Page 1 of Ice Palace Prince
Chapter 1 - Sean
~July~
“Knock-knock!” sing-songed a cheery voice.
I looked up from my computer to see my supervisor, Elaine, standing in my office door, a huge grin on her face.
I sat back in my chair. “Either the wicked witch was fired, or you’re here to tell me that I’ve got more work.”
She laughed, strode over and dropped into the guest chair on the opposite side of my desk. “The second.”
“Damn,” I sighed. “A man can hope.”
She shook her head—salt-and-pepper curls bouncing—with a chuckle. “I don’t know if any of us will live long enough to see her fired or forced into retirement. She’s been here longer than anybody else and seems to think her sole purpose is to make everybody miserable.”
I blew out a long breath. “Benefits of a government job, can’t be fired without cause.”
Elaine nodded. “And as HR manager, she knows exactly where the line is that keeps her on the safe side.”
“I’m just glad I only have to interact with her a couple times a year.”
“You and me both. Now… onto the reason I’m here.”
“Wait!” I said, holding up a hand. I glanced at the calendar. “Lemme guess…”
I scrubbed a hand down my face when I put two-and-two together. There was only one option: it was time to start the promos for the Valle Granja Ice Palace and Winter Village.
It also meant that she likely had other reasons for being there too. “No…”
Elaine laughed again. “Yep. It’s time.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Please tell me I’m just one of the coordinators this year.”
Please don’t ask me to play the prince. Please don’t ask me to play the prince.
“And why would we take away your key role?” she joked.
“Maybe because it’s time for somebody else to do it?”
“Oh no, this event was your idea, and everybody loves it. I think it’s only fair that you get to play the part of the prince for another few years.” She paused. “Besides, it’s not as if you’re not used to being in the public eye, not with all those debate and cheer competitions your teams won when you were in high school and college.”
“It really should go to somebody younger. I’m almost thirty!”
“So what?” she asked with a shrug. “You’re still single. Maybe this will land you a good alpha.”
“How would playing the prince get me an alpha? There’s no time to flirt when I’m that busy! Besides, there’s nothing special about me.”
“Oh hun, there’s always time to flirt. And you’re far more desirable than you give yourself credit for.”
I decided to ignore her second point. “You try flirting with anybody during the opening ceremonies. I can barely get in a few sentences before I’m pulled away to talk to somebody else.”
“Long enough! Give them a nice smile, bat your eyelashes a few times, and you’ll get the alphas falling all over you. That’s a promise.”
“You do know that most bosses would discourage flirting while on the job.”
“When have I ever been like most bosses?”
I groaned. “Point.”
