Page 17 of Jack Frost, CEO

Throwing on a sweater, I pad downstairs, my socks soundless on the steps. When I reach the living room area that opens to the kitchen, I can see Maisie tossing something repeatedly in a skillet. Whatever she’s cooking smells divine, and my stomach grumbles in appreciation. Maisie dances around again, singing and cooking, completely oblivious to my approach.

“Good Morning.” I smile wide when she once again squeaks and jumps in surprise. This time, I’m out of the danger zone, and my sweater remains safe.

“You. Need. A. BELL!” Maisie seethes playfully while aiming the kitchen utensil in my direction. She glares at me before turning around and grabbing something. Then she slams it down in front of me. An Americano.

I pick up the cup and take a sip. It’s perfect, as always. “What are you cooking? It smells delicious.” I lean over to see all the different pots and pans on the stove.

“I’m making a fry-up.” She’s slicing, dicing, and flipping things, and I watch in wonder as a full plate sits in front of me a few minutes later. There are eggs, bacon, mushrooms, and some beans.

“Are those baked beans?” I poke at the offending legume.

“Well, it wouldn’t be a proper fry-up without them, now would it?” Maisie grabs her own plate and heads for the table.

I follow suit. “I wouldn’t know, seeing as I’ve never had one.” I pick up a piece of toast and take a bite. It’s perfectly buttered.

“How did you live with Gio and my dad all those years and never have a fry-up?” She spears a mushroom, humming to herself as she chews.

“College boys are not always the best at cooking. I think we mostly lived on dodgy kebabs and ramen.” I try the mushrooms and groan at how delicious they are. Suddenly starving, I attack everything else on the plate. I can’t help but marvel at how tasty it all is—somehow it works together too.

“That makes sense. Once we’re done, I’ll need about twenty minutes to get ready. I have the files prepared.” Maisie sips her coffee and taps the case in the middle of the table. “It’s a laptop bag, so it’s waterproof, since we have to travel by snowmobile.”

“That’s a good idea. It shouldn’t take me long to get ready either. This breakfast is amazing, Miss Mitchell. Thank you! I didn’t expect you to cook on this trip, but I am glad you are.”

“I don’t mind. Cooking has always been something I enjoy. It reminds me of spending time in the kitchen with my mum and Nan. They are some of the happiest memories of my life.” She smiles while she says it, but the gesture is tinged with sadness.

“I’m sorry to hear about your mom. I never met her, but she must have been an amazing person to raise someone like you.”

Maisie’s eyes tear up as she offers me a slight nod. “Yeah. Mum was the best. It wasn’t easy getting pregnant at sixteen, but she always said she wouldn’t have changed a single thing because she got the best kid in the world.” Maisie wipes her eyes with her napkin before taking her plate to the sink. “I’m going to go get ready. I’ll meet you in the living room in twenty.”

I quickly load the dishwasher before heading upstairs myself. I’m back and waiting in the living room when I see Maisie. And burst out laughing. She’s wearing an oversized puffy parka and three layers of pants. Which means she can barely navigate the steps.

“What in the world?” I’m still laughing when she finally makes it to the landing.

Maisie glares at me through the small opening in her clothing, enunciating her words with a vengeance. “Snow. Is. A. NO.”

“Can you even get on the snowmobile? I think you have a few too many layers. Come here.” I remove a few overcoats and one parka, and I’m left with a much more mobile and visible assistant. “It’s not a far drive. You can squish up behind me. That way, my body will block most of the wind.” I wrap her scarf back around her and tie it in place.

“Fine. Let’s go. I hope the resort has hot chocolate. I’ll need something after the hell that is today.”

Listening to my assistant grumble is one of the most peculiar turn of events. It makes me grin in perverse pleasure, knowing that there is something that can break the eternal sunshine named Maisie Mitchell.

I trudge through the snow to the garage, entering the code to open the door before cranking up the machine. Letting it warm up before pulling it out of the structure. I again enter the code to close the door before returning to the front door to get Maisie.

“Let’s get you on here.” I help her straddle the machine before positioning myself in front of her. “Snug in close to me so I can help block some of the wind.”

I grab her arms and tug them tight around my waist. Maisie presses herself flush against my back, and with the files tucked safely between us, off we go. It takes a half hour to reach the resort. The trails are tightly packed, and the ride is smooth. However, it does not ease Maisie’s anxiety, and she stays pressed up against me the whole ride. She wobbles when we disembark and quickly rushes into the lobby with the giant fireplace. I chuckle and hook the snowmobile to the block warmer before following her inside.

I check us in at the front desk and grab our day passes for the week before helping Maisie shuck off all her outerwear. When she finally looks like herself again, I gape at her deep-burgundy sweater and woolen leggings that encase legs—which, despite her small stature, seem to go on for miles. She has on knee-length black leather boots and appears to be both casual and professional at the same time.

Maisie shakes out her hair before gathering close to the fire once more. “How can people think a place like this is fun? I’m a block of ice!”

I chuckle, and she glares at me. “C’mon. I’ll buy you a hot chocolate, and we can add something stronger if you wish.”

Maisie eagerly follows me to the dining area, and I place her at a table near the grand fireplace. I give our order to one of the servers and sit and watch as Maisie attempts to warm herself up.

“Are you going to make it?”

It’s clear my amusement aggravates her as she continues to narrow her eyes at me. “I’ll be fine. I just have to adjust. I’m not used to this weather and, frankly, I don’t want to be. I want to finish this meeting and return to Australia and Nan.”

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