A/N Sorry for the wait, but I've been working on my other stories too.
Oh and as I'm fed up with guest reviewers contributing nothing to the story , but the disheartening comments to hurry and update. I shall not be listening to you anymore.
As I have already mentioned several times, I update when I can. I will not rush just to satisfy impatient readers.
Thank you to those that have waited patiently...I appreciate it.
Now, I've decided to bring Hans in as Elsa's co-worker. For now, he will be just a friend.
Please continue to review and let me know what you think.
Chapter Three.
Friday December 5th.
Elsa awoke the next morning to the sound of Anna's cheerful singing and the smell of something delicious cooking. She lazily sauntered towards the kitchen area to find her sister busy preparing breakfast.
"Elsa. I'm so glad you're up. I made us breakfast. Freshly cooked eggs, and your favorite, chocolate pancakes, just the way you like them."
The blonde yawned, before responding with a hint of guilt. "You really shouldn't have bothered. I need to be at the office early today."
"C'mon Elsa," Anna whined. "We always have breakfast together. You say it's the most important meal of the day. And...well, I thought it would give us a chance to talk about last night."
Elsa huffed at the irritating reminder of their recent little spat over Anna's latest love interest. "There's nothing to talk about. I think I've already made it quite clear what I expect of you, whilst you're living under this roof."
Anna slammed the plate she was holding down onto the countertop. "You are so mean! And what are you talking about, what you expect of me?! Am I simply a child to you, Elsa? Because you're sure treating me like one!"
"Oh for the love of God, Anna! You decide to entertain a complete stranger in our home, but I'm the bad guy. You don't know anything about this man. For all you know, he could be a thief, a rapist...or a serial killer. When will you learn to start taking some responsibilty for your own actions?"
Anna almost choked at her sister's ludicrous accusation. "Kristoff, a serial killer? No way. He maybe a little gruff and uncivilized at times, but I can assure you, he's completely ordinary."
"Well that's what they said about Ted Bundy. And how many women did he butcher and kill?"
Anna winced at the thought. "I don't know. But Kristoff is not any Ted Bundy. He's a harmless teddy bear. Now please can you stop with this talk of serial killers. It's scaring me."
"Appearances can be deceptive, Anna. Just remember that," Elsa exclaimed, before stalking from the kitchen and into the bathroom where she turned the shower on. The door was then promptly shut, leaving Anna visibly angered and upset.
The redhead opened the trash bin and emptied the cooked eggs and pancakes into it, before pouring her sister's freshly prepared camomile tea down the sink. Whipping out her cell, she quickly texted Kristoff, imploring that he meet her at the local coffee shop before work. The strongest expresso they sold was the only cure for her stress right now.
Once she had received a reply, the redhead made her way towards the living room to grab her bag and coat. Without so much as a goodbye, Anna then stormed out of the apartment, slamming the door behind her.
"Ugh! the blatant nerve of that woman!" Anna ranted to Kristoff, as the two friends slipped into an empty booth at the quaint little coffee shop. "Is it really too much to ask for her to eat breakfast with me?!"
Kristoff had never seen the redhead so fired up over something which he thought was rather trivial. So he thought questioning her in a more soothing tone would be best right about now.
"Calm down, feisty pants. Now, let me get this straight? You're mad at Elsa, because she wouldn't eat breakfast with you? I thought you were angry with her after what happened last night?"
Anna knew Kristoff wouldn't understand. "I am, But the problem is, the breakfast thing is something we do all the time. It's like our morning ritual. However, lately she's been so preoccupied with work and stuff, she hardly finds time for me anymore. And then of course there was last night. She's never lashed out at me like that before."
The blond sympathized with Anna's plight. "That's why sometimes I'm glad I don't have siblings. At least, I don't think I do."
Anna agreed wholeheartedly. "You're lucky. You live alone. It must be nice having no-one telling you what to do every five minutes. I mean, Elsa is so controlling. Don't get me wrong. I love her, but we're not the same. I just don't know why she feels she has a right to run my life. Sometimes, she acts more like my Mother, then my big sister."
Kristoff shrugged, before trying to offer up a reasonable explanation. "Maybe she feels like it's her job or something. It must have been difficult, suddenly having to take on such a responsible role, just like that...with no preparation."
Anna sighed heavily. "Probably. I guess she did take our parents deaths a lot harder then I thought she would. And I understand that she misses them...but I miss them too."
The rugged blond reached his hand across the table and slipped a hand over hers. "I know how you feel."
"But at least you've always known you were an orphan. It's not like you ever knew your parents. You can't exactly miss what you've never had."
Kristoff yanked his hand away, a little offended by her choice of words. "Oh, but I do miss them Anna. I mean my adopted family were a nice bunch, but I still think about my real parents, almost everyday. I think about where they might be right now. What kind of people are they? Why did they give me up?"
Anna's face flushed bright red. Darn it! Did I have go and be so insensitive? Now my careless words have hurt him. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to..."
Kristoff dismissed her attempt at an apology. "It's okay. You're right. You knew your parents for all of your child and adoloscent life."
"Have you ever thought of looking for them? There's a place on the internet, you know," Anna suggested.
"I thought about it...once, but then I wondered, if I'm better off not knowing. They didn't want me then..why would they care now? And besides, it's not like they've come looking for me either."
Anna gave him a genuine smile, full of warmth. "Don't think that way, Kristoff. I'd give anything to see my parents again. You really don't know what you have, until it's gone."
Glancing down at his watch, Kristoff hadn't realized the time. "Dang it! Is that the time? We best be getting to work."
Breezing into the office that morning, Elsa was feeling rather heavy hearted. Approaching her desk, she flicked on the switch to her computer and waited for it to power up. Once loaded, the blonde checked her work emails and the morning memo, thankful there was nothing of great interest.
She was just about to sit down and make herself comfortable, when a hand tapped her on the shoulder, causing her to spin around sharply.
"Seriously, Hans? You scared me half to death."
Her co-worker, Hans Westergard chuckled. "Whoa, I didn't mean to frighten you. I just wasn't actually expecting you to be in so early today."
Elsa managed a half-smile. "Yes well, duty calls. And I think I'd rather be here, then at home."
"Is everything alright?" He prompted, hoping Elsa didn't think he was being too nosy.
"I'm fine," she hissed.
Hans wasn't convinced. "Do you want to talk about it?"
The blonde gritted her teeth. "I said I'm fine!"
"You don't look fine," he pushed. "C'mon, Elsa. You should know me by now. I make it my job to watch you. So I certainly know when something is bothering you."
Elsa rolled her eyes, before lowering her gaze to the floor. Hans was right, something was bothering her. "It's complicated."
Hans flashed her a devilshly handsome smile. "I like complicated."
Elsa was still unsure. Afterall, the two hardly ever spoke to each other. The only time Hans interacted with her was if he wanted to make some perverted joke at her expense. Was she really sure she wanted to express her insecurities to a man like this? Then again, for once, he did seem genuinely concerned.
"I sort of had a fight with my sister. I'm doing my best to take care of her, but it just seems that everything I do is wrong."
"Wow, I know how you feel. I have twelve older brothers and whilst growing up, I tried so hard for them to like me. But whatever I did, it was never good enough. Even now, I'm not particularly close to any of them."
"Anna and I used to be really close. But lately, it feels like I'm drifting further and further away from her. Things were going fine, until I mentioned I didn't want to celebrate Christmas this year."
Hans raised an eyebrow. "You don't want to celebrate Christmas?!"
The blonde shot him a glare. "Do you have a problem with that too?"
Her co-worker held his hands up in a surrendering motion. "No, of course not. It's just...doesn't that seem a bit harsh?"
"I don't think you've lost one parent, let alone two. So don't dictate to me about being harsh."
Hans realized he had probably said enough, so he walked back to his desk, and sank down in his chair, pretending to get on with his work.
The silence was deafeaning, the atmosphere now rather uncomfortable, yet neither seemed willing to break the ice. Finally, Hans was just about to apologize when Elsa was approached by Duke Weselton, their boss.
"Ahh, Miss Winters. Could I please see you in my office?" The small, vertically challenged, mustached man announced.
A knot promptly formed in her stomach. This is it. I'm obviously being fired.
As the blonde nervously entered Weselton's office, her heart was thudding in her chest. She was well aware of how many sick days she had been forced to take these past three months. With no job, how will I possibly support myself...and Anna?
Her boss gestured towards an empty chair. "Miss winters, please, take a seat."
Once she was sat comfortably, hands clasped tightly together in her lap, the older man settled into his large chair behind his oversized desk.
"Now Miss Winters, where shall I begin? First, let me start by saying, I know things have been quite difficult for you lately, what with your parents tragic deaths. I am also aware that you've have a tough time at home recently."
"Mr Weselton..please. I'm sorry if I've been a little...less dedicated lately. It's just..."
Weselton raised his hand to interrupt her. "Miss winters, please let me finish. Recently, I was approached by one of our buyers from our European factory. He was rather inpressed with your ideas on the new ice-cream flavors. And he has already expressed a keen interest in you working for him. The most important part of the job would be overseeing the running of the factory and taking care of the marketing strategies and all that business."
Elsa was astonished at the news. "That is...excellent. I'd love to. Wait, did you say Europe?"
Her boss nodded. "Yes I did. Norway in fact. Obviously, I said I would need to discuss it with you first, but an opportunity doesn't come along like this very often. I've been assured that you would get your own office...a company car, a small apartment completely paid for, free traveling expenses, but more importantly a much bigger salary."
Butterflies fluttered wildly in her tummy as she gazed at her boss dreamily. This definitely was an opportunity of a lifetime - she knew it. But there was only thing holding her back and that was Anna.
"But what about my sister? I can't just leave her."
"I'm not expecting you to leave her. Your sister is welcome to accompany you. Look, I understand that this is a big decision. But I firmly believe this is a real good business venture."
As much as the blonde would have liked to say yes right that second. She realized there was still a lot to consider. "Can I at least have some time to think about it?" Elsa questioned.
"I'll need an answer before the Christmas break," he replied firmly.
As Elsa left his office, she was reeling with excitement. She really wanted this. But what about Anna? Would she agree to come with me? The more she thought about it, the more the blonde realized that a move could be just what they needed right now. A fresh start, just the two of them. With a bigger pay check she could really provide for her sister. It's settled. I'm going to take this job and Anna will have no choice but to come with me.
A/N More to come...