Page 61 of Vacation with the Ice Queen

But perhaps a more complete version of herself. Like the reef they'd explored—complex, colorful, and containing far more life than was visible from the surface.

They parted at the main resort path, Lila heading to her afternoon appointments, Serena to her villa to shower and change. The walk back had been comfortable, damp clothes and all, filled with easy conversation and lingering glances.

"Dinner tonight?" Serena asked as they prepared to go their separate ways. "My villa this time. I can have something brought in."

Lila's smile lit up her still-sun-flushed face. "I'd like that. Seven?"

"Perfect."

Watching Lila walk away, Serena felt an unfamiliar lightness in her chest. Not the absence of weight, but the presence of something new—something that expanded rather than constricted.

Back at her villa, she found several notifications waiting on her phone, including two from Ashley marked "Urgent." The familiar rush of adrenaline hit her system, but instead of immediately responding, Serena set the phone aside and stepped into the shower.

For once, work could wait. Just for a few minutes.

The hot water sluiced over her body, washing away salt and sand but leaving the memories of the morning intact: Lila's hand in hers during meditation, the underwater world they'd explored together, conversations that ventured into territory Serena rarely shared with anyone.

Only after she'd dried off and dressed in fresh clothes did she retrieve her phone, settling on the terrace with her laptop to address whatever crises had developed in her absence.

Ashley's first message contained minutes from the emergency board meeting she'd missed. Walter had apparently been pushing for a complete overhaul of the security protocols developed under Serena's leadership—a thinly veiled vote of no confidence disguised as strategic repositioning.

The second message was Ashley's personal assessment: Walter was making moves. Consolidating allies. Positioning himself as the steady hand in turbulent times.

"Predictable," Serena muttered, typing a response. She outlined a counter-strategy, highlighting the flaws in Walter's proposed approach and suggesting alternatives that would maintain the core architecture her team had developed.

The familiar dance of corporate maneuvering should have consumed her completely. Days ago, it would have. She'd have spent hours crafting the perfect response, anticipating objections, and shoring up allies.

Today, she handled it with efficient precision, but her mind kept drifting back to turquoise waters and Lila's laughter. To the feeling of discovering something new without needing to master it instantly. To conversations that had nothing to do with strategic advantage.

When she finished the necessary communications, Serena set her devices aside and called the resort's dining service to arrange dinner. Normally, she'd have dictated exactly what she wanted, controlling every detail. Instead, she found herself asking for recommendations, accepting suggestions for local specialties she'd never tried.

The sun began its descent toward the horizon as she moved around the villa, making small adjustments to create the right atmosphere. She arranged cushions on the terrace where they would have the best view of the sunset, set out candles that would provide gentle illumination as darkness fell.

At precisely seven, a soft knock announced Lila's arrival. Serena opened the door to find her standing on the threshold, her simple sundress catching the golden light of early evening. She'd left her honey-blonde hair loose around her shoulders, and the sight sent a rush of warmth through Serena's body.

"Hi," Lila said, the simple greeting somehow weighted with meaning.

"Hi yourself," Serena replied, stepping back to welcome her in. "You look beautiful."

"So do you," she said, entering the villa with the easy confidence Serena had come to associate with her. "Though I have to say, I'm also a fan of your island-wilderness look from this morning."

Serena laughed, the sound no longer surprising her when it bubbled up. "You mean the 'drowned CEO with seaweed accessories' look? I'm not sure that one's going to catch on in Manhattan."

"Their loss," Lila replied with a wink that sent an unexpected flutter through Serena's stomach.

Dinner arrived soon after—local seafood prepared with island spices, fresh tropical fruits, and a bottle of wine chilling in an ice bucket. They settled on the terrace, the setting sun painting the sky in swirls of pink and gold and purple.

Their conversation flowed effortlessly, moving from light observations about island life to deeper discussions of how they'd each found their respective paths. Serena found herself sharing stories of Frost Innovations' early days—the challenges of building something from nothing, the satisfaction of creating security systems that genuinely protected vulnerable data.

"You really care about the work itself, don't you?" Lila observed during a natural pause. "It's not just about success or status for you."

The observation caught Serena off-guard. Most people assumed her drive came from ambition alone, from a desire to dominate rather than create. "Yes," she admitted. "The technology itself matters to me. Protecting people's information, their privacy... it's important work."

"I can hear it in your voice when you talk about it," Lila said. "Your whole energy changes. You light up."

"Do I?" Serena hadn't thought of herself as someone who "lit up" about anything.

"Completely," Lila confirmed. "It's quite captivating, actually. The passion behind the polished exterior."

---