Page 22 of In Bed with the Ice Queen

Helena sighed, pulling on a carefully pressed blouse from the closet. “Fine, step by step. But I still think this whole luau thing is silly. Who needs to hula dance to make a deal happen?”

“I do!” Sloane laughed, her eyes twinkling as she tucked her blouse into her pants. “And I think you secretly want to too.”

“Not a chance,” Helena replied, a hint of a smile creeping onto her face despite her efforts to stay annoyed.

“Right, and I’m sure you’ll wear that serious face all day,” Sloane teased, putting on a necklace.

“Don’t push your luck, Callahan,” Helena said with a frown, shaking her head. “We’re supposed to be professional.”

“But everyone has fun at these events!” Sloane insisted, reaching for her heels. “You never know what kind of memories you could make.”

Helena rolled her eyes. “All I want is to not mess up this merger. It’s important. And now I’m stuck sharing a bed with my biggest rival,” she said, trying to keep a straight face.

“I see your little competitive side is still alive and well,” Sloane said with a grin. “Don’t worry, Helena. I won’t let you mess up. I’m here to help, remember?”

Helena sighed again, still feeling a mix of embarrassment and confusion. Maybe Sloane was right. She was taking thisall too seriously. Maybe there could be a little fun hidden somewhere in the chaos.

“I really can’t tell if this is all a manipulation tactic,” Helena said, pushing back her hair. “Let’s just hurry the hell up because we’re late and you keep bringing me out of my element.”

“What’s your element? Steel?” Sloane tried, getting her things.

“Tungsten is the hardest metal element. If you’re going to make jokes, at least be scientifically accurate.”

As they reached the floor with the conference room, Helena pushed through the door and entered the conference area, Sloane following behind her.

The room was bright and filled with chatter. A long table was covered with plates of food. Toast, eggs, and fruit filled the space, and a crowd of executives swirled around.

“Hey, you made it!” shouted Mark, one of Helena’s teammates. He waved his hand to get her attention.

“Just in time, I hope!” Helena forced a smile, feeling the tension of the day ahead of her. She glanced around, catching sight of Sloane.

Sloane was talking to someone, her hair catching the light and her eyes shining with confidence. Helena felt a flutter in her stomach. They were rivals now, but part of her remembered how amazing their connection had felt last night. No! She pushed the thought down. Focus on the merger, not the feelings, she reminded herself again.

Just as Helena turned to grab a plate, she overheard Sloane’s conversation. “This merger is going to be great. We’ve preparedtoo hard to back down now.” Sloane’s tone was strong, and Helena couldn’t help but admire her confidence.

Helena picked up a muffin, her hands shaking slightly. She had to remember why they were here. It wasn’t about whatever happened last night. It was about completing the merger. But part of her just couldn’t let go of that other side of it all. The side that found Sloane so incredibly attractive.

Mark nudged her. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Helena forced a laugh. “I’m fine! Just a little out of breath.” But the truth was, she was still thinking about last night. She quickly sat down, trying to push the memories aside.

“Hey, Helena!” Sloane’s voice called out across the room, snapping her out of her thoughts. Helena looked up, caught in Sloane’s gaze for a moment.

“Hey,” Helena replied, trying to keep it casual, but her heart raced again. “Ready for the luau?”

Sloane grinned, her smile brightening her face. “Absolutely! May the best team have the most fun.” There was a confidence in her tone, sharp and clever.

“Right,” Helena said, forcing a smile as she took a sip from her coffee. It was hot and strong, almost like the electricity between them. She had to stay focused.

As breakfast went on, Helena listened to the chatter around her, stealing glances at Sloane every few moments. They were professionals, after all. Two strong women in a field where the stakes were high and competition was fierce.

Helena leaned in closer to Mark. “What do you think of Sloane? She’s really good at what she does, isn’t she? She’s less lawyer-like than most in her profession.”

Mark laughed. “Oh, don’t let her charm fool you.”

Helena nodded, but doubt crept into her mind. It wasn’t just Sloane’s professional skills troubling her; it was the lingeringaftertaste of their night together. “I just… She’s a good lawyer,” Helena replied, masking her true feelings.

Despite the surrounding breakfast crowd, it felt like just the two of them were locked in their own little bubble, captivated by each other, even as they plotted to finish the job their own ways.

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