In Bed with the Ice Queen (The Ice Queen #4)

2. Sloane

2

SLOANE

S loane Callahan sat in her modern office in Callahan Legal. The sun poured through the tall windows, casting an elegant glow on her desk. Her loose, curly brown hair bounced around her shoulders as she moved, and her light blue eyes sparkled. Today was a big day. She was preparing to negotiate a crucial merger for her client Thompson Industries.

She picked up her pen and tapped it against the desk as she scrolled through the proposal documents. She knew this merger was important—not just for Thompson Industries, but for the workers and community they served. Each line of the contract weighed heavily on her mind. She took a deep breath and looked around her office at the framed awards and photos of past successful negotiations. This wasn’t just any case, though. It was a chance to make a real difference in preventing a monopoly.

“Is everyone ready?” she called out, glancing over to her lead negotiator, Jake, who was laid back in his chair, poring over the numbers.

Jake looked up, his brow furrowed. “Sloane, we have to be careful. You know who we’re up against?”

Sloane nodded. The name "Helena Wolfe" sent chills down the spines of many in the corporate world. The new CEO of Wolfe Enterprises had built her reputation through fierce negotiation tactics and a cold, calculating style that made even the toughest players nervous. With her dark red bob and icy demeanor, Helena was a tough opponent.

“I know,” Sloane said with confidence. “But we can’t let her intimidate us. We need to come out strong. What if we high-ball them first? We’d show them we mean business.”

But before Jake could respond, his face paled. He leaned forward, his eyes wide. “It’s too late, Sloane. They already low-balled us by three million.”

Sloane’s heart raced for a moment, feeling the urgency of the situation. “What? How could they do that?” She paused, agitation rising in her chest. “We can’t let that stand. We can’t let them push us around.”

Jake shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I know, but the numbers are set. It’s not easy to recover from a low-ball offer like this. They’ll think we’re desperate.”

Sloane straightened her spine and fixed her gaze on Jake. “Listen, we need to counter it. I’m not about to let them walk all over us.”

Jake blinked, surprised at her fire. “How do you want to counter?”

“Simple. We go six million over what they asked. We show them we know our worth and we’re not afraid to fight for it. If they think they can lowball us and win, they’re mistaken.”

Jake nodded slowly. “But that’s a huge jump, especially after their initial offer.”

“Exactly!” Sloane exclaimed, her confidence shining through. “They need to know we mean business and that we're here to protect our client's interests—economically and ethically. We’re not going to sit back and take their scraps. It’s about setting the tone.”

Just then, Melissa, the office manager, peeked in. “Ms. Callahan, the car is ready for you to head to the meeting. Are you all set?”

Sloane turned to Melissa with a smile. “Thanks, Melissa.” She turned her focus back on Jake. “We’re going to make them rethink their strategy. Are you with me?”

Jake took a deep breath, a flicker of excitement igniting in his eyes. “Absolutely. Let’s do it.”

Sloane grabbed her briefcase, making sure all her documents were securely inside. She felt a rush of adrenaline as she marched toward the door, and she knew stifling any fears of Helena Wolfe was crucial. She had faced the icy CEO before, and she knew exactly how to deal with someone like her.

As they walked to the elevator, Jake whispered, “What if Helena flips out? She's known for being ruthless.”

Sloane chuckled softly, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Then we’ll show her we can be ruthless too. After all, this is business; it’s not personal. We just need to make sure Thompson Industries comes out on top.”

The elevator door opened, and they stepped inside. Sloane’s heart raced not with fear but with excitement. She could already imagine the intense back-and-forth negotiations ahead. She would be a force to reckon with, and nothing could stand in the way of delivering the best outcome for her client.

As they descended, Sloane practiced the words she would say. She mentally rehearsed her pitch, ready to confront Helena with confidence. The thought of facing her old rival only fueled her determination. Today would be a turning point, and she would not back down.

“Okay, be ready,” she whispered to herself. She couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement mixed with nerves. There was a lot riding on this deal, and she wanted to ensure they came out on top without her client losing their ethical stance.

Sloane recalled the last time she had faced Helena Wolfe, the CEO of Wolfe Enterprises. Helena was a force to be reckoned with; she was sharp, stern, and always in control. Everyone in the industry knew her for being a hothead.

Sloane could still picture their last meeting: Helena had sat there, arms crossed, a fiery glare in her eyes, cutting through Sloane’s arguments like a knife. “This is a waste of time,” Helena had said, her voice strong and clipped. “If you want to discuss merger terms, I suggest you come prepared.”

She shivered at the memory. Helena had a commanding presence that could easily unsettle anyone. But Sloane didn’t back down easily. She had learned to stand her ground, to push back, and she was determined not to let Helena intimidate her this time.

With this new merger hanging in the balance, Sloane felt a surge of determination. She could get under Helena’s skin; she was sure of it, especially since she was the only one who knew they were both drawn to women—not that they ever spoke about it. She could use it to her advantage, perhaps even rattle Helena enough to catch her off guard in their negotiations.

Sloane stood up and paced the room. “What would I say if I wanted to make her flustered? Maybe something about how much fun it is to be bold in business…or how important it is to break free from old-fashioned thinking.”

Just then, her assistant, Mia, popped her head into the office. “Hey, Sloane, you ready for this?”

“Ready as I can be,” Sloane replied, straightening her blazer. She turned to Mia, a mischievous glint in her eye. “I think I’m going to play a little game with Helena.”

Mia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “A game? What kind of game?”

“I’m going to challenge her,” she explained, folding her arms. “I want to see if I can rattle her a bit. You know how she is—always so high and mighty.”

Mia chuckled. “Good luck. She’s not going to let you rattle her easily. You know that, right?”

“Oh, I know,” Sloane said with a wave of her hand. “But that’s what makes it fun. I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Just you wait.”

As she spoke, her mind was already racing with strategies. She pictured herself sitting across from Helena, their eyes locked in an intense stare. She considered throwing in a casual mention about what a nice surprise it is to bump into old friends. The impact might be enough to make Helena’s composure shatter, even if just for a moment.

“By the way,” Mia said, interrupting her thoughts, “do you need anything else before the meeting? I can get you coffee or…a stress ball?”

Sloane chuckled and shook her head. “No stress balls today, but I could use a little pep talk before I walk in there. Remind me not to let her steamroll me again.”

“You’ve got this,” Mia encouraged, giving her a thumbs-up. “Just show her who’s boss.”

“Exactly,” Sloane said, her voice rising with confidence. “I’m the one representing Thompson Industries, and I’ll do what it takes to protect their interests.”

Mia smiled. “Alright, then. Go get ‘em, tiger!”

As Mia closed the door, Sloane took a moment to gather her thoughts. She felt the familiar thrill of competition bubbling within her. “Helena Wolfe is about to realize that she’s not the only force to be reckoned with,” she said, pumping herself up.

She could already envision the boardroom: the polished table, the tension in the air, and most importantly, Helena across from her. Just remember, she thought, this isn’t just business; it’s personal too.

And with that thought grounding her, she felt ready. Ready for whatever the meeting would bring, ready to navigate the intense waters of corporate law, and ready to make sure that Thompson Industries wouldn’t just survive the merger but thrive.

Sloane Callahan was a force in the industry, and she wouldn’t back down without a fight.