Page 29 of In Bed with the Ice Queen

Helena’s face softened, albeit only slightly. “Thank you. I don’t know if I can change overnight, but…” she trailed off, and Sloane caught a hint of something else in her expression.

A wave of relief washed over Sloane. Maybe all of them could become a team after all. Not just two companies merging, but a group of people willing to understand one another.

The fondue pot bubbled in the center of the table, breaking the tension of the moment.

“Let’s eat!” Charles cheered, grabbing a piece of broccoli and thrusting it into the fondue.

The lightness of his words, along with the bubbling cheese, eased the atmosphere just a bit. Conversation resumed with laughter and chatter, but Sloane made a note on her iPad. She wanted to draft something that would guide them toward better communication as they moved deeper into the merger process.

The sun dipped low on the horizon as the luxury yacht glided back to the dock. Sloane stood by the rail, her hair dancing in the soft evening breeze. The day had been long, filled with meetings and negotiations, and dinner with the team had been a mix of tension and excitement. Now, as they finished their last round of drinks, the atmosphere felt lighter.

“Cheers to the merger!” shouted one of the executives from Thompson Industries, raising his Champagne glass high. The others quickly followed suit, their glasses clinking.

Sloane raised her glass. “To new beginnings!” she echoed, trying to maintain her enthusiasm despite the worry gnawing at her insides. She glanced at Helena. She was the kind of womanwho could control the room with a single glance, but tonight, her hidden expression sent a chill through Sloane.

Once they docked, the group began to go their separate ways, and Sloane’s heart quickened. She had a sinking feeling that Helena was upset with her. During the final negotiation meeting, Sloane couldn't help but call out Helena's defensiveness, pointing out how it might affect the merging process. It had been a gamble, and now, Sloane felt the reaction and resolution of such an expressive meeting would be beneficial for the two companies, just maybe not for her.

“Uh-oh,” Sloane muttered to herself, her stomach twisting as she followed Helena off the yacht. “Here comes trouble.”

The walk back to the hotel was short, and the air was thick. Once inside the building, Sloane fumbled with her keycard before letting herself in.

“Helena!” Sloane called, stepping inside. The room was dim, overwhelming her with the scent of whatever scents the hotel maids must have sprayed. Helena stood by the window, staring out into the night. Her silhouette was stoic, but Sloane could see the tension in her shoulders.

“Why did you bring that up earlier?” Helena’s voice sliced through the silence, sharp and unforgiving. She turned around, betrayal clouding her eyes.

Sloane hesitated, glancing down at her hands. “I thought it was important to address it.”

“Important?” Helena interjected, her tone icy. “It was reckless and totally distracting from the task at hand. You backed me in a corner.”

Sloane felt her heart sink. “I didn’t mean to. I just thought?—”

“Thought what?” Helena snapped, taking a step closer, and her eyes narrowed.

“That you should be honest with who you are to the team. It makes you seem more real. I also thought we had a connection, but the way you ran off this morning, well, I guess I was wrong.”

The room felt smaller, and the air was heavy with vulnerability. Sloane could see the hurt and anger swirling in Helena’s expression.

“We’re what? Having fun?” Helena said, her anger simmering just below the surface. “I’m not afraid to be open, but I need to protect myself from the wrong people.”

Sloane's heart raced, but she couldn’t let Helena see the turmoil within her. "I thought we had something a little more real than just business," she said softly, taking a small step back, as if trying to create distance between them.

Helena crossed her arms, her jaw tightening. “You need to let this go. This is just a distraction from everything we need to accomplish. Clear your head, Sloane. This merger is complicated enough without…without whatever this is.” She waved her hand between them, dismissing the idea of their connection.

Sloane swallowed hard. “I understand,” she said softly, gathering her things. The pain in her chest felt unbearable. She had no right to fight, not on a business trip where their reputations were more developed than whatever this was. “I’ll leave you alone then.”

“Good,” Helena replied, her voice a mere whisper. “It’s for the best.”

With that final, stinging remark, Sloane hastily collected her things from the room, and Helena turned away, her back to Sloane, leaving a cavernous silence between them. Sloane felt every ounce of connection slip away like sand through her fingers.

“Fine,” Sloane said, biting back her emotions. “If that’s how it is, I’ll just… I’ll just find another hotel.” Her voice was steady, but inside, she felt broken.

As she stepped out, Helena didn’t stop her. Sloane paused for a moment before walking away. The hallway felt long and unwelcoming, and it felt like she was leaving a part of herself behind, one she had hoped to share with Helena. Her heart was heavy as she walked down the hallway. The hotel felt vast and echoing around her, and she felt so small. She looked at the door one last time, then turned away, her mind racing. She needed a place to escape, to think.

When she reached the lobby of the neighboring hotel, Sloane slumped into a chair, burying her head in her hands. She couldn’t help but cry softly, the weight of disappointment bearing down on her.

Tears streaked down her face and sadness twisted in her heart, and she made the hardest decision yet. If Helena didn’t want to connect, then Sloane would disengage to protect her own heart too.

Whatever they had, whatever it could have been, it was a lie. If Helena wanted to keep things strictly business, then that’s how it would be. Sloane had to steel herself.

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