Page 20 of Jack Frost, CEO

A saleswoman walks up and takes the hanger, crooking a finger while indicating for me to follow her. She looks me up and down before heading toward the back of the store. She stops on the way and picks up some black pants and black boots with heels that, frankly, have me concerned about my ability to walk in them.

When we end up in the lingerie section, I pull up short. She grabs a silver lace garment and then opens a changing room door. She hangs her selections on the little hook and gestures for me to enter. I do as I’m instructed, and she closes the door behind me.

“Well, that was weird.” I pull down the silver lace garment and find out it’s a silk and lace bodysuit… in my exact size. “How did she do that?” I wonder out loud as I get out of my regular clothes and start putting on the outfit the sales lady chose.

The material is cool, making me break out in goose bumps. I bite my lip, holding back a moan at the feel of the lace against my skin. I’ve never owned anything so decadent in my life. The rest of the outfit fits as perfectly as the bodysuit, and I’m impressed. Even the boots are comfortable and easy to walk in. I exit the dressing room and stand in front of the tri-fold mirrors, turning side to side to view myself at every angle.

“Girl, that looks amazing on you! You have to buy it! You can wear it to dinner tonight! Jack is going to break his neck when he sees you!” Alexandra gushes, walking up to me with a couple of shopping bags hanging from her arm.

I smooth my hands down the sweater. “Yeah, I think I just might.”

“Go change. We’ll grab some lunch before we meet the guys.” Alexandra resumes her browsing, and I take off my outfit.

Removing the bodysuit feels almost like a sin, and I jump when someone knocks on the door. Then the sales lady walks in, lifts my sweater, snips the tags off the bodysuit, smirks at me, and walks out again.

“That woman is scary,” I grumble as I change back into my regular clothes over my new bodysuit.

When I return to the register, the sales lady takes the items to fold and bag. “Name on the account?”

Hearing her voice for the first time has me fumbling over my words. “Maisie Mitchell?”

The woman appears unfazed by the fact my answer comes out more as a question, simply nodding before she begins ringing up the clothes. I watch the total climb and feel myself starting to panic. She hands me the slip to sign, and I gulp at the $2500 price tag but sign it anyway. Worst-case scenario, I can pay Jack back over time.

Alexandra chatters away as we walk back into the dining room where we first met this morning. A waiter seats us, and as we peruse the menu, the conversation is steered toward my fake engagement. “So, what are you planning on doing for your wedding? Have you looked at venues and all that?”

“Well, I want to get married in Australia so my nan can attend.” I’m shocked to find the truth in this statement. I never really considered it before I foolishly opened my mouth.

“That makes sense. What about your mom? Is she in Australia too?”

“My mum passed away when I was young. I wish she were able to attend.” I feel the tears starting, and I wipe at my eyes, pressing my hands against my cheeks.

“Oh. My darling, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” Alexandra places a comforting hand on my arm.

“It’s okay. It happened years ago. Still, it hits differently with the engagement and everything now.” I sniffle before forcing myself to laugh. “Okay, enough of me being a sad sack. Let’s order!”

Alexandra chuckles as we return our attention to the menus.

Chapter 16

Jack

Iwatch as the girls walk away arm and arm until Marcus claps a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry, old bean. She’ll be just fine. Your credit card on the other hand? Eh.”

I join him in a good-hearted chuckle before we head outside to the equipment shop to rent a set of skis. We strap up, and I follow him to the lifts. The twins grab the one in front of us, and as we’re carried up the mountain, I have to whistle at the majestic view.

“Yeah, it’s pretty amazing. We come here yearly, and it still takes my breath away.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so beautiful.” Even I can hear the awe in my tone.

Marcus nudges my side. “Except that fiancée of yours. She really is a lovely girl. You look good together.”

“Thank you. Maisie is something else. I was a mess before she came into my life.” I jokingly recount the early days of her employment, when she straightened out my calendar and had all my project managers terrified to be underprepared for our meetings.

Marcus and I laugh as we dismount. Calista waves at her father before heading off for a less-challenging run while the rest of us make our way toward a more complex one.

We ski for several hours, and I have the best time. It’s been ages since I did anything so physically taxing and yet liberating. When we converge at the lift again, Calista is already there at the little cafe, tapping away on her phone.

“Dad… Jenny and Tabitha are here. They want to go to the theater tonight. Can I go with them?”

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