Four Years Later
Natalia looked at the table of people in front of her. They were all eagerly waiting on her answer after they gave her the contract to look over. It was a business that wanted to make her a partner in hopes they could save their company from closing. She smiled before speaking."You have a deal." Natalia signed the contract, and everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. They'd heard that she was hard to deal with, but their interactions with her had been encouraging. She even met the people working for them and seemed to care about them keeping their jobs.
Natalia got up from the table and gave the contract to her assistant to finish the rest of the transaction while she went to her office. She had spent the first six months in New York soaking up as much knowledge as possible before branching out independently.
Her first year in business had been rough, and she'd had to use some of her inheritance to make ends meet. Eventually, she clawed herself up and made a name for herself. Now she is the CEO of NC, one of the top five merger and acquisition companies in New York.
In the past four years, she'd seen several men casually. She was still not in the market to give her heart away. She wasn't given the name ice queen for nothing.
Those who worked for her would laugh when they saw her name in the paper under the title The Ice Queen Does it Again. Only the men who competed with her for a contract or had their sexual advances deflected called her by that name. Those who knew her saw her as warm and caring. That's why she saved businesses rather than selling them for profit. If the companies she merged with did well, they all did well.
"Hey, Nat. Did you want me to set up a date for you for the banquet tonight?" Her assistant Patrice asked as she stuck her head into her office after completing the contract signing. She was tall and thin, with short red hair and a face covered in freckles.
"No need. I'm going alone tonight. How can I keep my nickname if I don't?" She smiled at Patrice, who shook her head and laughed.
"Alright, if you change your mind, I have a list of eligible bachelors who would love to be your arm candy." Natalia laughed as Patrice left.
She dreaded attending these functions where everyone bragged about money and how they screwed someone out of a deal. She went to them because she sometimes picked up leads on struggling businesses. Natalia would swoop in and make an offer the company couldn't refuse before the sharks came and disassembled it.
That evening she was dressed in a long black sequined sleeveless gown with a slit to mid-thigh on one side. She wore four-inch designer heels and carried a small clutch with her phone and lipstick. Natalia looked in the mirror and straightened her hair that fell just below her shoulders in waves.
She was now living in a high-rise building with a fantastic view of the city. The main reason she had chosen this building was because of the security. Natalia had a few scares in her prior apartment with break-ins. After the fourth one, she decided it was time to move somewhere she wouldn't have that problem. Living on the twenty-first floor gave her a sense of safety.
She looked at her phone as it pinged. Her car service had arrived to take her to the banquet. Natalia was not afraid to flirt with the men she met, but she drew the line to anything more. The men that she had casual hookups with were not in her world. They were blue-collar and had no idea who she was.
As she walked through the lobby of her building, she looked straight ahead, ignoring the stares of others. She winked at the doorman and gave him a tip as he held the door for her. Albert chuckled to himself as she slipped the money into his hand. He knew she was a sweetheart and the nicest tenant in the building.
Natalia sat in the backseat of the car as it drove through the city. She took a couple of deep breaths as they pulled up to the large building. The banquet was for a retiring investor who had been in the business for many years. After she got out of the car, she walked into the building with her head held high. She heard the whispers as she passed others.
"Look, it's the ice queen." It took everything she had not to laugh.
___________
Hayden Sumner stood at the bar in the banquet hall, dreading making small talk with these money-hungry idiots. He was also in the merger and acquisition business and was the CEO of the number one business in the game.
At the age of thirty, he was one of the youngest to move up the ladder so quickly, other than the ice queen. He had heard a lot about her but had never met Natalia Crawford. It seemed they never went to the same functions, but rumor had it she would be here tonight.
Hayden was tall at six foot four with thick black hair and piercing green eyes. He had no problem getting any woman he wanted, but he was tired of those that wanted him for his money. He wanted a meaningful relationship with a woman who challenged him. Hayden wouldn't admit it to anyone if they asked, but he wanted to fall in love. That's the one thing he was missing in his life.
As he held his vodka on the rocks, he looked around the room, ignoring the frivolous young women trying to make eye contact with him. His hand with his drink stopped halfway to his mouth as he saw a vision walk through the door. She was a tall blonde with a body that made his knees weak. Hayden noticed she was alone, and everyone started whispering as she walked through the room.
"The ice queen is here."
When Hayden heard this, he smiled. He had heard she got this name because she was ruthless in business and refused every man that approached her. He hadn't expected her to be so young and beautiful in person. The pictures in the newspapers didn't do her justice. Hayden almost dropped his drink as she made her way to the bar.
"White wine, please," Natalia said to the bartender, ignoring the man beside her who was openly gawking at her. She admitted he was handsome in his black suit open at the collar with no tie. Attractive or not, she could almost smell the money coming off him in his expensive cologne. After she had her drink in hand, she leaned against the bar.
"It's not polite to stare." She said without looking at the man as she sipped her wine.
Hayden was speechless when she spoke to him. Her voice sounded warm, sultry, and breathless all at the same time. She didn't sound icy to him. He realized he was still staring and hadn't said anything.
"I'm sorry, I don't think we've met. I'm Hayden Sumner." He held his hand out to her, and she looked at it before meeting his eyes. Eventually, Natalia took his hand and shook it quickly.
"Natalia Crawford." Hayden's heart skipped a beat when she put her hand in his. She had the softest skin he had ever felt. It may have only been for a second, but it was the best second of his life. He decided then she was going to be his. Now he had to figure out a way to convince her.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm impressed with everything you've accomplished in such a short time." Hayden gave her his most charming smile, but she didn't return it.
"So I guess you've also heard my nickname. Don't waste your time on flattery; I'm not interested. I don't come to these things to hook up. I come because I'm the CEO of NC, and it's expected to play nice." Natalia didn't spare him a glance as she walked away.
Hayden was left speechless. No woman had ever spoken to him like that, and rather than upsetting him, it made him even more determined. He had wanted a challenge, and it looked like he had found one. He would make the ice queen melt. It was only a matter of time.
Natalia walked around the large banquet room, sipping her drink. She didn't care for alcohol but would drink a glass of wine at social engagements. She ignored the stares of others who didn't have the nerve to approach her as they mingled while waiting for the dinner to start. "How are things at NC?" She turned toward the familiar voice. It was Clifford Judd. He was one of the men she worked for when she was interning. He constantly flirted with her but wasn't as aggressive as others. "Hi, Cliff. They're going great." Natalia smiled slightly at the heavyset balding man with a large belly. His grey suit seemed to be bursting at the seams. "That's good to hear. I want to discuss something with you regarding a company we've been trying to get under contract. I think they may be more up your alley." She didn't think it was unusual for him to share this information. There have been several occasions he had sent companies her way that wanted to be saved rather than bought.
The following morning Natalia was lying in bed staring at the ceiling. She had a busy schedule today, but after what Cliff had done, she didn't feel like getting out of bed. Why did men always think a woman owed them? She had worked for him at one point but never asked for favors or special treatment. She didn't owe him anything. Natalia didn't believe in empty threats, and if he had raped her, she wouldn't have hesitated in filing charges. She groaned as she got out of bed and headed for the shower. She had taken an hour-long shower the night before to get any trace of Cliff off her. Even so, Natalia felt like she needed another one. Thinking of how Hayden had put his jacket around her and hugged her as she cried made her feel humiliated. She didn't like making anyone see her as a damsel in distress. She looked around with a smile as she walked back into her bedroom. She loved this apartment. It was larger than what she needed, but it was the only one they had available th
Natalia was on edge the rest of the day after agreeing to dinner with Hayden. She thought about canceling a hundred times but stopped by reminding herself it was a business dinner and nothing else. Patrice had brought the suit jacket back about an hour ago, fresh from the cleaners. She was supposed to meet him at a rooftop garden restaurant at six. She'd never been there before because her typical dinner was take-out. She sometimes was at the office until after ten and came back first thing in the morning. It didn't leave much room for a social life. She thought about running home to change but decided against it wanting to wear what she would wear to a business meeting. At five-thirty, she received a text that her car was downstairs. She grabbed her briefcase, purse, and Hayden's suit jacket as she walked out. Everyone else had left for the day around five, so she locked up after turning off the lights. The ride to the restaurant took about twenty minutes in traffic
After their dinner, Hayden saw Natalia to her waiting car before walking home with a spring in his step. He enjoyed his time with her. She was intelligent, funny, and easy to talk to. It had been a long time since he had appreciated the company of another person as much as he did with her. As he was walking, lost in thought, he felt someone tap his shoulder. When he turned around, he instantly became annoyed. "What do you want, Shania?" He asked, shaking her hand off him. "I saw you inside, and I wanted to know if you wanted me to come to keep you company tonight. We haven't seen each other for a couple of months. I thought maybe you were ready to take me back." She tried to give him what she assumed was a sexy smile as she tried to take his hand. However, to her dismay, he looked at her in disgust and pushed her hand away. "How can I take you back when we have never officially been together? You need to stop this, Shania, and get a life. We will never be together." H
After they finished breakfast, they began walking in the direction of their homes. Neither wanted to end their time together. Hayden didn't want to push her too fast, and Natalia didn't want to encourage him that she was open to more. He took her hand casually as they walked, and she felt her heart race. When they got to his building, they stopped. "This is where I live. Do you want to come up for some coffee?" Hayden wasn't ready to let her go. He held her hand a little tighter, liking how it felt. He had never been the hand-holding romantic type, but with her, it felt natural. "I should get home so I can do some work," Natalia said reluctantly. She had fun with him this morning but was hesitant to go into his apartment. She didn't think he would try anything, but she was scared to get any closer to him. What if she got hurt again? "Then how about I walk you home and make coffee there while you work?" He said with a smile, and she laughed. "You want to come to my
After the second deep kiss, Natalia pulled away and looked up at Hayden with a smile. She hoped he wouldn't trample on her fragile heart. After the second deep kiss, Natalia pulled away and looked up at Hayden with a smile. She hoped he wouldn't trample on her fragile heart. After the second deep kiss, Natalia pulled away and looked up at Hayden with a smile. She hoped he wouldn't trample on her fragile heart. "Are you sure you want something more than a casual relationship? Typically I'm with men who have no idea who I am, and it's a one-time thing." Natalia slid her hands over his t-shirt that covered his well-muscled chest and abdomen as she looked up at him. "Honestly, I've always been the same way. I only slept with women casually because I never wanted anything more with them. You're different, Natalia. You make me feel alive, and the thought of you being with another man fills me with rage. I couldn't stand only being casual with you. I want a lot more than that
Natalia went against her norm and did not return to her office to work. Instead, she decided to continue talking with Hayden. She wanted to make sure she was making the right decision to get involved with him before they went any further. Hayden felt like he had just won the lottery when Natalia said she would give them a try. He hugged her tighter and felt a sense of relief. "Do you have any family?" He asked her. "My parents were killed in a car accident when I was eighteen. They were hit by a drunk driver and died instantly. I have no siblings or any other family." Natalia kept the tears from falling. She missed her parents every day, and it still hurt to talk about them. "I'm sorry about your parents. If you didn't have anyone, how did you take care of their affairs, funeral, and everything else?" He couldn't imagine being eighteen and suddenly alone with no one. Even though Hayden disagreed with his parents on many things, he wasn't alone. "My parents
Natalia quickly finished the fantastic meal Hayden had made her, with excitement growing in her belly. She wasn't new to sex, but she had to admit that each man she'd been with hadn't been worth mentioning after they were done. It was always quick and unspectacular. When Hayden said he wanted to show her what making love was, it made her anxious to see what she'd been missing. Hayden watched her with amusement as she finished her dinner. He planned to do things with her that he'd never done with anyone else. He wanted to bring her so much pleasure that she was going out of her mind. He scarfed down the rest of his food and headed to the kitchen to clean up. "You cooked; why don't you let me clean up?" Natalia asked, joining him in the kitchen. "It will be faster if we clean together. Although, I did say I would be your butler for the day." She smiled and opened the dishwasher that she had never used. "I think faster is better." They quickly cleaned up and put the