Page 83 of Vacation with the Ice Queen

Serena dug her fingers into the cool sand beneath the sun-warmed surface, anchoring herself in physical sensation. She thought of Lila's hands guiding her through yoga poses, her voice creating space for Serena to simply be rather than perform. She thought of their conversations in the hidden lagoon, the snorkeling adventure, the way Lila looked at her—not as CEO Frost or the Ice Queen of Tech, but just as Serena, a woman worth knowing.

She'd pushed all that away this morning, retreated behind work and walls because vulnerability felt too dangerous. Because Lila had seen too much, too quickly. Because the connection between them had become too real to dismiss as a casual vacation fling.

"I screwed up," she admitted to the empty air, the words feeling strange on her tongue. Serena Frost didn't make mistakes; she made calculated decisions based on available data. Except this time, she hadn't been calculating at all—she'd been running scared.

The realization didn't come with the shame she might have expected. Instead, it brought a curious lightness, as if naming the truth had released some of its power over her.

Her phone vibrated again. This time she pulled it out, expecting Ashley's name on the screen. Instead, she found an email notification from Elara Silver: "Wellness Coach Reassignment – Serena Frost"

Serena's stomach dropped as she opened the message.

Ms. Frost,

Per Lila Skye's request, your remaining wellness sessions will be conducted by Marcus Bennett. This change is effective immediately.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Elara SilverFounder & CEO, Silver Resorts

The words hit Serena with unexpected force. Lila had officially requested a reassignment. She was cutting professional ties, creating distance that went beyond their personal conflict. The simple email made the consequences of Serena's morning behavior painfully concrete.

She stared at the screen until the letters blurred, something tightening in her chest that felt dangerously close to panic. Or perhaps it was something else entirely—the dawning realization that she'd made a mistake she wasn't sure how to fix.

She pocketed her phone and rose from the sand, brushing granules from her pants with mechanical precision. The peaceful moment of clarity she'd been approaching shattered, replaced by a growing sense of urgency. She needed to think, to plan, to figure out how to fix this—if it could be fixed at all.

The path back to the resort wound through a grove of palm trees, their shadows stretching long in the late afternoon light. Serena moved with purpose, her bare feet finding their way across warm stone without conscious thought. Her mind was elsewhere, replaying every word from her disastrous morning conversation with Lila.

She'd been defensive, dismissive, and distant—falling back on patterns that had served her well in corporate battles but had no place in whatever was growing between them. No wonder Lila had requested reassignment. Why would she want to spend her professional hours with someone who had made it abundantly clear that their connection wasn't worth pursuing?

As Serena rounded a bend in the path, she nearly collided with a striking woman wearing crisp white.

"Ms. Frost," Elara Silver said, her smile revealing nothing. "I was just coming to find you."

Serena straightened instinctively. Elara Silver had been a legend in hotels and luxury resorts for many years now—the kind of reputation that commanded respect even from someone like Serena.

"Ms. Silver," she acknowledged. "I just received your email about the coaching reassignment."

"Yes." Elara gestured toward a small sitting area overlooking the water. "Perhaps we could chat for a moment?"

It wasn't really a request. Serena followed, sensing that whatever Elara wanted to discuss went beyond simple scheduling adjustments. They settled onto a bench carved from local wood, the view before them showcasing the reef where Serena had snorkeled with Lila just days ago. The memory sent an unexpected pang through her chest.

"Lovely spot, isn't it?" Elara commented, her gaze on the horizon. "One of my favorite thinking places on the island."

"It's beautiful," Serena agreed, waiting for the other woman to reveal the true purpose of this obviously planned encounter.

Elara turned slightly, studying Serena with eyes that missed nothing. "I don't typically intervene in guest experiences," she said finally. "But yours has been... unique from the beginning."

Something in her tone made Serena's defenses rise. "Meaning?"

"Meaning I've watched with interest as the infamous Ice Queen of Tech began to thaw." Elara's direct gaze held no judgment, only observation. "And I've seen this pattern before."

Serena bristled at the nickname she despised. "With all due respect, Ms. Silver?—"

"Elara, please."

"Elara," Serena corrected, "whatever you think you've observed about my personal interactions on your island is?—"

"Remarkably similar to what I experienced myself years ago," Elara interrupted smoothly. "The retreat behind work when things get too real. The walls going up when vulnerability becomes frightening. The strategic distance when connection threatens the control you've spent decades perfecting."

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