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

11. Helena

11

HELENA

T he sun peeked through the curtains of the hotel room, casting light across the bed. Helena blinked sleepily at the ceiling and turned her head to see Sloane. Her mouth was slightly open, and she snored lightly, oblivious to Helena's jitters.

For a brief moment, Helena felt a wave of warmth. Was it the morning sun? Or was it the unexpected intimacy of sleeping so close to an opponent? A sudden wave of alarm washed over her. What if this this moment could endanger the merger? What if they got caught? She couldn't let that happen. Not now.

As if Sloane could hear her thoughts, she peeked an eye open and groggily said, “Good morning, sunshine.”

Still wracked with anxiety, Helena couldn’t engage. Instead, she stood up and rifled through her wardrobe, trying to pick out the perfect outfit for the day’s meetings. When she felt content with her choice, she tugged on her clothes without a backward glance to Sloane.

“It’s a busy day with meetings about the merger, and I have to prepare. I’ll see you at breakfast,” Helena replied curtly, exiting the room with purpose as she left Sloane to her thoughts.

As she walked down the hallway toward the conference room, Helena's mind was buzzing, a whirlwind of anxiety and urgency. She needed to be the strong leader everyone expected her to be. But deep down, a small voice whispered that perhaps she was missing something important. Something that might lead not just to a successful merger, but to understanding herself and the complexities of her team. In that moment, she felt the struggle between duty and connection.

Helena made her way to the conference room where breakfast awaited. The room buzzed with the chatter of Thompson Industries’ higher-ups, all seated at a large, polished table. She took a deep breath and joined them, her pulse still quickened from anxiety.

“Morning, Helena!” called Mark, his friendly smile beaming at her. He pushed a plate of fresh fruit toward her. “How’s the sunshine treating you?”

“Good, I guess,” she replied, forcing a smile as she settled into her chair. The distant chatter and clinking of dishes felt overwhelming, but she focused on the task ahead.

“Are we ready to discuss the yacht excursion?” Mark asked, pulling out a notebook.

“Sure, we should have fun out there,” Helena said, nodding. But fun was the last thing on her mind. She didn’t want to be stuck on a boat with Sloane and the people from Thompson Industries. What if things got awkward?

As they discussed the plans, Sloane arrived, looking stunning in a flowing Hawaiian shirt and pants adorned with vibrant flowers. Helena did her best to ignore how good Sloane looked, focusing instead on the details of the excursion.

“Morning,” Sloane said, her voice warm but casual. She avoided Helena’s gaze, meeting it only for a flicker of a second. “Ready for the boat ride?”

“Yup,” Helena replied, trying to keep her tone light.

They finished breakfast filled with light chatter and polite smiles. Helena could feel the eyes of everyone with Thompson Industries on her, scrutinizing every word she spoke. She clenched her jaw, determined not to let the situation weigh her down.

Once they finished, the group made their way to the dock where the yacht awaited. Helena climbed aboard, taking a moment to soak in the gorgeous scenery. The ocean sparkled under the sun, and the gentle lapping of the waves soothed some of her worries.

As the boat started moving, Helena glanced around at her team and the Thompson delegation. Everyone was laughing, chatting, and seemingly enjoying their time. Yet slightly apart from the group stood Sloane, looking out at the horizon. The wind played with her hair, adding an ethereal quality to the moment.

Helena found herself watching Sloane, unable to pull her gaze away. There was something captivating about the way she looked, but that only reminded her of the night before. She shook her head. This is a mistake.

“Hey, Helena,” Mark called from across the deck, holding a drink. “Come join us! We were just talking about snorkeling.”

“Sure,” she replied, forcing a smile. She tried to immerse herself in the discussions, but part of her wanted to steal another glance at Sloane.

Later, when the boat anchored, people hurried to put on their fins and masks, excited to dive into the underwater world. Helena found herself lingering at the edge of the boat, watching Sloane as she laughed with some colleagues.

Helena sighed, pondering the situation. “Just keep it professional,” she whispered to herself. “Business first.”

Taking a deep breath, she stripped down to her swimwear and dove into the water alongside her team. The cool ocean enveloped her, washing away her worries for a moment. Yet even as she swam and explored the colorful fish and coral, her mind drifted back to Sloane and her ever-growing attraction to her. Her gaze was drawn to Sloane looking striking all long and lean and muscled in a sporty two piece. The water on her skin looked so beautiful in the light.

Later, as they all climbed back aboard, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden hue across the water. Helena caught Sloane’s eye, and for just a heartbeat, there was understanding between them—both aware of the unspoken tension.

“Great snorkeling, huh?” Sloane said, coming closer.

“Yeah, it was,” Helena said, and she tried to steady her voice. “I needed the change of pace today.”

“Yeah, I understand that,” Sloane said, and Helena could tell she meant it..

The sun shone brightly over the blue waves, and the hum of the yacht’s engine blended with the soft sound of water. Helena stood on the deck, the wind tousling her shoulder-length red hair. She glanced down at the ocean, wondering how everything had turned into such an unexpected adventure. Just a couple days ago, she had been preparing for an important merger meeting, but now she was sailing with the people from Thompson Industries, the very company they were negotiating with.

“Mmm, this is beautiful!” someone exclaimed, leaning against the railing.

Helena smiled tightly, trying to ignore the slight tension that filled the air, and her eyes drifted to Sloane instead.

Sloane stood a few feet away, arms crossed, her wavy brown hair bouncing slightly in the breeze. Her piercing blue eyes were focused on something far off in the distance, but Helena could feel the weight of her gaze. There was something striking about Sloane. Her presence filled the space, but it was more than just her looks. It was the way she carried herself, seemingly closed off from the rest of the group.

Helena tried to shake off the feeling that Sloane was quietly judging her, but every time she looked in her direction, Sloane's expression remained unreadable. It made Helena uneasy. She took a deep breath, choosing to focus on Charles Thompson, the CEO of Thompson Industries. He was inside the yacht with several other higher-up executives, and Helena hoped that the discussions were going well.

Suddenly, the door slid open. Charles stepped out, a broad smile on his face. “Everything is going great! We’re just about ready to finalize the terms,” he called out, his joyous laugh ringing through the air.

“That's great to hear!” a Thompson Industries employee shouted, raising his glass in a cheer. Helena joined in, a sense of relief washing over her. She could feel the tension dissipate a bit, at least among her own team.

Charles motioned for Helena to join him on the deck. “Helena, come here for a second,” he said with an inviting wave.

As she stepped closer, Helena could hear the conversation from inside. The smell of cheese fondue wafted through the air, making her stomach growl. She smiled at Charles.

“You’ve done an incredible job adapting to this sudden trip,” he said. “It means a lot to me seeing how invested you are in the future of Thompson Industries.”

“Thank you, Charles. I wanted to make sure we showed good faith,” Helena replied, feeling a warmth spread in her chest. This was what she craved: recognition for her hard work.

“Your dedication is what makes you an excellent candidate for taking the lead,” Charles said, nodding. “I’m not going to lie; it brings me comfort knowing I’ve got someone like you who can carry the torch when the time comes for me to step back.”

“Thank you,” she said, her voice firm, feeling more confident. Sloane stood back from them and unfolded her arms with a sigh. Helena noticed and raised an eyebrow, curious about her perspective on the merger. Was she also proud? Or was she here simply doing her job?

“Is everything okay, Sloane?” Charles asked.

Sloane shifted her weight from one foot to the other, glancing at the boat’s railing. “It’s just...a lot of moving parts,” she replied finally, her voice measured. “But I’m confident we’ll reach an agreement.”

Helena felt her curiosity piqued. “What do you think we need to focus on for this merger to succeed?” Sloane looked up, her eyes locking with Helena's. “Communication is key,” she stated, her tone steady. “If we want this merger to be successful, we must ensure both sides feel heard and valued.”

“Exactly,” Charles chimed in, clearly impressed. “That’s exactly the mindset we need.”

Helena nodded, but she noticed Sloane's face soften just for a moment, a tiny crack in her stoic demeanor. “You have a good point, Sloane. I hope we can work closely together to make this transition smooth.”

“Absolutely,” Sloane said simply, lowering her gaze.

The conversation continued, but Helena couldn’t help stealing glances at Sloane. She couldn’t figure this woman out. Who was she really? Determined not to let her unease show, Helena laughed at jokes she barely heard as the group lightened the mood around them.

“Alright, everyone!” Charles said, drawing everyone’s attention back to him. “Let’s head inside, enjoy some fondue, and wrap this up with a toast to our future.”

Helena felt a swirl of excitement and apprehension. As they all began to move inside, she took a last look at the ocean and then at Sloane. For once, she saw a glimmer of understanding in Sloane’s eyes as they made brief contact.