Page 9 of Vacation with the Ice Queen

Elara's gaze turned appraising. "Because you see people, Lila. Not their defenses, not their achievements, not their failures—but them. It's a rare gift." She glanced toward the main resort buildings. "And because you understand what it means to give too much of yourself to someone who takes without reciprocating. That insight will be valuable with Serena."

The personal observation caught Lila off-guard. Though she'd never discussed her past relationship with Elara directly, the woman's network of connections and information was legendary. Of course she would know about Sophie.

"Here." Elara handed her a slim folder that materialized from a pocket in her linen dress. "Serena's complete file. More detailed than the preliminary information you received yesterday. Review it before her arrival."

Lila accepted the folder, sensing another question hovering unasked between them. "There's something else, isn't there?"

A smile of approval warmed Elara's expression. "Perceptive as always. Yes, there is." She gestured toward the eastern side of the island, where the helicopter pad perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean. "Serena Frost isn't just any CEO. She's a particularly formidable woman who reminds me very much of myself. And she's currently in a feud with another equally formidable woman who happens to be an old acquaintance of mine."

"Vivienne Blackwood?" Lila recalled the name from her initial briefing.

"Indeed. The fashion industry's own ice queen." Elara's expression held a mixture of amusement and concern. "Two brilliant women locked in mutual destruction, each too proud and too wounded to recognize the pattern. I've known Vivienne for years. I know how she operates."

Realization dawned. "You have a personal interest in helping Serena."

"Let's just say I've seen this particular movie before, and I'd prefer a different ending this time." Elara straightened, her professional demeanor returning. "Dig beneath the frost, Lila. What Serena needs goes far beyond a corporate retreat or crisis management. Whether she recognizes it yet or not."

With that cryptic directive, Elara turned toward the main buildings, clearly concluding their conversation. "Her helicopter arrives at two. I suggest the east villa for her accommodations—privacy balanced with the best sunrise views. Sometimes witnessing the start of a new day can inspire the start of a new perspective."

Lila nodded, tucking both the folder and the plumeria blossom into her satchel. As Elara walked away, the magnitude of the assignment settled over her. Beyond the professionalchallenge lay a human being in crisis, one who had likely forgotten how to acknowledge vulnerability, let alone embrace it.

"One more thing," Elara called over her shoulder. "Don't mistake her coldness for strength or her control for confidence. The tallest walls protect the deepest wounds."

The observation lingered in the air like the plumeria's scent, a reminder that beneath every carefully constructed persona lay a person seeking connection, whether they admitted it or not. Even the most powerful CEO in the most expensive villa faced the same fundamental human needs as everyone else.

Lila turned toward her office, mentally preparing for the challenge ahead. If Serena Frost was indeed as formidable as her reputation suggested, then breaking through her defenses would require patience, strategy, and genuine compassion in equal measure.

Fortunately, Lila possessed all three in abundance.

Lila's office in the wellness center occupied a small but thoughtfully designed space overlooking a tropical garden. Unlike the sterile environments of corporate wellness centers she'd worked in previously, this room invited calm through natural elements—bamboo floors warmed by sunlight, a living wall of ferns and orchids, and large windows that eliminated any sense of confinement.

She settled at her desk, placing Serena's file before her like a puzzle awaiting solution. The folder's deceptive thinness suggested either carefully curated information or a woman who guarded her privacy with exceptional vigilance. Given what she already knew about Serena Frost, Lila suspected both.

Opening the cover revealed a formal photograph paperclipped to the first page. The image showed a strikingly elegant woman with sharp, chiseled features and penetrating blue eyes that matched her surname. Her raven-and-silver hairwas pulled into an immaculate low bun that emphasized her sculpted cheekbones and long neck. She wore a tailored charcoal suit with a subtle power shoulder, her posture was impeccable, and her expression was coolly confident.

A formidable presence, even in two dimensions.

Lila studied the photograph, looking beyond the obvious markers of power and control. There was something in her eyes that caught her attention. A guardedness, a vigilance that never fully relaxed. The slight tension around her mouth spoke of words constantly measured, emotions carefully contained.

The accompanying biography outlined the expected professional milestones: MIT education, early career breakthroughs in cybersecurity, founding of Frost Innovations fifteen years ago, expansion into international markets, awards and recognitions, current valuation exceeding four billion dollars.

A textbook success story of ambition meeting opportunity.

The personal information section remained notably sparse. Age: 49. Divorced. No children. No listed hobbies or interests outside her company. No mentioned friendships or significant relationships beyond professional associations. The emptiness of these sections told its own story, one of a life defined almost exclusively by work with personal connections either nonexistent or deliberately omitted from the record.

A series of news clippings had been included, ranging from glowing profiles in business publications to more recent articles detailing the unfolding conflict with Vivienne Blackwood. The latest headlines painted a picture of a professional crisis.

"Frost Innovations Stock Plummets Amid Security Breach Scandal," "Tech Titans at War: Frost vs. Blackwood Feud Escalates," "Frost Takes Leave of Absence as Board Questions Leadership."

Lila set those aside, more interested in understanding the person than the current scandal. A brief note from Serena's assistant provided the most revealing insights:

Ms. Frost maintains an extremely regimented schedule. She typically rises at 4:30 a.m., exercises precisely forty-five minutes, and begins work by 6 a.m. She prefers minimal social interaction before 9 a.m. and takes her tea—Earl Grey, hot, splash of milk, no sugar—at exactly 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. She does not consume alcohol except at required business functions and follows a strict protein-focused diet.

She will resist wellness activities as 'new age nonsense' and attempt to continue working remotely. Attempts to separate her from her work will be met with significant resistance. She has likely smuggled additional devices despite our confiscation of her primary phone and laptop.

Primary concerns: severe sleep deprivation (averaging four to five hours nightly), tension headaches, jaw clenching, and complete inability to disengage from work. She has not taken more than three consecutive days off in seven years.

Please be aware that Ms. Frost's direct manner can be misinterpreted as rudeness. She values efficiency and clarity above social niceties. Her external coldness protects an intensely private person who has recently experienced both professional betrayal and the finalization of her divorce.

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