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

6. Sloane

6

SLOANE

S loane adjusted her seat belt in the cozy first-class chair as the airplane rumbled down the runway at Los Angeles International Airport. She knew the business trip in Hawaii would mean long hours, but it also promised sun, sand, and maybe just a bit of relaxation in between meetings. With a sigh, she leaned back, taking in the luxurious space around her.

After she felt satisfied she caught her breath, she pulled out her tablet to review the merger documents one last time, but she was distracted by the plane taking off..

Just as Sloane was about to go back to her work, she caught a glimpse of vibrant red hair out of the corner of her eye. It wasn't just any red hair; it was that unmistakable bob cut belonging to Helena. Sloane froze for a moment, her heart doing a little flip. She had known that Helena would be attending the trip, but she hadn’t expected to see her on the same flight.

Trying to keep her cool, Sloane ducked behind the seat in front of her, hoping to hide. The last time they chatted, Sloane had attempted a silly forward advance, and Helena’s polite but clear rejection had stung a little more than Sloane had anticipated.

She peered over the seat, taking a quick look at Helena. The red-haired woman was settling in her seat, fiddling with her tray table. She saw Helena glance around, her gaze sweeping over the first-class passengers. Sloane ducked down even lower, her heart racing. She felt like a creep for staring, but her eyes just wouldn’t leave Helena.

The flight attendant leaned close to Helena, and Sloane could hear Helena chirp back, “Ooh, I’ll take a glass of the Chardonnay, please. And can I get the chicken salad with a side of fruit?”

Even her drink choices sounded elegant and composed. Sloane took a sip of water, trying to calm her nerves.

Sloane’s mind drifted to their last encounter, flashing back to Helena’s surprised expression the moment Sloane had stepped out of her comfort zone. Flirting had always been awkward for Sloane, and she remembered how Helena had glared at her.

“Do you need anything else?” the flight attendant asked as she delivered Helena’s order.

“No, thank you!” Helena replied cheerily and began scrolling through the in-flight entertainment options, her fingers moving nimbly over the screen.

Sloane found herself captivated, stolen moments slipping by as she watched Helena make selections, giggling softly at a comedy and shaking her head at a romance film. She felt like a voyeur, caught between delight and embarrassment. Just then, Helena stretched her arms high above her head.

Sloane's heart sank when Helena turned slightly and caught sight of her. “Callahan!” she shrieked, her eyes wide.

Sloane stumbled into the open space, rising up quickly as if she had been caught stealing cookies from a jar. “Oh hi, Ms. Wolfe! I didn’t realize we would be on the same flight.” Her cheeks flushed crimson.

“What a coincidence!” Helena replied. “If I’m honest, I’m a bit annoyed that this whole trip was thrown on me.”

“Yeah, that’s Mr. Thompson for you,” Sloane agreed, feeling slightly more relaxed now that they were speaking. “I just wish I were there for vacation instead of business, but you take what you can get.”

“Indeed,” Helena said. “I was thinking, maybe while we are on this trip we should drop some of the formalities outside of the boardroom. You can call me Helena.”

Sloane smiled to herself. Maybe she was getting somewhere. “OK, Helena. Nice to meet you. You should call me Sloane.”

“Nice to meet you, Sloane.”

Helena chuckled softly before turning her attention back to her screen. Sloane tried to stay busy reviewing merger documents but gave up and watched a movie instead.

Six hours after takeoff, the plane landed in Honolulu, and Sloane waited for her turn to disembark. After being given the all-clear from the flight attendant, she stepped into the aisle and reached up to grab her carry-on luggage. Every step she took toward the exit, she felt lighter.

Hawaii, here I come, she thought as excitement flickered in her heart when a flight attendant placed a lei around her neck in greeting.

The warm Hawaiian breeze greeted her like an old friend, the salty air tangling in her hair as it lifted her spirits. She didn’t take long to grab her check-in bag before heading toward the car rental desk. She needed to get to the hotel and prepare for the business meetings that would consume her mind and schedule for the next few days.

Just as she was sliding into a bright red convertible with the top down, Sloane caught sight of Helena across the parking lot loading her bags into a black luxury SUV.. “Of course,” Sloane murmured, rolling her eyes.

With a light tap of her fingers, Sloane pulled out of the parking lot, her heart racing with anticipation as she followed the winding roads toward the resort. Palm trees danced in the wind, and the scent of salt and flowers filled the air. “I could get used to this.”

By the time she reached the resort, her mood was dramatically better. She parked, took a deep breath, and stepped out, ready to absorb every ounce of Hawaiian beauty surrounding her. But just as she walked up to the grand entrance, Sloane spotted a familiar figure. Helena was already there, standing at the check-in desk, her arms crossed tightly around herself. Sloane noticed she wasn’t wearing a fresh-flower lei.

Sloane blinked, half-amused and half-exasperated. “Well, look who finally made it,” she called, a teasing lilt to her voice that floated over the warm air.

Helena looked over her shoulder, her expression as hard as the stone walls of the resort. “Oh, it’s you again,” she snapped, straightening up as if she was trying to regain her authority in this laid-back atmosphere.

Sloane chuckled, shrugging her shoulders. “Maybe we should’ve carpooled, huh? One less car on the road.”

Helena’s lips twisted into a tight frown. “That’s unrealistic, Sloane. We both have our own agendas.”

Sloane raised an eyebrow, the edges of her smile turning downward slightly. “Right, because sharing a ride would have messed up your strict schedule.” She tried to keep her tone light, but something inside her tightened. The relentless determination in Helena was tiring.

“I’m just being practical,” Helena replied, tapping her fingers against the counter. “There’s no time for jokes when there’s so much at stake.”

Sloane nodded, trying to push down her irritation. “Sure, I understand. But, hey, we’re in Hawaii, right? Lighten up a bit. Maybe try a pineapple drink. You know, relax?”

Helena simply turned her gaze back to the front desk attendant, her jaw set as her irritation thickened the air between them. “Business is business, Sloane.”

Feeling thwarted, Sloane moved to the side, rolling her eyes as she took out her phone. “Business is better when you’re not a square,” she muttered softly, not caring if Helena overheard.

The moment passed as they both waited for their keys. “Just remember,” Sloane finally said, forcing a smile. “You’re here to showcase how adaptable to our company culture you can be.”

Helena didn’t even look at her, adjusting her blazer as she straightened. “We’ll see,” she replied flatly.

Sloane stood by the check-in desk of the resort, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. This was supposed to be a relaxing trip, a welcome break from her busy life as a corporate lawyer. But standing next to her was Helena, and from the moment they saw each other, Sloane could feel the familiar icy aura that surrounded her.

"Welcome to Paradise Resort! How can I help you today?" The attendant smiled brightly, his shirt crisp and clean, standing out against the backdrop of tropical flowers surrounding the desk.

Sloane smiled back. "Hi, we’re here to check in."

"Great! Can I have your names, please?" the attendant asked, typing on the keyboard.

"Sloane Callahan," Sloane said, her voice steady.

"Helena Wolfe," Helena added impatiently, her tone flat as if she were reading from a script. She glanced annoyingly at Sloane.

The attendant nodded as he typed their names. "All set! Room 301." He handed Sloane a key, the metal warm in her palm.

"Wait, what about me?" Helena’s voice shot through the air, sharp and piercing.

"301. That's what I said," the attendant replied, glancing at the screen again.

"No, no. That can’t be right. I want to see the computer," Helena demanded, her eyes narrowing.

Sloane’s heart raced as she looked between Helena and the man.

The attendant blinked, surprised. "Uh, let me check again," he said, his fingers dancing over the keys. "Yes, here it is. Both of you are listed for room 301."

"This won’t do. I cannot share a room with her. We don’t even know each other!" Helena snapped, pointing at Sloane as if she were a piece of garbage.

“I’ll book another room.”

The attendant frowned, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, ma’am. The hotel is fully booked."

"This is ridiculous!" Helena huffed, crossing her arms.

Sloane furrowed her brow, bewildered. "Helena, it's just for a couple of nights. I’m not justifying this in any way; I thought I’d have my own accommodations as well. But we’ve been working together, so don’t act like we’ve never met.

Sloane felt a mix of anxiety and frustration bubbling inside her. She had been trying hard to keep her cool with Helena, but it wasn’t easy with her icy demeanor pressing down on her, making everything tense and awkward.

“I’ll go to a different hotel.” Helena’s voice was cold as ice.

“There won’t be any other accommodation on the island, Ms. Wolfe,” the attendant said, a concerned look on his face. “Not this weekend, not with our annual beach event on. To be honest, the Thompson Industries event was a challenge to get all the guests booked in for a start.”

After it was clear there were no other options, Helena huffed. "Fine, I guess I have no choice,” she said, marching away towards the elevator, her heels clicking on the tiled floor. Sloane hesitated for a moment before trailing behind her.

As they walked to room 301, Sloane looked around. The resort was beautiful. Colorful flowers bloomed everywhere, and a gentle breeze floated by, smelling of salt and sunshine.

Helena led the way, not speaking a word, just guiding them through the flower-laden path and up an elevator. They reached room 301, and Sloane opened the door. The room was spacious and bright, decorated with vibrant patterns and soft lighting. Her eyes widened as she took in the view of the glistening ocean from their large window. But her excitement faded when she noticed there was only one queen-sized bed.

"Great," Helena said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just great. Look at this place. One bed for two people." She rolled her eyes, her irritation palpable.

"And a couch. I mean, it’s nice," Sloane said cautiously, trying to soothe the situation. "It’s just a couple of days…"

"Stop trying to sugarcoat this!" Helena snapped, already reaching for her phone. "I’m going to call someone who can fix this."

Sloane watched as Helena started dialing, the phone ringing loudly in the room. The tension hung heavy in the air, and Sloane felt her stomach twist with anxiety. She wished they had gotten separate rooms, wished Helena would just relax, but none of that seemed likely at the moment. How did this happen?

As the phone rang on the other end, Sloane took a deep breath, wondering what was going to happen next.

But all she could think was how much she dreaded sharing a room with someone who felt like an ice queen in paradise.