Page 23 of In Bed with the Ice Queen

As breakfast began to wind down, Helena realized she couldn’t avoid her feelings forever. She resolved to just get through the day intact, but as she stood up to leave the table, she caught Sloane’s gaze one last time.

Within that shared look, Helena knew this battle was just beginning, and so were her encounters with the woman sitting across the table.

Helena stepped outside of the hotel, the warm sunlight washing over her like a soft hug. The scent of saltwater from the ocean mixed with the smell of blooming flowers in the air. Next to her, Mark walked with a bounce in his step, and she looked over at him. He doesn’t have a clue.

“So, how was your room?” Mark asked, glancing at her.

Hesitant, Helena felt her heart race a little. She didn’t want to think about how her night had been. Instead, she looked at the palm trees swaying gently in the breeze.

“Oh, um, you know,” she deflected, pulling at the hem of her form-fitted sundress. “It was fine. Really nice ocean view.” She forced a smile, hoping it seemed natural. A group of tourists strolled by, laughing and taking pictures. Helena envied them.

Mark’s brow furrowed slightly, catching the change in her tone. “That’s great. I mean, who wouldn’t love a view like that?” He paused, then asked, “So, are you excited about the luau tonight?”

The luau. Helena felt a pang of anxiety in her stomach. This was important. Her company, Wolfe Enterprises, needed to show Thompson Industries that they were fun and inviting, not just serious all the time. But wouldn’t it be hard to enjoy itwith all the thoughts swirling in her head about last night? She hadn’t planned for this kind of distraction, especially not with the opposing team’s corporate lawyer.

She tried to shake it off. “Absolutely! I can’t wait to see the hula dancers and try the roast pig. That sounds delicious, right?” Helena smiled, but it felt as if the smile was stuck on her face.

Mark nodded, a little too enthusiastically. “Totally! It's a good opportunity for us to mingle. They need to see that we know how to do business and have a good time.”

Helena’s gaze drifted off again, thinking about how out of place she felt. What made her forget everything she knew? Sharing a room with Sloane made her feel unprofessional and uneasy.

After a brief silence, she turned to Mark, her voice laced with skepticism. “Hey, do you still have those flashcards with people’s names and faces on them?”

Mark’s face broke into a grin that lit up his features. “Of course! I brought them just in case. You know how important it is to recognize the other employees. We can’t be fumbling around trying to remember names.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a neatly organized stack of cards, each with a name and a corresponding picture.

“Wow, thank you for being so prepared. I know I kind of shut down the idea at first,” Helena said. She could focus on something else for a while, something that felt more in her control.

“Okay, let’s practice,” Mark prompted, waving the cards like they were a magic tool. “Here’s the first one.” He flipped one over, revealing a picture of a middle-aged man with silver hair and a friendly smile. “Who is this?”

“Um...” Helena squinted at the card, forcing her mind to work. She took a deep breath. “That’s...oh! That’s Mr. Thompson, right? I know that one, of course.”

“Bingo!” Mark clapped, and Helena felt a tiny spark of pride. Maybe she could snap herself back into professional mode after all.

Mark continued flipping through the cards. One by one, they quizzed each other, laughing as they scrambled to remember names. “Okay, this one might stump you.” He held up a card featuring a woman with striking green eyes and an easy smile.

Helena bit her lip, her mind racing. “She’s...um, Amanda? She’s the one in marketing, right?”

“Close! It’s Allison, but you were halfway there.” He chuckled lightly, and, despite her earlier worries, Helena felt her cheeks heat up with a mixture of embarrassment and laughter. They kept going, with Mark cheering over every success.

Even though she felt a little silly, she knew he was right. Knowing names made a difference during meetings. If she walked into the luau tonight with these names fresh in her mind, it would be easier to relax and be the professional she needed to be, minus any distractions still lingering.

As they strolled around the hotel property, the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting playful shadows on the ground. Helena took a deep breath, grounding herself in the moment. No more distractions. It was time to embrace the fun, to show everyone at Thompson Industries that Wolfe Enterprises could indeed let loose.

“Ready for another round?” Mark asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Let’s do it!” Helena replied, her confidence growing as they continued their practice. A little competition and laughter was just what she needed to shake off the uneasiness. The luau was coming fast, and she was determined to enjoy it.

10

SLOANE

The sun was already climbing high in the sky, painting the landscape with blues and golden rays. Sloane ran a hand through her wavy brown hair as she finished off the last bite of her tropical fruit salad. The sweet taste of pineapple lingered on her tongue. She glanced across the conference room table, catching a glimpse of the stunning view of the beach outside. Today was important for Thompson Industries. They were trying to merge with Wolfe Enterprises, and Sloane was here to make sure everything went smoothly.

As she stood up from the table, she couldn't help but remember the night before. It had been a mix-up that led her to share a bed with Helena Wolfe, the powerful CEO of Wolfe Enterprises. They were just acquaintances, but now it was way more complicated. Sloane shook her head to dismiss the thought.

The memory of the taste of Helena, of her body opening up to Sloane like a flower, was overpowering her at every turn.

Every time she saw a flash of Helena’s red hair, she couldn’t stop thinking about the vibrant damp red curls between her legs.

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