cups in the kitchen, and her father humming an old tune.

But for Emily Carter, something felt different.

Her inbox buzzed with a new email. Subject line:"Urgent Graphic Design Requirement – Hart & Co.”

She blinked.

Hart & Co.? That was one of the most prestigious tech firms in the city—known for innovation, excellence, and of course, its CEO,

Liam Hart.

She clicked it open, expecting it to be a mistake. But it wasn’t.

Dear Emily,

We came across your recent portfolio submission on the freelancer platform.

We are urgently seeking a designer with fresh perspective for a campaign launching next month.

Are you available for a virtual interview tomorrow at 10 AM?

– HR Team, Hart & Co.

Her heart pounded. She had submitted that portfolio months ago, almost forgot it existed. Now someone had actually read it?

She jumped from her chair, nearly knocking over her tea. Her mother peeked in from the kitchen. “Everything okay, dear?”

Emily was breathless. “Mama... I think I just got a call from the sky.”

That night, she barely slept. She practiced speaking in front of a mirror. She changed her hairstyle five times. She Googled everything about Hart & Co.—its branding, its recent campaigns, and of course... Liam Hart himself.

He wasn’t your typical billionaire. No yachts, no scandals, no arrogance. Articles called him “The Silent Star”—brilliant, respectful, reserved. Some even said he never smiled in interviews. Emily found that oddly intriguing

By morning, her nerves were on fire.

She wore her simplest white blouse and tied her hair neatly. At 9:59 AM, she logged into the Zoom link. Her hands were ice cold.

And then, the screen blinked. He was there.

Liam Hart.

Wearing a navy-blue shirt, sleeves rolled up, eyes sharp but calm. Behind him was a wall of minimalist shelves—clean, elegant, like his brand.

“Good morning, Miss Carter,” he said.

His voice was low and clear. No smile, but polite. Professional.

Emily swallowed her nerves. “Good morning, Mr. Hart. Thank you for the opportunity.”

He nodded. “Let’s get started.”

But as the interview progressed, something unexpected happened.

Liam, known for his quick assessments, didn’t rush. He asked deeper questions—not just about her work, but her thoughts, her process, her story. And she answered honestly. No faking. No overconfidence. Just her truth.

When she showed him one of her logo designs, a simple yet powerful image of a phoenix rising, he paused.

“This one,” he said, “speaks.”

Emily smiled softly. “It was inspired by my mother.”

He looked at her for a long second, something shifting in his eyes.

For the first time in a long while, Emily didn’t feel like someone from the background. She felt seen.

By the end of the call, Liam closed his notebook and said, “We’ll be in touch soon. And Emily... thank you for being refreshingly real.”

She logged off and stared at the blank screen, her heart racing.

It hadn’t felt like an interview.

It had felt like... a beginning.