Page 20 of Clashing with the Ice Queen

Cassandra was used to handling pressure. Nadine had begun to carve a spot for herself, stealing headlines and clients that once belonged to Cassandra. The thought of collaborating on Nadine’s terms was unacceptable.

She walked into the modern office of Silver Resorts and Residences. Cassandra’s heart raced as she approached the reception desk. Soon enough, she was sent into a sleek conference room. Elara was already waiting for her, her dark eyes twinkling with anticipation.

“Cassandra! I’m so glad you could make it,” Elara greeted her warmly, but Cassandra saw the challenge behind her smile.

“Hello, Elara. Let’s cut to the chase,” she replied with an edge in her voice. “I wanted to discuss the collaboration you proposed. Partnering with Nadine is not the best direction for Wynter Fashion.”

Before Elara could respond, the door swung open, and in walked Nadine James. The air shifted, thick with tension as Cassandra’s heart sank. They exchanged wary glances. If there was one person Cassandra would rather not see today, it was her. Cassandra felt her eyes travel up and down Nadine’s body in a sleek blue dress, drawn to her every curve and bringing back sweet sweet memories of fucking her.

For fuck’s sake, Cassandra. Stay focussed!

“Oh, look who’s here!” Nadine said with a feigned enthusiasm that made Cassandra’s skin crawl. “I was wondering how long it would take you to come by, Cass.”

“Don’t call me that,” Cassandra snapped, her tone sharp. “What are you doing here, Nadine?”

“I believe we’re discussing your impending collaboration with Elara,” she replied coolly, arching an eyebrow. “I must admit, I didn’t expect you to be this persistent about it. Whenyou mentioned wanting to work together, I thought you were just placating me.”

Cassandra felt her temper rising. “What I meant was that I was considering a collaboration on my own terms. You’re just here to swoop in and steal more of my business, aren’t you?”

Nadine crossed her arms, her stance defensive. “Stealing? That’s a bit dramatic. Collaborating could be mutually beneficial.”

Eager to avoid escalating the situation, Elara attempted to intervene, but the conversation was unfolding too quickly. Breathing heavily, Cassandra made a decisive move.

“Let’s take this to an empty office. Clearly, this isn’t the place for a civil discussion,” she suggested, turning on her heel and striding out of the conference room.

Nadine followed quickly, clearly unwilling to back down. They found an unoccupied office, narrowly lit with a single window illuminating the room in gray light. Once inside, Cassandra closed the door firmly but not aggressively, hoping it would contain the tension between them.

“Cassandra, we’re both CEOs. We have the same goals,” Nadine began.

“Only if those goals include chasing after my clients!” Cassandra fired back, her voice dripping with bitterness. “You can’t truly believe you could walk into this collaboration and think it wouldn’t cast a shadow over Wynter Fashion.”

“Yes, I can!” Nadine shot back, her green eyes ablaze with defiance. “You’re scared of what I could bring to the table. That’s why you’re here. You’re worried that I might actually draw attention away from your brand.”

They locked eyes, two fierce women at war with their ambitions and insecurities. Cassandra’s mind raced, assessing the potential of joining forces but feeling cornered by Nadine’s boldness.

She wanted to grab her and shove her dress up around her hips, push her panties aside and fuck her over the table.

“We could create something powerful together,” Nadine continued, her voice softer, yet still filled with conviction. “But it seems like you’re really against this.”

Cassandra stood in the sleek, private conference room, her heart racing. She paced back and forth, trying to gather her thoughts. The bright lights overhead seemed too harsh, making the tension in the room feel even heavier. In front of her, Nadine stood with her arms crossed and a determined expression on her face.

“You don’t understand, Cassandra. This is a huge opportunity for both of us!” Nadine insisted, her voice rising slightly. She was passionate about her ideas, and Cassandra admired her enthusiasm. But at the same time, despite best intentions to the contrary, all Cassandra could think about was sex. The connection between them was powerful. There was no doubting that.

Cassandra clenched her fists. She hated that she felt this way. “You think I’m going to just drop everything and work with you? Your company doesn’t have the infrastructure for a collaboration like this!” A spark of frustration ignited inside her, and she felt her temper rising. She didn’t want to hurt Nadine’s feelings, but she also couldn’t ignore the truth.

Nadine’s eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and defiance crossing her face. “We can build it together! I believe in what we can achieve. Don’t you see the potential?” Nadine took a step closer, her confidence almost tangible. Cassandra couldn’t help but notice the way Nadine’s short hair framed her face and how her eyes shone with determination. It made Cassandra’s heart race in a way she didn’t want it to.

She cursed under her breath, frustrated with herself. Why did she have to feel this attraction to Nadine? They were in themiddle of an argument, yet all Cassandra could think about was how appealing Nadine looked with that fire in her eyes.

How good it would feel to have Nadine on her knees again looking up at her obediently. It was distracting. She shook her head, trying to focus on the situation at hand.

“Listen,” Cassandra said, her voice firm but softer than before. “I know you’re excited, but your company doesn’t have the capacity to manage a high-profile project like this. It could end up hurting us both.” She tried to sound logical, but internally, she battled with the desire to help Nadine.

She liked her. Respected her even. And those thoughts were far more dangerous than the sexual ones.

Nadine frowned, her arms still crossed. “You can’t just dismiss me like this! I’ve worked hard to get where I am. I can learn. I can adapt!” There was a noticeable crack in Nadine’s tough exterior. Cassandra felt a pang of sympathy, but it didn’t change the reality of their situation.

Cassandra leaned against the wall, crossing her own arms. She could hear her own heart beating loudly in her chest, and the heat of the moment made her even more frustrated. What was wrong with her? Why was it so hard to say no when everything inside her wanted to scream yes? “You really think you can keep up with the demands? The deadlines? The pressure?” Cassandra challenged, almost hoping for Nadine to back down.

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