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

9. Helena

9

HELENA

H elena woke up early. Her eyes fluttered open to the soft, golden light streaming through the window. She rubbed her eyes and blinked a few times, trying to shake off the heaviness of a night's sleep in a strange place. The tropical air filled the room with a faint scent of flowers, and she took a moment to enjoy the warmth of the Hawaiian morning. But then she turned her head and saw Sloane.

Helena groaned quietly, her heart sinking a little. There, sprawled comfortably nude next to her with wavy brown hair splayed across the pillow, was Sloane. Helena quickly sat up, feeling a twinge of panic. They were never supposed to end up in the same bed like this, and certainly wasn’t supposed to….

She shook her head to clear the memories of last night’s intimacy.

“Sloane, wake up,” Helena whispered, shaking Sloane gently. “We’re late for the meeting.”

Sloane stirred, her eyes blinking open slowly. “Huh? What time is it?”

Helena quickly glanced at the clock on the nightstand. The numbers blurred together for a moment, but it read 8:15. The meeting was supposed to start at 9. “It’s after eight! We’re supposed to be at the conference center for breakfast by now.” She felt a rush of frustration mixed with embarrassment flooding her cheeks.

“Seriously? Oh no,” Sloane said, sitting up and rubbing her temples. “I forgot to set the alarm. I thought I could just sleep in a little.” She threw back the covers, revealing that they were both completely undressed.

Helena gulped and averted her eyes, feeling an awkward heat rise to her face at the sight of Sloane’s beautiful toned body and small pert breasts.

“Well, we can’t just sit here. We need to get moving!” Helena said, her voice sharper than she intended. She stood up, trying to take charge, but inside, she felt a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The night had been unexpected but...exciting. No one had ever made her feel that way so quickly before, and she didn’t know how to handle it.

Sloane stretched her arms up overhead, exposing herself fully, yawning. “Right. Business first, fun later?” A playful smile broke through her sleepy expression.

“Sure,” Helena retorted, not quite able to mask the annoyance in her tone as her eyes roved over Sloane’s body. “But maybe let’s skip the ‘fun’ part after last night, huh?”

A moment of silence fell between them as they both remembered how they had ended up so close. Helena felt her heart race again with the memory of the laughter they shared, the way Sloane had looked at her, and how it had all turned into something she had never planned on.

“Okay, CEO Wolfe,” Sloane said calmly, tossing her hair back as she stood up. “I’ll get dressed. You, uh, might want to find some clothes too.”

Helena turned to face the closet, trying to focus on being professional, but her mind kept wandering. As Sloane rummaged through her suitcase, she glanced back at Helena. “You know, this trip isn’t just business for you. It’s an opportunity for both our companies. Plus, who doesn't want a little Hawaiian adventure?”

Helena shot her a sideways glance. “Adventure? I’d call it a headache. It’s all so forced, like this crazy trip was thrown together by the universe just to mess with me.”

“Maybe the universe was trying to give you a break,” Sloane said lightly, pulling on a dark blue blouse. “You usually seem so serious, Helena. How about we just take it step by step today?”

Helena sighed, pulling on a carefully pressed blouse from the closet. “Fine, step by step. But I still think this whole luau thing is silly. Who needs to hula dance to make a deal happen?”

“I do!” Sloane laughed, her eyes twinkling as she tucked her blouse into her pants. “And I think you secretly want to too.”

“Not a chance,” Helena replied, a hint of a smile creeping onto her face despite her efforts to stay annoyed.

“Right, and I’m sure you’ll wear that serious face all day,” Sloane teased, putting on a necklace.

“Don’t push your luck, Callahan,” Helena said with a frown, shaking her head. “We’re supposed to be professional.”

“But everyone has fun at these events!” Sloane insisted, reaching for her heels. “You never know what kind of memories you could make.”

Helena rolled her eyes. “All I want is to not mess up this merger. It’s important. And now I’m stuck sharing a bed with my biggest rival,” she said, trying to keep a straight face.

“I see your little competitive side is still alive and well,” Sloane said with a grin. “Don’t worry, Helena. I won’t let you mess up. I’m here to help, remember?”

Helena sighed again, still feeling a mix of embarrassment and confusion. Maybe Sloane was right. She was taking this all too seriously. Maybe there could be a little fun hidden somewhere in the chaos.

“I really can’t tell if this is all a manipulation tactic,” Helena said, pushing back her hair. “Let’s just hurry the hell up because we’re late and you keep bringing me out of my element.”

“What’s your element? Steel?” Sloane tried, getting her things.

“Tungsten is the hardest metal element. If you’re going to make jokes, at least be scientifically accurate.”

As they reached the floor with the conference room, Helena pushed through the door and entered the conference area, Sloane following behind her.

The room was bright and filled with chatter. A long table was covered with plates of food. Toast, eggs, and fruit filled the space, and a crowd of executives swirled around.

“Hey, you made it!” shouted Mark, one of Helena’s teammates. He waved his hand to get her attention.

“Just in time, I hope!” Helena forced a smile, feeling the tension of the day ahead of her. She glanced around, catching sight of Sloane.

Sloane was talking to someone, her hair catching the light and her eyes shining with confidence. Helena felt a flutter in her stomach. They were rivals now, but part of her remembered how amazing their connection had felt last night. No! She pushed the thought down. Focus on the merger, not the feelings, she reminded herself again.

Just as Helena turned to grab a plate, she overheard Sloane’s conversation. “This merger is going to be great. We’ve prepared too hard to back down now.” Sloane’s tone was strong, and Helena couldn’t help but admire her confidence.

Helena picked up a muffin, her hands shaking slightly. She had to remember why they were here. It wasn’t about whatever happened last night. It was about completing the merger. But part of her just couldn’t let go of that other side of it all. The side that found Sloane so incredibly attractive.

Mark nudged her. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Helena forced a laugh. “I’m fine! Just a little out of breath.” But the truth was, she was still thinking about last night. She quickly sat down, trying to push the memories aside.

“Hey, Helena!” Sloane’s voice called out across the room, snapping her out of her thoughts. Helena looked up, caught in Sloane’s gaze for a moment.

“Hey,” Helena replied, trying to keep it casual, but her heart raced again. “Ready for the luau?”

Sloane grinned, her smile brightening her face. “Absolutely! May the best team have the most fun.” There was a confidence in her tone, sharp and clever.

“Right,” Helena said, forcing a smile as she took a sip from her coffee. It was hot and strong, almost like the electricity between them. She had to stay focused.

As breakfast went on, Helena listened to the chatter around her, stealing glances at Sloane every few moments. They were professionals, after all. Two strong women in a field where the stakes were high and competition was fierce.

Helena leaned in closer to Mark. “What do you think of Sloane? She’s really good at what she does, isn’t she? She’s less lawyer-like than most in her profession.”

Mark laughed. “Oh, don’t let her charm fool you.”

Helena nodded, but doubt crept into her mind. It wasn’t just Sloane’s professional skills troubling her; it was the lingering aftertaste of their night together. “I just… She’s a good lawyer,” Helena replied, masking her true feelings.

Despite the surrounding breakfast crowd, it felt like just the two of them were locked in their own little bubble, captivated by each other, even as they plotted to finish the job their own ways.

As breakfast began to wind down, Helena realized she couldn’t avoid her feelings forever. She resolved to just get through the day intact, but as she stood up to leave the table, she caught Sloane’s gaze one last time.

Within that shared look, Helena knew this battle was just beginning, and so were her encounters with the woman sitting across the table.

Helena stepped outside of the hotel, the warm sunlight washing over her like a soft hug. The scent of saltwater from the ocean mixed with the smell of blooming flowers in the air. Next to her, Mark walked with a bounce in his step, and she looked over at him. He doesn’t have a clue.

“So, how was your room?” Mark asked, glancing at her.

Hesitant, Helena felt her heart race a little. She didn’t want to think about how her night had been. Instead, she looked at the palm trees swaying gently in the breeze.

“Oh, um, you know,” she deflected, pulling at the hem of her form-fitted sundress. “It was fine. Really nice ocean view.” She forced a smile, hoping it seemed natural. A group of tourists strolled by, laughing and taking pictures. Helena envied them.

Mark’s brow furrowed slightly, catching the change in her tone. “That’s great. I mean, who wouldn’t love a view like that?” He paused, then asked, “So, are you excited about the luau tonight?”

The luau. Helena felt a pang of anxiety in her stomach. This was important. Her company, Wolfe Enterprises, needed to show Thompson Industries that they were fun and inviting, not just serious all the time. But wouldn’t it be hard to enjoy it with all the thoughts swirling in her head about last night? She hadn’t planned for this kind of distraction, especially not with the opposing team’s corporate lawyer.

She tried to shake it off. “Absolutely! I can’t wait to see the hula dancers and try the roast pig. That sounds delicious, right?” Helena smiled, but it felt as if the smile was stuck on her face.

Mark nodded, a little too enthusiastically. “Totally! It's a good opportunity for us to mingle. They need to see that we know how to do business and have a good time.”

Helena’s gaze drifted off again, thinking about how out of place she felt. What made her forget everything she knew? Sharing a room with Sloane made her feel unprofessional and uneasy.

After a brief silence, she turned to Mark, her voice laced with skepticism. “Hey, do you still have those flashcards with people’s names and faces on them?”

Mark’s face broke into a grin that lit up his features. “Of course! I brought them just in case. You know how important it is to recognize the other employees. We can’t be fumbling around trying to remember names.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a neatly organized stack of cards, each with a name and a corresponding picture.

“Wow, thank you for being so prepared. I know I kind of shut down the idea at first,” Helena said. She could focus on something else for a while, something that felt more in her control.

“Okay, let’s practice,” Mark prompted, waving the cards like they were a magic tool. “Here’s the first one.” He flipped one over, revealing a picture of a middle-aged man with silver hair and a friendly smile. “Who is this?”

“Um...” Helena squinted at the card, forcing her mind to work. She took a deep breath. “That’s...oh! That’s Mr. Thompson, right? I know that one, of course.”

“Bingo!” Mark clapped, and Helena felt a tiny spark of pride. Maybe she could snap herself back into professional mode after all.

Mark continued flipping through the cards. One by one, they quizzed each other, laughing as they scrambled to remember names. “Okay, this one might stump you.” He held up a card featuring a woman with striking green eyes and an easy smile.

Helena bit her lip, her mind racing. “She’s...um, Amanda? She’s the one in marketing, right?”

“Close! It’s Allison, but you were halfway there.” He chuckled lightly, and, despite her earlier worries, Helena felt her cheeks heat up with a mixture of embarrassment and laughter. They kept going, with Mark cheering over every success.

Even though she felt a little silly, she knew he was right. Knowing names made a difference during meetings. If she walked into the luau tonight with these names fresh in her mind, it would be easier to relax and be the professional she needed to be, minus any distractions still lingering.

As they strolled around the hotel property, the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting playful shadows on the ground. Helena took a deep breath, grounding herself in the moment. No more distractions. It was time to embrace the fun, to show everyone at Thompson Industries that Wolfe Enterprises could indeed let loose.

“Ready for another round?” Mark asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Let’s do it!” Helena replied, her confidence growing as they continued their practice. A little competition and laughter was just what she needed to shake off the uneasiness. The luau was coming fast, and she was determined to enjoy it.