Page 13 of Clashing with the Ice Queen

Putting on an icy smile, Cassandra approached Nadine, who was chatting happily with a couple of stylists. Why was Nadinehere? How was she so confident flaunting a startup company to all of these moguls who came from generations of prestige?

“Look who it is!” Nadine said as she spotted her. “Cassandra Wynter! The Ice Queen.”

“Hello, Nadine,” Cassandra replied, her tone cool and even. “What a surprise to see you here.” She couldn’t help but notice the playful smirk on Nadine’s lips, and desperately wanted to assert her dominance again.

“I wanted to congratulate you on finally launching Wynter Media’s first TikTok account!” Nadine said, her lips curling farther. “Quite the move, don’t you think? Copying the trends we’ve set at Pulse Media? You must really admire us.”

“Imitation is the highest form of flattery,” Cassandra shot back, unable to contain her annoyance. She could feel her cheeks warming, and not just from the tequila. She didn’t want to admit that she’d been following Nadine’s social media strategy closely. After all, Nadine was a fierce competitor, now somehow at the forefront of fashion trends.

“I thought you were against jumping on social media bandwagons,” Nadine teased, arching an eyebrow. “What happened? Did you finally see the light?”

Cassandra forced a pleasant smile, masking the irritation beneath the surface. “Trends change, Nadine. I just adapt like everyone else in this industry.”

A tense moment hung between them, filled with unspoken words and memories of last week that would stay hidden, at least for now. Behind the businesslike banter, Cassandra felt the flutter in her stomach again. There was a thrill in exchanging sly comments that reminded her just how electric her connection with Nadine had been.

Memories of how good it had felt to grind her orgasm into Nadine’s sweet willing little mouth flitted through her head.

“And how does it feel to relinquish the title of trendsetter to your rival?” Nadine continued, enjoying the playful banter.

“Rivalry is what keeps the spark alive, don’t you think?” Cassandra replied, her voice low, as if they were still tucked away in that bathroom, the world outside forgotten.

“True,” Nadine said, leaning in closer. “And there’s something thrilling about being at odds with someone so capable.”

I’m going to fuck that smart mouth out of her.

They exchanged small talk about the event, the latest trends, and a recent dress that had stolen the show. As they chatted, Cassandra’s mind wandered to their previous encounter at the fashion show meeting. However, as Nadine’s gaze grew serious, Cassandra felt tension rise between them.

“You know,” Nadine started slowly, leaning slightly closer, “I still can’t believe we...” She lowered her voice, glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping. “What happened in the bathroom after that meeting.”

Cassandra blinked, her smile faltering for just a moment. She cleared her throat. “What do you mean, Nadine? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Nadine’s brow furrowed, a mix of annoyance and disbelief washing over her features. “Cassandra, come on! It was just us in there...” She crossed her arms, as if trying to protect herself from the confusion in the air. “You don’t really want to pretend it didn’t happen, do you?”

The euphoria from the alcohol began to mix with a strange feeling in the pit of Cassandra’s stomach. She loved her parties and her glamorous life, but Nadine’s words sliced through the joy like a knife. As much as she wanted to, she wasn’t sure it was the best idea to revisit what had happened, not now when the night was still young.

“Let’s just forget about that and enjoy the night,” Cassandra offered, forcing a laugh. “I don’t want to ruin this evening.”

Nadine rolled her eyes, clearly frustrated. “Fine. But I have been thinking about it. Want to take a shot with me?” Without waiting for an answer, she signaled the bartender.

“Sure! Let’s do it,” Cassandra replied, her heart racing. There was something about Nadine’s confidence that both thrilled and unnerved her. The bartender poured the shots, and without a second thought, they both raised their glasses.

“To the chaos of the runway!” Nadine cheered, a wicked smile spreading across her lips. They clinked their glasses, and in one swift motion, they downed the shots together.

Feeling a surge of confidence from the shots, Cassandra decided it was time for a breath of fresh air. She touched Nadine’s arm lightly and gestured for her to follow. With a warm smile, Nadine approached, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Where are we heading?” Nadine asked, her head tilting slightly.

“The terrace. I need some fresh air.” Cassandra smiled, already feeling lighter. They pushed through the crowd and stepped outside into the cool night air. The city buzz hummed in the background.

As they walked to a secluded corner of the terrace, the faint lights of the city twinkled below them. Cassandra leaned against the railing, feeling the weight of her responsibilities lift for just a moment. “You know,” she began, her voice steady but with a hint of vulnerability, “I feel really inspired by you tonight. I want to be a more collaborative leader. It’s something I’ve struggled with, especially in this industry.”

Nadine’s expression softened, her gaze set on Cassandra as if every word spoken was a treasure. “That means a lot coming from you,” she replied gently. “I’ve always admired how you manage Wynter Media.”

“It’s easy to get caught up in the competition and forget the importance of teamwork,” Cassandra continued. She felt her cheeks warm as she spoke openly. “But after talking with you, I’m thinking that maybe building connections could not only strengthen my leadership, but also make my work much more fulfilling.”

Nadine smiled, a mixture of appreciation and admiration lighting up her features. “Collaborating can spark so much creativity. We could do amazing things together.”

Cassandra’s heart raced at the sincerity in Nadine’s voice. They stood so close. The world around them seemed to fade. The atmosphere felt charged. Without thinking, Cassandra reached out to gently tuck a stray hair behind Nadine’s ear.

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