Page 7 of Clashing with the Ice Queen

There was a pause, and then someone chimed in, “They’re called reels now, Ms. Wynter- the short videos on TikTok.”

“Reels?” Cassandra echoed, slightly frustrated. “So why aren’t we making reels?”

One of the social media experts, a smart but often timid woman named Lily, answered, “We’re focusing on Facebook, Ms. Wynter like you directed us to. Our audience there really engages with our posts.”

At that moment, all eyes turned to her as Cassandra raised an eyebrow. The awkward silence spread like a blanket over the room. “How many of you actually watch reels on Facebook?” she asked pointedly.

Only one hand in the far corner of the room went up. It belonged to May, the company’s oldest employee—the one they kept on staff out of respect for her years of loyalty and as a reminder of Wynter Media’s humble beginnings. She smiled, blissfully unaware of the eyes rolling around her.

Cassandra took a deep breath and stepped closer to her team, her voice picking up a note of urgency. “We cannot be blown out of the water with our marketing by a competitor like Pulse Media. If we want to stay relevant, we must adapt and innovate. I need an immediate action plan delivered by Monday. TikTok is the next wave, and we need to catch it before it washes over us.”

A buzz of nervous energy filled the room. It was a challenge, but her team knew Cassandra well. When she set a deadline, she expected results.

Once the meeting ended, Cassandra asked for the marketing team to stay, her resolve sharpening. “Listen up,” she said, her tone firm. “Whoever is responsible for creating a viral reel with over a million views will receive a bonus of a thousand dollars. And this incentive will continue until our TikTok account reaches a million followers!”

Excited chatter erupted in the office as her team members exchanged ecstatic glances. The buzz of creativity began to crackle in the air. Cassandra felt a rush of satisfaction at ignitingtheir enthusiasm, but deep down, she knew that she had to change her leadership style to match the evolving industry.

She had to give her employees more freedom. She realized she’d been too controlling, too dismissive of ideas that didn’t conform to her vision. An epiphany hit her—creativity thrived in an environment where people could let their imaginations flourish without fear of rejection.

“Alright, everyone,” Cassandra continued, her voice softer but still carrying her excitement. “I want you all to think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to pitch wild ideas. Let’s make reel-making an adventure, something fun and engaging. I want to see whatyoucome up with!”

The enthusiasm in the room was palpable now. Cassandra’s shift in attitude seemed to unlock something, allowing her team to feel empowered rather than constrained.

As her team bustled about with newfound energy, Cassandra couldn’t help but smile. Maybe today was the day Wynter Media would take its first real step into the world of TikTok and reels. At the very least, it would be the day Cassandra started embracing her team’s creativity. She was energized for the challenge ahead, excited to see where this new direction would lead.

The excitement lasted as she worked through paperwork and emails efficiently for a few hours. Eventually, stressful thoughts bubbled back to the surface. Pulse Media had stolen Wynter’s longest-standing client, Purdey’s, and Cassandra was fuming.

“She thinks this is a game,” Cassandra muttered under her breath, twirling a pen between her fingers as she stared at thevarious contracts spread across her desk. “I should have taken the little bitch down while I had the chance.”

The bold, colorful designs on the paperwork were no comfort to her inner turmoil. This felt personal.

After a few furious minutes of shuffling papers, Cassandra decided she wouldn’t let her emotions fester any longer. She pulled out her phone, determined to confront Nadine about the betrayal. A quick search for Nadine’s contact information led her to an online directory, and Cassandra clicked the number with irritation.

The phone rang, and every ring echoed the tension in her chest. “Come on, pick up,” she urged, tapping her perfectly manicured nails on the desk.

“Nadine James,” The voice on the other end was familiar, smooth yet tinged with an edgy confidence.

“Nadine,” Cassandra replied curtly, her frustration bubbling over. “It’s Cassandra Wynter, from Wynter Media. We need to talk.”

“Well, isn’t this a pleasant surprise.” Nadine shot back, her tone playful but firm.

Cassandra’s brow furrowed in disbelief. “Not really. As I’m sure you are aware, we don’t go round taking other companies clients behind their backs. Shall we talk about the Purdey’s contract, Nadine? What exactly were you thinking?” Cassandra’s voice was laced with venom. She was more angry than she perhaps had ever been.

Their intimate moment on the terrace was absolutely forgotten.

“What I think,” Nadine retorted, “is that your clients are free to choose who they want to work with. I didn’t steal anyone; they left you. Maybe you should focus on why they chose us instead.”

Cassandra inhaled sharply, the edge of Nadine’s words cutting deeper than she’d expected. There was a fire in her voice,something that both irritated and intrigued her. “This isn’t just business for me, you know,” she said coldly.

“It isn’t for me, either, Cassandra,” Nadine replied, her tone softening just a bit. “I thought we could have collaborated, but now?—”

“Wait,” Cassandra interrupted. “I never got your email inviting me to meet up after the conference. Why didn’t you follow up?”

“I sent an email the next day,” Nadine said, a hint of confusion in her voice. “You didn’t get it?”

Embarrassment washed over Cassandra. “Let me check.” She fiddled with her computer as Nadine held the line. With a few clicks, she found it. There it was, nestled deep in her junk mail folder, marked as spam.

“Oh no,” she breathed, biting her lip. “It’s in my junk folder.”

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