Melting the Ice Queen Read online

  Melting the Ice Queen

  Mish Daniels

  Published by Hot Ink Press

  This Book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, duplicated, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior written consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  ©Text Copyright 2014 Mish Daniels

  Cover By Rue Volley

  Edited By Elizabeth A. Lance

  All rights reserved

  This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious and are products of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual events, or locales or persons, living or dead are entirely coincidental.

  Acknowledgment & Dedication

  Special thanks to my little sister.

  She is my best friend and the rock in every storm.

  I’m thankful for the support and love she shows on a daily basis.

  Chapter One

  I smacked my hand against the copier as it whirred and beeped. Everything came to a grinding stop and another error message popped up on the digital screen. “Damn it!”

  The supply room was hot and my hair had lost its bounce hours ago. By now it had probably become a flat, ratty mess. A bead of sweat trickled down the back of my neck and disappeared below my collar. There went my idea of looking halfway decent during happy hour, which thankfully started in a little over an hour. I might not look good, but I damn well could get happy.

  I was this close to kicking the stupid machine. It had already run out of paper twice, left ink smudges all over my fingers, and forced me to print it out again. Now that I had to scan everything I had copied, it was jammed and refused to spit out the copies I needed. It looked like I’d never get them scanned and sent to the law firm before it closed. Ms. Oliver had been very adamant that it be done before four this afternoon. I had five minutes left. A nervous tremor ran through me at the thought of disappointing her. It seemed like I’d been doing that a lot lately.

  As if I needed a reminder, the error message popped up again. “Son of a…” I jerked one of the many side doors open and peered into the inner workings. I didn’t see any trapped papers or torn bits from when I’d yanked a handful out earlier. “Listen, you sorry piece of shit-”

  Before I could get too geared up and really tell the copier what I thought of it, my best friend rounded the corner. “Calm down and let me take a look.” Alfie’s cheeks puffed out as he mopped sweat off his brow. “Why’s it so damn hot up here all the time?”

  “Ms. Oliver was cold so she turned the thermostat up after lunch.” I hated when she did that because I usually suffered. Alfie made a noise of indignation as I held up my hands in surrender. I stepped away from the copier. At this rate, the damn thing was lucky I hadn’t tossed it out the 34th floor window. “I’ve been calling I.T. all afternoon. What took you so long?”

  Alfie glanced at me over his shoulder then rolled his pretty blue eyes playfully. “Listen, sweetie, I may be your best bitch, but there are other people in this building who can’t work a copier. Or a computer, a phone, or a vibrator for that matter.”

  That made me laugh.

  “Here’s the problem.” He held up a chunk of paper with a warped staple dangling from it. “This was stuck between the little feet here. And when the paper tried to go through, it got caught and jammed.”

  He probably pointed at the area, but I wasn’t really paying attention any more. Instead, I sagged against the doorway and breathed a sigh of relief. I might actually get those copies scanned and sent over before Ms. Oliver realized I was behind schedule after all. Then as if on cue, I heard the Wicked Witch of the West music in my head. In fact, that was ringtone I’d set for her. You know the one, don’t you?

  Alfie and I shared a panicked look as we realized my phone was no longer on vibrate. It was actually ringing out loud. “Oh shit!”

  I darted out of the supply room and ran for my desk. I suppose I wasn’t fast enough because the phone went silent and my boss’s door creaked open a few inches. From the corner of my eye I saw Alfie’s tall frame dart toward the elevators.

  “You’re on your own,” he whispered loudly as he hauled his cute ass toward the elevator. “Don’t forget, the first round is on me tonight.”

  The little chicken shit.

  “Holly.” There was so much ice in that one word. It sent chills racing down my spine.

  Swallowing the lump in my throat, I moved toward my boss’s office on stiff legs. The week had been a long, hard one. She’d had me running errands all day, every day. The company had closed three deals just this week. I had accompanied her to each meeting and penned notes then taken care of all the paperwork for them. I also set up all of her travel plans for next week. As her personal assistant, I felt like I practically did everything but wipe her ass! I was past exhausted. Yesterday I even went to pick up her dry cleaning and later in the evening she called about something or other and I ended up dropping off take out.

  Being a personal assistant is hard, especially when you or your boss won’t or can’t turn it off. Alfie says I need to tell her there are boundaries. Yeah, right. He’s probably right, but I value my job and Ms. Oliver does pay very well.

  There’s something else you ought to know about Ms. Oliver. She’s a hard woman to work for. She’s very particular about how she wants things done. If it’s not done right, she will throw it back at you until it’s perfect. I’m not kidding. She’ll literally throw it. I’ve seen her do it before. She’s the CEO’s daughter and she runs this company with an iron fist. Yet, she is generous in her own way. Last year for Christmas she threw a great party for all of the employees. She didn’t attend, but we all had a blast. I’m not sure about the others, but Alfie and I got a mani/pedi package at a local spa. Mine came with a thirty minute massage. It was heaven.

  Forcing myself to enter Ms. Oliver’s office, I made myself smile. “Yes?”

  My gaze met hers then immediately dropped. Her bright green eyes were fringed by the longest lashes I’d ever seen. She was a tall woman, probably five foot seven, but she always wore the cutest heels. They gave her the appearance of being at least six feet tall. I’m certain it was a power thing. Women like her must love to be in power, especially over men.

  Today her long legs were encased in a charcoal colored pencil skirt. She had removed her jacket to reveal a shimmering teal camisole. It looked incredible against her pale complexion and the long auburn hair that hung in loose waves around her shoulders. That was weird. I’ve never seen her so relaxed. She usually wore her hair pinned up or in a high ponytail and she never removed her jacket.

  Her sculpted brows dipped. “Have you sent the paperwork over the Cox and Bramble yet?”

  “Um,” I swallowed nervously as my fingers picked at the hem of my shirt. “I’m finishing that up right now. The copier was jammed, but it’s fixed now.”

  Ms. Oliver nodded sharply. I always felt weird referring to her that way. I mean, even though she’s my boss, she’s around the same age as I am.

  She ran a manicured nail along the edge of her desk calendar and said, “Cancel my flight for next week. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I’ll be putting my trip on hold. I’d also like to schedule a massage for next Friday. Be a doll and set that up, will you? The usual spa will do.”

  She turned on her heel then bent over her desk to rummage through one of the drawers.

  The thin pencil skirt stretched to fit the contours of her ass and I found myself staring at its perfect heart shape. My breath caught in my throat and my heartbeat
seemed to stutter. What the hell? I don’t think she was wearing any underwear, as there weren’t any telltale lines. Tearing my gaze away, I tried to figure out what the fuck had just happened to my train of thought. It must have derailed and went off into the unknown.

  Ms. Oliver found what she whatever she was looking for. She straightened then turned to rest her fine derriere on the edge of the desk. As she brought the phone she’d retrieved toward her to dial, she shifted her cool green gaze toward me. Cocking a brow, she said, “Did you need something?”

  Licking my lips, I shook my head then scurried out of her office. The sooner I could get those papers scanned and sent over to the attorney’s office, the faster I could get the hell out of there and get my drink on with my bff, Alfie.

  I had just darted out of her office when a man stepped out of the elevator. He wore a dark rumpled suit and his thinning hair was windblown. He had to be an attorney’s underling. Ever since I came to work for Ms. Oliver, about six months ago, I was able to spot them coming from a mile away. He was headed straight for her office.

  Rushing toward him, I attempted to block his path. His lip curled, obviously registering me as just another worker bee. He simply stepped around me and continued on his way.

  “Excuse me, sir.” I grabbed at his jacket sleeve. “Can I help you?”

  “I’m here to see Ms. Oliver. She has some paperwork for the firm I work for.”

  My fingernails gripped the coarse fabric of his sleeve and I held on. “I have them right here. Please, come with me. Ms. Oliver doesn’t wish to be disturbed.”

  “Mr. Cox told me to get them personally from Megan Oliver,” the guy said with a tinge of confusion. He looked toward the closed office door then back at me. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Holly Tyler, Ms. Oliver’s personal assistant.” I had to bite back a laugh. What was so damn confusing about that? “As I said, I have them here.”

  Finally, I let go of his sleeve and turned to pick up the nice, clean copies off my desk. “You know, I was just about to scan these over to your office.”

  No response. I turned to find him right outside Ms. Oliver’s door. My stomach dropped past my knees. Damn it all to hell! Before I could even shout a warning or take two steps in his direction, he already knocked then entered.

  Shit, shit, shit! I was so going to be in trouble.

  Chapter Two

  “Who are you?” Ms. Oliver asked without bothering to look up from what she was doing. In fact, she hardly blinked as she continued writing.

  He suddenly seemed frozen and unsure what to do or say. I bit my bottom lip before answering for the guy. “He’s from Cox and Bramble.”

  Her gaze lifted from the papers she was meticulously studying and she frowned up at him. “Do you have any manners whatsoever? Do they not teach you to wait until you’re invited to come into someone’s closed office?”

  Inside, I cringed for the poor guy, but only a little. I knew I would get a severe tongue lashing as soon as he left. He should never have gotten past me. “I’m sorry, Ms. Oliver. I tried to stop him.”

  She ignored my apology, but flicked the end of her pen in my direction and said, “Holly has the paperwork. Please take it from her then leave.”

  “But Mr. Cox said…” The man found his voice, meek as it was. He attempted to say more, but was cut off by Ms. Oliver’s severe snarl.

  “His partner, John Bramble, is a close friend of mine.” Ms. Oliver tossed the pen aside. It bounced off her desk and without thinking twice, I hurried to rescue it. It had become second nature within the last few months for me to attend to the woman’s every need.

  She made no comment as I replaced the pen in the cup holder. Instead, she stood and towered over the peon on the other side of the desk. She moved slowly around the furniture, her movements intimidating and precise. “I would hate to disappoint my dear friend by canceling this deal just because his underling couldn’t follow simple directions.”

  The guy glanced at me and swallowed hard. A fine sheen of sweat broke out along his forehead and upper lip. He snatched the papers from my hand then darted out of the office. His legs couldn’t carry him fast enough to the elevator doors.

  I saw her smirk from the corner of my eye and I could help but grin just a little. That is, until I remembered I was probably in trouble for letting him into her office in the first place.

  “Holly, what are your plans for this evening?” Though her face showed indifference, I picked up a tinge of hope in her voice.

  Shrugging, I said, “Just the usual I guess. Happy hour with Alfie.”

  One auburn brow lifted as she leaned a hip against the desk. I suddenly felt very small and vulnerable beneath her green gaze. “The cherub who works in I.T.?”

  She was referring, of course, to his head of curly blonde hair and baby blue eyes. “Yeah, he’s also my roommate.”

  Her lips pursed at my choice of words. I knew she hated it when I or anyone else said yeah. I just couldn’t help it.

  Ms. Oliver straightened and offered a cool smile. “I’m sorry, but you’ll have to cancel those plans. I need you with me tonight.”

  Funny, she didn’t sound sorry at all. Damn it, it was Friday. I wanted to go home and start the weekend without the ice queen! I wanted to go to happy hour, get slobbering drunk then watch movies all weekend with Alfie and talk about how crappy men were. “Ms. Oliver…”

  “I really need you, Holly.”

  Holy fuck! The way she’d just said that… I’m pretty sure I’d sounded like that when I tried to pussy whip a boyfriend in the past. My stomach did this little flip and my mouth went dry. I didn’t know how I felt about that.

  “Daddy can’t make his meeting tonight so I am going in his place. I know it’s just another attempt to get me and Sven to go out.”

  “Sven?” I asked with a frown. During all the time I’ve spent with her, I’ve never heard this name before.

  Though I was still standing, she sank into the visitor’s chair next to me. Her long legs crossed and her foot bumped against my leg. I took a step back as she answered. “Yes. He keeps doing business with Sven’s company and they keep having these stupid little meetings that he usually attends to himself. However, Sven has been trying to hook up with me since I was about nineteen and I keep turning him down. It’s getting really, really old, Holly.”

  Blurting the first thing that came to mind, I said, “Is he ugly or something?”

  Ms. Oliver tipped her head back and laughed. I’ve never heard her laugh before and let me tell you, it’s a lovely sound. Soon, I found myself grinning too. “So what’s wrong with him?”

  She sobered quickly and her green gaze lingered on me for a moment. “Nothing, I suppose. He’s just not my type.”

  Back to business, she said, “We’re going to Le Boudoir. Do you have something appropriate to wear?”

  My heart skipped a beat. That was the fanciest, most romantic restaurant in the city and hell no, I definitely did not have anything to wear! My expression must have told her what she already suspected.

  Again, she gave me the once over then sighed. “You see what I mean? Daddy would never have met him there. So you’re coming with me. Come on, we’ve got to get you ready.”

  I couldn’t help the nervous giggle that bubbled up my throat. “Am I going to be the cock blocker?”

  What I thought might make her laugh only won me a squint and frown.

  Hey the guy had to be rich. If she didn’t want him and he wasn’t too hound dog ugly, maybe she could doll me up enough that I could be his sugar baby! Worst case scenario, I wouldn’t have to work for the ice queen anymore.

  ***

  Traffic was a nightmare. Ms. Oliver spoke very little on our forty five minute commute. When we finally reached the elegant penthouse suite she lived in, I’m pretty sure my jaw dragged the floor. The colors were warm and subdued in rich browns and reds. All of her décor looked high priced and honestly, I was afraid to touch anything. “Wow, Ms. Ol
iver, this is beautiful.”

  She threw her purse and jacket onto the chocolate brown couch. “You can call me Megan tonight.”

  “Just tonight?” I started to joke, but decided not to push it.

  “Care for a drink?” She moved toward the bar. I watched her in silence because I almost expected her to tell me to make the drinks. After all, that was my job, to be her personal slave and all. Oops, I mean personal assistant.

  I shook my head then watched as she made herself vodka on the rocks.

  “Come with me,” she said as she picked up her drink. I followed the sound of rattling ice down the hallway.

  The bed was the first thing I spotted when I entered the bedroom. It was a massive thing of beauty made of black wood with a plush leather headboard. The bedding was a mix of black and crimson. The room itself smelled divine, like Megan’s perfume. It was sweet and sultry, kind of a really sexy smell. It made my senses swim and swirl.

  “Have a seat while I see what I can find. You’re a bit smaller than me, so it might take me a moment.”

  I sat on her big, comfy bed and allowed my feet to dangle several inches off the floor. There had to be at least a dozen pillows stacked up next to the headboard. I flopped over onto them and shut my eyes. My god, this was a luxury I couldn’t afford. I hadn’t replaced my worn out mattress in years. Lying back, it felt as if I was floating on a cloud. I’d just begun to relax when Megan called for me. She’d already said my name twice.

  Scrambling off the bed, I dashed for the huge walk-in closet and found her standing in only a bra and the pencil skirt. She’d kicked off her shoes, but she was still taller than me. Her mane of auburn hair hung around her shoulders and face. It also rested between her ample breasts as she twisted and worked at the zipper on the skirt.

  “It seems to be stuck. Can you give me a hand?” She straightened and her boobs were about eye level now. They were absolutely perfect, flawless really, in the lacey pink bra she wore. And surprisingly there were no freckles on her chest. Alfie owed me money because he’d bet me that she’d be covered in freckles since she was a redhead. Ha!